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JGR comes clean.... with his new "Studio" preamp design!!!!

#61
Passinwind said:
Funny, I just re-did two gain stages of my Fender guitar amp using a 12AU7 last week! Which new production ones do you favor? I've mostly been using old Baldwin organ pulls, but I definitely want to try new ones in the 1RU hybrid preamp build I have slated for this fall. Drew up the computer model last night, largely thanks to your inspiration actually. That new clip sounds especially tasty Bro.
Click to expand...

Thanks Charlie. I like the JJ gold pin, for both 12ax7 and au7. Very clear and crisp sounding and definitely different than their regular ones which tend to be darker and thicker in the mids. I think Tung Sol may also have a reissue au7 which I would like to try - their 12ax7 is really rich and balanced, and I like to mix it with the JJ golds.
 
#64
I'm still gigging JGR's original 12ax7 design from ~3 years ago. It was originally dialed in toward the grindy side, but has been modded a few times with JGR's tweaks, and per his suggestion now contains reissue Tung Sol 12ax7s (2) and (1) JJ gold pin 12au7. It now has a lot more headroom for my hottest active fivers, and overall sounds reasonably similar to the new Studio Preamp. Mine will stay squeaky clean with Gain set low, but does deliver more OD with Gain cranked -- which means it's a better choice for me, because I rarely use clean tones and often dial in a decent amount of grind for hard rock.

Recent pic (I use the RBI to kick in Presence and extra OD on some modern metal songs):
20140621_211647.png


Sorry for the slightly-off-topic. I love to follow JGR's inventions, and I'm fortunate that he's a neighbor (kinda -- 80 miles, give or take). I look forward to our next hang -- not easy to arrange given our busy schedules!
 
#65
Hey Ken! Based on the control settings in that pic, it looks like we finally got you dialed in! Glad you swapped the tubes, I think it really makes a noticeable improvement. I still love the final iteration of the original design - there is a certain thickness to it that just rules for rock, and while subtly different than the later stuff, it absolutely holds it's own. I need to salvage the one original faceplate I have on my hacked up test unit and build myself one at some point for posterity.

I really like having Ken's feedback on everything because while we have similar tastes in tone, he plays active 5'ers which interact quite differently than my passive four strings; it's always an important check to make sure the gear will deliver regardless of instrument or playing style.

Ken , I WILL see you at some point this summer!
 
#68
I was playing around with a bunch of stuff tonight and noticed that the 100 Hz high pass on the QSC was engaged - things sound so much more robust now with it off! Need to shoot another video. Put the low control back to shelving and tweaked the low mid a bit.

Cranked up the General with the QSC bridged and things were brutal, just massive.
 
#71
I went back and forth and prefer the 12au7. Made few more voicing tweaks, I'm ready to start building. Will shoot a video so you can hear the real deal with no 100Hz hi pass filter.
 
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#75
Alrighty, I got the circuit and front panel layout finished, and I just ordered the rest of the bit's and pieces I need for this build. Time to get the party started!
 
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#77
Thanks Mark. It's just from the camera, no direct. I should put more effort into the recordings but I'm always short on time so I literally put the camera in front of the cab and roll - I record pretty loud so while I try to avoid it, there is a bit of clipping from overloading the camera (not the cab or amp).
 

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