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Marshall 2203 to Super Bass Conversion Question

#22
father of fires said:
Before I invest all this time and money into an amp I've never heard, I think I should try to find a Super Bass locally that I can play through.


If I got a chance to play my friends JMP 2203 again, how similar would the tone be?
Click to expand...

That circuit has a ton of low end rolloff, even for guitar, so I would not bother with it for bass - you definitely want the larger coupling caps in the Super Bass circuit. I agree that you should reconsider building an amp you have never heard.
 
#23
Well I spent some time talking with Nik from Ceriatone yesterday. I think his prices are great but the freight on a full amp is outrageous! I may buy the pre-wired chassis from him and then add some Mercury or Hammond transformers myself to save shipping weight. He even said he could put the Super Bass it in a JTM 50 (17") chassis so I could either use a small Marshall head box (26") or build my own 24" (or less) box to fit on top of my cabs.

I still want to play one first though.
 
#24
So, I did a little digging this morning.

I forgot how expensive Mercury and Hammond can be. I had originally looked at them when trying to upgrade my Deluxe clone. Those 15w parts are way cheaper!

Here is the tranny set from the kit in the original post:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

They are made by this company:

Link Removed

They really are proud of the whole made in USA deal.

Being from the supply chain industry, I know that this doesn't really guarantee a quality product anymore but, I prefer to buy American when I can.

The price for this set is about $150.00. That is pretty reasonable but, I don't want to cut quality. I just want to make sure those other brands are worth it.

What am I gaining with premium transformers? More headroom? More gain? More breakup? More bass? Mids? Etc?

Are there any other brands I should look at?

I really want to thank everyone for all of your help!
 
#25
father of fires said:
So, I did a little digging this morning.

I forgot how expensive Mercury and Hammond can be. I had originally looked at them when trying to upgrade my Deluxe clone. Those 15w parts are way cheaper!

Here is the tranny set from the kit in the original post:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

They are made by this company:

Link Removed

They really are proud of the whole made in USA deal.

Being from the supply chain industry, I know that this doesn't really guarantee a quality product anymore but, I prefer to buy American when I can.

The price for this set is about $150.00. That is pretty reasonable but, I don't want to cut quality. I just want to make sure those other brands are worth it.

What am I gaining with premium transformers? More headroom? More gain? More breakup? More bass? Mids? Etc?

Are there any other brands I should look at?

I really want to thank everyone for all of your help!
Click to expand...

basically your gonna get a flatter clearer response and more power in the low end.
 
#27
Why not just buy a JCM800 1992 model. I've seen a few recently on ebay for around $900. They are not master volume amps, but they look similar to a two input Marshall master volume amp. They have an active preamp like a Sound City which is cool. JCM800 1992's two inputs are different than the earlier 1992's with the four inputs which are nearly the same as a 1959. 74 and up 1992 models can be had for as low as $1100, but they usually are a little buggered up at that price. Not a big deal really because it will still hold value because guitar players like them as well. Many will add a master volume and pull two tubes for a killer guitar amp. Depending on how a master volume mod is added, turning it up full takes it out of the loop, so you still have control with the main volume.
 
#28
blockinlay said:
Why not just buy a JCM800 1992 model. I've seen a few recently on ebay for around $900. They are not master volume amps, but they look similar to a two input Marshall master volume amp. They have an active preamp like a Sound City which is cool. JCM800 1992's two inputs are different than the earlier 1992's with the four inputs which are nearly the same as a 1959. 74 and up 1992 models can be had for as low as $1100, but they usually are a little buggered up at that price. Not a big deal really because it will still hold value because guitar players like them as well. Many will add a master volume and pull two tubes for a killer guitar amp. Depending on how a master volume mod is added, turning it up full takes it out of the loop, so you still have control with the main volume.
Click to expand...

This all started because I couldn't find one for less than $1500.

If a deal comes along, I'll grab it and save myself the headache.
 
#30
KramerBassFan said:
It should also be asked, you have the tech experience to assemble and safely build a 100w tube amp, correct?
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Someone has to ask. I am not an engineer but, I like to play pretend.

When I was 12, I stripped some speaker wire and taped it to a light bulb and plugged it into an outlet.

That was my first foray into electronics.

Then I managed to take apart and break almost every piece of equipment I have owned since then.

I took classes in guitar repair with Ian Schneller at the Chicago School of Guitar Making. I took his seminar in amp building and built my deluxe clone under the his watchful eye and guidance. I learned a lot about safety and since then I have read as much as I can about tube amps and electronics in general. I have also spent some time with less deadly DIY solid state stuff (preamps, pedals, etc.).

I'm a little older (28) and wiser than I was when I was 12 and I follow every safety precaution because being electrocuted sucks.

I'm can follow directions well enough but, some of the theory of tube amps still escapes me.

I can read a schematic and I have designed a bunch layouts for fun/practice.

I have a buddy who is an engineer at a well known speaker company. He works with some pretty smart EE's (one of which has his own line of tube amps and has offered his assistance in the past).

I also have an awesome tech who is more than willing to help.

I have Dave Funk's book and I have read it a bunch.

I don't know if this satisfies you or not but, I feel confident in my abilities to build such a well known/documented design and not kill myself in the process.
 
#34
KramerBassFan said:
Even then, be extra careful, with silly stuff... If you think you turned your Ampeg V4 off when you grab the speaker cable, then you probably haven't.

:hiding:
Click to expand...

guilty as well.

Also, I can't say this loud enough but I'll try...

ahem...

ALWAYS DRAIN YOUR CAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe I can make it big enough that they'll see it in other threads!
 
#35
Magnetic Components is good stuff - some folks prefer them to the more expensive stuff like Mercury. I would go wth Heyboer or Hammond before Mercury as I think Mercury is way overpriced, but again, I see no reason not to use Magnetic Components. Regardless, since you are using trannies desiged for a guitar amp, they will be lacking either way. If you want more performance, go to a more powerful PT and OT to get some more juice... but now you need to start doing other mods to the powersupply... so it goes back to the original question of why are you really building this in the first place? Based on your experience, it might not be such a good idea, and you may not get what you are looking for in the end.
 
#36
JGR said:
Magnetic Components is good stuff - some folks prefer them to the more expensive stuff like Mercury. I would go wth Heyboer or Hammond before Mercury as I think Mercury is way overpriced, but again, I see no reason not to use Magnetic Components. Regardless, since you are using trannies desiged for a guitar amp, they will be lacking either way. If you want more performance, go to a more powerful PT and OT to get some more juice... but now you need to start doing other mods to the powersupply... so it goes back to the original question of why are you really building this in the first place? Based on your experience, it might not be such a good idea, and you may not get what you are looking for in the end.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I don't want to have to do much design work.

I just wanted to play a damn Super Bass. I'm hoping one pops up somewhere for a reasonable price. If not, I am also looking for a summer project.
 

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