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The DIY Tube Head Thread
- Thread starter IronRadio
- Start date
I'll record some clips once I can find a real bass player. I may have all of the equipment and build cool amps but unfortunately I suck at playing....
I'll ask one of my son's music major friends to drop by and have a recording session...
Anyone interested in building your own tube amp would be well served by visiting [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. Its kind of the TB for uh, DIY tube projects.
I'd also recommend reading [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] about star grounding and visit Schematics Heaven as well.
I'd also recommend reading [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] about star grounding and visit Schematics Heaven as well.
Both... But let me get all of the wrinkles ironed out first... And such a unit is NOT inexpensive. I have about $1500 in it and I just ordered a higher voltage transformer for it. I'm going to 630V on the output plates
Link Removed
thinking about using the preamp from that, would you take the output from it after the .25 caps?
thinking about using the preamp from that, would you take the output from it after the .25 caps?
that would be the output after the phase inverter (often thought of as part of the preamp, really it should be thought of as a separate section). C11 and C12 will give you the 2 out of phase signals, (to send to each set of output tubes).
if you were using that preamp, i'd consider taking out C11, which seems to be a cap to bleed off some of the highs, or alternatively put a SPST switch either side of it, to activate it when you feel like cutting some of the highs. there may be some DC at that spot, so it might be best to put a fairly robust switch there, or put 2 caps either side of the switch twice the value of C11. the 2 caps would work to reduce the highs, and remove any dc from the cap.
dc on the swich isnt a problem until something shorts inside the switch, making it active(zap!) or draining current to the chassis (ground). this shouldnt be common, but its something to think about.
edit: can anyone point out what is going on at the jacks? it seems that the "both" input grounds the hot signal for each input.
- May 9, 2008
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- Proprietor Springvale Studios
There is Sowter transformers in Ipswich UK and they will make you a fantastic quality mains transformer and output trans and choke.
Brian Sowter is one of the best transformer designers ever, he hasn't got round to metric stuff yet though as he hasn't found the new laminates to be as good as all his old stock types yet.
He has just made a new transformer for my marshall JCM and its a hell of a good sound now in comparison with what it was with the Marshall/Drake original.
His Quad KT 88 output transformer is well up there with the Partridge
ones in the hiwatt or old orange and matamp. They even have the sticky gooey varnish stuff in them too, so they even smell satisfyingly right.
Here's where I got the PT for the head I built. They appear solid and so far do a good job....
http://www.antekinc.com/
seem like really good prices compared to equivalent EI transformers. seem to be able to handle much larger currents too, and lighter.
Being REALLY interested in making one of these I have to ask, how much invested in this? I don't need an exact number, ballpark it for me.
No, you keep the first two tubes and dispense with everything from the slider of the volume control back. Output is taken from the volume control slider. If you are wanting to drive a SS power amp you will have to add a gain circuit and a buffer after the volume control.
Paul
