Trinity Trip Top Review (B15 Content)

[havnjero]

he’s got other videos there too but realize that his tone knob is around 50% and he uses a beta 52 for a speaker mic.

i don’t know about the ampeg offerings at the moment but my trip top sounds the most like a 60’s ampeg out of everything i’ve tried. 6SL7 (and especially 5691) are the preamp tube sound of the b15.

 

[Acoustic356]

So... my Trinity Trip Top arrived. I've had it for just under a week. It's slightly different than the B15 in that I went with a 12" full range speaker.

Here are the things that they don't tell you:

1. this is 6 amps in 1
   • Ampeg B15NC Fixed Bias
   • Ampeg B15NC Cathode Bias
   • Ampeg B15NF Fixed Bias
   • Ampeg B15NF Cathode Bias
   • Ampeg B15NC and B15NF Linked Fixed Bias
   • Ampeg B15NC and B15NF Linked Cathode Bias
2. Cathode bias gives a saggier feel but has rich harmonic overtones
3. Fixed bias is more clear, forward and present tone
4. Each channel has a Pull Bright switch that makes the amp sound more modern
5. The Ampeg B15NF has the volume before the tone stack
6. The Ampeg B15NC has the volume after the tone stack
7. The Line Out is pre-EQ
8. You have tube options:
   • 6L6 (Installed in mine) - Output power 51 watts
   • KT-88 (optional install - no modification) Output power 61 watts
9. True output power 30 watts in cathode biases mode / 40 watts in fixed bias when using 6l6GC tubes

I A/B'd it with my Noble, which is also on this same design. They both have a unique tone.

 

[Acoustic356]

I added an attenuator today. I'm pretty happy with it. I A/B'd the mic'd tone with the DI from the attenuator and I'm pretty happy.

There aren't a lot of good demo's on the amp, so I can do one if anyone is interested.

 

[havnjero]

as far as im aware, the nobel is not based on a baxandall/james stack but on a fender tone stack yet has a fixed mid (fixed at 100%)…

 

[coreyfyfe]

as far as im aware, the nobel is not based on a baxandall/james stack but on a fender tone stack yet has a fixed mid (fixed at 100%)…

I don't own an original noble, but I've built a couple of the nobelium clones and the schematic for that is as you describe - a fender treble/bass with fixed mids. I assume people see the two band eq and think its a james type.

 

[Verticos]

Noble is a Fender-style tonestack. Two fixed bands, boost only.

 

[Acoustic356]

as far as im aware, the nobel is not based on a baxandall/james stack but on a fender tone stack yet has a fixed mid (fixed at 100%)…

I don't own an original noble, but I've built a couple of the nobelium clones and the schematic for that is as you describe - a fender treble/bass with fixed mids. I assume people see the two band eq and think it's a james type.

If I recall correctly, if you max the Bass and Treble, the mid Q changes.

I am far less techy about the specs... I just know what I like

Thanks for the info!

 

[coreyfyfe]

If I recall correctly, if you max the Bass and Treble, the mid Q changes.

I am far less techy about the specs... I just know what I like

Thanks for the info!

This should be the values from the nobelium schematic if you want to play with the controls. Put the mid control up to max to simulate the 2.7K resistor used in place of a mix pot. Using this as a model the center of the mid-dip should shift between -28dB at 1kHz when B/T are on 1 and -34dB at 270K when B/T are maxed. The model isn't exact but that's kind of the nature of a fender tonestack.

TSC in the web

 

[Acoustic356]

This should be the values from the nobelium schematic if you want to play with the controls. Put the mid control up to max to simulate the 2.7K resistor used in place of a mix pot. Using this as a model the center of the mid-dip should shift between -28dB at 1kHz when B/T are on 1 and -34dB at 270K when B/T are maxed. The model isn't exact but that's kind of the nature of a fender tonestack.

TSC in the web

'

I pulled out my manual. The Noble has a mid notch centered around 700Hz when the Bass and Treble are maxed.

 

[MarkA]

I added an attenuator today. I'm pretty happy with it. I A/B'd the mic'd tone with the DI from the attenuator and I'm pretty happy.

There aren't a lot of good demo's on the amp, so I can do one if anyone is interested.

Hey, if you feel up to recording one, I'll listen!

If you do record one, it would be interesting to hear a DIed track along with a miced one -- please don't feel obligated, though. Already appreciate what you've shared thus far.

 

[Acoustic356]

Hey, if you feel up to recording one, I'll listen!

If you do record one, it would be interesting to hear a DIed track along with a miced one -- please don't feel obligated, though. Already appreciate what you've shared thus far.

The LineOut is PreEQ - so I don't think that would be interesting. That's why I added the Radial Headload Prodigy which has a cabinet emulator. I was planning on doing some recording with that and with the mic in order to work through the options.

Work is a little crazy, but I'll tag you when it's done... probably not by this weekend, but next.

 

[MarkA]

The LineOut is PreEQ - so I don't think that would be interesting. That's why I added the Radial Headload Prodigy which has a cabinet emulator. I was planning on doing some recording with that and with the mic in order to work through the options.

Work is a little crazy, but I'll tag you when it's done... probably not by this weekend, but next.

Thanks, appreciate it -- and no worries re. when or how you record. That gift horse will come home to roost when its eggs are hatched, and no sooner.

 

[Acoustic356]

Thanks, appreciate it -- and no worries re. when or how you record. That gift horse will come home to roost when its eggs are hatched, and no sooner.

So.. I did some preliminary resting today. The Pre out is not pre-EQ, it's pre-amp EQ. which is cool!

Tomorrow I will compare the recorded tone to the Radial.

I think I know how I'm going to do the demo too! It's going to take a moment to record.

 

[Acoustic356]

Okay... so I have formulated the plan. I am going to record a passage into my Aeros Looper. Then I'm going to play it into the Trinity. Here's the plan:

1. Normal channel
2. Cascade Channel
   
3. Normal and Cascade Channel together
4. Mixture of Fixed and Cascade bias
   • 
     

 

[txhawaii]

So... my Trinity Trip Top arrived. I've had it for just under a week. It's slightly different than the B15 in that I went with a 12" full range speaker.

Here are the things that they don't tell you:

1. this is 6 amps in 1
   • Ampeg B15NC Fixed Bias
   • Ampeg B15NC Cathode Bias
   • Ampeg B15NF Fixed Bias
   • Ampeg B15NF Cathode Bias
   • Ampeg B15NC and B15NF Linked Fixed Bias
   • Ampeg B15NC and B15NF Linked Cathode Bias
2. Cathode bias gives a saggier feel but has rich harmonic overtones
3. Fixed bias is more clear, forward and present tone
4. Each channel has a Pull Bright switch that makes the amp sound more modern
5. The Ampeg B15NF has the volume before the tone stack
6. The Ampeg B15NC has the volume after the tone stack
7. The Line Out is pre-EQ
8. You have tube options:
   • 6L6 (Installed in mine) - Output power 51 watts
   • KT-88 (optional install - no modification) Output power 61 watts
9. True output power 30 watts in cathode biases mode / 40 watts in fixed bias when using 6l6GC tubes

I A/B'd it with my Noble, which is also on this same design. They both have a unique tone.

how do you get that many sounds out of what looks like a standard looking ampeggy face and control knobs?

 

[Acoustic356]

how do you get that many sounds out of what looks like a standard looking ampeggy face and control knobs?

Read the specs provided earlier.

It's 2 different Ampeg models on the same chassis. You can also change the bias. Some of the changes are subtle, but they are there...

 

[Acoustic356]

Here is the 1st of 2 demos...
Signal Chain - Aeros Looper - Trinity Triptop - AKG D112 - RCF M20X - OBS Mic 1" at center of speaker Fixed Bias demo. I will do the Cascade Bias demo soon

 

[txhawaii]

Here is the 1st of 2 demos...
Signal Chain - Aeros Looper - Trinity Triptop - AKG D112 - RCF M20X - OBS Mic 1" at center of speaker Fixed Bias demo. I will do the Cascade Bias demo soon

very nice.

 

[Acoustic356]

Here is the 2nd of 2 demos...
Signal Chain - Aeros Looper - Trinity Triptop - AKG D112 - RCF M20X - OBS Mic 1" at center of speaker Cascade Bias demo.

I use the same loop for both, so if you want to compare the fixed bias video to the cascade bias loop you can easily.

 

[MarkA]

Haven't listened to the whole thing(s) yet, but sounds good so far!