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Uncle GAS Needs You: Help Design an All Tube Amp!!!

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#281
jokerjkny said:
nice,

IMHO, i'd rather keep the amp simple and clean. one EQ section w/ a gain knob, and master volume knob.

want overdrive? then get the Jacksonampworks OD pedal. :smug: brillant!

rather than a ginzu/swiss army knife, i just want a great chef's knife that'll do the job. if i want accessories, i'll add it into the loop.
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You're making my life very simple. Bless you for that. :)
 
#283
JacksonAmpworks said:
This would actually be really easy to do. Provided that you guys just want to add a bit of gain, and not separate EQ controls etc.
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I'm inclined to say that just an added gain and master volume control would do it, BUT, I do have concerns about either losing low end, or losing tightness in the lows (either or both of which seem to happen sometimes when I try to dial in overdrive). A single "tonal balance" knob might take care of this, or of course the idea of blending in the clean, low frequency, signal would also take care of it. Either way, my thoughts are just to add controllable overdrive, and not necessarily an entire second channel.

Tom.
 
#284
Fretless5verfan said:
OT: Speaking of blessings, there's a cool gratitude thread over in basses. check it out. Though i warn you, my post is sappy as hell.
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Here was his quote: "Thanks for letting me feel like i'm taking part in the birth of something that i think will be on the lips of bassplayers for years to come. It gives me a cool feeling knowing i had even the smallest input. And thanks for giving a crap about what we think! "

Fretless, that was unbelievably kind of you. Honestly guys I couldn't do this amp without you. I care desperately about what you guys think! Do you have any idea how often I've sat and stared while I was developing my other amps that thought, "I wonder if players will dig this", or "what would a gigging musician want here"? Seriously, ya'll are helping me so much, and all I'm doing for you is building the best bass amp you have ever heard and taking your tone to the next level. ;)

Thanks again for the opportunity and for including me in your music. :D

Kindest regards,
 
#285
It's really a fun process, Brad. I'm glad that you have such an open mind and that you are willing to let us bend your ear. ;) There are a lot of really knowledgable and skilled people here, and I find this form of frank, open discussion to be really refreshing. Of course, the best part will be when you are finally able to unveil this "monster!" :D

Happy Thanksgiving, Tom.
 
#286
tombowlus said:
I'm inclined to say that just an added gain and master volume control would do it, BUT, I do have concerns about either losing low end, or losing tightness in the lows (either or both of which seem to happen sometimes when I try to dial in overdrive). A single "tonal balance" knob might take care of this, or of course the idea of blending in the clean, low frequency, signal would also take care of it. Either way, my thoughts are just to add controllable overdrive, and not necessarily an entire second channel.

Tom.
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Gotcha. There are some cool things that we could do there. Namely having the straight clean channel, but having an extra setting that would include a GAIN control, SINGLE KNOB TONE/EQ control and a MASTER control. That will enable you to adjust the amount of extra gain, shape the EQ and control the volume. In the words of Froderic Fronkensteen, "IT COULD WORK!!" :D
 
#287
tombowlus said:
It's really a fun process, Brad. I'm glad that you have such an open mind and that you are willing to let us bend your ear. ;) There are a lot of really knowledgable and skilled people here, and I find this form of frank, open discussion to be really refreshing. Of course, the best part will be when you are finally able to unveil this "monster!" :D

Happy Thanksgiving, Tom.
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Man I can't wait to show it to you. As with all projects, they are an experiment that will test your brain, your head and your mind. (sorry, had to throw in a Jack Black quote.)

I'm really surprized that this forum has so graciously accepted me here, since I have to prior history on this board. I'm certainly thankful for that and look forward to working with you guys for many years to come.

Many Blessings Guys!
 
#288
tombowlus said:
It's really a fun process, Brad. I'm glad that you have such an open mind and that you are willing to let us bend your ear. ;) There are a lot of really knowledgable and skilled people here, and I find this form of frank, open discussion to be really refreshing. Of course, the best part will be when you are finally able to unveil this "monster!" :D

Happy Thanksgiving, Tom.
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Tell me about it!! It's gonna be sool cool owing this (when i can finally afford it :p ) and having it sitting on top of my cab and having that pride in knowing you had something to do with it's conception don't you think? It's also gonna be fun when other guys come up and ask how the hell we got our basses to sound so good.

"Yea...it's a Jackson." ;)
 
#289
Fretless5verfan said:
Tell me about it!! It's gonna be sool cool owing this (when i can finally afford it :p ) and having it sitting on top of my cab and having that pride in knowing you had something to do with it's conception don't you think? It's also gonna be fun when other guys come up and ask how the hell we got our basses to sound so good.
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Aww man...you forgot the part about the chicks that will come flocking to your side of the stage when you're playing through it! :)

"Yea...it's a Jackson." ;)
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That would be a cool slogan! :bassist:
 
#291
JacksonAmpworks said:
Aww man...you forgot the part about the chicks that will come flocking to your side of the stage when you're playing through it! :)



That would be a cool slogan! :bassist:
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Hahaha! How could that have slipped my mind?

Now that you say that, that would be a pretty cool slogan! I think we'll be saying that alot once we have your gear in our hands.


P.O.M. -- You could always turn it backwards. :p
 
#292
Plain Old Me said:
There is one requirment you must include if you want an extra customer. A nice grille to show off all those tubes! :hyper:
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Will this work? :)

atlantic_rear.jpg
 
#293
Okay I had an idea while we were talking about the dual channel idea for a while.

Would it be cool to have two channels with one that sounded more vintage like a B15N and the other more modern like say the SVT? The Modern channel would have more gain and it could be set as the gain channel and leave the Vintage channel as the clean channel.

This is just an idea, so shoot me down if I'm wrong.
 
#298
With regard to the 2nd gain stage, all I'd really want is a footswitchable boost. This is what my B.K. Butler Tubeworks Blue Tube preamp has and it is very useful -- I get my tone dialled in and then when I need more of the same tone I step on the switch -- no knobs, simple and effective!

Another channel with different voicing and eq would also be cool, but it's not a requirement for me.

Happy Thanksgiving!
 
#299
Just getting into this thread, I read all the posts I could until my eyes started bleeding, so forgive me if it's been brought up before.

Effects loop as well as any extra gain stage or EQ bypass options, if included, should be footswitchable if possible. Not many bass amps with a footswitchable effects loop. Also if possible, if the effects loop had a "blend" control to mix dry/effected signals, A LA Mesa 400+, or failing that at least series/parallel. Many bass players prefer to have a mix of effected tone and dry, especially since many otherwise cool effects rob low end.

I'd imagine given the construction that it would be relatively easy for a pro to service, but easy access to tubes and bias controls is a big plus. I hate having to remove the chassis from the enclosure to get to the preamp tubes or bias pot.

I'd vote for keeping the face as clean and vintage looking as possible, keeping its looks in line with your guitar amps, which look very cool. Modern features such as DI I'd prefer to have in the back. For me, weight isn't an issue. I think most people who are into 300 watt tube amps know that they aren't light. Perhaps if it could be squeezed into a rack mount format, again like the 400+, it would keep weight down, and a custom rack housing could be made for the amp so that when together it would have the look of a more conventional head for those that prefer it.
 
#300
I have another request. Please make the head case tall enough that KT90's will fit in there. Lots of 6550/KT88 amps can't take 'em because they're too tall. BTW, the B15 sound on one channel and SVT on the other sounds cool. I've got a few of the Trace tube amps too. (I still have more tube amps than Tom Bowlus, but he's gaining quickly.) The V series is the Fender Showman tone stack. The VA/VR series is a solid state preamp that I usually bypass.

I'd REALLY like to hear a B15 feeding a clean 300 watt tube power section, and the SVT preamp is PLENTY gainy on its own. I don't think a more aggressive overdrive would be suited to the amp. The most successful modern tube amps have been more focused on tone than "everything for everyone." The Sunn 300T/Fender Bassman 300 took that route, and you'll notice Sunn is no longer around. ;) Aguilar is basically hi-fi Ampeg tone. Eden's VT300 is tube creaminess meets their s/s bass amps, and Sadowsky's amp refines that further. Even Traynor hasn't shied away from putting out a new amp that Pete Traynor could have made himself.

I would also like to suggest that you keep the output section VERY clean. Run those B+ rails at 750+ volts and an ultralinear OT, use an interstage tranny, and forget the power tube swapping. If players are going to gig this amp, they're going to need all the power you can muster. Bass cabs are usually inefficient and booty-shaking tone eats power very quickly. The power switch can drop volume and the preamp should be able to cover most of the overdrive needs above that. Even the SVT gets most of its grind from its preamp.

If I get a 300 watt tube amp, I want it to be loud as hell. Believe me, my standards are high.
 
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