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

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#81
Couple of questions...

How much is thing going to sell for...I must say i want it allready...haha

Also...When it comes to building tube heads, what information do you need...Is one of those things where you need a degree in electrical engineering or can someone research for a while and ask around and read some books and sorta do it on their own?...
 
#82
Psycho Bass Guy said:
(...)

I also would NOT make the amp cathode biased if you're wanting to hit the gigging bass player market. I have a Wizard Bass 500 running six KT90's cathode biased, and while it is VERY loud, its volume is an all or nothing proposition with very little headroom and most bass players aren't going to want constant overdrive all the time. Bass players like clean that can be dirtied up if need be. A Vox AC30 isn't famous for its clean tone... just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

yea,

i've been thinking about that, too. i want something responsive and punchy, and dunno if anything other than fixed will do.

and of course, a Vox is known for its cleans! the Edge, and myself are huge connoisseurs :p
 
#83
My point is that a Vox AC30's "clean tone" is actually severely distorted. That's why it's so full of harmonics and is so chimey. The Edge, Brian May, the Beatles and Tom Petty are all examples of that. If you turn an AC30 down to the point that it's putting out undistorted power, you'll barely be getting any sound at all.
 
#85
I've been following this since the first post, and I like what I see so far. I'm definately interested in the finished product. Is Jackson Amps making an appearance at winter NAMM, and if so, are you going to be bringing the prototype of this wonder?


I also wanted to chime in my support for Toroidal transformers. Almost all of my favorite amps seem to have one inside, so apparently I like them.
 
#86
my humble two cents:

I've read most of this thread, so i apologize in advance if my comments are mirrored somewhere else.

I think it would be great if this amp set itself apart from the other tube amps, yet not to the extent where it marketed itself into a small niche area.

If it is going to be 100 watts, then I would say it would be great to make it significantly smaller and/or lighter than tube amps with more wattage.

Sound clips , or reviews online seem to go a long way. Just from what i've seen on this forum (with reviews) and sound clips on sites like basstasters, and lets say... for example the tech 21 nyc webpage where they have clips of their amps with different settings.

I think that sacrificing features for quality will sell more than the other way around as well. Things like smoothness of knobs and looks seem to make big impressions.

gosh darnit i'm sounding like a consultant in my non-work modes........
 
#87
tombowlus said:
LOL! :p

I think that a 200w all tube head, that is making the most of all 200 of its watts (good tone at high gain settings), is just enough for most of my gigs. ............and I think that if you could offer a 300w head versus a 200w head, you may get bass players reaching for their wallets a good bit faster. :D
Click to expand...

I'll agree to that.

I know you're working with limited space... but I do think it would get a LOT more notice at 300w instead of 200w. Anyway Brad, it's sounding like it should be one heckuva bass amp, and I'm looking forward to hearing what it will do.

another possible name might be: "Rio Grande"
 
#88
tombowlus said:
LOL! :p

I think that a 200w all tube head, that is making the most of all 200 of its watts (good tone at high gain settings), is just enough for most of my gigs. I feel pretty comfortable bringing my SA200 or Quatra Valve to a gig. But, at least IME, the DB 359 leaves me wanting some more volume (but loving the tone!), so I'll sometimes slave a SS amp to drive anothter cab. 300w is a notable increase when it comes to tube amps (again, IME), and I think that if you could offer a 300w head versus a 200w head, you may get bass players reaching for their wallets a good bit faster. :D
Click to expand...

It sounds like people are wanting 300W. I can certainly do that, I'll just have to develop a larger chassis, which honestly may be okay since I have the need for a larger chassis anyway.

This will also allow me the real estate to have a tube driven FX loop etc.

Great info guys!
 
#89
Biker4Him said:
I'll agree to that.

I know you're working with limited space... but I do think it would get a LOT more notice at 300w instead of 200w. Anyway Brad, it's sounding like it should be one heckuva bass amp, and I'm looking forward to hearing what it will do.

another possible name might be: "Rio Grande"
Click to expand...

This thread has amazingly piqued my interest. I'll definitely be reading this until we see some pics. ;)

Although I like the name, Rio Grande reminds me of the pickup manufacturer.

What about:

"San-An-Tone"

*chuckle*
 
#90
Psycho Bass Guy said:
I didn't mean to imply that it wasn't the best tube. I agree that 6SL7's sound better than almost all 12AX7's. I went back to my sources after reading your post and got conflicting gain figures, but RCA's said 70, so I'll take that as gospel. I only posted what I did because I have always heard that the 12AX7. 12AU7, etc evolved as miniaturized versions of the 6SL7, 6SN7, etc, so they had equivalent gain. IME with my B15's, the best sounding 6SL7 is the 6SL7WGT, which is like a 5691 without the hi-fi snob price.
Click to expand...

No no no!! I didn't take your post that way at all. I was just trying to offer more information. :) You are right, the 6S*7 series of tubes were the precursor to the 12A*7 series of tubes. I do prefer the 6SL7WGT's as they seem to have the best tone and least ammount of noise.

BTW, I'd make the driver a cathode follower for bigger bottom. Ken Gilbert's BAGA uses EL84's in that fashion. I think a tube like a 6V6 or a 6CG7 or even a 12BH7 ala SVT would definitely separate your amp from the pack and make it a LOUD 200 watts. Don't be afraid of toroids either. Aguilar and Koch both use them in their big bass amps and they're fine.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely going to be using toriods as they are smaller, lighter and do not radiate an electromagnetic field like traditional transformers do.

I also would NOT make the amp cathode biased if you're wanting to hit the gigging bass player market. I have a Wizard Bass 500 running six KT90's cathode biased, and while it is VERY loud, its volume is an all or nothing proposition with very little headroom and most bass players aren't going to want constant overdrive all the time. Bass players like clean that can be dirtied up if need be. A Vox AC30 isn't famous for its clean tone... just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

Well my thought here is that the AC30 is about 28W. I'm not sure if the early breakup is due to the cathode biased or just low output tubes. I know that cathode biasing is known for having more compression, and fixed-bias is known for having more punch, but at 300W, how terrifyingly loud would you have to have it to actually notice the compression? The world may never know. :D
 
#91
JacksonAmpworks said:
It sounds like people are wanting 300W. I can certainly do that, I'll just have to develop a larger chassis, which honestly may be okay since I have the need for a larger chassis anyway.

This will also allow me the real estate to have a tube driven FX loop etc.

Great info guys!
Click to expand...

heck..why stop there... 8 of them KT88's would be AWESOME!!! :ninja:
 
#93
thumbman said:
Couple of questions...

How much is thing going to sell for...I must say i want it allready...haha

Also...When it comes to building tube heads, what information do you need...Is one of those things where you need a degree in electrical engineering or can someone research for a while and ask around and read some books and sorta do it on their own?...
Click to expand...

It's going to be close to $3K. Building amps at the quality level that I build amps at, means that you put performance and tone as the highest priority. 2nd rate parts are unacceptable and do not live up to the standards that I require in a product that I put my name on.

Below is a list of some of the high quality components used in the Jackson Ampworks series of amplifiers.

* Laser Cut and Polished Stainless Steel Chassis with Welded Corners
* Stainless Steel Hardware
* Multi-Speed Chassis Mounted Fan
* Stainless Steel Fan Mount
* Clarostat Sealed Conductive Plastic Potentiometers
* Silver Plated Teflon Wire
* Custom Wound Heyboer Transformers
* Precision Cut and Drilled Turret Boards
* G10 Fiberglass Turret Board
* Stainless Steel Front and Back Face Plates
* Silk Screened Front and Back Face Plates
* Stainless Steel Serial Number Plate - Laser Engraved
* Central Point Grounding with Star Ground
* Distributed Power Supply
* Innovative Omni-Range Bias Adjustment
* Locking Bias Adjustment Pots
* Gold Plated Ceramic Tube Sockets
* Mallory 150 Coupling Capacitors
* JJ and Sprague Atom Filter Caps
* Heavy Duty Carling Switches
* Fully Isolated Switchcraft Input and Speaker Jacks
* 5% Carbon Film Resistors
* Threaded Metal Inserts (for securing back panel to cabinet)
* Nylock Plate Nuts (for securing chassis to cabinet)
* Finger Joint Baltic Birch Cabinets

Regarding what you need to build amps, I would first say, you should start with a good ear for tone and then a desire to build the best and now stop until you get there. I personally don't have an EE degree and all of the things that I have learned are from years of study, testing, playing etc. It's been a long process, but a very worthwhile one and I'm pleased with where the journey has taken me.

When I stop to think that the products that I build are being used by players as an instrument to express themselves... that really makes the long hours and sleepless nights worth it. I have a passion for musicians and for helping them be successful, and if my products help them succeed or reach a higher level of playing or tone, then I am truly happy. :D
 
#94
jabberwock777 said:
I've been following this since the first post, and I like what I see so far. I'm definately interested in the finished product. Is Jackson Amps making an appearance at winter NAMM, and if so, are you going to be bringing the prototype of this wonder?


I also wanted to chime in my support for Toroidal transformers. Almost all of my favorite amps seem to have one inside, so apparently I like them.
Click to expand...

I'm not quite to the point of showing at NAMM yet, I certainly will one day.
 
#95
thejohnkim said:
my humble two cents:

Sound clips , or reviews online seem to go a long way. Just from what i've seen on this forum (with reviews) and sound clips on sites like basstasters, and lets say... for example the tech 21 nyc webpage where they have clips of their amps with different settings.

I think that sacrificing features for quality will sell more than the other way around as well. Things like smoothness of knobs and looks seem to make big impressions.
Click to expand...

I think you're right. I'm kinda leaning toward 300W now, but I still plan to keep it simple. Simple is good. ;)
 
#96
Biker4Him said:
I'll agree to that.

I know you're working with limited space... but I do think it would get a LOT more notice at 300w instead of 200w. Anyway Brad, it's sounding like it should be one heckuva bass amp, and I'm looking forward to hearing what it will do.

another possible name might be: "Rio Grande"
Click to expand...
At 300W I don't think you'll have trouble hearing it. :D
 
#98
tombowlus said:
Brad, after perusing your webpage, I am really looking forward to seeing (and hopefully hearing!) what you come up with. Those heads made with the exotic woods (instead of tolex) are stunningly beautiful! :)
Click to expand...

Thanks man! For some reason, and I don't know why it is, but Bass players always seem to notice those kinds of things more than guitar players. Why is that?
 
#99
JacksonAmpworks said:
Thanks man! For some reason, and I don't know why it is, but Bass players always seem to notice those kinds of things more than guitar players. Why is that?
Click to expand...

I don't really know. I think it may be because the bass gear world tends to be more diverse than the guitar world, where guitars and amps seem more prone to fit into a handful of well known categories (Fender and Gibson guitars, Marshall heads, etc.).

I just know what I like, and I like what I see at your webpage!

Tom.
 
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