From: Bdale Garbee Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 21:30:08 +0000 (-0700) Subject: update to reflect change from 5e3 to two-stroke as base amp design X-Git-Url: https://git.gag.com/?p=web%2Fgag.com;a=commitdiff_plain;h=5f1dedb279651a633af37c83d3dcac2756bcaf5f update to reflect change from 5e3 to two-stroke as base amp design --- diff --git a/music/guitars/amp-1.mdwn b/music/guitars/amp-1.mdwn new file mode 100644 index 0000000..028f862 --- /dev/null +++ b/music/guitars/amp-1.mdwn @@ -0,0 +1 @@ +[[!map pages="music/guitars/amp-5E3/* and ! music/guitars/amp-5E3/*/*"]] diff --git a/music/guitars/amp-1/index.mdwn b/music/guitars/amp-1/index.mdwn new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6676115 --- /dev/null +++ b/music/guitars/amp-1/index.mdwn @@ -0,0 +1,71 @@ +# Bdale's First Tube Guitar Amplifier # + +Once I started working on my [first guitar](../bdale-1), I started to think +about what I wanted as an amp to plug it in to. Of course, my son already +has a couple amplifiers he's happy to let me use: + +* Silvertone "Smart II S" that came with his beginner's guitar kit +* Fender "[Mustang III](http://www.fender.com/search?q=mustang%20iii) + that some friends bought him after + [the fire](http://gag.com/blackforestfire.html) + +Both of these are fine amps, particularly for just starting out. The +Silvertone is very small, with simple controls. The Fender is far more +complicated because it's a "modeling amp", which means it has DSP innards +that allow it to "fake" a bunch of different amplifier tone profiles. But +both are solid-state amps... and Robert and I both felt that adding a real +tube amplifer to the mix would be great fun! + +After a lot of reading and listening to various video clips and audio files, +I started to narrow in on building a clone of the Fender "Tweed Deluxe", which +was an early very simple amplifier with two 12AX7 tubes for the preamp and +tone stack, and a pair of 6V6 power tubes in push-pull configuration for +about 12-15 watts output into a single 12" driver in a combo cabinet. The +schematics for this amplifier are on the web, and all the parts are widely +available at modest cost. A good page describing more about this amp is +available on [fenderguru.com](http://fenderguru.com/amps/deluxe-5e3). And +in my searching, the +[full kit from Tube Depot](https://tubedepot.com/products/tweed-5e3-vacuum-tube-amp-kit) +seems like a great starting point. + +Then I stumbled over a reference to the book "Guitar Amplifer Handbook" by +Dave Hunter. For me, at least, it did a great job of explaining how +tube amps work and what makes the different vintage tube amp designs +interesting. The conclusion of the first part of the book is a chapter +showing the design and construction of a simple but versatile amp called +the "Two Stroke" that instantly appealed to me. + +The things that appeal to me about this amplifier are: + +* It's a very simple design with lots of potential for experimentation +* It can use any of several final output tubes down to about 4W, which + means it should be possible to get good tones at volume levels low + enough to be compatible with our basement rec room for practice, yet + with a single tube swap be able to make enough power for gigging in + a larger venue. +* The tones I heard on demo videos with a strat clone into it direct with no + pedals are pretty cool, and please my ear. +* The somewhat novel combination of one each inexpensive ceramic magnet + 10" and 8" drivers seem to yield a lot of flexibility at very low cost. +* The kit price for everything except a cabinet is reasonable, and using the + custom build of a cabinet as an excuse to go buy more woodworking tools + appeals to me... + +Robert points out that he thinks the lack of reverb, in fact the lack even of +an effects send/return circuit means he thinks we'll want a reverb pedal to +put in front of it pretty soon. But to be honest, the tones available out of +the box sound good, so I'm not sure how big a deal that will be to me. I've +also found many opinions posted in forums about the 5e3 and similar vintage +simple tube amp designs suggesting they really aren't the right amps to put +lots of effects in front of... might be better to think in terms of something +like a blackface amp clone with internal spring reverb for a follow-on project? + +If Robert is right, the +[Reverb 2](http://buildyourownclone.com/products/reverb2) +looks like it could be a completely plausible addition to the mix at some +point. + +## Progress ## + +Not sure exactly when I'll start this project .. stay tuned! + diff --git a/music/guitars/amp-5E3.mdwn b/music/guitars/amp-5E3.mdwn deleted file mode 100644 index 028f862..0000000 --- a/music/guitars/amp-5E3.mdwn +++ /dev/null @@ -1 +0,0 @@ -[[!map pages="music/guitars/amp-5E3/* and ! music/guitars/amp-5E3/*/*"]] diff --git a/music/guitars/amp-5E3/index.mdwn b/music/guitars/amp-5E3/index.mdwn deleted file mode 100644 index 71edd4f..0000000 --- a/music/guitars/amp-5E3/index.mdwn +++ /dev/null @@ -1,70 +0,0 @@ -# Bdale's Custom Build of a Fender 5E3 "Tweed Deluxe" Tube Amplifier Clone # - -Once I started working on my [first guitar](../bdale-1), I started to think -about what I wanted as an amp to plug it in to. Of course, my son already -has a couple amplifiers he's happy to let me use: - -* Silvertone "Smart II S" that came with his beginner's guitar kit -* Fender "[Mustang III](http://www.fender.com/search?q=mustang%20iii) - that some friends bought him after - [the fire](http://gag.com/blackforestfire.html) - -Both of these are fine amps, particularly for just starting out. The -Silvertone is very small, with simple controls. The Fender is far more -complicated as it has DSP innards that allow it to "fake" a bunch of different -amplifier tone profiles. But both are solid-state amps... and Robert and I -both felt that adding a classic tube amplifer to the mix would be great fun! - -After a lot of reading and listening to various video clips and audio files, -I started to narrow in on building a clone of the Fender "Tweed Deluxe", which -was an early very simple amplifier with two 12AX7 tubes for the preamp and -tone stack, and a pair of 6V6 power tubes in push-pull configuration for -about 12-15 watts output into a single 12" driver in a combo cabinet. The -schematics for this amplifier are on the web, and all the parts are widely -available at modest cost. A good page describing more about this amp is -available on [fenderguru.com](http://fenderguru.com/amps/deluxe-5e3). - -The things that appeal to me about this amplifier are: - -* It's a very simple design with lots of potential for experimentation -* The tones you can get with a strat clone into it direct with no pedals are - pretty amazing, and please my ear. -* The combination of modest power and a single 12" driver should make it a - good fit for our basement rec room environment. -* The kit price is reasonable, and subtantially less than a good vintage - example of this amplifier on eBay / Craigslist. - -The only "downside" to this amp is the lack of reverb, but to be honest, the -tones available are so good I'm not sure how big a deal that will be. And if -as my son says it's something we really want/need, the -[Reverb 2](http://buildyourownclone.com/products/reverb2) -looks like it could be a completely plausible addition to the mix at some -point. - -Lots of reading and web investigation led me to the -[full kit from Tube Depot](https://tubedepot.com/products/tweed-5e3-vacuum-tube-amp-kit) -as a good starting point for a custom build of this amp. - -## Modifications ## - -I plan to start out with the amp fully stock and see how it plays. But there -are a bunch of mods documented out there including a collection documented -by [Rob Robinette](https://robrobinette.com/5e3_Modifications.htm). Of those, -the ones that stand out for me already are: - -* How to Lacquer a Tweed Cab, to protect it and help keep it clean -* Add a Master Volume, rumored to make working with pedals easier -* Half Power Switch, so we can get all the cool tones at lower volume -* Input Jack Jumper Switch, simplify using the amp, free up space on the panel - for other hacks - -The other "mod" that a lot of folks suggest is to replace the first 12AX7 tube -used as the preamp for a 12AY7. That's apparently what the originals used. -It has less gain, which means more useful "clean tone" range before the crunch -kicks in. Apparently, this really is as simple as just pulling out one tube -and putting in the other, since several models of 12A tubes have the same 9-pin -base and matching pinout, just different amplification characteristics. I can -easily add one to the amplifier kit order from Tube Depot, and the 12AX7 pulled -can be a spare for the remaining one if I decide I like the results... - -Not sure exactly when I'll start this project .. stay tuned!