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New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sun 03/14/21 1:48 pm
by Bieworm
Ok. I decided on going for a 36W version of the tremolo TMB. Still balancing wether to use 6L6 or EL34 output tubes. But hey.. still got time and it shouldn't be arbitrary for it's the same socket, and the components can be adjusted for either tube.
Doing the preps now. Have my new amp logos shipped in 2 days ago and checking outer foil sides of the caps.
20210314_190139.jpg
20210314_194209.jpg

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sun 03/14/21 2:06 pm
by JMPGuitars
I obviously prefer the EL34s. But, I'd be curious to hear the 6L6s. If it's a simple enough difference between the two types, you might be able to make it switchable.

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sun 03/14/21 2:18 pm
by Bieworm
Okay. Let's try the 6L6 then. For the sake of research ๐Ÿ˜‰

Here are the candidates:
20210314_202104.jpg

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sun 03/14/21 2:25 pm
by JMPGuitars
Bieworm wrote: โ†‘
Sun 03/14/21 2:18 pm
Okay. Let's try the 6L6 then. For the sake of research ๐Ÿ˜‰

Here are the candidates:
20210314_202104.jpg
That's easy. Do your 1st test voltages / 1st power up with the JJs, and then throw them in the trash after the amp is confirmed safe. ;)

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sun 03/14/21 2:51 pm
by Bieworm
JMPGuitars wrote: โ†‘
Sun 03/14/21 2:25 pm
Bieworm wrote: โ†‘
Sun 03/14/21 2:18 pm
Okay. Let's try the 6L6 then. For the sake of research ๐Ÿ˜‰

Here are the candidates:
20210314_202104.jpg
That's easy. Do your 1st test voltages / 1st power up with the JJs, and then throw them in the trash after the amp is confirmed safe. ;)
That's the plan!!! I think the STR will be muuuuuuch better. The 7581 are for higher output, which they really do well.
I got those JJ just out of curiosity . They obviously suck...

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sun 03/14/21 3:53 pm
by JMPGuitars
Bieworm wrote: โ†‘
Sun 03/14/21 2:51 pm
That's the plan!!! I think the STR will be muuuuuuch better. The 7581 are for higher output, which they really do well.
I got those JJ just out of curiosity . They obviously suck...
It's kinda funny. When I was younger, I thought Sovteks were junk, and JJs were good. Mostly cause of the Sovteks being associated with a lot of junk F*nder amps. But experience has dictated the opposite. JJs mostly are trush, and the Sovtek 7025s I put in the 36W Trem TMB sound great.

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sun 03/14/21 4:53 pm
by Bieworm
JMPGuitars wrote: โ†‘
Sun 03/14/21 3:53 pm
Bieworm wrote: โ†‘
Sun 03/14/21 2:51 pm
That's the plan!!! I think the STR will be muuuuuuch better. The 7581 are for higher output, which they really do well.
I got those JJ just out of curiosity . They obviously suck...
It's kinda funny. When I was younger, I thought Sovteks were junk, and JJs were good. Mostly cause of the Sovteks being associated with a lot of junk F*nder amps. But experience has dictated the opposite. JJs mostly are trush, and the Sovtek 7025s I put in the 36W Trem TMB sound great.
Same here. Sovteks were everywhere. JJ's were desirable exotics. Though sovteks are not the most spectacular sounding tubes, they are hardcore rugged and very reliable bottles!!! I always put those in sockets for reverbs.
JJ tames the brittle trebles in fenders.. that's all they're good for. And buy them in pairs.. they don't last long

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sun 03/14/21 6:37 pm
by JMPGuitars
Bieworm wrote: โ†‘
Sun 03/14/21 4:53 pm
Same here. Sovteks were everywhere. JJ's were desirable exotics. Though sovteks are not the most spectacular sounding tubes, they are hardcore rugged and very reliable bottles!!! I always put those in sockets for reverbs.
JJ tames the brittle trebles in fenders.. that's all they're good for. And buy them in pairs.. they don't last long
Yeah, I think the regular 12AX7 Sovteks weren't exciting, fairly bland. But the 7025 WA and WB sound good so far.

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Mon 03/15/21 2:52 am
by Bieworm
JMPGuitars wrote: โ†‘
Sun 03/14/21 6:37 pm
Bieworm wrote: โ†‘
Sun 03/14/21 4:53 pm
Same here. Sovteks were everywhere. JJ's were desirable exotics. Though sovteks are not the most spectacular sounding tubes, they are hardcore rugged and very reliable bottles!!! I always put those in sockets for reverbs.
JJ tames the brittle trebles in fenders.. that's all they're good for. And buy them in pairs.. they don't last long
Yeah, I think the regular 12AX7 Sovteks weren't exciting, fairly bland. But the 7025 WA and WB sound good so far.
If you ask me, JJ's were top notch tubes back in the days. I'm under the impression that since they became very popular they couldn't follow the demand and that decreased quality substantially. I used to have JJ's that lasted for years. And the ones I bought last year were all crap! I use 'em for testing, but once I'm confident the amp's fine.. out they go!!
It should be stated in the troubleshooting guides on position 1.

1. " is the amp holding JJ tubes? "
Y: shut off the amp immediately. Remove the JJ tubes and replace them with good quality glass. The JJ
tubes are to be disposed as HHW (household hazardous waste)
N: go to position 2

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Tue 03/16/21 3:05 pm
by Bieworm
Hey Josh! Since you now have an 18W and a 36W version... how different do they sound to you? And is the volume difference significant enough to speak of a difference? I know it's not twice the volume.. but is it obvious? Does the 36W need to be louder to sound just as good?
And to go further.. does a pentode/triode switch on the power tubes sound like a good idea?

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Tue 03/16/21 5:01 pm
by JMPGuitars
Bieworm wrote: โ†‘
Tue 03/16/21 3:05 pm
Hey Josh! Since you now have an 18W and a 36W version... how different do they sound to you? And is the volume difference significant enough to speak of a difference? I know it's not twice the volume.. but is it obvious? Does the 36W need to be louder to sound just as good?
And to go further.. does a pentode/triode switch on the power tubes sound like a good idea?
I dunno.

The 18W has Heyboer, and the 36W has Mercury Magnetics. They both sound good. One reason I like the 36W better (besides always preferring EL34s), is that I didn't make the same EQ tweaks to lower the brightness on the 18W. Also I prefer the trem on the 36W because that's the one I made slower with the .022ยตF cap.

I prefer the sound of pentodes, but you're not building an amp for me. ๐Ÿง

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Wed 03/17/21 12:49 pm
by Bieworm
Ordered the parts for the build. I'm going to give the tube town 36W OT and PT a go...
I'm pretty happy with the PT 's on my 18W amps...

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sat 03/20/21 6:51 am
by Bieworm
Proceeding the determination of the outside foil of the caps. You can clearly see the difference in noise level on the scope.
Sometimes we think the little line that's put on the caps from factory marks the outside foil, but that is not always true...look at the example!!!
20210320_124711.jpg

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sat 03/20/21 7:00 am
by JMPGuitars
The only company I know of with current production marking the outside foil intentionally is SoZo.

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sat 03/20/21 7:14 am
by Bieworm
Sozo spoils the fun...
What's next? They solder them to the turrets for you? ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ
I mean, this is fun! Sometimes it's harder to see the difference, but in those cases it wouldn't make a difference in orientation I guess.
Smaller value caps look noisier than larger value caps.. is that correct?

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sat 03/20/21 7:27 am
by Bieworm
Voila!
20210320_132645.jpg

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sat 03/20/21 7:33 am
by JMPGuitars
Bieworm wrote: โ†‘
Sat 03/20/21 7:14 am
Sozo spoils the fun...
What's next? They solder them to the turrets for you? ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ
I mean, this is fun! Sometimes it's harder to see the difference, but in those cases it wouldn't make a difference in orientation I guess.
Smaller value caps look noisier than larger value caps.. is that correct?
Yup. But, for people without a scope, it is a value added feature.

Yup. You can adjust the vertical on the scope to make it more obvious.
yup.jpg

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sat 03/20/21 8:19 am
by Bieworm
Hey Josh, is there a specific reason you draw a 1000uf cathode bypass cap on the schematic and a 2200uf on tbe layout? I assume the 2200uf is just fine?
20210320_141844.jpg

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Sun 03/21/21 6:49 am
by JMPGuitars
Bieworm wrote: โ†‘
Sat 03/20/21 8:19 am
Hey Josh, is there a specific reason you draw a 1000uf cathode bypass cap on the schematic and a 2200uf on tbe layout? I assume the 2200uf is just fine?20210320_141844.jpg
Yes. Because I didn't double check that. ;)

1000ยตF and above is fine, but I prefer the 2200ยตF. I updated the schematic, but it's still flexible.

Re: New 36W tremolo TMB project

Posted: Mon 03/22/21 11:16 am
by zaphod_phil
Bieworm wrote: โ†‘
Sat 03/20/21 7:14 am
Sozo spoils the fun...
What's next? They solder them to the turrets for you? ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ
I mean, this is fun! Sometimes it's harder to see the difference, but in those cases it wouldn't make a difference in orientation I guess.
Smaller value caps look noisier than larger value caps.. is that correct?
You're talking about the outer foil thing, right?
I found that Sozos connected with the correct foil orientation made for a very quiet build of my high-gain Hiwatt-derivative design, the Triwatt. :D