Page 1 of 1

Can 18 watt TMB sound like the stock version?

Posted: Fri 01/11/19 10:42 pm
by spareribs
I have basically a stock version I believe of a clone 18 watt that I bought used from eBay with the usual 4 inputs and tremolo along with the old style tone knobs for each side of the amp.

I love the clean sound when I use a 12AU7 in the V1 location plugged into the lower gain input of the tremolo channel.

I’m thinking of getting another 18 watt clone with the TMB controls and master volume.

If I use the same speaker model and same tube, can I make the TMB amp sound like my standard version? Or at least very close?

Re: Can 18 watt TMB sound like the stock version?

Posted: Sat 01/12/19 1:21 pm
by Crabman
You could opt for the TMB plus "normal" channel in your build. Then voice the normal channel (volume + tone control) to be similar to what you currently have in your non tremolo channel. That way you will have the best of both worlds (minus the tremolo). What you will loose is the parallel input on the the original normal channel since half of the first tube will be used for the first stage of the TMB. So perhaps a bit of loss in fatness to the tone?

Have a look at the Trinity 18W schematics. They have at least 3 versions with slightly different voicing to the TMB and normal channels.

Re: Can 18 watt TMB sound like the stock version?

Posted: Mon 01/14/19 12:15 am
by spareribs
Interesting. I may get the Trinity sIII version. I heard a YouTube clip and it sounded good.

Re: Can 18 watt TMB sound like the stock version?

Posted: Mon 01/14/19 8:52 am
by JMPGuitars
Before you buy a kit, take a look in the downloads section: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=24433

That's the TMBs that have been vetted here. Trinity is pretty nice too from what I've heard, tho I have no personal experience with them.