18 watt tmb tremolo build question

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Bieworm
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Re: 18 watt tmb tremolo build question

Post by Bieworm »

JMPGuitars wrote:
Wed 03/11/20 12:44 pm
Slow down, you'll be okay. Personally, I solder my turrets at 380C, so if your iron is really that hot, then it SHOULD be able to solder the turrets. That said, not all turrets are equal. Some turrets are terrible.

See my thread here for the stuff I use: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=25173

The first two meters on that page can both test capacitors. In some cases, you will need to lift one side of the capacitor out of the circuit to be able to test.

I use Keystone 1509-4 turrets exclusively. Amplified Parts / CE sells them as their "premium" turrets. Other companies sell them too including Newark and Mouser. If you can't solder a turret, it's either the turret, the iron, or the technique at fault. You need to figure out which.

I just added this to the page: https://amzn.to/2IHNDVW - that can test your soldering iron temperature and see if it needs to be calibrated or replaced. There's also cheaper generic versions that work. I'm still using the Aoyue solder station I listed there.

I highly recommend using the "Kester No Clean Solder" listed on that page. It works great, and doesn't make a mess.

Anyway, you need to inspect your amp thoroughly to make sure there's nothing else that stands out as obvious like those lugs soldered together by mistake. Then you need to go through the amp with the layout AND schematic, and highlight every single connection, and component only after verifying their values and connections. You might need to do this more than once to be thorough.

Always take your time and be thorough. Looking at your photos, I suggest you watch the videos I linked in the solder technique sticky thread: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=25396

Thanks,
Josh
Josh.. thanks man!
You're a pro..I'm just a hobby kind of guy. Just have rudimentary equipment. A hapé dmm, a weller soldering station, some tools and a lot of ability to improvise ;)
I took the challenge on building this amp because it's in my nature to explore unknown territory...And because I have been wanting to build a princeton reverb for a very long time (go figure..hahaha). I came up with the idea of an 18W because I have cleaner amps , but I always play slightly overdriven. I have a mucho boosto that's always on..so I figured why not build an amp that has balls to it AND is always somehow overdriven by its nature.
Sadly I will have to take the Vibro king to practice tomorrow...wish it had been my 18watt. It was operational until sunday, when I dismantled the guts to make the TMB tremolo... Ah crap
I'll have it someday, but first I have to get my angry wife back on my side, since I have been neglecting her by building this amp ;)
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Bieworm
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Re: 18 watt tmb tremolo build question

Post by Bieworm »

Damn, did the highlighting on a lay-out vs amp just now. I switched the 2 wires at leg 6+7 on the PI socket...the ones with the earlier solderconnection between them.
Also found out that I forgot the .0047 cap from tonepot to ground.
The rest looks fine. Now wait for the trannie to arrive
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"THIS should be played at high volume..preferably in a residential area"

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Re: 18 watt tmb tremolo build question

Post by JMPGuitars »

Bieworm wrote:
Wed 03/11/20 1:23 pm
Josh.. thanks man!
You're a pro..I'm just a hobby kind of guy. Just have rudimentary equipment. A hapé dmm, a weller soldering station, some tools and a lot of ability to improvise ;)
I took the challenge on building this amp because it's in my nature to explore unknown territory...And because I have been wanting to build a princeton reverb for a very long time (go figure..hahaha). I came up with the idea of an 18W because I have cleaner amps , but I always play slightly overdriven. I have a mucho boosto that's always on..so I figured why not build an amp that has balls to it AND is always somehow overdriven by its nature.
Sadly I will have to take the Vibro king to practice tomorrow...wish it had been my 18watt. It was operational until sunday, when I dismantled the guts to make the TMB tremolo... Ah crap
I'll have it someday, but first I have to get my angry wife back on my side, since I have been neglecting her by building this amp ;)
I bought a generic version of the Hakko tip temp sensor for around $25 (maybe less). Buy one. You need to know what your actual temperature is when soldering.

The dedicated cap tester I think was around $40? Also worth it. Your wife will forgive you when you tell her it will help you prevent more expensive mistakes. ;)
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Bieworm
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Re: 18 watt tmb tremolo build question

Post by Bieworm »

Well there is progress on the new build.
I wonder... I have two eminence 1028K 20 watters that were custom build for Dr Z. Are those a good choice for hooking up to the TMB tremolo amp? I might be building a larger combo a la JTM 45 BB with the 18W and 2x10. I can order a nice mesh tolex and then grill it with large checker marshall type cloth
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"THIS should be played at high volume..preferably in a residential area"

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