6SJ7 Pentode 18 watt Lite...Formerly the ABSOLUTE Minimum

[klingo]

So is the 1/4 power switch worth it then or does it screw up the tone too much?

Also, does the 1/2 power option provide enough of a volume cut to make it worth adding it to a simple build??

IMHO
if you find that your amp has plenty of gain and your vol pot find a place between 5 o'clock and 3 o'clock then it's worth to try.

for what i do the "1/4 or full" is enough (i have the 1/4,1/2,full on my 10w)

What would the word "grind" mean to a French speaker, I wonder.... Would "growl" be better to use...?

in my mind growl is more in the low mid and grind in the mid. as it's hard to find a sound adjective dictionnary (same for the weird french sound adjectives ), i'd like to be corrected

i'm afraid to divert from the original topic

[kleuck]

in my mind growl is more in the low mid and grind in the mid. as it's hard to find a sound adjective dictionnary (same for the weird french sound adjectives icon_rolleyes.gif icon_lol.gif ), i'd like to be corrected

Your english is better than mine, but i would say exactly the same.

[StarGeezers]

I brought "the amp" over to New Orleans Guitar Co. yesterday to show my pal Vinney...He turned it full Volume and had a go ... Whoa !!! He was Very impressed with the Volume and the Tones...Played a little slide through it and it really captured some Sonny Landreth tones...(he's a local boy who really plays a mean slide)
Of course , everyone there wanted one ... one guy even wanted to pay me in advance... Might just have to whip,out a few of these...Great!!! Just what I need , 60 years old and a new career... Grrrrr!!!

[StarGeezers]

Whatever you guys call it , we all know exactly what you mean!!! We all seek that "Holy Grail" Tone ,where anything you play sounds really good!!! ...and though opinions vary as to the Tones we like, we're all on the "same page"...to the ears...

[StarGeezers]

After playing this amp for a while , we'd just like to say , it has the best Tone of any amp we've ever played through in the past 40 years...I'm Thoroughly Happy with the amp in every way...and would suggest it to anyone wanting to build a nice Simple 18watt... and did I mention how LOUD it is too... more than enough for any of our gigs... Just amazing how GOOD 18 watts can sound... True Boutique Tone, in a very simple build......

[kyoungsteadt]

Geezer,

Sounds like you built a good one. Good job!

[StarGeezers]

KY, I couldn't be happier!!!.. Due mostly to you guys helping design this thing from the start...couldn't go wrong really, with the Masters watching over my shoulder... BIG THANKS!!!
I'm selling off all my other store bought amps, finally found a Tone I can be proud to play...those other amps sound like "toys"...
Tried the RFD with the 18W ... WHOA!!!! Scary ,but COOL !!!! hahahahaha
Big sent a perfect chassis to start a second (spare ) 18W ... will use 84s for the power tubes this time ... as recommended...the rest will be exactly the same ...

[kyoungsteadt]

I'll have to simulate your build down the road. I'd love to hear the tone you are getting. Geezer, give yourself some credit, you built it.

[StarGeezers]

KY, just come on by... I'll put the coffee on and we can jam into the late hours out here in the woods.... You're gonna' freak out at how good it sounds...Jangly...Transparent...sweetness... gain turning into sustain ,with unexpected harmonies entering the mix as you let it ring... Un-F'n Believable for slide...I'd like to think the short wired P2P build made some difference, but I believe 99% of the results was from all the expert help pre facto....and a little Luck ... 5751 in the PI don't sound bad either... CU!!

[bigbeck]

will use 84s for the power tubes this time ... as recommended...the rest will be exactly the same ...

I would suggest the Superlite without the tone stack. Just as simple as the Minimalist except you'll have an extra pot and a couple of extra resistors. And if you don't like the tone,which I highly doubt,you can always plug a 6u8 in or drill it out for a 6SJ7,and ruin everything!

The superlite was my first 18watt build. It was also the first amp where I didn't change every component under the sun trying to make it sound better or different. All I did was tweak the voltages and the Carl B. TB stack. It just sounded too good to me. I know you find that hard to believe,comming from me.

If you use the tweed tone, You'll just have to put a voltage divider in after the second stage to replace the tone stack. Maybe use 500K pots.

[kyoungsteadt]

Gain turning into sustain...

Geezer it sounds like you are describing a TrainWreck. Sounds like a great amp.

[StarGeezers]

Big, Noted....and on the list...mailing your gifts and postage tomorrow ...sorry for the delay...
KY, Trainwreck??? Never bothered to check those out...Can't be much different eh??? ...given all these amps are pretty much the same ... and not...I wish I could send you guys the amp to check out...It sounds that Good...Yes the more you turn it up the more it just chimes on and on , introducing other harmonies as you let it ring...NICE, but LOUD !!!! I hope I can make one that sounds identical...for a spare... Guess I'll have to do he same thing,same parts ,etc. all standard stuff ...schmaybe' a little board for the PI , same values /parts though...

I really need to figure out that M box so I can post some clips...but that's even harder than building amps ... Oh, how I long for the days of the 4 track cassette recorder...

Big , something like this ???

[bigbeck]

That looks about right. Get rid of the 270p cap and put a .022 there. You can use 470K's for that divider too. You may have to use 220's there to tame the beast.

Anode voltage should be between 335V and 350V. Thought I'd mention that to save Phil a few key strokes

[StarGeezers]

Sorry, overlooked that 270p cap ,will change ...220K for the VD sounds good , don't want tame on these, eh,unless of course it squeals from too much gain.. if that is possible to have too much gain...
I think we can get the XPWR106 down to those Vs,or pretty darn close...cinder blocks ...hahahahaha

[kyoungsteadt]

Geezer,

Give this a listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2_12Ler ... re=related

[StarGeezers]

Very Nice!!! most similar , but with maybe a touch more sustain than his TW...a little more transparent/jangly sounding, and lots more harmonics ex post facto.... those little pick harmonics almost automatic... Maybe cause' I was using single coil tap on humpups...open back speaker...
The odd thing is , when turning up the volume pot(amp) it goes from quiet to LOUD instantly at 1...Turning it up only makes it Louder...Gigged on 3 ...on about 5 the volume sorta' settles out and turns into mega sustain with ringing harmonics... I have to use the guitar V to get down to a bedroom (early morning ) volume .. Mine is not a bedroom amp by any stretch...
I noticed higher value PI R values in Bigs Superlite , my tail R is 22K (ZP) The twin Rs are different , not matched (100K and 90K)Seems to have LOTS of gain , especially with the 6SJ7 which on the O1s produces mostly clean tones...gotta' be that PI doing all the magic...I think...

[kleuck]

Replace your Log pot with a linear one

[StarGeezers]

Thanks , I'll try that , but hope it doesn't affect the Tone... shouldn't huh???

[kleuck]

As long as ou are using the same value, of course not (and even in this case...)
I use the trick all the time in my effect pedals (volume pot) : if the output level is weak or normal : log (goes up faster) ; if it is huge : linear (and it's easier to deal with the pot without altering the max volume).

[StarGeezers]

That's a very Cool trick to remember... Thanks !!!!