First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

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JMPGuitars wrote:
Thu 04/02/20 9:12 am
Bieworm wrote:
Thu 04/02/20 9:00 am
--) that's the "problem" ... Even though I have max headroom with that B+ value, I would like the grind to start a little later. Now the grind starts immediatly. Is there a way that I would be able to
You can try replacing the Volume pot with an A1M pot instead of the A500K. I dunno if that would make much difference, but it might give you some more play before all the dirt kicks in.

You can also reduce the preamp gain. You could try dropping the V2 plate resistor from 100K to 82K and see where that puts your voltage and sound.

Two things:
1. This is not a F*nder, and it's not supposed to be that clean. Your demos started off sounding very clean to me, with excellent tone. I wouldn't change it personally.
2. This is a touch-sensitive amp. You can play lighter, or roll off the guitar volume a little bit to clean up the amp. And you can turn up the guitar volume or play harder to get more dirt. I'd experiment with this before you do anything else. And post a demo of doing this. ;) - no pedals, no touching the amp, just adjust the guitar volume knob and see what happens.

Thanks,
Josh

Well to try the plate resistor... it's very tight to try that without burning caps.
Is there any harm in placing a parallel resitor of 470K ..the total resitance is normally around 82K then?
In fact..I have the cap to ground on the spot of the initial schematic, right next to the phase inverter area.
parallel resistor plate V2.png
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

Post by JMPGuitars »

That's fine. Try it out and see how it goes.
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

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JMPGuitars wrote:
Thu 04/02/20 10:48 am
That's fine. Try it out and see how it goes.
It worked with the resistor. On 82.4K the sound is still driven, but with light pick attack it cleans up nicely!! Exactly what I wanted! Seriously!!! With the 100k it was untameable ..even with light picking or rolling back the volume on the guitar.

Here is the voltage chart:
15858490971142987693071219809203.jpg
I have a recording:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/k8skj0rgslu54 ... r.m4a?dl=0

Unfortunately my wife started complaining about the noise. So the trem samples on various volume settings will be for later.
Man this amp kicks.

Today I ordered my stuff for the making of the combo shell.. hope I can find wood somewhere. Shops are closed with the virus measures...But the tolex etc. is on its way. Even found some NOS Russian mil spec EL84's (6P14P) for 12$ each
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

Post by JMPGuitars »

That sounds great! And your V2 voltage looks good. I might switch that or add a note in the docs. It's hard to tell since your PT situation is odd.
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

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JMPGuitars wrote:
Thu 04/02/20 1:47 pm
That sounds great! And your V2 voltage looks good. I might switch that or add a note in the docs. It's hard to tell since your PT situation is odd.
Yes.. better wait until someone more conservative decides to build it. Wait... conservative? This amp? Naaaaa ;)

I really believe this amp would sell good man!
Everyone is always trying to get drive on low volume..adding VVR's or attenuators... this one don't need that. It's easier in dialing in than the classic 18W, that's for sure

Build one.. you need to own one, seriously!
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

Post by JMPGuitars »

Bieworm wrote:
Thu 04/02/20 2:09 pm
Build one.. you need to own one, seriously!
I might. ;)
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

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JMPGuitars wrote:
Thu 04/02/20 2:30 pm
Bieworm wrote:
Thu 04/02/20 2:09 pm
Build one.. you need to own one, seriously!
I might. ;)
Josh

Would this give me a hi-lo switch?
hi lo switch.png
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

Post by JMPGuitars »

That's probably more of a tone suck switch, you don't want 68K there. You could use your volume knob on the guitar. ;)
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

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JMPGuitars wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 7:25 am
That's probably more of a tone suck switch, you don't want 68K there. You could use your volume knob on the guitar. ;)
You're right. Another useless feature. I just want to give proper purpose to the holes of the dummy inputs...tinkering and linguring:)
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

Post by JMPGuitars »

Bieworm wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 9:09 am
You're right. Another useless feature. I just want to give proper purpose to the holes of the dummy inputs...tinkering and linguring:)
Contact [REMOVED] and maybe he can make you some custom faceplates. I dunno how much the shipping will be to where you are, but it might still be worth it.

If I make the Tremolo TMB, I'll have him make me the full chassis and faceplate sets (from my own designs), and my amp might also have reverb in it, just to make you jealous. ;)

Thanks,
Josh
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

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JMPGuitars wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 9:28 am
Bieworm wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 9:09 am
You're right. Another useless feature. I just want to give proper purpose to the holes of the dummy inputs...tinkering and linguring:)
Contact [REMOVED] and maybe he can make you some custom faceplates. I dunno how much the shipping will be to where you are, but it might still be worth it.

If I make the Tremolo TMB, I'll have him make me the full chassis and faceplate sets (from my own designs), and my amp might also have reverb in it, just to make you jealous. ;)

Thanks,
Josh
Do you seriously think that isn't on my list here? Look at the dates on the picture...
15859263092612654718155578507043.jpg
And..


And not to forget:
15859263339377151659387577958206.jpg
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

Post by JMPGuitars »

Bieworm wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 9:56 am
Do you seriously think that isn't on my list here? Look at the dates
Oh, I knew. :lol:
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

Post by zaphod_phil »

JMPGuitars wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 9:28 am
my amp might also have reverb in it ;)
Burn the heretic! :x
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

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zaphod_phil wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 2:21 pm
JMPGuitars wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 9:28 am
my amp might also have reverb in it ;)
Burn the heretic! :x
Wow Phil...now you're scaring me man!!! Starting religious punishments oldskool style on honest verblovin' people ...that's radicalism ISIS style. You ought to be so overwhelmed with remorse that you have to build a reverb in your most precious amp to make up! Hi-ya :bigups: :bigups:
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

Post by JMPGuitars »

zaphod_phil wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 2:21 pm
Burn the heretic! :x
I'm already on 🔥🔥🔥

Bieworm wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 2:33 pm
You ought to be so overwhelmed with remorse that you have to build a reverb in your most precious amp to make up! Hi-ya :bigups: :bigups:
I think it would be much funnier if we sneak into ZP's house and install reverbs in all his amps while he's out.
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

Post by Bieworm »

JMPGuitars wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 3:00 pm
zaphod_phil wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 2:21 pm
Burn the heretic! :x
I'm already on 🔥🔥🔥

Bieworm wrote:
Fri 04/03/20 2:33 pm
You ought to be so overwhelmed with remorse that you have to build a reverb in your most precious amp to make up! Hi-ya :bigups: :bigups:
I think it would be much funnier if we sneak into ZP's house and install reverbs in all his amps while he's out.
...and rivet them amps closed ;)
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

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Question:
Does it matter on what valve the connection from pin 3 the wire goes to the 180R bias resistor and 1000uf cap? Mine is connected on V4 while the lay-out says V5. So my jumper wire goes from pin 3 V4 to pin 3 V5. It was a matter of keeping the wires short. My gut feeling says that this is perfectly fine, but just checking if this can have side effects.
Also wonder as an alternative for the Ruby mod maybe a cut control would help get rid of fizz... But what is the consequential downside of that?
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

Post by JMPGuitars »

Bieworm wrote:
Sat 04/04/20 4:39 am
Question:
Does it matter on what valve the connection from pin 3 the wire goes to the 180R bias resistor and 1000uf cap? Mine is connected on V4 while the lay-out says V5. So my jumper wire goes from pin 3 V4 to pin 3 V5. It was a matter of keeping the wires short. My gut feeling says that this is perfectly fine, but just checking if this can have side effects.
Also wonder as an alternative for the Ruby mod maybe a cut control would help get rid of fizz... But what is the consequential downside of that?
Your gut was correct. It's arbitrary. You can run it to either tube, or run both tubes separately to the cathode resistor.

The ruby mod is super easy, and clean. Just go with that if you have fizz.
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

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JMPGuitars wrote:
Sat 04/04/20 7:58 am
Bieworm wrote:
Sat 04/04/20 4:39 am
Question:
Does it matter on what valve the connection from pin 3 the wire goes to the 180R bias resistor and 1000uf cap? Mine is connected on V4 while the lay-out says V5. So my jumper wire goes from pin 3 V4 to pin 3 V5. It was a matter of keeping the wires short. My gut feeling says that this is perfectly fine, but just checking if this can have side effects.
Also wonder as an alternative for the Ruby mod maybe a cut control would help get rid of fizz... But what is the consequential downside of that?
Your gut was correct. It's arbitrary. You can run it to either tube, or run both tubes separately to the cathode resistor.

The ruby mod is super easy, and clean. Just go with that if you have fizz.
Got some stuff on the way ...
BUT the only diodes and zeners I could get were:

UF5408
1N5359B

I'll have to try it with those
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Re: First sounds of the 18W TMB tremolo build

Post by JMPGuitars »

Bieworm wrote:
Sat 04/04/20 8:29 am
Got some stuff on the way ...
BUT the only diodes and zeners I could get were:

UF5408
1N5359B

I'll have to try it with those
Those 24V Zeners are almost certainly too high. You want your Zener diodes to be around 2V higher than your cathode voltage. So somewhere in the vicinity of 14V. I recommended 15V in the docs, and I've seen people go as high as 16 and test well. You can try the 24V, but there's a good chance it won't work.

The UF5408 should be fine, that's supposed to be a higher wattage version of the UF4007 (1W vs 3W).

Thanks,
Josh
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