New Fender "type" amp build suggestions

[foreverstrung]

Doesn't matter what type of cap you use. As long as it's the right value + voltage rating and decent quality you're fine. All in all it's just a matter of aesthetics. I just don't like things being able to move around inside the chassis.

Good point

[foreverstrung]

Is how I’ve twisted this wire acceptable? I haven’t got it settled into its final position, but I was just curious before I got too far into it. I never really noticed the twisting before as I do with 2 total opposite colors. Really stands out that one wire stays pretty much straight the way I’m twisting it.
Thx
Dave

[JMPGuitars]

No. You want the wires twisted together and tight (but not tight enough to damage the wire).

This is how I do it:

jmpguitars-heater-wiring.png

Note that I use 2 different colors and heat shrink wrap. This makes it easy to inspect, and the heat shrink helps keep it tight. The other reason I use two colors is to keep the heaters of each tube in phase with each other (the same wire connects to each pin 4+5, and the same wire connects to each pin 9 in the preamp tubes, etc.).

We twist the heater wires to keep them together, and prevent them from vibrating. One reason for this is to cancel the AC signal. If the heater wires are not set correctly, the AC signal won't cancel out, and it will induce noise and other issues.

Thanks,
Josh

[foreverstrung]

No. You want the wires twisted together and tight (but not tight enough to damage the wire).

Well that’s unfortunate. I put a lot of time into just that. Son of a gun. But that’s why I asked. I thought it might not have been right.
There’s no way I’ll get it as well put together as you’ve got them Josh, but I can certainly do better.
This PTFE wire stays really tight together. I know you’re aware of that but considering this, is the shrink wrap really needed or just suggested?
The biggest issue I have running wire anywhere, but notably here with the wires being doubled up, is measuring them more precisely.
Ok. I’ll go back again. 3rd times a charm

[Bieworm]

Twisting the wires is easy. Just take a battery drill and put the 2 wires in the head. Hold both wires and start spinning. Don’t overdo it because they will start warbling

[foreverstrung]

Twisting the wires is easy. Just take a battery drill and put the 2 wires in the head. Hold both wires and start spinning. Don’t overdo it because they will start warbling

Yes. That’s what I did. Well, with the battery drill anyways. I just had one wire sliding straight thru my fingers. Only one actually twisted. No way I could have produced what I did manually. I knew it wasn’t right but I had hoped it would have provided a sufficient result.
I’m glad a brought it to you guys attention. It would have been the turd in the pickle barrel had I not.

[JMPGuitars]

I thought I made a video of how to do the heater wires, but I couldn't find it. I'll make a new one eventually.

Anyway, I use a clamp on my bench to secure one end of like 8 feet of paired wire together, and then I put the other end inside the drill chuck and tighten it so the wires are clamped down on both ends (pull the slack so they're even when you tighten the second end). Then I run the drill until I'm happy with the result.

The trick to good lengths is to cut everything too long. Then you cut them to the correct length after one side is already connected. I'll usually install all the heater wires before soldering. Making sure to have a good MECHANICAL CONNECTION on all the wires makes that simple enough.

The heat shrink is not necessary, but it can be helpful, and I love heat shrink.

For me, everything is about prep, especially wire prep. This is what the heater wires looked like before install on that previous photo:

JMPGuitars Heater Wire Prep.png

Thanks,
Josh

[foreverstrung]

Can you shoot me a little drawing of how that NFB (cliff jack) switch is wired. The layout drawing is a bit confusing to me.
I mean the 4 lugs on the jack itself.
Thx
Dave

[Bieworm]

Can you shoot me a little drawing of how that NFB (cliff jack) switch is wired. The layout drawing is a bit confusing to me.
I mean the 4 lugs on the jack itself.
Thx
Dave

That jack is the speaker jack.

[foreverstrung]

That jack is the speaker jack

Apologies for being confusing. I misspoke when I called it the NFB jack when I meant Vibrato pedal jack.
The only reason I ask is because blowing up the gut pics of your amp if appears to be slightly different wiring for the vibrato pedal, but I’ll let that go if your confirming it’s wired the same.
I’ve circled the cliff jack I’m asking about.
Thx
Dave

[foreverstrung]

Updated pictures after rewiring most everything.
I’ve got to go thru and highlight/trace everything. Triple check. I’ll light it up later this evening maybe. PTFE wire was much easier to work with
One major mistake I've made is the tube socket locations. I've got them crowding many of the other components. I had plenty of room.
Another thing I noticed is that with hi-def pictures I can REALLY see how much more work I need to do to hone in on my soldering skills.
I also note that I’ll need to use two tier turrets next time in many places as I’m over crowded all over the board.
Unless something really jumps out at you guys, I’m holding here.
Thx
Dave

[Bieworm]

That jack is the speaker jack

Apologies for being confusing. I misspoke when I called it the NFB jack when I meant Vibrato pedal jack.
The only reason I ask is because blowing up the gut pics of your amp if appears to be slightly different wiring for the vibrato pedal, but I’ll let that go if your confirming it’s wired the same.
I’ve circled the cliff jack I’m asking about.
Thx
Dave

Easy… the green wire goed to the tip. The sleeve goes to ground. The switches should be jumpered. That way the tremolo is off when no jack is in the input jack of this circuit

[foreverstrung]

Easy… the green wire goed to the tip. The sleeve goes to ground. The switches should be jumpered. That way the tremolo is off when no jack is in the input jack of this circuit

What “switches” should be jumpered? You mean the jack itself, right? Not a switch. I hope or I’m missing a switch lol.
It’s like the Fender Princeton or Deluxe Reverb when it does not have a foot switch hooked up right? Intensity and speed to zero with no foot switch if you want no tremolo. Turn up the knobs for effect. Reverb too for that matter.
Am I on the right page?
Thx
Dave

[Bieworm]

Easy… the green wire goed to the tip. The sleeve goes to ground. The switches should be jumpered. That way the tremolo is off when no jack is in the input jack of this circuit

What “switches” should be jumpered? You mean the jack itself, right? Not a switch. I hope or I’m missing a switch lol.
It’s like the Fender Princeton or Deluxe Reverb when it does not have a foot switch hooked up right? Intensity and speed to zero with no foot switch if you want no tremolo. Turn up the knobs for effect. Reverb too for that matter.
Am I on the right page?
Thx
Dave

Dave you definitely need to learn how to read a schematic. And care fully read what I wrote: "The switches should be jumpered. That way the tremolo is off when no jack is in the input jack of this circuit".. I don't know how you conclude " Intensity and speed to zero with no foot switch if you want no tremolo. Turn up the knobs for effect." when you read my lines?

[foreverstrung]

Dave you definitely need to learn how to read a schematic. And care fully read what I wrote: "The switches should be jumpered. That way the tremolo is off when no jack is in the input jack of this circuit".. I don't know how you conclude " Intensity and speed to zero with no foot switch if you want no tremolo. Turn up the knobs for effect." when you read my lines?

Agreed. I do need to learn to read schematics better, but I've come a long way in reading them. I can use them to chase down the circuit and understand the connections, but mechanically, I could not use them solely to build an amp.
As far as the cliff jack, I can understand the conception of what we were trying to accomplish, I was having a problem with the mechanical part of it as I mentioned, because the blown up gut shots of your amp looked like something that did not make sense. The picture you've enclosed is how I understood it to be done mechanically.
As far as the comment about the other fender amps utilization without a foot pedal, this application is how that'll be too though I understand my bringing that up was probably just confusing.
I appreciate all the help
Apologies for any miscommunication
Dave

[Bieworm]

AFAIK Fender amps don’t shut off the tremolo when there is no switching pedal plugged in. The older amps even have RCA jacks that are impossible to have switching contacts. So that’s why your statement contradicts what I stated.
Hey and I didn’t mean anything bad with my last post. It’s just advisable to learn circuit diagrams. When you comprehend those it’s much easier to understand the layout. That’s all.
For the record, my layouts are my personal docs and they are sufficient for me. Lots pf things on them are merely an indication of stuff that I know of how to wire the lot. I can understand that sometimes things get confusing for others who literally build the amp with only the layout as a main guideline.

[JMPGuitars]

Easy… the green wire goed to the tip. The sleeve goes to ground. The switches should be jumpered. That way the tremolo is off when no jack is in the input jack of this circuit

Plugs go in jacks, so that is a confusing statement.

Is that the tremolo footswitch jack you're discussing, and not an input jack?

Your schematic shows a simple switch, not a switched jack for the tremolo. I fully agree on the importance of schematic literacy, but that also requires the schematic matches the discussion.

Assuming that's all correct: why would you want to disable the tremolo without an external footswitch? You could add a switch and do it similar to what I showed in the V1.4 PCB version of the Tremolo TMB layout.

Thanks,
Josh

[Bieworm]

Easy… the green wire goed to the tip. The sleeve goes to ground. The switches should be jumpered. That way the tremolo is off when no jack is in the input jack of this circuit

Plugs go in jacks, so that is a confusing statement.

Is that the tremolo footswitch jack you're discussing, and not an input jack?

Your schematic shows a simple switch, not a switched jack for the tremolo. I fully agree on the importance of schematic literacy, but that also requires the schematic matches the discussion.

Assuming that's all correct: why would you want to disable the tremolo without an external footswitch? You could add a switch and do it similar to what I showed in the V1.4 PCB version of the Tremolo TMB layout.

Thanks,
Josh

my nomenclature is the blame. Sorry guys. Nevertheless with that schematic one should at least be able to get the footswitch operational.
I agree with you on the extra switch for trem use without a footswitch. But never rely on the pots to shut down the tremolo. Some amps have a pulsing whoosh with that oscillation in the background.

[JMPGuitars]

my nomenclature is the blame. Sorry guys. Nevertheless with that schematic one should at least be able to get the footswitch operational.
I agree with you on the extra switch for trem use without a footswitch. But never rely on the pots to shut down the tremolo. Some amps have a pulsing whoosh with that oscillation in the background.

I agree with you 100% on the need for switches to disable the tremolo.

...and don't blame yourself. This is an international site, so it's easy for some things to get lost in translation.

Thanks,
Josh

[foreverstrung]

All of the dialogue throughout this thread has been extremely helpful. I cannot tell you guys how grateful I am to all your guidance and feedback. Even the hard knocks.
When I start one of these builds, I am obsessed.
Attached here is the voltage chart. I set the bias at about 65%. I might roll it back to 60% as you suggested Biworm because even with a 12AY7 at V1, it’s still got some gain. I’m not complaining though. Not yet anyways. Let me put it thru the paces and see how it goes.
I’ve still got a bit of work on the cabinet etc before this project is complete.
Thx again
I’ll send a sound clip later too
Dave