Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

Post by Bieworm »

JMPGuitars wrote:
Sat 03/04/23 3:11 pm
Sounds great! Nice choice not giving up on it. 😉

I'm eventually going to do an EL34 SE version. I might do it with a F* style reverb circuit since I'll have the space.
Might beat ya to it😎
Anyway… this EL34 stays in it. Much better than the 6L6
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

Post by JMPGuitars »

Bieworm wrote:
Sat 03/04/23 3:34 pm
JMPGuitars wrote:
Sat 03/04/23 3:11 pm
Sounds great! Nice choice not giving up on it. 😉

I'm eventually going to do an EL34 SE version. I might do it with a F* style reverb circuit since I'll have the space.
Might beat ya to it😎
Anyway… this EL34 stays in it. Much better than the 6L6
You're welcome. 😉🤣

...do it! If I like it, I'll build it also and make some official docs for it.
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

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I’ve built in a full blackface reverb. I think it sounds good, but it’s late to try the amp on decent volume. I hear a nasty buzz… but I will address that later…
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

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Here’s a clip with the BF reverb. This is soooo nice… less drive on this tele though.. but you get the idea

https://youtu.be/GTJ8-E9c5I4
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

Post by JMPGuitars »

Bieworm wrote:
Mon 03/06/23 3:27 pm
Here’s a clip with the BF reverb. This is soooo nice… less drive on this tele though.. but you get the idea

https://youtu.be/GTJ8-E9c5I4
I dunno what it is, but that tele has a poorly defined low end. How are the pickup heights?
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

Post by Bieworm »

JMPGuitars wrote:
Mon 03/06/23 4:17 pm
Bieworm wrote:
Mon 03/06/23 3:27 pm
Here’s a clip with the BF reverb. This is soooo nice… less drive on this tele though.. but you get the idea

https://youtu.be/GTJ8-E9c5I4
I dunno what it is, but that tele has a poorly defined low end. How are the pickup heights?
I know you never liked that tele… I really like the woody lo-fi of it. I’ll do a demo with the humbuckers … just for you!
But in the end it’s turning out to be a really nice amp. I changed some parts since the demo. Filter caps 50uf-choke-50uf (node A=plate) -1k + 47uf (node B=screen) - 2k7 + 22uf (node C=preamp)
On the reverb recovery there’s now 1k5/4.7uf kathode and the re-amp after the recovery is only 1k5 unbypassed.. works best for me on BF verbs
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

Post by JMPGuitars »

Bieworm wrote:
Mon 03/06/23 4:35 pm
JMPGuitars wrote:
Mon 03/06/23 4:17 pm
Bieworm wrote:
Mon 03/06/23 3:27 pm
Here’s a clip with the BF reverb. This is soooo nice… less drive on this tele though.. but you get the idea

https://youtu.be/GTJ8-E9c5I4
I dunno what it is, but that tele has a poorly defined low end. How are the pickup heights?
I know you never liked that tele… I really like the woody lo-fi of it. I’ll do a demo with the humbuckers … just for you!
But in the end it’s turning out to be a really nice amp. I changed some parts since the demo. Filter caps 50uf-choke-50uf (node A=plate) -1k + 47uf (node B=screen) - 2k7 + 22uf (node C=preamp)
On the reverb recovery there’s now 1k5/4.7uf kathode and the re-amp after the recovery is only 1k5 unbypassed.. works best for me on BF verbs
Post an accurate schematic when you're done. 😉😉
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

Post by Bieworm »

JMPGuitars wrote:
Mon 03/06/23 6:55 pm
Bieworm wrote:
Mon 03/06/23 4:35 pm
JMPGuitars wrote:
Mon 03/06/23 4:17 pm


I dunno what it is, but that tele has a poorly defined low end. How are the pickup heights?
I know you never liked that tele… I really like the woody lo-fi of it. I’ll do a demo with the humbuckers … just for you!
But in the end it’s turning out to be a really nice amp. I changed some parts since the demo. Filter caps 50uf-choke-50uf (node A=plate) -1k + 47uf (node B=screen) - 2k7 + 22uf (node C=preamp)
On the reverb recovery there’s now 1k5/4.7uf kathode and the re-amp after the recovery is only 1k5 unbypassed.. works best for me on BF verbs
Post an accurate schematic when you're done. 😉😉
Yeah... here's what I've got until now. I forgot to add a grid leak resistor on the EL34.. will add that later this evening.
schematic execution with BF reverb 20230307.png
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

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Did some more fine tuning. Didn’t Split the D nodes but put them in series.
A to B= choke, with A unused
B to C= 1k, B is plate connection
C to D1= 4k7, C is G2 connection and reverb driver plates
D1 to D2= 1k5, D1 is preamp V1 and 2, D2 is reverb recovery and re-amplifier wet/dry

Did a comparison between 6L6GC Tungsol and EL34 Telefunken. The EL34 is definitely a winner! And the reverb sounds amazing! There is only slight hum which is negligible for a SE amp. The reverb only hums when in surf territory. Definitely a keeper, this one!
In case I would build another I will rearrange the layout a bit more ideal, but all in all it’s pretty ok.
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

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Slowly finishing that amp.gave it a pretty kinky 80’s look.
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

Post by chaliapin »

Looking nice, you leaving the back completely open? Which model speaker is it?
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

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chaliapin wrote:
Mon 03/13/23 5:48 pm
Looking nice, you leaving the back completely open? Which model speaker is it?
Hahaha… no, the backplates are cut, but I have to tolex them
Speaker is a celestion G12H30 55Hz heritage
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

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Naaaaa… the more I looked at it, the less I liked it with that 80’s look. Changed the grill and it’s much better imho…
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

Post by chaliapin »

Where did you end up with the b+ and dissipation?
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

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chaliapin wrote:
Tue 03/28/23 4:03 am
Where did you end up with the b+ and dissipation?
Here’s my final chart: 82% with the EL34. I can safely sub it for the 6L6 and get 69%
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

Post by Bieworm »

It’s a friggin’ great amp. Took it to practice last week… nice!! It’s got that woody/boxy tone that is sorta like a little tweed champ, but with tighter overdrive. Not really fat, but honky… me like!!! :D
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

Post by chaliapin »

Sounds like my sort of thing...

Did you try bias up to 100% as it's single ended/ class A?
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

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chaliapin wrote:
Wed 03/29/23 2:55 pm
Sounds like my sort of thing...

Did you try bias up to 100% as it's single ended/ class A?
No.. it’s an old 70’s telefunken EL34. Don’t wanna risk it… and it sounds fine as is
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

Post by TriodeLuvr »

That's a beautiful amplifier! Wish I had your skill with cabinetry. I'm not surprised you prefer the EL34 - it has much higher transconductance (gain) than the 6L6, so it should be somewhat louder. I have all the parts to build several SE 6BQ5/6V6 amps, and this schematic might be my go-to for those. They'll be somewhat simpler than that last push-pull amp I built.

Jack
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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!

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TriodeLuvr wrote:
Sun 04/02/23 1:15 am
That's a beautiful amplifier! Wish I had your skill with cabinetry. I'm not surprised you prefer the EL34 - it has much higher transconductance (gain) than the 6L6, so it should be somewhat louder. I have all the parts to build several SE 6BQ5/6V6 amps, and this schematic might be my go-to for those. They'll be somewhat simpler than that last push-pull amp I built.

Jack
That would make it a Tremolo TMB champ👍👍👍
The irony of it all is that the underpowered honky tone makes it a super cool little amp, while back when we were kids we all had an amp like that and didn’t like it. We wanted that big sounding amp we couldn’t afford😁
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