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Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Mon 03/06/23 4:35 pm
by Bieworm
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
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Mon 03/06/23 6:55 pm
by JMPGuitars
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.


Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Tue 03/07/23 4:25 am
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
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Tue 03/07/23 11:02 am
by Bieworm
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.
D0822DD5-501D-4BB6-8D57-52789AB044EC.jpeg
41DAC5BA-AB3B-4728-A06F-B0A69A637430.jpeg
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Mon 03/13/23 4:41 pm
by Bieworm
Slowly finishing that amp.gave it a pretty kinky 80’s look.
4452F0D1-ACB4-4C5D-8A1C-FB98082F2899.jpeg
692F0489-FE44-4631-816D-82EECE2D854C.jpeg
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Mon 03/13/23 5:48 pm
by chaliapin
Looking nice, you leaving the back completely open? Which model speaker is it?
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Mon 03/13/23 10:53 pm
by Bieworm
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
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Tue 03/14/23 11:36 pm
by Bieworm
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…
7C17EAEC-6A7C-46EB-BB80-FD0803511756.jpeg
80CF4E4D-F9A1-4CF2-BF32-7B43C12E977E.jpeg
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Tue 03/28/23 4:03 am
by chaliapin
Where did you end up with the b+ and dissipation?
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Tue 03/28/23 6:30 am
by Bieworm
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%
455955A7-97E8-4845-B615-53CBA0CF0E7C.jpeg
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Tue 03/28/23 6:33 am
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!!!

Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Wed 03/29/23 2:55 pm
by chaliapin
Sounds like my sort of thing...
Did you try bias up to 100% as it's single ended/ class A?
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Wed 03/29/23 3:57 pm
by Bieworm
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
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Sun 04/02/23 1:15 am
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
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Sun 04/02/23 3:07 am
by Bieworm
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

Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Sun 04/02/23 10:01 am
by Bieworm
Re: Tremolo TMB SE build!!!
Posted: Sun 04/02/23 11:46 am
by garakin
Very nice work and sounds awesome! I've found that if I'm going to do an SE amp, I always seem to gravitate to 6V6's or EL-34s. Something about those two tubes that just have a super pleasing distortion.