Changes on my 18watt

[EBE]

I did the new changes to my current gigging amp. I originally had 68K input resistors on the normal channel. I took these off and made all the changes per the new drawing. First, the normal channel is now significantly louder than the trem channel at lower settings. It seems a bit more full and the tone control for some reason is now more responsive. I don't know if this more due to pulling the 68Ks or the layout changes. The trem still works great, maybe a bit better. Since I can't do a side byside on this amp this is all subjective I guess. I am taking it out tonight so I will put it through its paces and see what happens.

Norm

[Plexi]

Norm: thanks for posting your review. So far i think maybe 4 of us have tried it, or have posted the difference. And so far all of us have been able to tell a difference. It may be a few slight things,but they are noticeable.
The resistors on the inputs of V1,shouldn't make a difference, only if one had problems in noise or radio interference..it helps to have those.
But if one wants the stock setup,they aren't there. But i've tried both and it works both ways.
Richie

[Brian]

I have converted to the revised wiring and am pleased to report that it does sound great. I liked the amp before but now it sounds more lively and responsive. The trem channel seems the same to my ears. I have 68k grid stoppers on the normal inputs. The normal channel does seem louder to me after the change. The volume control was a bit more gradual before. It seems to have a jump in volume as you turn it from zero to 2.

[EBE]

I used my amp last for about 4 hours and had to stay on the normal channel. My trem channel is now getting radio. It didn't get this before. The trem works great and the amp is pretty quiet on both channels. My Wah is true bypass so it isn't coming from that. I have the 68Ks on the trem channel at the jacks and shielded cable running across the top of the board. This was kind of disappointing. One other change I did was to put in a different jack for the trem footswitch and I ran the ground wire across the board to my ground buss wire. Suggestions???

Norm

[Plexi]

Just to narrow it down, you said in the first post it worked great, then when you went to play it picked up the radio in the trem channel..

Is it ok when nothing is plugged in? And turn up the volume, Does it do it with just the guitar plugged in? Just trying to make sure other things weren't causing it. Might look over you solder connections,make sure none are loose.

Richie

[EBE]

Well.... I have monkey'd around with it some more and everything seems ok. No more radio stations. I put another 3 plus hours on it monday night. The major difference that I see in my amp between the old and new is the trem channel is cleaner at lower volumes and the normal channel seems hotter than before. At lower volumes the difference is quite noticable. The difference on the normal channel reminds me of blackfacing a silverface deluxe. The trem worked very good before, now it is better. The tone on the normal channel is much more responsive that the trem channel. Don't know why this is.... I also still get my pop when I turn the trem off with my footswitch. (I don't have the cap to ground, does this make a difference?)

Norm

[Plexi]

Norm: glad to hear its working ok.. as for the pop,even the real ones did this.Colin asked about this too on his old real 18. I haven't tried the cap thing,but may be other ways to hook the footswitch to lift something else to turn the trem off and on. I'll throw the experiment chassis on the bench and see what i can come up with.

I always thought the normal channel tone control worked better then the trem channel.

But your reviews seem to fall in line with the differences i hear on the amp i have here. And what the other people say, that have changed there amp...

Its good to get this feedback..or reviews.Its the only way we will know.

The trem can probably still have its little quirks. I've seen some of these amps that even moving the 470pf on the control, from sticking out,to bend it down next to the pots,cure noise problems. The wires running to the trem and intensity pots..And the cap from the board to the Vol control on the trem channel.. And last, the plate wires on V2..And the wire to the footswitch.

Then the weird part is, i've had others that looked like they should cause problems,and be quiet as can be..

The wah pedal, if you don't get the cable plugged all the way in{going to the amp side},or its just about 1/8 inch out.. it can pick up radio stations very bad..even with true bypass. I just modded 5 wahs, and when testing had this happen,pushed it on in, worked great..thats why i asked if your amp made any noises or picked up the radio,with nothing plugged in the amp.

Richie

[Plexi]

It may even help to use shielding on the backboard..you can see they used it on some amps. At least it couldn't hurt.
Richie

[Deadbeat2]

Well, My trem has a slight POP when I turn it off and I have a small cap installed. I think it is just the nature of the beast. Bruce J.