new 18 watter and man does it sound horrible

timsmcm · Post by **timsmcm** » Wed 09/03/03 8:20 pm

My name is Tim and I am new to the 18 watt forum. I just recieved my new 18 watt that I had made, ( did not know you could get them in kit form or would have done that, paid almost 3000.00 and as far as I am concerned it is junk) It is so earpearcing and sterile that it is not worth playing. I built a Allen Accomplice a year ago and love this little amp. I know a little about electronics so I was hoping that you men could help me. I play a ri 59 les paul and a fender strat and neither of these guitars sounds good with this amp. it sounds like there is mechanical noise in it too, something rattles at certain notes on the fret board I have subed some power tubes and pre tubes and It is still there I have not changed the rec tub i dont have one to do so It is quite bothersome. Also why would there be any diodes on the back of the tube socket of the rect tube I thought it did the rectification with out these diodes. and also the tremolo is so strong and fast that you can never get a good sound out of it ,at half way up it slams the speakers so hard it just makes wooshing sounds. brand new amp and I have only played it three times and not for very long and that is just stupid for me. new gear and I wear it out any suggestions

One thing good I really like your forum.

Post by **Plexi** » Wed 09/03/03 10:49 pm

I'm sure alot here would be glad to help..maybe you could post some pics..?? it would help us see what or where a problem might be. You said you had it made,and just recieved it..

Who made it? Maybe contact them,and tell them the problems.
They should make it right..
just trying to say for that much money,and its new,you shouldn't have to fix it yourself
Thats alot of money for an 18..
It wasn't damaged in shipping?

""and also the tremolo is so strong and fast that you can never get a good sound out of it ,at half way up it slams the speakers so hard it just makes wooshing sounds""

thats should be easy to fix..

Diodes on the tube sockets??

All i can say is.. it shouldn't sound like what you explained..
""It is so earpearcing and sterile that it is not worth playing.""

It should sound great with the LP..thicjk and chunky.. Or as Gabi says "beefy" Something is surely not right.

Richie

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Thu 09/04/03 5:41 am

Hi Tim,

Sorry to hear of your experiences with that new 18W.

OK, well either thereâ€™s something seriously wrong, or else you just donâ€™t like the sound of vintage Marshall valve amps (which is perfectly possible).

Either way, you just need to send it back. Either get him to put it right, or else get your money back.

I assume itâ€™s a Combo? So what speakers does it have? Canâ€™t imagine what Diodes are doing in there,

LoL!

But did you listen to this amp before buying it? Try to hear either a Blockhead 18W Firstborn, or a GDS 18W, either of those should give the true tone.

Ian.

EBE · Post by **EBE** » Thu 09/04/03 7:28 am

Rattles in a combo can come from a lot of places. A resistor may be vibrating when a certain frequency is hit. The chassis may need to be tightened down or possibly put some felt or rubber between the chassis and the mounting boards. Tube retainers could be vibrating, etc....

The trem can be slowed down by a simple cap or resistor mod.

A real 18 or clone (if built to the group layout) will not have any diodes.

$3000 is pretty steep for a clone. Graydon or other reputable builders make clones for a lot less.

Post by **Gabi** » Thu 09/04/03 11:23 am

Ouch... $3000

Tim... if you take pics, you can upload them via ftp at this address via the browser (by dragging and dropping the selected files in the browser's window): ftp://18watt:18watt@pattersongray.com

Or in case you have an FTP client use these parameters:

address: pattersongray.com
username: 18watt
password: 18watt

let me know if you need assistance.

Something is wrong there with that amp/price/sound... Diodes?

gabi.

timsmcm · Post by **timsmcm** » Thu 09/04/03 7:20 pm

I will post some picts and you can see what i have. I do not want to name names because that is childish. I have a 72 superlead and a 71 50 watt lead and I like them both, a little on the bright side but can adjust with controls. this amp is either too bright or just plain flat with no tone. I have isolated the chassis with rubber between the chassis and cabinet mount, taken the tube hangers off, taken both back panels off. Still cant get the rattle out have even grabbed the tubes to see if that would help. Did take the chassis out and play it and it did not rattle. It has two celestion blues( a speaker that i dearly love by the way ) It is a combo. another thing that was bad about the cabinet, grill cloth crooked not a good job on the tolex small gold piping on top of the cabinet that runs front to back was not put in the grove just laid on top and glued. I could have done a better job myself I think. I just dont think I got even close to 3000.00 worth. I live in texas and there is no place to hear any good equipment. It is mail order or bust.

idiotwithasolderingiron · Post by **idiotwithasolderingiron** » Fri 09/05/03 2:52 am

ditto what Ian said; either the builder fixes the problems or refunds your money... 3k is way way way to big an investment to not get *exactly* what you wanted.

loverocker · Post by **loverocker** » Fri 09/05/03 5:18 am

Same opinion here. Boutique price should get you perfection in fit and finish.

Hey Tim, did you compare its tone to the MP3 clips that are on this site? Does it not come close? In my experience, the 18W tone when dimed is just a little short of the levels of overdrive in your typical 1959/1987/etc Marshalls - more classic rock than hard rock.

Did you try it into your other 4x12 cabs? Speakers made such a big difference, when I experimented. I love the sound of the 18Wer into G12Hs (which I tried on Zaphod Phil's recommendation) - even the clean tone that I originally thought was rather dull was much better.

Alex_Law · Post by **Alex_Law** » Fri 09/05/03 8:13 am

Different speakers than Blues? I think that's almost blasphemy.

Send it back!

Alex

Wrongdog · Post by **Wrongdog** » Mon 09/08/03 3:56 pm

This thread has me soooo curious. What ever was the outcome??!

timsmcm · Post by **timsmcm** » Mon 09/08/03 8:57 pm

I am trying to get some picts of the chassis and the cabinet so you men can see what I have and what you think, by the way how do you get to the mp3 sound clips I have looked and cant seem to find them

Post by **Plexi** » Mon 09/08/03 9:20 pm

I think Gabi may have lost them when his PC blew up..

I think Graydon has some on his site..

And i saved mine in my briefcase.. but this was one of the first i built,mostly out of junk and robbed parts.. i have to say i like the Heyboer and EMC trannys much better..
I belive the first 5 files are the 18 watter..
Recorded flat,no EQ.. to try and get how it sounded in the room.
There were some really Good files of Colins amp too..maybe Gabi can get them all back.
Richie

http://f1.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/gre ... yahoo.com/

idiotwithasolderingiron · Mon 09/08/03 10:53 pm

this only links to 5 jpg photos and nothing else...

Sean · Post by **Sean** » Mon 09/08/03 11:21 pm

Sounds like a nightmare bro. As for the rattling, is it a metallic sound or "thudding" type of sound? Most rattles in combos come from the speaker baffle where it meets the cloth frame. Depending on whether the cloth was wrapped around the actual baffle or a separate frame, the frame is often too loose causing it to vibrate against the baffle, especially when cranked. Sometimes a few extra screws will help. I would get someone to dink around with your guitar while you listen for where the sound is coming from.

That stuff about the piping not fitting in the groove made me mad just reading your post. This guy took you for a ride! Send that amp back and do it ASAP. Before refunding your money he has a legal right to "cure" by fixing the mistakes you outline to him. If it does not conform a second time demand your money back. If he refuses, sue on the basis of an implied warranty of fitness. Bad thing is, you will probably only recoup the fair market value of the amp which sad to say is not $3k.

Post by **Plexi** » Tue 09/09/03 12:30 am

http://f1.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/gre ... m/&.view=l

"""this only links to 5 jpg photos and nothing else..."""

Hmmm..It shows them there.. it also may look like a note pad thing..but says MP3.and they are listed above the photos..

The link above will take you to my briefcase,then click on the
18 watter folder.. they are there..lol

Richie

idiotwithasolderingiron · Post by **idiotwithasolderingiron** » Tue 09/09/03 9:55 am

the briefcase folder says 11 items, but when you click on it the only things inside are the 5 jpg images. Looks like a sharing issue? I tried it with three different browsers, same result.

Wrongdog · Post by **Wrongdog** » Tue 09/09/03 12:15 pm

un-ah, I don't find them - just jpg.????

Post by **Plexi** » Tue 09/09/03 12:53 pm

Very odd.. i took the jpegs out, and only 6 sound files left. % are of the 18 and one is an octavia file. And i re-did the share to all thing..so hopefully now they will show up. I know they are there..but can't figure out why no one can find them. If this don't work, i may try to remove them,and re enter tham back.

http://f1.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/gre ... yahoo.com/

Richie

Post by **Gabi** » Tue 09/09/03 2:31 pm

Guys...

don't bother...

I am putting those mp3s up now...

g.

Post by **Gabi** » Tue 09/09/03 3:22 pm

Ok.. Done!

Check out the "ZOUNDS" module on the left link column:

http://www.18watt.com/modules.php?name=zina

gabi.

Donations

Links

Welcome

new 18 watter and man does it sound horrible

new 18 watter and man does it sound horrible