Trem,trem and more trem..

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Plexi
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Trem,trem and more trem..

Post by Plexi »

I just thought since i've been messing with the trem on an amp here,i thought i'd try all i could to see what make this trem tick..{so to speak}

I 'll save you from all the trial and error. I used my decade box..or resistor subtitution box..and soldered in some alligator clips to change values of resistors for testing. I know it may not look like much, but i tried everything i knew,backward and forward and sideways.. what worked and what didn't. It helped to have the decade box, to see how the changes made a difference,and switch between them. And to come up with the best useable speeds,and less speaker thump,and noise.

I know this is a bit different than the stock trem,but not much in the way of values.

What i ended up with,is{and i should look at the schematic to see what is R this and C that number} but here it is without it.
All for V3

the 820 ohm cathode resistor..1.5K
the 2meg speed pot..1 meg
the first resistor beside the 820 ohm is
2.7meg then next one is 470k
and last one is 470K

The first cap on the 2.7m side is.. .022
then .01 and .01
and used the .
05 coupling cap{one beside the 100k resistor}

Also another helpful thing is useing shielded cable from the plate pin 1 to the 100k and.05 cap..

You'd be suprised how one change can make the speaker thump thing,or lessen it..change speed fast to slow etc.. So its a really fine circut..

Then i went on to try many different tubes, to see what i could find seemed to work best,with less noise and problems..
Wow..some of these were like night and day, i even tried some 12AT7
just for kicks..

To me,between all of them,the Sovtek WA groove tubes seemed to be the winner..at least in the trem operation,but also sounded fine for the channel {guitar} Any Sovtek WA's may work ok..but these were groove tubes i tried,so if you try the run of the mill WA's you may have to go through them,like any other tube. I tried alot..NOS and all.. Some ticked more,or noise or you name it..

Out of everything i've tried..i liked this the best, at slow settings,and intensity up.. it is one of those stop time trems..
And i have to say, i'm not a trem fan,or don't use trem myself, but do know how they should sound and work. For people who do like it and use it.

Sorry for the long post, but just wanted to share some of these things to maybe help others that might want to try it.

Richie
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron »

thanks richie. i'm definitely going to try these on the new build.

-aaron
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Gabi
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Post by Gabi »

Richie!

Thanks for taking the time to do this!!!

I'll be definitely include this one in my next build. Wait a minute! Do I have a "next build" ?!?!? Again?

You mean, I won't be able to stop building amps? Someone call 911 please!

:D :D :D
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EBE
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Post by EBE »

Richie,

I will try your changes in the head that I am working on now. I use the trem on a couple of songs we do. I play the lead on the end of Day of the Eagle and I use the trem in conjunction with my Choralflange. The sound is big and fat and pulsing.

Norm
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Plexi
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Post by Plexi »

"""Day of the Eagle """ trower, one of my favorite players..its fun to play his songs.. Still go to see him every chance i get.
I think most of those were uni-vibe..and or phaser he used..Still the trem could do about the same.. Or at least on Bridge of sighs..
Richie
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Gabi
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Post by Gabi »

I started a new 18watt module on the left called "Content" (any new idea for a clever title?) where I will add important posts like this one that will be a reference for all of us.

Whadda think?

g.
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Ian
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Post by Ian »

Hi Richie,

All this talk of the Trem channel reminds me that whilst everything else on my amp seems to work amazingly well, the Trem continues to behave oddly.

The footswitch seems to work perfectly, at least it switches the Trem on & off, albeit with a delay of about 3 or 4 sec., is that normal?. But even with Speed & Intensity both set at zero the Trem effect is tremendously strong.

Increasing the Intensity to Max. makes no difference at all. And increasing the Speed to Max makes only a very slight difference. Presumably that’s not the way it’s supposed to be :?:

But what do you think is wrong? Is the Intensity Pot just not working at all (stuck at max?). Or has some part of the Trem circuit failed, maybe a vital Cap is just completely defunct?

If anyone has any ideas I might risk taking a soldering iron to it, LoL!

Ian.

Ps;- Yep, I liked that Trower LP too, was it Bridge of Sighs? Day of The Eagle is a great track. I bought my first Phaser on the strength of that (Dharma-sound;- very obscure, but killer :!: ).
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Plexi
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Post by Plexi »

Ian: """ Trem continues to behave oddly. """ HA well thats not an uncommon thing for these amps. Sometime the same circut,works better in some amp..I know that sounds crazy..but this trem is circut is very odd in its workings,or why some have problems,some don't.

The slow staring of the trem,could be resistor values have changed, or cap values,and this can cause it.. tube your useing makes a huge difference in the trem working. Another crazy thing,but it sure does. Finding a tube that makes the trem work,and have no noises or problems. You can try a bunch of different ones,and you'll soon see what i'm talking about.

If your trying tubes,, when the amp first comes up to voltage,it may take a few seconds for the trem to start..seems it has to warm up.
Your intensity pot should make a change in how it sounds.. should make it more inhanced as you turn up the intensity.

You know your going to have to buy a digital meter so you can check the resistor values..lol Some more expensive meters will also measure capacitence.. so you can measure caps too.

Your amp is scarry though..i'd be afraid to change anything..lol
Just first maybe try a different tubes in the V3..or 12Ax7 tube closest to the EL84. As i posted, try some of the Sovtek WA tubes..

I tried many things,and the things i posted,seem to work the best to me.

Does your amp have any thump in the speakers when the intesnsity pot is on full..and the speed is on full..can you hear a fast thump sound?

I think over all, the things i posted,and tried,this is the best to cure speaker thump,and trem should start when its kicked on..

I think alot of these amps "real" and clones people have reported the trem having the slow start to get going. And again,some may..some may not. Some of the things in this circut can change the slightest value,and it will make the trem react different. i know some may not want to stray from the stock circut,but if some would like to try it,its there.
I guess, maybe if one had the stock circut,then changed..they'd hear if they liked the difference.
Richie
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Plexi
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Post by Plexi »

Sorry Gabi, i didn't see your "content" post thing till now..

Richie
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kinmike
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Post by kinmike »

Richie,

When you go to buy a Sovtek WA from Groove Tubes, is it their GT 12ax7 R2 (see URL)? Lots of groove tubes here in town. Don't want to have to test a whole batch. Thought maybe groove tubes might have weeded some bad ones out.

Thanks,

Mike

http://www.groovetubes.com/product.cfm?Product_ID=1167[/url]
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