What Every Newcomer Should Know...

18watt-specific Tech Talk - Building, Fixing, Parts, Mods...

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Gabi
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What Every Newcomer Should Know...

Post by Gabi »

and everyone! hah

okay, this is a stab at trying to compile some "initiation" instructions to get around for our new members.

Newcomer: "I am lost"
18 Watt Members: "We can help..."

Newcomer: "What is this 18watt thing all about?"
18 Watt Members: "This web site discusses the legendary Marshall 18watt combo amplifier and researches the variations of it"

Newcomer: "What's up with all these schematics?"
18 Watt Members: "There the original 18watt schematic and diagram and then there are several different variations that we developed:

The Original 18 Watt:

1. The original 18 Watt Schematic: http://www.18watt.com/storage/18watt_Sc ... -28-03.pdf


2. The original 18 Watt Layout:
http://www.18watt.com/storage/18Watt_La ... iginal.pdf

3. 18 watt Bill Of Materials:
http://www.18watt.com/storage/18watt%20 ... 20Huss.xls

Newcomer: "Whoa!"
18 watt Members: "Cool, huh? What to see the variations of this circuit:"

The LITE version:

(to be continued)

Admin: "What else should we add here?"

Please add to it and in the end I'll compile this thread in a big Sticky that will always sit at the top of this forum and we can point newcomers to it...

thanks...
Last edited by Gabi on Fri 01/05/07 3:52 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Post by Icetech »

I would add the often posted "where can i learn the basics of tubes" which for me was reading a taste for tubes...
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Post by zaphod_phil »

Gabi, I think we need to organize the downloads section, so we can easily refer to the drawings from these FAQs. The main TMB schematics and layouts all need to placed in there, and any 36W ones that may be ready. Also mods like Richies' 53E3 style tone control mod. People should be having to looking for them in the Gallery section. There's also one or two fanciful looking designs in the downloads section I doubt that anyone ever built (or maybe could even have built) that should probably be removed.
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Post by srmaximo »

When I first found this board, I needed a list of all the companies who sell 18watt kits so that I could start shopping around. I don't know if this sticky would be the proper place for it, but a quick go-to list like that would be useful.
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Post by Mojocat »

An excellent initiative Gabby...

When I first came to the site I found it a bit frustrating that there was no description of what the various downloads, circuits, layouts, each were... for example the "Marwatt"... Just a couple sentences to describe what something is, where it came from, what is notable/different about it, etc. would really be helpful I think.
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Post by jaysg »

This list of models probably doesn't come close... 8O

18W Original normal + trem (WEM Dominator)
18W ef-86 normal, trem
18W Vajra (Mark) ef-86 normal, 12dw7 TMB
18W TMB Reverb (Mark)
18W TMB (GDS)
18W TMB w/Master (Richie)
18W TMB, ef-86 normal
18W TB (Richie)
18W Marwatt (Jeff)
18W JA mods (Aaron)
18W Lite
18W Lite I
18W Lite II
18W SII
18W SIII
18W Minimalist
Blues Jr. conversion

36W Treck (Richie)
36W TMB w/NFB (Richie)
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Post by bevins »

srmaximo wrote:When I first found this board, I needed a list of all the companies who sell 18watt kits so that I could start shopping around. I don't know if this sticky would be the proper place for it, but a quick go-to list like that would be useful.
A kit supplier list is good. Also a parts supplier list would be awsome too.

Bob
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Post by NitroLiq »

Howabout something like this for a start, smaximo: I added a general pros/cons for kit vendors based on answers folks have given time and time again to newbies asking fo vendor advice....I did this quickly so obviously any additions/edits/deletions can be made.

18 watt kit vendors in alphabetical order:

Ceriatone
Pros: Nik offers great service, prices, and shipping.
Cons:Shipping from Malaysia can balance out the prices.

GDS Amplification
Pros: The Rolls Royce of 18 watt kits, "true" clone, comprehensive step-by-step build guide, good for first timers. Graydon offers great service and support.
Cons: Like a Rolls, you pay for the goods.

Iron Sounds Amplification
Pros: Jersey Aaron's PCB version of the 18watt TMB, good price, easiest kit to build for newcomers, solid product and support.
Cons: PCB vs. PTP....search the forums...heh!

Trinity Amps
Pros: Good prices, support, and quality products. Offers the SIII version of the 18 in addition to standard 18 trem and tmb, comes with build guide.
Cons:


Speaker/Head Cabs:
Avatar Speakers
Mojotone
Reason Amps
Swanson

Amp Cradles:
Chassi-Swing
DST Engineering

Amp Parts:
Digikey
EBE Amps (turretboards)
GDS Amplification (heyboer transformer sets)
Mojotone
Mouser
S2 Transformers (transformer sets)
Tubedepot (tubes)
Turretboards.com (turretboards)



A list of avaialble online reading can be added to this easily enough just to get it all in one place. For example, here's a list from Chris Wu from another post:

I highly recommend these files. Some may be a little advanced, just slowly read through them.
Theory of Operation:
[link: http://ax84.com/media/ax84_m35.pdf]
Aiken Amplification- go to technical info then to introductory
http://www.aikenamps.com/
Heres some stuff on safety:
http://www.drifteramps.com/safety.html
How to read a schematic (this is pretty good):
http://www.learn-c.com/schemat.htm
This explains some building tips:
http://ax84.com/media/ax84_m60.pdf
Some good FAQ on tube amps:
http://www.geofex.com/tubeampfaq/taffram.htm
Heres on from Aiken amplification.......a glossary of terms....become familiar with this......a very good read.....
http://www.aikenamps.com/AmpTerms.html
Heres some good preserval tips:
http://guitar.about.com/gi/dynamic/offs ... t.vwh.net/

and Zaphod Phil from the same thread...

http://131.109.59.51/images/pdf/taste_of_tubes.pdf
http://www.tpub.com/neets/book6/index.htm
https://atiam.train.army.mil/portal/ati ... 05/toc.htm

And here's some I have bookmarked:

http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/s ... targnd.htm
(stargrounding)

http://www.outersound.com/osu/equipment/to-tube.html
(How Tubes Work) Good layman's guide.

http://www.pacificrecone.com/JackDarrBook.html
(Classic Jack Darr book on amps in PDF format)
Last edited by NitroLiq on Fri 11/18/05 4:07 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Post by zaphod_phil »

jaysg wrote:This list of models probably doesn't come close... 8O
Actually there is no Lite I - it's just the 18W Lite. Then comes the Lite II. Anyway, I think we should keep the list down to the main recognized variants, rather than peoples' own one-off personal projects. See loverocker's original request for context.
loverocker wrote:A simple post that just lists (with one sentence descriptions, and direct links to specific schematics and layouts in the Downloads area) only the main variants of 18Wer: Original, trem-tweaked, Lite, Minimalist, TMB, SIII, etc. Something that'd be the 'go to' reference for all the most popular variants?
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Post by Gabi »

Excellent suggestion ---

One thing we should exploit on this site the usage of several different "modules" like Downloads (where all schematics should reside in a nice(r) categorisation), Web Links (we already have those there and are categorised - kit vendors as well - needs a little cleanup)... And of course Galley.

Here are the active modules we need some cleanup to do... In other words we have these following "modules" that needs some categorisation:

Downloads
-18 Watt Original layouts
- (etc.)
- (etc.)
FAQ (this is another fine one we did not quite use that much)
Forums (this is the most active one)
Gallery (usually filled with members' builds)
Web Links
- (etc.)
- (etc.)
Zounds
- (etc.)
- (etc.)

You fill in the blanks. The thing is that we could break down the categorisation in as much categories as we want...

So, please add your pics...
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Post by NitroLiq »

TMB = treble middle bass
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Post by rjgtr »

I like some of the odd-ball stuff in the downloads sections, but I really think there should some folders like the following for the amp schematics:

Original 18 Watt
Lite 18 Watt
18 watt TMB - with only the Richie/JA and SIII variants
Other Variants - This is where the Marwatt, Vajra and oneoffs would go.

Under Modifications it might be nice to have a section for reverb, output reduction, etc.

I think keeping the one-offs but putting them in their own section is valuable, since many of them feature cool ideas. Like the Vajra.

Just maybe make it so the commonly produced variations are easier to find.
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Post by ajkimba »

Like Phil says, we should list the common 18 watt, schematics and layouts that are the most popular in a proper place that is easy for any new member to find.

Also good ideas about supplies and links to tube amp basic's would be good. Under the correct headings.

jaysg has some good ideas, too. And don't forget the Lites.

Sounds like a great idea Gabi

Al
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Post by EBE »

Gabi,

Could I also be listed under eyelet/turret board manufacturers? I have been making boards for the 18watt community for years now. You might be suprised where some of my boards are out there in the 18watt world.

www.ampboards.com

Norm ( www.ebeamps.com )
Last edited by EBE on Thu 04/13/06 12:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by zaphod_phil »

rjgtr wrote:... I really think there should some folders like the following for the amp schematics:

Original 18 Watt
Lite 18 Watt
18 watt TMB - with only the Richie/JA and SIII variants
Other Variants - This is where the Marwatt, Vajra and oneoffs would go.

Under Modifications it might be nice to have a section for reverb, output reduction, etc. I think keeping the one-offs but putting them in their own section is valuable, since many of them feature cool ideas. Like the Vajra.
Just maybe make it so the commonly produced variations are easier to find.
I'm with Richard on this!

However, I bet no one ever built one of these - http://www.18watt.com/storage/DVZ_HO-18W_Idea.pdf
http://www.18watt.com/storage/DVZ_HO-18 ... B_Only.pdf
Last edited by zaphod_phil on Fri 11/18/05 3:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Post by Jeph »

When building my fist :baby: I spent TONS of time looking for hi-res pictures of certain parts of the amp guts and cab construction. A separate gallery folder for users to upload large, detailed pics of their builds (along with comments?) might be useful.
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Post by NitroLiq »

EBE, I added you to the earlier post of part suppliers.

I think the biggest problem as far as organization goes is that there are just too many layouts which are entirely too close....18 tmb, 18 tmb with richie's corrections, another version with richie's corrections, JA's version based on the original with Richie's corrections, multiple BOMs, etc. We should trim this down so I propose one default working layout for folks to look at, similar to what Richie and I did with the new 36 watt folder. If we include variations, the person offering the "varying" layout should supply the differences between their version and the default layout.

TMB Folder:

- Default TMB Schematic
- Default TMB Layout
- Default TMB Voltage Chart
- Default TMB BOM
- Default TMB tweakers table

TMB Variations: (nested folder within TMB)

- SIII
- JA
- etc.

I've mentioned this in another thread but I'm currently illustrating an 18-watt tmb version of the new 36 watt....it has the tubes in the proper place like the SIII but also has richie's push-pull pot for lifting the tone circuit and feedback switch. If folks generally like the idea, we can use that as the default. All the older layouts can be put in another "archive" folder or something. Just an idea.
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Post by s2 »

Nitro,

Good call, but we need to decide what the default TMB is. I seem to recall Richie saying the TMB schems and layouts to not match his design. That's kind of what led to the Tsunami and then the sIII. I built the TMB according to the layout drawing and didn't really care for it. So, I struck out on my own...

[edit]

I just finished reading your post and realized you are way ahead of me. Disregard.
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Post by dartanion »

Might we discuss a section for "non-18watt amps?" I know we've brought it up before.
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Post by rjgtr »

dartanion wrote:Might we discuss a section for "non-18watt amps?" I know we've brought it up before.
I think we should be careful here and they should be variations on the 18 watt theme. Marshall 10 and 20 watters and Park 20 watters, variations using an 18 watt power amp, like the high gain amp I have in my gallery, the 18 watt preamp with a 6V6 output stage, etc. To me the TMB is this kind of variation.

What we don't want is endless Tweeds or amps based on other brands or Plexis, JCM800s etc diluting the main thrust of the forum which is the 1974 and variants.
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