Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: Danskman on September 03, 2011, 05:39:49 am

Title: Fresh new AB165 build
Post by: Danskman on September 03, 2011, 05:39:49 am
Just finished my new build, an AB165 with standard bias control and no 220K res in power stage.
Mojo 774 OT and Weber W022798EU PT. noojwut chassis set from ebay (nice one, almost perfect).
I made it to play bass, as I repaired a '66 one this summer and found it real nice, but I love the Normal channel, too, especially the tone stack.

Voltages are recorded here:
http://www.el34world.com/charts/valve/ValveDataIndex.php (http://www.el34world.com/charts/valve/ValveDataIndex.php)

Pics on
http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj63/denferdan/Bassman%20AB165%20repro/ (http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj63/denferdan/Bassman%20AB165%20repro/)

Waiting for the Mojo cab...
PS: Doug's cloth wire rules to build this kind of amp!!
BR,
Danskman
Title: Re: Fresh new AB165 build
Post by: Willabe on September 03, 2011, 09:21:02 am
Looks great, very nice job!


            Brad            :bravo1:
Title: Re: Fresh new AB165 build
Post by: eleventeen on September 03, 2011, 02:56:14 pm
Hey, straighten out those filament wires!

Just kidding, looks very nicely done!
Title: Re: Fresh new AB165 build
Post by: TIMBO on September 03, 2011, 03:15:52 pm
Another great job, I'm thinking i should do my heater wires that way, it seems to be the way to go. Thanks for the pics.  :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: Fresh new AB165 build
Post by: Danskman on September 04, 2011, 03:02:20 am
I HATE doin' heaters!! I try to do my best to go straight, but it's very hard with this 18 Ga green wire... but this gives a very tough job that could last a lifetime. On other builds, I wire them first,  against the chassis; it works fine and the tube sockets are more accessible this way.
I wanted to do a faithful repro on this particular amp and wired it as it is.
btw, thanks for the positive feedback!  :wink:
BR,
Danskman
Title: Re: Fresh new AB165 build
Post by: plexi50 on September 04, 2011, 07:59:45 pm
Great build. These amps take pedals very well and with all the headroom available i think this is one of the best  full lucious amps ever built. I think it is under estimated and dismissed by some because it just doesnt breakup like a marshall. I think the fullness of this amp makes it a clear dominater. Add a few effects pedals and you have MAGIC! I think it's all a matter of finding what pedals work best and from there it's dialing skills
Title: Re: Fresh new AB165 build
Post by: Danskman on September 05, 2011, 04:01:20 am
I'll try it with my Bass Drum Pedal  :laugh: I'm a drummer :m10 , amp building is my hobby! But I agree with you, it's a fine amp, maybe a little bit noisy. I think it's due to this half triode between the tone stack and the PI. I repaired one in june and discovered that it was hissy; I thought it was due to the carbon comp resistors, but mine is built with metal film res and is noisy, too. It's not Niagara Falls, though. These bassman growls with the proper baffle!!!
Title: Re: Fresh new AB165 build
Post by: tubeswell on September 05, 2011, 04:17:38 am
... it's a fine amp, maybe a little bit noisy. I think it's due to this half triode between the tone stack and the PI. I repaired one in june and discovered that it was hissy; ...

Bad pre-amp tube maybe? (I know its less of a possibility if it has happened in two amps and I personally don't have direct experience of the AB165, but it does seen a bit odd to get noticeable hiss like that)