Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: tubenit on March 24, 2012, 10:50:56 am

Title: 6K6 Tweed Overdrive sound clip
Post by: tubenit on March 24, 2012, 10:50:56 am
I recorded this at a volume that would be about the same as a VibroChamp with volume on "6".  My guess was maybe 3-4 watts volume max?

I used 12AV7 tubes in the preamp (along with 5879 pentode), 12AT7 in the LTPI,  6K6 power tubes and 5Y3GT rectifier.
PT is a 275-0-275. So maybe around 305 volts on the 6K6 plates?

I was wondering what kind of D-inspired tone I could still get at around 3 watts volume and this is what I came up with.

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11527276&q=hi&newref=1 (http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11527276&q=hi&newref=1)

With respect, Tubenit
Title: Re: 6K6 Tweed Overdrive sound clip
Post by: TIMBO on March 24, 2012, 11:39:00 pm
Lookout DAVE,Tubenit is on the RAMPAGE.  :worthy1:
Title: Re: 6K6 Tweed Overdrive sound clip
Post by: Dave on March 25, 2012, 07:36:27 am
What am I looking out for? I think Tubenit lives in Tennessee. I'm in Texas. Unless he is on an interstate rampage, I figure I should be alright.

Tubenit..... Great sound on the amp. One thing I notices was that it sounds a lot brighter than I was expecting. Most of the cathode bias designs I have fooled around with sound a little muddy for my tastes.

Dave
Title: Re: 6K6 Tweed Overdrive sound clip
Post by: tubenit on March 25, 2012, 10:36:57 am
Quote
Great sound on the amp. One thing I notices was that it sounds a lot brighter than I was expecting. Most of the cathode bias designs I have fooled around with sound a little muddy for my tastes.

Co-laboring with Geezer and sharing notes back and forth has been a HUGE help in getting a cathode biased tone I like.  Geezer has turned me on to some great approachs.    I think I have found five  major components to get the cathode biased sound I like:

1)  lower value cathode caps 5uf  and often 1- 2.2uf     (I usually use a 10uf -47uf value for power tube cathode caps & prefer the lower value
     usually)

2)  lower value filter cap for V1.  I like using a 10uf/450 on V1.  I feel like this is really important, IMO.    

3)  using caps that don't sound muddy.  On more normal gain amps, I like both Orange Drop and Mallory's.  On higher gain amps, I like
      the Orange Drop PS series only.  Regular OD's in a high gain amp sound harsh and the Mallory's sound muted to me. Again, I like those
     caps alot in amps that aren't higher gain

4)  figuring out how to use bright caps in the right place while still using smoothing caps in the right places. That combination allows
     nice harmonics and blooming to still come thru while maintaining a smooth tone

5)  using lower gain value 12A_7 tubes.  I usually use a 12AY7 or 12AV7 in V1 and rarely anything above 5751.  I like the same in the OD
     gain stages also  & sometimes a 12AT7 in the LTPI.   Using all 12AX7's gives me a muddy tone in a higher gain amp. About the only place
     that I use 12AX7's is in the LTPI in a higher gain amp. It's amazing how much gain & sustain you can get with a 12AY7 in a higher gain
     amp.  And the tone is much sweeter & more musical to my ears
.  I like the 12AY7's that Doug carries. Nice tube, IMO.

Those components are giving me a tone that I like & that I hear as transparent and not muddy.

With respect, Tubenit

Title: Re: 6K6 Tweed Overdrive sound clip
Post by: Quatro on March 25, 2012, 07:39:01 pm
"2)  lower value filter cap for V1.  I like using a 10uf/450 on V1.  I feel like this is really important, IMO.  "

Why? Can you elaborate?
Title: Re: 6K6 Tweed Overdrive sound clip
Post by: tubenit on March 25, 2012, 08:59:50 pm
My experience is the 10uf on V1 gives me a more transparent tone.

With respect, Tubenit
Title: Re: 6K6 Tweed Overdrive sound clip
Post by: Platefire on March 25, 2012, 09:51:56 pm
Great Tone tubenit! Your delay/echo settings are right on the mark. Your playing is great too. You nailed it!
Title: Re: 6K6 Tweed Overdrive sound clip
Post by: tubeswell on March 26, 2012, 12:54:04 am
Nice sounds tubenit!
Title: Re: 6K6 Tweed Overdrive sound clip
Post by: Dave on March 26, 2012, 07:23:19 am
Thanks for sharing the notes on muddiness. You may have opened some doors for me that I thought were not meant for me to pass thru.

Dave
Title: Re: 6K6 Tweed Overdrive sound clip
Post by: Quatro on March 26, 2012, 06:49:43 pm
Quote
My experience is the 10uf on V1 gives me a more transparent tone.

How do you think it works?
Title: Re: 6K6 Tweed Overdrive sound clip
Post by: proaudioguy on March 28, 2012, 11:55:26 pm
The clip sounds really good.  If we can get something like this out of my TR without messing up the clean tone, I'll be happy as a pig in crap.  Do you have the schematic for this up here somewhere?  Are you using a relay for channel switching?
Title: Re: 6K6 Tweed Overdrive sound clip
Post by: tubenit on March 29, 2012, 05:38:50 am
http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=11455.0 (http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=11455.0)

Schematic is on reply #5

With respect, Tubenit