Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: yorgle on July 21, 2020, 09:34:46 am

Title: Another Les Paul Jr build- bypass cap question
Post by: yorgle on July 21, 2020, 09:34:46 am

This is my second LP Jr build and first time building a cabinet from scratch.  Here's the progress so far. (https://i.imgur.com/YXbOD4V.jpg?1)

I inadvertently didn't install a the bypass cap on the 6v6, but the amp sounds great nonetheless.  So the question is, do I need it? 

Title: Re: Another Les Paul Jr build- bypass cap question
Post by: shooter on July 21, 2020, 09:40:56 am

use gator clips and add one, start at 25uF, maybe up to 100uf, play enough to decide.  I land happy at 47uF most of the time

Title: Re: Another Les Paul Jr build- bypass cap question
Post by: yorgle on July 22, 2020, 09:15:11 am

Wow, adding in the bypass cap really does make a difference-- much louder and brighter!  The only caps I have left after this build are 10uf, 22uf and 100uf and of the those, the 100uf sounds the best, so I'll stick with that until I have an excuse to order some more parts.  Unfortunately, the boost also amplified what was previously a barely noticeable 60hz buzz to a level that is now annoying, so I've got some buzz hunting to do before getting back to the cabinet work. 

Title: Re: Another Les Paul Jr build- bypass cap question
Post by: SILVERGUN on July 22, 2020, 09:34:29 am

Quote from: yorgle on July 21, 2020, 09:34:46 am

So the question is, do I need it?

Only if you need the amp to be louder and brighter

Title: Re: Another Les Paul Jr build- bypass cap question
Post by: shooter on July 22, 2020, 10:25:41 am

Quote

does make a difference-- much louder

the "louder" part for me seems "fuller" more so than louder, but I'm old and can't hear  :laugh:

Title: Re: Another Les Paul Jr build- bypass cap question
Post by: SILVERGUN on July 22, 2020, 11:58:17 am

Quote from: shooter on July 22, 2020, 10:25:41 am

Quote

does make a difference-- much louder

the "louder" part for me seems "fuller" more so than louder, but I'm old and can't hear  :laugh:

Well, there would be increased dbees, which in turn pushes the speaker harder, which in turn could be interpreted as "fuller"


And all of this does rely on those holes in the sides of your head, sooooooo  :dontknow:

Title: Re: Another Les Paul Jr build- bypass cap question
Post by: shooter on July 22, 2020, 12:59:52 pm

yes, wasabi there are more DB's, but they "appear" to cover a fuller frequency spectrum - un-confirmed by scope or science   :laugh:

Title: Re: Another Les Paul Jr build- bypass cap question
Post by: SILVERGUN on July 22, 2020, 01:43:26 pm

Quote from: shooter on July 22, 2020, 12:59:52 pm

un-confirmed by scope or science   :laugh:

I agree

Title: Re: Another Les Paul Jr build- bypass cap question
Post by: yorgle on July 22, 2020, 04:07:09 pm

Well, "louder" in this case has been scientifically measured because my nearly-deaf old dog now sleeps further away from the amp-- a full 2 feet or so further away than with my previous LP build-- but that's nowhere near the distance he clears when I crank up the GA-20. :icon_biggrin: