Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: stinga11 on March 24, 2024, 04:11:50 pm

Title: Matchless Lightning with EL34 complete Schematic
Post by: stinga11 on March 24, 2024, 04:11:50 pm
I've been wanting to build a Matchless Lightning with EL34 tubes for months, and in my analysis of how to find the correct voltages, and even more complicated, how to find the correct transformers, I found the schematic for the Bad Cat Hot Cat 30. So what did I do? I used the power transformer from a Deluxe Reverb Reissue that gives me (325V-0-325V 207mA) & (6.3V 4.5A), the output transformer is from a Bandmaster with 4,000 impedance in the primary and 40 watts, and a choke from an AC30.

The schematics I used are the Matchless DC30, Matchless Lightning, and Bad Cat Hot Cat 30.

I wired the tonestack in Fender/Marshall style to avoid interaction with the bass that the Matchless tonestack inherited from Vox.

The values of the cathode resistors of the power tubes are not correct but I have not yet calculated the correct value, I just put any value so as not to leave it blank.

Please check it out and give me your advice or warnings. Thanks in advance(http://)
Title: Re: Matchless Lightning with EL34 complete Schematic
Post by: AlNewman on March 24, 2024, 04:36:47 pm
6V6 has a lot less current draw than EL34.  You may find your PT can't keep up.
Title: Re: Matchless Lightning with EL34 complete Schematic
Post by: DummyLoad on March 25, 2024, 06:33:46 am
290CX will work - Same PT used in Tremolux 35W amp, it'll run a bit warmer with a pair of EL34, 290DX would be my choice with a 1760JB output transformer - EL34 cathode resistor values with 440-450V B+ would be around 470R under each EL34 or around 230R for the pair. I prefer to use individual R for the cathode R, just my preference with EL34/6550/KT88, high slope output tubes in general. Phase inverter as designed works better w/ EL84 - Reconsider the tail R and Ra'/Ra anode resistor pair for better balance with a smaller tail R - E.g., copy the Deluxe reverb LTPI, sans the NFB, yes it's a 12AT7, but 12AX7 works just as well with those values.


--Pete
Title: Re: Matchless Lightning with EL34 complete Schematic
Post by: stinga11 on April 08, 2024, 11:11:38 am
290DX would be my choice with a 1760JB output transformer.
--Pete
I am going to use the Hammond 290DX power transformer. It has 230mA instead of 207mA but it has 6.3V 4A. Taking the calculations, the transformer will consume 4.05A, doesn't it matter?
Title: Re: Matchless Lightning with EL34 complete Schematic
Post by: Backwoods Joe on April 21, 2024, 08:09:38 pm
Don't forget to check out the first AC50.