Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: joesatch on June 20, 2024, 12:16:35 pm

Title: PA135
Post by: joesatch on June 20, 2024, 12:16:35 pm
turn this into a 4 channel head? each channel with it's own tonestack, gain & master? Should i do it?

(https://rvb-img.reverb.com/image/upload/s--6B7pkM3u--/a_exif,c_limit,e_unsharp_mask:80,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_south,h_1600,q_80,w_1600/v1519584960/fsrqqaaiec1hmksudlbw.jpg)

Title: Re: PA135
Post by: Willabe on June 20, 2024, 12:39:58 pm
I've seen posts where guys have done that. They said they ended up sounding very good. The iron set should be very heavy duty.

As you know, it's gonna be very heavy. 
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: shooter on June 20, 2024, 01:05:14 pm
ok, i'm missing something obvious, isn't it already a 4 channel head?
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: joesatch on June 20, 2024, 01:07:18 pm
ok, i'm missing something obvious, isn't it already a 4 channel head?

ya but it's a PA. so each channel has a separate input. I want to make a guitar head with 4 channels, Ex. Fender Clean,Vox Dirt,Marshall Plexi, Slo high gain
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: shooter on June 20, 2024, 03:41:34 pm
then my "suggestion" leave the inputs as they are for now, mod CH1 to "your tone", once you smile, move to next channel...Then worry about mux'ing them through your "channel selector" after each is where you want it.


the dave logic;
most PA's i've worked on have good "channel" isolation/separation already there, if you mux them 1st then try and mod each, you may be  unleashing gremlins into adjacent channels
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: joesatch on June 20, 2024, 07:10:57 pm
then my "suggestion" leave the inputs as they are for now, mod CH1 to "your tone", once you smile, move to next channel...Then worry about mux'ing them through your "channel selector" after each is where you want it.


the dave logic;
most PA's i've worked on have good "channel" isolation/separation already there, if you mux them 1st then try and mod each, you may be  unleashing gremlins into adjacent channels

nah. the front panel channels each  have 5 holes so pre,master, treble, middle ,bass for each channel. I'll switch channels internally with relays. two pots on the face at the far right will be master presence and depth or master volume and depth.  we'll see
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: AlNewman on June 20, 2024, 07:52:17 pm
That's a tall order.

You do have an extra triode by the looks of it.

https://el34world.com/charts/Schematics/files/Fender/Fender_pa135.pdf
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: mresistor on June 21, 2024, 08:19:12 am
I don't see a non-used triode section. 
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: shooter on June 21, 2024, 08:32:24 am
didn't either but it's brain-frying hot n humid so there's that.




have you modeled the current/as built TS vs your "new" version
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: Carlsoti on June 21, 2024, 08:39:06 am
These CAN sound good, but I think the "4 different voicing" thing will be a bit of a challenge. Basically, each channel will only have 2 independent gain stages. As they are configured stock, all the controls are in between those gain stages, which might be fine for one voice, but fall apart for another. Also, that power amp is going to be LOUD and likely pretty clean, which may make it difficult to coax the PI/ power amp OD/distortions that contribute to the different FMV tones.
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: mresistor on June 21, 2024, 08:55:43 am
Maybe gut it and make a new board.  Make it three channels.  On channel with two triodes and two channels with three triodes. 

Title: Re: PA135
Post by: shooter on June 21, 2024, 09:33:28 am
one of the lessons I've learned here, re-inventing a wheel leads you to the original design of the wheel  :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: tdvt on June 21, 2024, 11:19:50 am
one of the lessons I've learned here, re-inventing a wheel leads you to the original design of the wheel  :icon_biggrin:


So true
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: joesatch on June 21, 2024, 12:26:20 pm
It's definitely a gut out situation. Gain stages can be shared and switched in/out for the various channels. I've done this before on a smaller scale with a 2 channel preamp ch1 Friedman BE and channel 2 SLO. This is not as difficult as it sounds. Will require probably a dozen relays to mute sections,switch component values and route the signal path. totally dooable
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: AlNewman on June 21, 2024, 12:51:51 pm
I don't see a non-used triode section.

You're right, for some reason i missed one half of v4 when I was looking at it.
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: joesatch on June 21, 2024, 01:27:29 pm
The PT has the HV secondary with a center tap which is grounded but also uses a FWB which is grounded. I thought that was a no no? unless it's just for the bias wind?
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: pdf64 on June 21, 2024, 02:13:31 pm
Look again.
The CT isn't grounded.
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: mresistor on June 21, 2024, 04:02:31 pm
Joe look at the winding above the HV winding  it's labeled BN  what is that for?
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: sluckey on June 21, 2024, 04:05:46 pm
Joe look at the winding above the HV winding  it's labeled BN  what is that for?
bias
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: mresistor on June 21, 2024, 04:28:20 pm
Joe look at the winding above the HV winding  it's labeled BN  what is that for?
bias


yup  but you're not Joe
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: sluckey on June 21, 2024, 05:15:51 pm
sorry
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: fossilshark on June 22, 2024, 01:07:09 am
Needs a switch that cascades all 4 channels for a "Jose" modded fender  :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: jeff on July 16, 2024, 06:56:47 pm
The PT has the HV secondary with a center tap which is grounded but also uses a FWB which is grounded. I thought that was a no no? unless it's just for the bias wind?
That is a no no, but the C.T. isn't grounded, it's sitting in the middle of the caps/100K resistors.
You can use this configuration to get a +/- voltage buy grounding the C.T.
OR
What Fender's doing, ground the - for twice the voltage.


C.T. is at 1/2 B+
Title: Re: PA135
Post by: DummyLoad on July 22, 2024, 03:17:39 am
Leave it as is? They are a great vocal and pedal steel amp as is. Give it a try as such, of course refresh the electrolytic caps first.

--Pete