TOS II LOOKIN GOOOOOOD,SOUNDIN GRRRR8

[TIMBO]

HI guys, Just put the finishing touches on the TOS II and i can't be happier. Thanks Tubenit for a fantastic amp.  

I found that this amp has got it all and can be adjusted to have it all.I must confess that i am a bit of a hard rock fan and was a little put back with the niceness was the first TOS (still a wonderful amp) and i tried to compensate by adding extra "bells and whistles" that in the end did not achieve the desired sound. I can now say with out doubt that the TOS II DOES have it all.  

This amp has had many changes and i think this has made it the amp that it is , because it can be TWEAKED so many ways that i don't know how Tubenit can remember what he has and hasn't done and still be able the hear a difference between the changes.  

I have added the "enhancement caps" and i am sure they have helped in some way but i'm going to have to take T's word for it that they have made an improvement. This may be because i used tubular type caps with the OD as the added cap.

I have in this build added the Master Volume back in (I think it was 250k pot) because i found that it kept the CLEAN channel super clean, so this then gave me an extra channel and for what reason i don't know why but i like it.
FEATURES:-
PAB SW. - works on all channels
            - Changes from D_ style TS to Mar_ type TS (totally different sound/drive effect)
GAIN VOL - T had this as the amp volume but i found that it regulated the gain more so than the VOL
MID BOOST SW. - Does what i says.
VOLUME - This is the Master Vol added back in and works well for that much CLEANER effect (gets added in when in CLEAN MODE)
TREBLE - A lot of range
MID - A lot of range
MID TRIM - I'm not sure how T intended for this to be used,so i mounted on front panel so as to "tweak it" when needed. What i get from it is not only does it increase the MIDS a bit but it also seems to (as you turn it up the pot)adds some DEPTH and BALLS to the sound,a much liked effect  
REVERB - Just enough
CHANNEL MODE - CLEAN (Vol pot added)
                      - CRUNCH ,sounded like a good name to call it ( removes the Vol pot)
                      - OVERDRIVE, many different sound achieved from very little all the way to a almost COMPRESSOR effect  
OVERDRIVE CONTROLS:-
TRIM - Dial in the GRUNT
LEVEL - Volume mainly
DRIVE - More than you need
TONE - Good range
I've added these findings to give future builders an idea to what this amp is capable of and as i see it ,it well serve in most styles of music.
 When built, it did present a buzz and most WAS caused by my LP and the fender not so much.I feel the amp is very QUIET but this may also be in the build itself. I can live with it as some of the buzz is only at high Volume.
Thanks to everyone that has had a hand in this great build.  
  

[tubenit]

EXCELLENT !!!!   Glad you like the amp and the tone!  I think it's a really versatile amp at this point.  I'm loving mine alot.

 

IF you want to tweak and experiment some more, I have added some ideas to consider.  I have tried to indicate what the tweaks may have to offer.

The main thing I strive for in my amps is a very clear (not clean) transparent and smooth overdrive. That's my primary goal. So these tweaks helped to move my TOS closer to that.

The only thing I would definitely do with your amp is move that 47p snubbing cap behind the .033 coupling caps. I found the the snubbing cap as you have it, seriously muted the tone and transparency of my amp. I tried it and immediately removed it. As one of the other Hoffman guys recently discovered, moving it behind the coupling caps does not kill the tone. I tried the cap behind the coupling caps on my SoLow Watt and it did indeed work just fine in that location.

Most of the tweaks I've listed involve removing some of the smoothing caps across the plate resistor or lowering those values ..........AND then adding the plate to cathode smoothing caps instead such as in the OD section.

THANK you for sharing the results of your build!  It is appreciated.

With respect, Tubenit

[Tone Junkie]

Sounds like fun Timbo.
 

[TIMBO]

How far can it go,this amp is a tweakers delight. Tubenit i'll try these last tweaks soon as it very much the way i like it as it is. 
Franco,a few pics as requested and the layout schem of the controls has changed with the added vol pot so the line up is,

GAIN VOLUME TREBLE MID CRUNCH REV LEVEL REV DWELL CHANNEL SW TRIM OD LEVEL OD DRIVE TONE

GREAT AMP

[Willabe]

Timbo, yes, looking good is right. Very nice.


          Brad        

[tubenit]

Wow!  That's a really nice looking amp!   GREAT job!

With respect, Tubenit

[shortfuse]

Timbo
Great job.  Do you make your own faceplates?

[kagliostro]

Very Nice Job TIMBO 

Thanks for the documentation and photo

Kagliostro

[TIMBO]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH, Face plates, I have revised the way i make my face plates and they have turned out better.I start off with a thin sheet of aluminium and cut/drill the required holes and then cover the alli with a coloured vinyl sheet that has a sticky back (i don't remember what it is called) i then used clear DYMO labels and then another layer of clear vinyl over the top. The problem with the dymo was if you didn't get it straight the first time you couldn't get off w/out pulling up the vinyl  and cause the thickness of the tape was noticeable.  I since found INKJET WATER SLIDE DECAL PAPER that can be printed on an inkjet printer and then a coat of clear acylic sprayed over the paper (to seal the ink to the clear decal sheet)Then the labels are cut from the sheet and dipped into water for a few secs then the label is slid off the backing sheet and this allows to slide it to the required position the excess water removed and when all is done and dry the clear vinyl sheet is then put over the top for protection. This has worked well and fairly cheep. Thanks

[shortfuse]

Thanks for sharing that info.  Are you going to put up any sound clips of your build?

[TIMBO]

Hi Fuse,Man there is no way i can do this amp justice by doing a sound clip,besides i'm not tech enough to even try to record a sound clip but thanks for asking 

[shortfuse]

10-4 I am the same way.  I am going to build this amp one of these days.  Just want to fix up 2 other lo watt amps I have built and make them right before I move on. 

[TIMBO]

Hi guy's, I would like to report the buzz i had or thought i had in this and other builds was a problem with the build itself. I just purchased another guitar (Epiphone Swingster) and it was right at home with the TOS and NO buzz  Thanks

[Willabe]

So it was the guitar?


                    Brad     

[TIMBO]

Yep, NOT HAPPY JAN (australian saying) cause the LP sounds so good through the TOS. I've have lined the part of the cavity with copper tape which has helped alot. So it looks like i'm going to have to take the pots,etc. out to fully line the cavity,i'll also will replace the wires to the sw. with some sheilded wire.The strat is not as bad but i'll give it the same treatment.

[Willabe]

That's odd, usually Paul's (with humbuckers) are not as noisy strats. Or do you have P90's in the Paul and bucks in the strat?


                         Brad     

[TIMBO]

Standard LP and standard Strat 

[Willabe]

Well glad you found it's not your builds. You do good work.


            Brad

[tubenit]

Hi guy's, I would like to report the buzz i had or thought i had in this and other builds was a problem with the build itself. I just purchased another guitar (Epiphone Swingster) and it was right at home with the TOS and NO buzz 

Cool !!!!!!!!!!     I am delighted to hear that it was NOT the amp!   However, I am sorry to hear that it was the guitar. 

THANK you for the update on that!    With respect, Tubenit