disguise the obvious

[worth]

I need to disguise my tweed tremolux build components, like Louis Amps does , ( all values are artfully obscured ) so no one will know he's just copying Fender ...  any tips on deception ? What IS that material that covers the resistors and capacitors ?

[TubeGeek]

What happens when the amp needs servicing and it can't go back to the original builder?  Say a cap blows or resistor burns up, no indication or way of measuring with a meter?

This seems silly to me.

Personally I'd never purchase an amp that is clearly trying to hide something.

It's pretty easy to see what is going on there even with the cover up.

To me it looks like some kind of paint or liquid electrical tape kind of coating.

[worth]

What happens when the amp needs servicing and it can't go back to the original builder?  Say a cap blows or resistor burns up, no indication or way of measuring with a meter?

This seems silly to me.

Personally I'd never purchase an amp that is clearly trying to hide something.'

It's pretty easy to see what is going on there even with the cover up.

To me it looks like some kind of paint or liquid electrical type kind of coating.

Well .. you would just look at the original schematic, and then the mods of this circuit .. and size of obscured caps , to see he's just done the same ole 5E3 mods , and used a  PT with more current capacity.

[TubeGeek]

Yeah but original schematic of what?  It's supposed to be a secret design right? Why else would all the components be covered up?  For good looks?

[worth]

Czart!!!! you're right !!

[Zipslack]

Seems a little silly, especially with tag/turret layout where you can probe and measure each component (mostly).  But it sure does look purty!

[HotBluePlates]

And it's not hiding anything if you know what you're looking at.

Most of the resistors have the form-factor of Vishay Dale RN65D metal film resistors, the long skinny caps have the form factor of Sozo caps, the short fat coupling cap has the form factor of an orange drop (possibly a polyester 225P version).

I mean why hide anything? As Zipslack said, if you want to discover the secrets, you'll get them from measuring, which no one can prevent when the amp is in the user's hands.

I'm waiting for someone to get inspired by this and create their own little "blackbox" components encased in epoxy... kinda like the Sprague network modules found in some Ampeg tone control circuits.

[Zipslack]

I just envisioned a block of epoxy with turrets sticking out of it...."amp modules".  Drop them in, hook up power, pots, and OPT.  Change your amp to another model quickly and easily...must don't expect to ever repair it -- replacement modules only.

[phsyconoodler]

Secret circuits need secret sauce.

[triode]

I agree with TubeGeek and HBP, but wanted to add:

Are you just going to copy a princeton and sell it? Why? You are now competing with a 1000 other
guys/gals who build fender/marshall/vox and sell them, and they have connections and buying power
(or they look at their time as worthless (e.g. charge no labor)), it is a loosing market, IMHO.

If you are not doing it for the money/a job, and just to have fun, then who cares if someone notices it is a copy?

[Madison]

Secret circuits need secret sauce.

 

and secret service

[Ed_Chambley]

http://www.permatex.com/products/product-categories/adhesives-sealants/epoxies

Link to what exotic pedals uses.  Comes in a spray can and is black.

[Zipslack]

Or do like Zinky or Valpreaux - focus on a non-standard, slightly off-the-beaten-path brand that had an interesting sound, as opposed to all the Fender and Marshall clones.

[rafe]

This is all secret and should not ever have been brought out in the open. If the identity of even one of those caps or resistors is revealed ,it could compromise the value and   integrity of all the rest of them. And you know what happens then....one by one they are removed....They were undercover for a reason.............