Does anyone think a Steel String Singer clone with EL34s would work?

[Mike_J]

I was just thinking that I have an extra chassis, power transformer and quad of EL34 tubes.  I already made a Steel String Singer hybrid clone with 6L6GCs in it.  It is the type of amp that made the SRV Texas Flood tone which I tend to like.  I think I read somewhere SRV used something like 32 amps at the same time to record that album but the unmistakable sound of the Dumble is what cuts through when I listen to it.

When I started my Sluckey inspired Plexi/800 amp build it was to mate it with this amp.  The idea was the SSS would handle most of the clean and the Plexi/800 would cover the overdrive side.  The problem I am having is the speaker cabinet I plan on using is 30 inches wide.  The Sluckey inspired Plexi/800 build will be in a 30 inch wide cabinet.  It will be a thing of beauty when the amp head is sitting on that speaker cabinet.

Alas my problem, the SSS clone is only 27 inches wide and will not look right with the Plexi/800 amp head and the speaker cabinet.  All sense of proportionality will be lost.  It has really been bothering me. 

The SSS clone would probably use the other size cabinets I have constructed for my amps that measure 22" X 28-1/2".  It doesn't fit there either.  This cabinet is perfect for a 19 inch wide chassis because they line up perfectly but looks just as out of place on this cabinet as it does the other one.

I make my speaker cabinets so they can run at either 4 ohms or 16 ohms mono or two 8 ohm amps can be connected in stereo.  Two 8 ohm speakers must be used in the cabinet in order for that to work.  What I would probably do is put the EVM 12Ls in the cabinet as they could easily each handle all the power that either amp could throw at them.  If I wasn't going to play the Plexi/800 terribly loud I could load a Celestion Creamback 12M-65 watt speaker on that side.

I have an extra power transformer with the following secondary taps:

    173-145-0-145-173 @ 450 mA
    0-100 volt tap
    3.15-0-3.15 @ 8A
    3.15-0-3.15 @ 1A

I suppose I could run this PT with either 6L6GC or EL34 tubes.  The SSS clone uses six 12 A_7 style preamp tubes so there is enough heater current for either.  With a wider cabinet I could throw in an extra preamp tube and add an internal active effects unit but then I would be 100 mA over design conditions for the PT if I used EL34s.  I would estimate unloaded HT B+ voltage of either 410 or 489 volts.  Probably a little too low or high for 6L6GCs. 

What a dilemma.  Could someone please give me some guidance here?

[SILVERGUN]

The first thing that came to my mind is:
"why doesn't he just fill in the extra space (with wooden 'rails') in the head cab to make up the difference between the 27" width and the 30" width and then get a new faceplate that will cover the extra width?"

Seems a lot simpler to me than building another amp...

But we do love to see guys build new amps,,,soooooo 

[Mike_J]

The first thing that came to my mind is:
"why doesn't he just fill in the extra space (with wooden 'rails') in the head cab to make up the difference between the 27" width and the 30" width and then get a new faceplate that will cover the extra width?"

Seems a lot simpler to me than building another amp...

But we do love to see guys build new amps,,,soooooo 

Silvergun

Thank you for the reply.  Yes your solution would work I suppose but then what do I do with all of these left over amp parts?

Thanks
Mike

[shooter]

sell 'em so you can hire a roadie to carry your gear?

[Mike_J]

sell 'em so you can hire a roadie to carry your gear?

There is a lot of truth in that statement.  However, that is why my wife and I decided to have children so we would have roadies to carry my gear.  Unfortunately, most of them are out of college and working or in college or headed to college.  I am starting to lose my workforce so I supposed I should start to give consideration to your suggestion.  It just lacks the enjoyment of a new build.

Thanks
Mike

[HotBluePlates]

If it were my amp, I wouldn't build the thing over just to fit a different-sized cabinet. But I have no problem with different-sized amp heads on a given cabinet; I would just place the smaller head on top of the larger head.

Recycling parts from one build to use in a new build sounds like a good idea until you actually try it, at which point you'll break some component when trying to remove it or it just won't fit in the new chassis location. If you're OCD enough to be concerned about using 2 different-sized cabinets, you're going to be bothered by the messy appearance of re-used parts.

... the speaker cabinet I plan on using is 30 inches wide.  ... the SSS clone is only 27 inches wide and will not look right ... With a wider cabinet I could throw in an extra ...

When I've built amps for myself, a pattern emerged for successful scratch builds... I determined the exact circuit setup first, figured out the correct parts to use in that circuit (which set the physical dimensions of those parts), then determined the best layout for the parts I'd be using, which then dictated the chassis & cabinet sizes. When I built an amp without following that natural progression I've generally been disappointed with some aspect of the amp (poor internal or external appearance, unstable circuit performance, etc).

On that basis, I'd advise against making circuit changes to suit a change of cabinet size. There are plenty of Marshall-style big-box heads with a chassis no bigger than the chassis used in a smaller head; the cabinet itself was made larger to match the size of the speaker cabinet without making the control panel cutout any larger.

[Mike_J]

If it were my amp, I wouldn't build the thing over just to fit a different-sized cabinet. But I have no problem with different-sized amp heads on a given cabinet; I would just place the smaller head on top of the larger head.

Recycling parts from one build to use in a new build sounds like a good idea until you actually try it, at which point you'll break some component when trying to remove it or it just won't fit in the new chassis location. If you're OCD enough to be concerned about using 2 different-sized cabinets, you're going to be bothered by the messy appearance of re-used parts.

... the speaker cabinet I plan on using is 30 inches wide.  ... the SSS clone is only 27 inches wide and will not look right ... With a wider cabinet I could throw in an extra ...

When I've built amps for myself, a pattern emerged for successful scratch builds... I determined the exact circuit setup first, figured out the correct parts to use in that circuit (which set the physical dimensions of those parts), then determined the best layout for the parts I'd be using, which then dictated the chassis & cabinet sizes. When I built an amp without following that natural progression I've generally been disappointed with some aspect of the amp (poor internal or external appearance, unstable circuit performance, etc).

On that basis, I'd advise against making circuit changes to suit a change of cabinet size. There are plenty of Marshall-style big-box heads with a chassis no bigger than the chassis used in a smaller head; the cabinet itself was made larger to match the size of the speaker cabinet without making the control panel cutout any larger.

HBP

Thank you for the reply.  No I would leave the existing SSS intact.  I really like the way the amp is now.  Probably will just make a new 2X12 cab for it that is the same width as the head cabinet.  That will solve the problem I have with that amp head.

This is for a brand new scratch build.  I was just wondering what members of the forum thought about making a SSS with EL34 power tubes instead of the typical 6L6GC or 6550 tubes.

I have heard of the SSS described as an improved black faced twin with a SVT PI.  What it does best for anyone not familiar with the amp is allow you to dig into the strings hard without having the amp going into grind mode.  It just seems to sing a little more.

Thanks
Mike