Magnatone Twilighter 2020--MOD BUILD-Only Tremolo

[sluckey]

Look at the original schematics and you tell me. 

[wsscott]

Well I guess the difference is that the PT in the Mag 10A did not have the Yellow wiring for the Rectifier tube and so the rectification was done with the diodes, where the Twilighter PT does have that wiring available for the rectifier tube.  If that's the reason, then I guess the ultimate issue is why use one type of PT vs. the other?  Cost?

[shooter]

why use one type of PT vs. the other

Now you're getting into the Tea leaf reading section 


The Valve Wizard
you can glaze over the math, (for now).


The tea leaf part;
some musicians want the "Tonal" sound you get from sagging a tube Rect.  Others want Stiff, no sag so it becomes a "preference", not an electrical function.  Still others want "as close as possible" to an amps original design

[sluckey]

I guess the ultimate issue is why use one type of PT vs. the other?

Manufacturers choice.

As for my choices, well I just followed Magnatone's lead. Your revibe unit has no power amp. Everything operates in class A so tube rectifier sag does not exist, so SS is a better, cheaper, more reliable rectifier choice.  As for your twilite with a fixed bias power amp, rectifier sag is a real factor. But my reason for using a tube rectifier is because Magnatone did. Magnatone used a tube rectifier because that's a marketing hook for their new line. And since Magnatone simply copied the Fender Deluxe Reverb which has a tube rectifier, they used one too. So, the young non-tech git players can gush and say, "My tube rectifier sounds so much better. It has real girth and length. Can't you hear it?"   

[wsscott]

Well at least I could ID the distinction between the 2 circuits and PT's!! HAHA.  So at the end of the day, there's really no technical reason requiring one over the other, just "preferences" of some sort.

[sluckey]

Well at least I could ID the distinction between the 2 circuits and PT's!!

Did you ID with your eyes or ears?

[wsscott]

Eyes!

[wsscott]

I finally got the last resistor I needed for the Line Out and got that installed today.  Got the Bias Test Point resistors installed the other day.  So as far as I know everything is now finished and operational.  I'm going to leave the Mid Pot as is for the time being and see how I like it, or if I want to change it to the 10K as Sluckey said was a way to get more bass.  At some point I may come back and add the Reverb circuit.  I didn't do it to begin with because a lot of tube amps I've heard, or heard of, seem to have hum that's associated with the Reverb when its turned on.  I don't know if that's inherent in the design, or the build, or what.  But this amp is quiet as can be and I'm very pleased.

Attached are some photos of the final build.  Thanks again everyone for your help.  Best.

[Willabe]

At some point I may come back and add the Reverb circuit.

I don't think you have room for tube reverb on/in that chassis.   

I didn't do it to begin with because a lot of tube amps I've heard, or heard of, seem to have hum that's associated with the Reverb when its turned on. I don't know if that's inherent in the design, or the build, or what.

I don't think that's true. As long as they put it in right, layout, space, lead dress.

I don't think Fender BF amps with verb are any nosier than non-verb amps. Very minimal difference if any. 

[wsscott]

Sluckey did you ever do any Visio Layouts for any Mags with Vibrato and Reverb? If so, could you post maybe the one(s) you like best. I might want to try one of them sometime. Best.

[sluckey]

My L'il Maggie M2 is the only layout I have. It's on my website.

[wsscott]

I’ll check it out. Thanks

[wsscott]

Just as an update, I decided to change out the 100K-A Mid Pot for the 10K-A.  I like the 10K much better.  The RAW sound when the 100K got past mid-way wasn't something I liked, and the 10K gives me a lot more control over the Mid and Bass frequencies--or so it seems.  Anyway, I think I'll be sticking with this.  Otherwise the amp is doing great.  Very pleased with it and Sluckey's design mod to the current Magnatone Twilighter circuit. Thanks again to everyone.