want to build my Dream Gig Amp, power section suggestions?

[owen]

edit: currently looking at sunn model T power with a versatile eq preamp.

I am clearly out of my depth, but I’d like to build an amp that can serve quadruple duty in one gig. What sort of power section would you recommend to handle the following?

Bass VI, Baritone, Lap Steel, Normal Guitar. Clean headroom a little bit beyond what an ampeg v4/v4b can deliver, but with more modern available tubes. Go ultra linear? Use more tubes? KT for something different?


The preamp may closely resemble a V4 in the end, with different center frequency options for cut and boost more inline with how I tune to rooms. I know this will take a lot of learning, calculation, and experimentation.

This is my long term project that got me into this hobby to begin with, huge bold loud cleans for wide dynamic range. It’s the opposite sound to what most guitarists want.

[sluckey]

Look at the Sunn schematics.

[owen]

Look at the Sunn schematics.

copy, i have also been lamenting selling my old Model T.

Thanks for all this help.

I recently wired my own inductor for the standard ampeg mid circuit that seems to check out, and have been looking at how best to manage moving away from the 6k11 thanks to info the ampeg v4 forum.

[glass54]

Hi Owen
I really like the AB763 Power Amp and your choice of preamp (as per requirements). It is well proven ( ) by many on this forum, it's reliable and tubes and transformers are readily available. I was going to suggest the Hoffman single channel Deluxe Rev (maybe NO Trem/Rev) but if you want more oomph, Sluckey's Dual Lite (USA) would be a great project and you could do your own flavour preamp and maybe an effects loop.
I'd probably go with SS Rectifier and a stiff Power supply (Touch of Dumble??) Good for Steel and Bass guitar?
Looking forward to your progress.
Kind regards
Mirek

[thetragichero]

sunn sceptre sounded great with my bass vi and guitars, even better than the 200 bass amp (plus it had reverb and trem which can be nice). super simple circuit too without all of the eq controls those ampegs have (which i consider a plus... the fewer knobs to tweak the more i can focus on actually playing)

[owen]

sunn sceptre sounded great with my bass vi and guitars, even better than the 200 bass amp (plus it had reverb and trem which can be nice). super simple circuit too without all of the eq controls those ampegs have (which i consider a plus... the fewer knobs to tweak the more i can focus on actually playing)

I’ll look at the Sunn scepter power section there in addition to the model T, thanks! The midrange control on the ampegs is what this amp will be based around, however.

basically I want a sort of V4 with more power, but not an SVT.

[owen]

Hi Owen
I really like the AB763 Power Amp and your choice of preamp (as per requirements). It is well proven ( ) by many on this forum, it's reliable and tubes and transformers are readily available. I was going to suggest the Hoffman single channel Deluxe Rev (maybe NO Trem/Rev) but if you want more oomph, Sluckey's Dual Lite (USA) would be a great project and you could do your own flavour preamp and maybe an effects loop.
I'd probably go with SS Rectifier and a stiff Power supply (Touch of Dumble??) Good for Steel and Bass guitar?
Looking forward to your progress.
Kind regards
Mirek

Thanks Mirek! SS rectifier for sure, and stiff power supply seems right. This wants to be cleaner at volume than 100 ampeg watts. Less bass guitar, and more fender Bass VI with the high pass switch in, but a touch of low E when I want it.

I never fully loved 1964+ fender amps, and wanted the exercise of recreating some of the stuff I came up playing, Sunn, Ampeg and 80 watt Oranges (dirt cheap amps around 1999!)

I had a 65 fender dual showman that I never appreciated, so I’ve been a bit averse to that, but that power section is worth a consideration with a different front end. the blond showman is one of my top amps as well and has some serious power.

[mresistor]

If you want more ooomph  build a Super Reverb.   LOL

[owen]

If you want more ooomph  build a Super Reverb.   LOL

ha! unfortunately, there’s no replacement for displacement.

super reverbs are one of the few black panel fenders I love. they are much too loud for most venues, but they are also nowhere near as clean as I want.

I daily drive a turbocharged 4cyl, but the visceral thrill of a boxer 6 or v8 cannot be understated.

[shooter]

I daily drive a turbocharged 4cyl

between my WRX and EVOx, I got all the visceral I could handle 

[mresistor]

If you want more ooomph  build a Super Reverb.   LOL

ha! unfortunately, there’s no replacement for displacement.

super reverbs are one of the few black panel fenders I love. they are much too loud for most venues, but they are also nowhere near as clean as I want.

I daily drive a turbocharged 4cyl, but the visceral thrill of a boxer 6 or v8 cannot be understated.

Well maybe oomph and clean can also be attributed to the speaker you use.   I was running mine through a 15"  EV15L  and it was like heaven on earth..    very clear   very clean   never had to turn it up very far far for neighbors to hear a block or more away..  I think speaker should be a consideration too. 

[shooter]

I think speaker should be a consideration

fwiw i give speakers between 30 and 50% value for tone, 10-30% audio volume