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Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 4:45 am
by vanhalen5150
I can't really see from your photos what you mean.

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:13 am
by julkke
Finished the build yesterday evening! WOOOHOOOOOOOO Now I'm doing the double check and probably firing it up today.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6daidph0j7z7e6b/BjXSZlXe4_" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 11:34 am
by neikeel
julkke wrote:Finished the build yesterday evening! WOOOHOOOOOOOO Now I'm doing the double check and probably firing it up today.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6daidph0j7z7e6b/BjXSZlXe4_" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Well done, looks very Fendery with all that push back cloth wire and dark board!

Hope it sounds good!

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 3:05 pm
by julkke
The amp works fine! All voltages matched the chart. I had some weird V3 voltages first but then I realized I had wired the Presence pot wrong. Corrected that and all was fine. Biased to 36ma at 453 volts and fired it up. Works flawlessly! No extra noises or anything. Not much of hiss even though it's carbon comps throughout.

Only little complaint is a kind of buzz noise, not hum really. Sounds like ground noise. It's not loud, and it doesn't get louder when turning volumes up. Only the precense control controls the volume of the buzz. With presence on max it's about like little louder than talking volume, and doesn't get louder than that. With presence on 0 it's almost gone. Ichopsticked around and nothing seemed to affect the buzz in any way. This is normal I guess? Standby switch popping when switched off is also normal I guess since I don't have the snubber caps?

Afterall, great build and a fun experience. I'll order headbox for it and install a PPIMV, and maybe go from there or leave it as it is.

Julius

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 3:31 pm
by neikeel
:clap:

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:08 am
by vanhalen5150
Lets hear it. :)

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:59 pm
by julkke
I wasnt home for the weekend, I'll do a clip tomorrow maybe. I did a quick clip, check the evh section. :p Cant dime it tho, too afraid of blowing my greenbacks. I'll order parts for ppimv soon.

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:48 am
by julkke
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/49322143/acdc.mp3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Quick clip, bright ch on 6, tone controls on 5, normal channel off. In the end you hear that when I let go of the strings and then touch them there is a small pop - really small but audible. That is ok? I'm just really nervous of every noise in a DIY amp... :D

I also get a pop when I plug in a guitar cable to either of the high sensitivity inputs, this is normal?

I ordered some parts today, will be messing and recording this weekend.

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 7:17 am
by vanhalen5150
Typically normal. Check all your connections. Sounds pretty good. What speakers are you using?

What value are your filter caps? Mains, screens, PI?

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 7:35 am
by julkke
vanhalen5150 wrote:Typically normal. Check all your connections. Sounds pretty good. What speakers are you using?

What value are your filter caps? Mains, screens, PI?
Thanks. I'm recording a 72 greenback here. Filtering is 50u mains, 33u screens (100 and 50 in series), 50 PI, 50/50 Preamp. I'm looking to lowering preamp filtering and replacing all my V1 carbon comps with carbon films and see what that does. I also have parts for PPIMV, .1uf couplers to try, 560pf caps and a 25uf to try as fat cap coming.

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:01 am
by vanhalen5150
Most guys like the PI at 100uf and the preamps at dual 33uf. Mess around with that stuff and see what you like. Its good to record stuff before you change parts as well to compare.

You'll notice little pops and cracks now and then, but you'll also discover the longer you let the amp warm up on standby, the less they occur.

Don't be swayed by any stock values in the preamp section either. Start collecting different values and trying out your own thing. You'd be surprised what you can find on ebay that gets overlooked by the NOS freaks. Don't think you need NOS stuff either. Get some Xicons, Phillips etc...Crazy brands nobody has heard of too. Little cost because people dont look for it.

Different caps, resistors, tubes....the combinations are endless. You have the major cost covered now so you can really get down to business and create your own tone without getting into a lot more money. Well, unless your going to fork over $400 for some NOS Sylvania 6CA7 fat bottles.

:hairband:

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:08 am
by julkke
Yes the fun part starts now!! Luckily theres a tube amp/electronics store in finland called uraltone. They have huge selection of caps, resistors, tubes... I'm ordering sozos and xicons and dijons, different values, ceramic and silver mica caps.. mess with carbon comp vs film and all the great stuff. And minimum shipping costs!

Ha, now it comes to my mind that I could have done Larry grounds for this build, after again doing some reading. Not that the amp is noisy but again, having it dead quiet would be cool. :twisted: It might be too difficult now that everything is in, I'll see if I can do that.

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:32 am
by vanhalen5150
Larry ground your next amp build.

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:35 am
by julkke
I will. ;)

Re: First build - TAD Super Lead

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 9:09 am
by Tone Slinger
Sounded real good man :thumbsup: