12XXX Build 05/2010

[Strat78]

I want one of those too. your eyes must be almost as old as mine!

Oh fuck, I just gave myself away! Anyway, thanks for the great advise! I like the idea of vintage mustards but perhaps I'm not sure why: Plexifield has always said that these are not high fi sound systems that we are going for here. What I want is something with allot of character that is very rough around the edges. Are vintage Sozo's better high fi or are NOS mustards just better work horses that can stand up to the abuse?

[somethin'else]

LOT's of things said about SoZo's Vintage vs. Mustards.

But, based on your picture Strat78, I'll be the lounge with the SoZo's.

On trannie hum (not related to previous sentence), mine's a Standup, so I got issues. I can live with it, but slightly puzzling, and only annoying until I'm playing.

Great build vanhalen5150, and great thread!

[vanhalen5150]

I haven't forgot, but I'm still waiting for my kit (been waiting 10 days, is that normal?). Meanwhile I've prepared my entire basement for the damn things arrival. Where can I get a good biasing kit?

10 working days, or 10 including weekends. Yeah, thats normal. Build and amp cradle yet? Got the supplies?
By a biasing kit I assume you mean a multi-tester? Just that and a small flat head screwdriver. Dont get one of those $15 multi's either. Thats what I had eairlier in the thread and it was all over the place. False readings and voltage fuxuations. Some may work well but as soon as the battery starts to weaken, they go haywire. I got a better one at Home Depot for about $60. You'll be using it a lot so dont be cheap there. Build an amp worth a few thousand dollars and its based on a cheapo multi? Naw.

I was checking the bias after about every 1/2 hour of play. Initially it was increasing a bit but has since settled. Vhjunkie was very helpfull with that. Following a hotter tube and getting a good happy medium between all of those is really key for a well ballanced sound. You can easily tell the difference now between a cold and hot biased amp after messing with this stuff.

10 days including weekends, so I'm in good shape there. Are there any extra resisters that I should order now that will help when I inevitably burn up the ones that come with the kit? Should I use a heat clamp when soldering? Are there any diagrams for a tried and true cradle (I think yours looks pretty good)? For biasing, I was thinking of the ones that plugs into the tube sockets. I remember Dave Freedman mentioned that he is not in favor of the resistor between the tube socket and the ground for biasing (changes tone?) so I would like to bias the old fashion way for now. I think I've got a pretty good multi ($60). My soldering gun seems ok, but it needs a new tip. What's the best soldering tip to use? Also I think I should get one of those nice lights with the big magnifying glass, where do you get those? The only experience I have thus far is doing Rockstahs Marshall mod to a Valve Junior, so this should be interesting. Thanks for all the help guys. There is a "School Of Rock" opening down the street and they are having an open house, will check it out.

Just PM me Ill show you how I built the cradle. Pretty easy with stuff from Home Depot. Cost about maybe $20 but I made it adjustable for different chasis sizes.
Heat gun? . Iron right? 25 watts and under for anything here. Basic soldering tip is fine. I clean mine with steel wool for carbon build up and just re-tine it before each application.
Ask away, PM me or anyone else with ques. on this build.

[vanhalen5150]

You guys mean one of these? I got this at Wallmart for $14. Real glass lense with round halogen bulb. Lift the top a look right through. I have 20/20... but I had $14 bucks that day. Not sure why I was there. Anyway.

As far as the whole cap thing goes.....mmmmm...sniff a bit more I guess.

Smoothest, quietest amps I've ever heard are the Blankenship Variplex series. Big ass square Xicon caps and carbon films resistors. Hmmmmm....... see how the heaters are done...makes you wonder doesn't it? Before any self indulged builders get the undies in a bunch, R.B doesn't care about posting pics. Not many guy's saying that eh? Straight up no bullshit from that guy, no goop'd up secret mod stuff.

Radio Shack?....They still kicking? Not in Canada anymore.

[vh junkie]

You guys mean one of these? I got this at Wallmart for $14.

I'll take a look at that!

As far as the whole cap thing goes.....mmmmm...sniff a bit more I guess.

No one knows less about corks than me! I went for a set when Gerrit was selling a few a while back... Don't knock it till you've tried all three! More tone bang for your buck than doing the CC resistor thing (unless you like hiss)!

Smoothest, quietest amps I've ever heard are the Blankenship Variplex series. Big ass square Xicon caps and carbon films resistors. Hmmmmm....... see how the heaters are done...makes you wonder doesn't it?

Can't really see the source of the heaters. Common practice is to elevate the ref voltage or do DC to quiet things down.

Before any self indulged builders get the undies in a bunch, R.B doesn't care about posting pics.

Can't argue with that! I'm just trying to relate some of the stuff I've gone thru and relate what I have heard said repeatedly after thousands of hours here!... would never intentionally steer you guys wrong!

[vh junkie]

Oh fuck, I just gave myself away! Anyway, thanks for the great advise! I like the idea of vintage mustards but perhaps I'm not sure why: Plexifield has always said that these are not high fi sound systems that we are going for here. What I want is something with allot of character that is very rough around the edges. Are vintage Sozo's better high fi or are NOS mustards just better work horses that can stand up to the abuse?

I'm just saying that if you are thinking about trying the NOS route now seems to be the best time economy wise. I would try to email to Gerritt, or Mark to see his source, most of the other stuff I see on the bay has problems voltage or value wise. The darn .022uf are going for up to $40 apiece... perhaps put a "wanted" ad in the Member Classified and get a PM...

[vanhalen5150]

You guys mean one of these? I got this at Wallmart for $14.

I'll take a look at that!

As far as the whole cap thing goes.....mmmmm...sniff a bit more I guess.

No one knows less about corks than me! I went for a set when Gerrit was selling a few a while back... Don't knock it till you've tried all three! More tone bang for your buck than doing the CC resistor thing (unless you like hiss)!

Smoothest, quietest amps I've ever heard are the Blankenship Variplex series. Big ass square Xicon caps and carbon films resistors. Hmmmmm....... see how the heaters are done...makes you wonder doesn't it?

Can't really see the source of the heaters. Common practice is to elevate the ref voltage or do DC to quiet things down.

Before any self indulged builders get the undies in a bunch, R.B doesn't care about posting pics.

Can't argue with that! I'm just trying to relate some of the stuff I've gone thru and relate what I have heard said repeatedly after thousands of hours here!... would never intentionally steer you guys wrong!

I know, I'm just saying there are so many variations and opinions its kinda hard to answer a question about what is best in any regard. 2+2=4, but so does 3+1.

[vanhalen5150]

Why is that guy carrying wood?



Is that girl the bass player from the muppet's?

[somethin'else]

Why is that guy carrying wood?

Mustards = baddass toting a heavy load on the edge of cliff of destruction

Is that girl the bass player from the muppet's?

naw, just a shempy secretary schlepping papers made from the wood that the baddass toted on the edge of the cliff of destruction generations ago.

Maybe a visual attempt at the diffs of Sozos to Mustards, and great try

I love those SoZo Vintage! And the Muppets' bass player was a Baddass!

[vanhalen5150]

I had heard she was based on Tom Petty.

Im changing the Purple feedback wire to the 8 ohm selection. Anyone know if you have to add it directly onto the lug with the same wire from the tranny or can you put it on the other corresponding side. In this case the upper middle lug.


Secondly, when I have the thing dim'd I can hear a "fizzy" sound coming from somewhere directly in the amp, not through the speaker. It only makes this sound when a note is struck. Had it running through a hotplate. Doesn't affect the sound.

[Vegard]

I had heard she was based on Tom Petty.


Secondly, when I have the thing dim'd I can hear a "fizzy" sound coming from somewhere directly in the amp, not through the speaker. It only makes this sound when a note is struck. Had it running through a hotplate. Doesn't affect the sound.

I think that can be from the tubes. Set your hotplate to load, and listen again...

[vanhalen5150]

I had heard she was based on Tom Petty.


Secondly, when I have the thing dim'd I can hear a "fizzy" sound coming from somewhere directly in the amp, not through the speaker. It only makes this sound when a note is struck. Had it running through a hotplate. Doesn't affect the sound.

I think that can be from the tubes. Set your hotplate to load, and listen again...

Set HP to load. Sound only comes from somewhere when a note is struck. Hard to tell where. Tubes eh?

[vanhalen5150]

Plus the whole thing is open with no sheilding. Definately need to make something to place on top of this for testing. Dont really think putting it back in the box to check everytime is a reasonable option.

[somethin'else]

Secondly, when I have the thing dim'd I can hear a "fizzy" sound coming from somewhere directly in the amp, not through the speaker. It only makes this sound when a note is struck. Had it running through a hotplate. Doesn't affect the sound.

I hear that too, partly 'cause I'm hanging over the chassis listening for every tweak. I hear it when my Ultimate Attenuator is WAY down, like only hearing the chassis itself. I don't think it's much to worry about, just that magical distortion that's amplified when your running at real load. Then you wouldn't hear it at whisper volume.

Plus the whole thing is open with no sheilding. Definately need to make something to place on top of this for testing. Dont really think putting it back in the box to check everytime is a reasonable option.

Good idea, make a board the size of the chassis base, staple line it with sheet aluminum, then just cap the chassis with it when you're testing/listening. Note to self.

[vh junkie]

Yeah! You can hear the amp playing without any speaker (just load connected). For burnin, I have a DI track I loop into the input. At night I can hear which part of the track is playing. I think its the OT vibrating, but it might be the big tubes...