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TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 11:30 pm
by Prowler
Hi!

I'm Andy, 37 year old guitarist from Finland. I started building my own Super Lead on 15.4 2014. It is a Tube Amp Doctor's kit and it is my first amp building project. I've been building a lot of effects pedals before this (about 25) and they all turned out great. I don't know much about amps but I'm learning while I'm building it. I know I have to drain the caps before touching anything inside. Maybe i'll take the amp to some experienced builder for the final checks to make sure it is safe to turn it on.

When it's done, I thought of modding it to S.I.R #36 specs so I drilled an extra hole for the fourth pre-amp tube.

Here are some pictures how the work is progressing:

http://1drv.ms/1nDPBEh

See anything that's not right and needs to be redone? Any tips would be appreciated.

Here are all the documents and instructions that I'm using:

http://1drv.ms/1mRXR7T

I'm working along the steps that are presented in the Metroamp's 100w Plexi Ki's assembly instructions PDF document.

Well, I'm off to the workshop because it's weekend and it's amp building day! :rock:

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 10:20 am
by Prowler
Phew! It was a long day working on the amp.

http://1drv.ms/1nIc1o5

See anything suspicious?

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 10:56 am
by rgorke
Looks good so far. I don't see anything suspicious yet. Others have a better eye than me.

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 11:32 am
by Prowler
rgorke wrote:Looks good so far. I don't see anything suspicious yet. Others have a better eye than me.
Thanks for checking out my pics! Just found something suspicious myself. There's a piece of wire stuck in v6:

https://bq0vuq.by3302.livefilestore.com ... JPG?psid=1

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 10:40 am
by rgorke
Prowler wrote:
rgorke wrote:Looks good so far. I don't see anything suspicious yet. Others have a better eye than me.
Thanks for checking out my pics! Just found something suspicious myself. There's a piece of wire stuck in v6:

https://bq0vuq.by3302.livefilestore.com ... JPG?psid=1
Is is just a loose piece that fell there or is it attached. I didn't see that before. Maybe I didn't scroll through all the pictures.

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 10:58 am
by Prowler
rgorke wrote:
Prowler wrote:
rgorke wrote:Looks good so far. I don't see anything suspicious yet. Others have a better eye than me.
Thanks for checking out my pics! Just found something suspicious myself. There's a piece of wire stuck in v6:

https://bq0vuq.by3302.livefilestore.com ... JPG?psid=1
Is is just a loose piece that fell there or is it attached. I didn't see that before. Maybe I didn't scroll through all the pictures.
It's was just a loose piece of wire that was stuck there. Maybe it would be good to turn the whole thing upside down and shake it so all the loose pieces would fall. :)

Thanks again for checking out if there's something wrong. More pics coming next weekend if I get a chance to work on the amp.

-Andy

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 11:22 am
by Strat78
Yes, get the amp all done first and play it for a while then do your Slash mod. Everything looks good, though you might want to keep the OT primaries and secondaries a little farther apart. Are those sockets ceramic? :D

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 11:52 am
by Prowler
Strat78 wrote:Yes, get the amp all done first and play it for a while then do your Slash mod. Everything looks good, though you might want to keep the OT primaries and secondaries a little farther apart. Are those sockets ceramic? :D
Yes, the sockets are ceramic. Are they any good? The pin number 4 on V7 seems quite loose. I'm gonna install a tube on it and see if it still moves too much.

Thanks Strat78! Gonna move those primaries and secondaries farther apart

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 7:44 am
by Prowler
On this weekend I installed the mains- and standy switches, the bias pot and the ht-fuse holder. I also ran some yellow AGW-wires to be installed on the turret board later and labelled them with masking tape.

How does my wire routing look so far?

http://1drv.ms/1nF4Lh0

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 8:18 am
by JimiJames
I got yelled at that my heaters were over-twisted.
2 to 3 wraps max is the way.

So... What's up with the Fender cloth wire ? is that all you had to work with ?

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 8:31 am
by Prowler
JimiJames wrote:I got yelled at that my heaters were over-twisted.
2 to 3 wraps max is the way.

So... What's up with the Fender cloth wire ? is that all you had to work with ?
The cloth wire came with the kit and I started working with it right away because I heard that Tube Amp Doctor's kits have high quality parts. The wire was pretty easy to twist but I had to practise a few times so I ran out of it pretty quick and I had to order 2 meters more.

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 9:13 am
by JimiJames
Off topic:
How are those Ruokangas' by you there ?
I've only played a couple at an Amp Show here in Chicago ( at make'n music - Teddy Gordon)

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 9:54 am
by Prowler
JimiJames wrote:Off topic:
How are those Ruokangas' by you there ?
I've only played a couple at an Amp Show here in Chicago ( at make'n music - Teddy Gordon)
I've never played Ruokangas guitars myself but I've heard that they are great guitars and pretty expensive too. (about 3000 €?)

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:36 am
by vanhalen5150
That cloth wire is fine. It's been used in the Blankenship amps for years.

2-3 twists on the heaters is just for people who get tired easily.

Re: TAD Super Lead 100w project

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:54 am
by Carbia
it's very easy to twist tight the wire with a electric drill. Being lazy isn't a excuse...

look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WZl787eHgI