Tube Amp Archive

I've tried building an amp with all "big" resistors as well, and had similar results. I think it's something most of us do once. I suspect you will find that sprinkling in some 1/2w resistors in positions that do not need 2w of power handling will improve the sound. Carbon film vs metal film is larg...

You're fine, we all start somewhere. The wonderful thing about problems like this is that once you solve it you will have learned something, and it will be knowledge that you have earned. I think you are on the right track looking around V1 and the front end of the preamp. Further, I would suspect t...

So, I've studied your gut shot and gone back a few years in my mind to my very first D'Lite build, which had a very similar issue at first. This and that are two different things, but you might take an alligator clip test lead and just run from the ground buss to the unused lug on the brite switch. ...

I once had a similar issue. The clipped end of a resistor lead had just ever so slightly penetrated the heat shrink on the end of one of the shielded cables and contacted the shielding, grounding out the signal. It was a devil to find. One teensy little unintentional connection can really ruin your ...

I have built with and without. I think it's a good idea in a Marshall type situation where the amp lives "upside down" with its tubes in the air and the caps are basically suspended by their leads against gravity. Otherwise I don't know that it makes all that much difference. If I've got a tube of h...

Lately I've been buying JJ's from Eurotubes. They seem to have a better burn in/testing/matching than other places. Also, solid customer service and a six month warranty, which is a big plus for me.

Just from a cursory glance, I'd build the more robust filter section from the schematic rather than the one on the layout. I suspect the layout version might be a little light for 50 watts.

I find myself partial to "The Parlor Snakes" myself...

I have had good luck with Warmoth necks and find them to feel fairly consistent (to each other, at least). According to them, the profile/thickness will vary slightly depending on the nut width selected. Fretboard and radius can also play a part in overall thickness. There are many contributing fact...

My WE1010 is pretty ok, at least compared to the Radio Shack irons I was using before. It was frustrating until I learned to let it work the way it does rather than how I thought it should, though. I've had it set at 750* for years now, and generally use one of the fatter tips. This is a higher numb...

Congrats! If the smoke is staying inside you're doing alright. It has been my experience that these circuits are quite sensitive to tubes and bias, so that could be an issue. I have found for best definition with my hot humbuckers that turning the mids down between 8 and 9 o'clock is the way. Anythi...

That's very interesting. Thanks!

That looks like an adventure. Enjoy it!

Wow, that is Hiwatt levels of tidy. I'm impressed. Looks like they have schematics for the modules up on their site.
https://standelamps.com/schematics/

I'm real happy with the large dust cap Scumbacks I'm using. What's your wattage?