Fairfield County Signature (Two-Rock JM Sig) Build Thread

[jazzbass]

thanks Ryan, it's perfect.

Un abbraccio
Franco

[Fingolfen]

I have a Ceriatone chassis coming in the mail to confirm my faceplate designs and then I'll put them up for sale. I'm thinking $65 for the set which is right around what the Ceriatone faceplates cost.

For cabinets, there are a few choices for D-style cabinets including Ceriatone, eBay, Amplified Nation, Guitar Cabinets Direct, etc. I think there are a few in the UK as well. Since this amp has reverb, the taller the cabinet the better. The original is 11" high wood-to-wood
https://www.two-rock.com/ownermanuals/trjmsmanual.pdf

Hey Ryan, Thanks for your comments, I have received the PCB board!YEY! I'm looking forward to your updates in terms of the Ceriatone Chassis and faceplates, layout, so I can pull the trigger. In addition, as I am a beginner on amp building, I'm was looking at the documentation that you have posted on the PCB boards page on your website, and I saw you have a mouser bom as WIP as well, and I was wondering if still in progress? or is good to go and proceed to buy those components to start buildind? Lastly, are you putting toguether any other bom for the rest of amp parts such as transformer, tubes, capacitors etc, as you did with the 002? sorry, a lot of questions, I'm wrapping my head around how/where to start!

Great timing! I just finished the two BOMs. Let me know if I missed anything!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing for amp specific parts
https://www.mouser.com/ProjectManager/P ... 0e10ecf4c Mouser BOM (look out for things back ordered) Everything was available as of 12/1/21

I have the Ceriatone chassis on the way and I have the faceplates for them on-hand so I'll check it as soon as it comes in. I am also going to share the PDF for anyone who wants to make their own faceplates instead of using mine. Of course, it'll be up to you to work with a faceplate manufacturer to get it in their specific specs if you go the custom route. Everyone prefers something different based on their setup.

I think there's a miss on the Mouser BOM - the silkscreen is showing seven 100K resistors, but the BOM only has five.

[Fingolfen]

Fast forwarding a lot quicker than I anticipated... Confirmed build! Sounds great with everything added up! Voltages are in line with the original units and I'm going to let it burn in a while and I'll measure again. I guess that means the boards are good too! The PCB was nice to work with. I did remove and replace a few resistors (I got some NOS stuff in) and the boards held up wonderfully with rework. I'm happy to make them available to everyone else well. https://www.thetonegeek.com/product-pag ... -pre-order

As always, TAG is such a wealth of knowledge that I'm happy to share back. I'll create a BOM and layout over the next couple of weeks with the corrected values as a foundation.

Quick N00B questsion - what are the markings on the orange drop capacitors and on the silkscreen for? When I test the orange drops on my DMM they don't appear to be directional.

[dbharris]

Hey Ryan, Thanks for your comments, I have received the PCB board!YEY! I'm looking forward to your updates in terms of the Ceriatone Chassis and faceplates, layout, so I can pull the trigger. In addition, as I am a beginner on amp building, I'm was looking at the documentation that you have posted on the PCB boards page on your website, and I saw you have a mouser bom as WIP as well, and I was wondering if still in progress? or is good to go and proceed to buy those components to start buildind? Lastly, are you putting toguether any other bom for the rest of amp parts such as transformer, tubes, capacitors etc, as you did with the 002? sorry, a lot of questions, I'm wrapping my head around how/where to start!

Great timing! I just finished the two BOMs. Let me know if I missed anything!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing for amp specific parts
https://www.mouser.com/ProjectManager/P ... 0e10ecf4c Mouser BOM (look out for things back ordered) Everything was available as of 12/1/21

I have the Ceriatone chassis on the way and I have the faceplates for them on-hand so I'll check it as soon as it comes in. I am also going to share the PDF for anyone who wants to make their own faceplates instead of using mine. Of course, it'll be up to you to work with a faceplate manufacturer to get it in their specific specs if you go the custom route. Everyone prefers something different based on their setup.

I think there's a miss on the Mouser BOM - the silkscreen is showing seven 100K resistors, but the BOM only has five.

Looks like it might be missing the 2 RN65 100K metal film resistors.

-Dan

[dbharris]

Fast forwarding a lot quicker than I anticipated... Confirmed build! Sounds great with everything added up! Voltages are in line with the original units and I'm going to let it burn in a while and I'll measure again. I guess that means the boards are good too! The PCB was nice to work with. I did remove and replace a few resistors (I got some NOS stuff in) and the boards held up wonderfully with rework. I'm happy to make them available to everyone else well. https://www.thetonegeek.com/product-pag ... -pre-order

As always, TAG is such a wealth of knowledge that I'm happy to share back. I'll create a BOM and layout over the next couple of weeks with the corrected values as a foundation.

Quick N00B questsion - what are the markings on the orange drop capacitors and on the silkscreen for? When I test the orange drops on my DMM they don't appear to be directional.

Those caps are not polarized, but certain construction types have an outside foil and and inside foil leg. A thin sheet of foil is physically wrapped around the dielectric a bunch of times to create the capacitor. Back in the day companies marked this on the outside of the cap. Some companies still have the marking but it is vestigial and if you test a bunch of caps they don't always match the silkscreen on the cap itself. I think Sozo still correctly marks their stuff. See this thread for more info:
https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=24654

Now depending on the types of caps you use there may not even be an outside foil. You can certainly build an amp without testing for this and it will work. But most of us take the time to test and orient the caps the way HAD would have.

-Dan

[rccolgan]

Great timing! I just finished the two BOMs. Let me know if I missed anything!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing for amp specific parts
https://www.mouser.com/ProjectManager/P ... 0e10ecf4c Mouser BOM (look out for things back ordered) Everything was available as of 12/1/21

I have the Ceriatone chassis on the way and I have the faceplates for them on-hand so I'll check it as soon as it comes in. I am also going to share the PDF for anyone who wants to make their own faceplates instead of using mine. Of course, it'll be up to you to work with a faceplate manufacturer to get it in their specific specs if you go the custom route. Everyone prefers something different based on their setup.

I think there's a miss on the Mouser BOM - the silkscreen is showing seven 100K resistors, but the BOM only has five.

Looks like it might be missing the 2 RN65 100K metal film resistors.

-Dan

Oops yes, I did miss the 2x RN65D 100k resistors. Added them now to the Mouser Project.

Fast forwarding a lot quicker than I anticipated... Confirmed build! Sounds great with everything added up! Voltages are in line with the original units and I'm going to let it burn in a while and I'll measure again. I guess that means the boards are good too! The PCB was nice to work with. I did remove and replace a few resistors (I got some NOS stuff in) and the boards held up wonderfully with rework. I'm happy to make them available to everyone else well. https://www.thetonegeek.com/product-pag ... -pre-order

As always, TAG is such a wealth of knowledge that I'm happy to share back. I'll create a BOM and layout over the next couple of weeks with the corrected values as a foundation.

Quick N00B questsion - what are the markings on the orange drop capacitors and on the silkscreen for? When I test the orange drops on my DMM they don't appear to be directional.

This is my favorite video for finding the foil on Orange Drops
https://youtu.be/oaLUFhp1V_c

[Fingolfen]

This is my favorite video for finding the foil on Orange Drops
https://youtu.be/oaLUFhp1V_c

Ahhhh! Makes perfect sense now! Thanks!

I guess I get to play with 60 cycle and my Bad Cat later today...

[Fingolfen]

Those caps are not polarized, but certain construction types have an outside foil and and inside foil leg. A thin sheet of foil is physically wrapped around the dielectric a bunch of times to create the capacitor. Back in the day companies marked this on the outside of the cap. Some companies still have the marking but it is vestigial and if you test a bunch of caps they don't always match the silkscreen on the cap itself. I think Sozo still correctly marks their stuff. See this thread for more info:
https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=24654

Now depending on the types of caps you use there may not even be an outside foil. You can certainly build an amp without testing for this and it will work. But most of us take the time to test and orient the caps the way HAD would have.

-Dan

Thanks Dan - incredibly helpful!

I'm used to incredibly tiny transistors most of the time...

[davecj]

I think there's a miss on the Mouser BOM - the silkscreen is showing seven 100K resistors, but the BOM only has five.

Looks like it might be missing the 2 RN65 100K metal film resistors.

-Dan

Oops yes, I did miss the 2x RN65D 100k resistors. Added them now to the Mouser Project.

Fast forwarding a lot quicker than I anticipated... Confirmed build! Sounds great with everything added up! Voltages are in line with the original units and I'm going to let it burn in a while and I'll measure again. I guess that means the boards are good too! The PCB was nice to work with. I did remove and replace a few resistors (I got some NOS stuff in) and the boards held up wonderfully with rework. I'm happy to make them available to everyone else well. https://www.thetonegeek.com/product-pag ... -pre-order

As always, TAG is such a wealth of knowledge that I'm happy to share back. I'll create a BOM and layout over the next couple of weeks with the corrected values as a foundation.

Quick N00B questsion - what are the markings on the orange drop capacitors and on the silkscreen for? When I test the orange drops on my DMM they don't appear to be directional.

This is my favorite video for finding the foil on Orange Drops
https://youtu.be/oaLUFhp1V_c

Hey Ryan, Thanks for the correction on the Mouser project. I was wondering if you have the chance to test the Ceriatone Chassis? how did it go?

[M Fowler]

Ryan, regarding your pt 2 latest video on straightening buss wire.

Use a drill with one end of buss wire in drill and other end hold wire with a pliers. Then twist the wire straight.

Mark

[pompeiisneaks]

...
This is my favorite video for finding the foil on Orange Drops
https://youtu.be/oaLUFhp1V_c

I see... only requires a Klon and a SSS, everyone can do it!

That is an ingenious method though and I'm sure you can pull it off with any drive pedal and any amp, and very safe due to being at the jack side so no real voltages present either.

~Phil

[rccolgan]

...
This is my favorite video for finding the foil on Orange Drops
https://youtu.be/oaLUFhp1V_c

I see... only requires a Klon and a SSS, everyone can do it!

That is an ingenious method though and I'm sure you can pull it off with any drive pedal and any amp, and very safe due to being at the jack side so no real voltages present either.

~Phil

Hahaha!!! Yes, any drive (or multiple drives on at the same time with gain up) will do the trick!

Ryan, regarding your pt 2 latest video on straightening buss wire.

Use a drill with one end of buss wire in drill and other end hold wire with a pliers. Then twist the wire straight.

Mark

Oh wow that's a great idea!!! Thank you! I'll give this a try on my next build and I'll be sure to give credit to the source

Hey Ryan, Thanks for the correction on the Mouser project. I was wondering if you have the chance to test the Ceriatone Chassis? how did it go?

Ceriatone chassis is good! Faceplates are now available on my site and they look great! I did not expect the Ceriatone chassis to be wider than a standard Two-Rock/Amplified Nation so my donor Two-Rock headshell will not work. Time to start the circular saw!

[jazzbass]

Hi everyone,

I agree with Ryan, my first Wonderland was made with a Nik (Ceriatone) chassis. It is well made and tough enough to withstand the weight of transformers for a 6L6 quartet.
The dimensions of this chassis are 5mm larger than the regular Dumble chassis. Ceriatone chassis 48.7 Cm in length while the Dumble chassis 48.2 Cm in length, therefore a special headshell will be made.
In the "Speaker & Cabinet" session today I started a discussion on how I make my headshells for those who want to build them by themselves or to report their experiences.

A hug

Franco

[rccolgan]

Latest updates (faceplate/backplates specifically) I was contacted by a certain California-based amp company's lawyer who pointed out I was selling faceplates that matched similarities to their protected logo design so I had to pull it down, destroy my remaining stock, and agree to not sell ones with the Kaufmann STD Bold font. I admit I was getting a little too clever with my "Tone-Geek" lining up to theirs. Friendly reminder to be mindful as we clone things here. I am still allowed to sell my JM Sig PCBs since there is no protection around circuits and it's my own unique artwork.

Unrelated, I created a free guide for customizing and buying your own faceplates for Taylor's chassis as well as the Ceriatone JM chassis. I include templates as well for no-brainer effort. The faceplates are pretty cheap at the end AND they'll be customized to your liking. It could be done in 45 minutes probably.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/ ... sp=sharing

I will work on new generic faceplates for sale for those who prefer to not go through the customizing route. I will also not be able to use a blue pen signature on the new faceplates using these pens. https://amzn.to/34IWIMH

I'm happy to hear your feedback on the guide.

[dbharris]

Sorry Ryan that sucks. It's funny, but not funny. A company based entirely on somebody else's ideas being offended at someone doing the same thing as them (and for a discontinued amp no less and at a scale that will not impact their bottom line).

I'm interested in the faceplate tutorial particularly for Taylor's ODS chassis.

Thanks!

-Dan