choke on a switch. is it worth it? edited - where to buy it?

[Tonegeek]

[Edit] Ok I am gonna do one, but where do I get the switch? Carling has one with some .075 holes but those aren't large enough for my needs without drilling. I am scared to solder to one meant for screws as it may not be able to take the heat. I don't want to scrimp on this switch...
[Edit done]

Trying to decide if I should put the choke on a switch in my latest build. Can anyone put into words the difference in how the amp sounds with/without the choke. My current amp does not have one and I don't remember when I removed it if it made that much of a difference or what the difference was. Seems like the resistor makes it more squishy. I am building this amp for a friend and he likes a bit less compressed sound than I do on some things, so I was thinking of adding that option.

Part II
If I do use a switch, I was thinking of using a DPDT for Choke/No choke. This can also be done with 1 SPDT switch but it leaves either the resistor or choke hot on one end. I am afraid of high voltage radiating especially off the open choke, but if someone has tested this and it is not a problem I may go with SPDT.

thanks,
whit

[Luthierwnc]

Hi Whit;

The choke is less compressed and it does make a useful difference. I hook mine up to a DPDT on-off-on standby switch. On one side, run the hot from the rectifier to both throws. Attach the pole to the first bank of caps, the OT and the pole on the other side of the switch. Run the throws on that switch to the choke and the resistor. The latter two tie back together at the screen connections. I haven't had any trouble with the choke humming. Your standby position is in the middle.

Cheers, Skip

[Tonegeek]

Hi Whit;

The choke is less compressed and it does make a useful difference. I hook mine up to a DPDT on-off-on standby switch. On one side, run the hot from the rectifier to both throws. Attach the pole to the first bank of caps, the OT and the pole on the other side of the switch. Run the throws on that switch to the choke and the resistor. The latter two tie back together at the screen connections. I haven't had any trouble with the choke humming. Your standby position is in the middle.

Cheers, Skip

Skip,
Yep - thats exactly where I was heading if no one had issues with having a hot unterminated choke. On this build I should have more room for a larger switch so I think I will give it a try with the DPDT center off switch. After seeing another discussion about moving the OT filter to the diode side of the standby switch I was going to try that anyway, and this schematic accomplishes both changes.

Thanks for the reply.
whit

[Luthierwnc]

Yeah, I've never cared for switches in the back of the amp. You can do the choke mod, fixed-cathode bias, triode/pentode (not very useful for me) and probably lots of other combinations. The hardest part is fitting the writing on the faceplate big enough to see. sh

[Tonegeek]

Sorry this is sort of a bump, but I need to get my parts ordered and I need a source for a good DPDT center off switch suitable for the choke/resistor/standby function. Ideally it should look exactly the same as the on/off switch (from the outside of course). i was planning on using a Carling Fender style on/off switch, but will use whatever matches the Standby switch I settle on.
thanks