rocket OT

[sniffyduke]

Anyone ever try a 5k2 or 5k6 on OT for rocket?

[M Fowler]

Building a Normster Rocket Verb right now with 5k2 OT not done yet so will have to wait.

[rawnster]

Building a Normster Rocket Verb right now with 5k2 OT not done yet so will have to wait.

Sweet. With the one tube reverb? I used a 6k6 OT pacific, which sounds fantastic.

[M Fowler]

Yes the one tube reverb.

[RJ Guitars]

There were about 12 Rockets built using a 5.2K Heyboer output transformer in one effort that helped bring the Rocket info a little more up front and available to everybody.... different thread though.

Although the choice of the 5.2K output transformer turned out to be wrong (it was my fault) it worked out as a great "Happy Accident". Call it a lucky mistake or whatever you want, but these amps sound fantastic. Great cleans and some nice full bodied mild crunch when you push them harder.

This transformer was a special wind based upon an old line card that Phil Heyboer's dad had worked up with Ken Fischer. Basically it is the same as the current "Vintage" single 5.2K tap Liverpool tranny design but M6 steel was used for these units. It is still my favorite Rocket output tranny because it has such great harmonic content to it and the cleans sound so pure.

There were only a few folks that posted up their results but "Fishy" posted up some clips from his amp and those are still among my very favorite tone samples here on the forum.

If I recall correctly - After we understood the authentic transformer for the Rocket was the Dynaco 470 variant, Fishy swapped his out for one but eventually went back to the 5.2K tranny because it sounded better to his ears.

So yes it has been tried and it can work nicely. The Rocket seems to be pretty forgiving in all the various iterations we've seen.

rj

[rawnster]

I don't mean to derail the thread, but I'm just curious if I'm the only one who's used a 6k6 OT for a Rocket build, albeit big bottle power section instead of 4 EL-84's

[dartanion]

I use the 6K6 Pacific OT on my Torpedo 50. Sounds wonderful to my ears.

[GrungeMan]

Is there a schem or layout available for the Rocket with the one tube reverb?

Grungy

[fishy]

RJ. Is right regarding my experiences with the 5.2k. I built one of the 12 or so that RJ was good enough to put out there for the members.
In comparison, the 5.2k is warmer to my ears and is rich and full. The difference to me was not subtle either.
I have also built a rocket for a friend who is more than happy with the 5.2k.

[eddie25]

Is there a schem or layout available for the Rocket with the one tube reverb?

Grungy

Here's the thread

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=9226

I drew a schematic of mine for the hell of it, but have no way to scan it right now, and I changed some values. I think some guy posted a schem of the verb section in that thread though, and the rest is just pure rocket.

I tried both values of primary impedance and damned if I couldn't decide which one I liked best, so I stayed with 4.3K.

[fishy]

I think the bottom line is that the circuit is just a winner. OT selection is a personal choice and your style of play influences that too. If I played a tele and more country, the 4.3k would probably still be there. I love LPauls and the 5.2k to did it for me.

Whichever way you decide to go, it seems tough to mess this up. Now you could hedge your bets with a dual primary and have the best of both worlds...

[M Fowler]

Rawnster I had previously built a Rocket with Dynaclone A-470-S then I built one using 6L6 output and 6k6 OT that I put into a 212 cab, its a good amp and has darker tones.

My new Normster Rocket Reverb with 5k2 will be interesting to me both for different OT and one tube reverb.

[Jana]

It's the color of the end bells should be of concern.


signed,

Jana the Devious Instigator

[Cliff Schecht]

Didn't want to start a new thread for this question, so I'm hijacking this one.

Would a 30W, 4400Ohm CT transformer be enough for a Rocket? Seems sort of against the KF philosophy to use underrated transformers (30W vs. 35W) but my concern isn't necessarily the power handling, it's the 70mA that the transformer can handle that sorta worries me. I have never done anything with EL84's so I'm not sure what the typical PP current draw is. What does each tube typically draw in a Rocket?

[Cliff Schecht]

So no comments on whether a 30W transformer is enough for a Rocket or what the typical current draw (per tube) is with a quad of EL84's?