18 watt revamp suggestions

[jcat5503]

My close friend has an 18 watt amp that he wants me to revamp.

It's your standard two channel, dual el84 clone

He just started playing for a new project where he needs more headroom. Typically plays a P90 guitar



The only thing is he doesn't want to drop the cash on new iron. So I gotta use the trannys he's got

I was thinking maybe Lightning clone? Or maybe a Tophat clone?

All suggestions are welcomed!!

Thanks!

[Alexo]

If he just wants more headroom, you could try dropping the 470K grid reference resistors on the power tubes down to 220K.

...you might want to check out 18watt.com too

[jcat5503]

He is really wanting me to change the amp up completely

I'm thinking maybe Tophat club royale clone, if i can find all the info

I know it's based off the TMB channel of the King royale, and that schematic is on SH. Though its really hard to read..

[BarryW]

if you find anything on the Royale, I'm interested as well. I've been kicking around a number of designs, but the Club Royale seems to hit all the right buttons for me.

[Alexo]

Seriously, if you throw in a different speaker (Hellatone 30 or an Alnico Blue) a GDS/Heyboer OT, and some nice NOS-ish glass into that amp, the Paul Ruby zener mod if necessary, even the choosiest of choosy players would be blown away by it.

The 1974X is alright stock, but tweaked to what it should be, it has incredible potential. ...the Blue in particular would add headroom, I think those amps come with Vintage 30's or some kinda G12M repro.. yeck.

[jcat5503]

Seriously, if you throw in a different speaker (Hellatone 30 or an Alnico Blue) a GDS/Heyboer OT, and some nice NOS-ish glass into that amp, the Paul Ruby zener mod if necessary, even the choosiest of choosy players would be blown away by it.

The 1974X is alright stock, but tweaked to what it should be, it has incredible potential. ...the Blue in particular would add headroom, I think those amps come with Vintage 30's or some kinda G12M repro.. yeck.

What's he Paul Zener mod consist of?

[Alexo]

You can find it in the archives at 18watt.com. It's a little trick that eliminates the "peeeooowww" mosquito sound that happens when you overdrive these amps sometimes, which is basically blocking-induced crossover distortion.

Sometimes it's an issue and sometimes it's not. I;ve heard it on super-expensive boutique 18-watt-ish copycats, and I think they would sound a heck of a lot better with this 25 cent mod, but you never know who might actually like it.

[10thTx]

All suggestions are welcomed!!

I built a 6V6 combo version of this that I like really well. I think an EL84 version might sound great but I have not built one myself.

With respect, 10thtx

EDIT:
Yikes, I did not read this carefully enough. Not sure this would get you both great headroom and OD in one package or not? You probably want to pass on this if the main goal is more headroom. My apology.

[sliberty]

If he can live with only one channel, you could replace the preamp with a Rocket preamp (requires 3 preamp tubes). You'd end up with half power Rocket essentially. Gorgeous cleans, and very smooth overdrive once it kicks in.

[M Fowler]

You can help the Rocket kick in earlier by switching a 10uf cathode bypass cap on V1b to ground. Nice boost function.

[Andy Le Blanc]

sounds like the real issue might be he's tired of the p 90's...

you said headroom, does he mean clean volume before distortion?

[jcat5503]

Atually a half power Rocket sounds great!

Anybody done one of these?

I'll probably install a push pull pot switching the boost cap in and out

[M Fowler]

Justin follow this link to three more links on past 18w Rocket info.

Mark

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... red+rocket