Rocket vs. Lightning

[jcat5503]

They're both top-boost derived I know

How do they differ/compare? Other than two extra power tubes of course


Cheers!

[sliberty]

IMHO:

Rocket=high quality sushi
Lightning=frozen fish sticks

The Rocket has chime and swirl, and the smoothest breakup around. Awesome amp. The Lightning is OK, a nice amp, but nothing that will cause you to run home from work each day to play it.

YMMV

[M Fowler]

A TW Rocket 36w is a better amp for sure.

But I lke my Marshall 18w, my Spitfire 18w and my Rocket 18w there all different from each other and all worth having around.

Mark

[rp]

Aww man! I've been loving my fish sticks. Now you telling me I gotta try that raw fish?

[rsalinger]

I know that they are different beasts (pre amp tubes etc)...however, I was wondering how the TW Rocket 36w and Dr. Z Stangray compare?

Thanks,
Rob

[jcat5503]

haha I'm sure the Rocket is a better sounding amp

I'm just curious about the difference in design/schematics?

How do they differ? and compare?

Let's say someone has a lightning and they want to convert it to a half powered Rocket?

[sliberty]

Some differences:

Lightning uses parallel triodes in the first stage.
Lightning uses a bypass cap on second stage (after volume pot).
Lightning has Master instead of Cut
Some cap value differences making the Rocket brighter overall.
And maybe the main differences - the power supply and both trannies.

[jcat5503]

Some differences:

Lightning uses parallel triodes in the first stage.
Lightning uses a bypass cap on second stage (after volume pot).
Lightning has Master instead of Cut
Some cap value differences making the Rocket brighter overall.
And maybe the main differences - the power supply and both trannies.

I have a Top-Boost style single channel amp that uses 2 el84's and I want to convert it to a half powered rocket.

It already has a .0047 cut control and I did away with the crossline type master. I'll probably install a Larmar or go with scaling

So i need to change the first triode stage and some other components as well as the power supply?

I'm going to use the same tranny's, they're typical ac15ish iron

Doesn't seem too bad!

Anyone done anything like this?

[KellyBass]

I have both amps...but only one gz34

where is the gz34?...in the rocket!

[Richie]

Speaking of the lightning,i've tried a few, and i just never liked them that much. Some do like them. I'd have a Rocket over them any day.

[jcat5503]

I'm sure the Rocket is a much better sounding circuit

That's why i think I'm going to take the Lightning inspired amp and make it a lot more of a Rocket inspired amp

Will the half-powered Rocket power supply be adequate for an extra ef86 channel?

[KellyBass]

I think some have used the parallel triode (lightning similar) first stage in rockets with great results.

As far as the additional current draw of an ef86, I'm not sure. I probably should have checked that before I stuck one in my rocket...

So far, so great, though!

[jcat5503]

I think some have used the parallel triode (lightning similar) first stage in rockets with great results.

As far as the additional current draw of an ef86, I'm not sure. I probably should have checked that before I stuck one in my rocket...

So far, so great, though!

You have an ef86 channel in your rocket?

[chopstuck]

I built a Rocket from scratch and it was fine. I see it as what it is: a refined Top boost ac-30. It has no dramatic changes except the power supply. The supply voltage is lower and the filtering higher. I expect that was done to support the current drain at the lower voltage.

Since the the Stang-ray is the older vox AC30 circuit there is a strong resemblance in the power supply.

I added the pentode channel but wasn't happy until I put a dual voltage switch on the two taps on the power transformer. I now have 300v and 350v (approx) at the flick of a switch. Both preamps are happy.

The Rocket gets it specified power supply and the pentode channel gets it's extra voltages when needed.The pentode, I use a 6BR7, still sounds OK at Rocket voltage but shines with the higher voltage plus the added current storage of the Rocket power supply. Think pentode mostly clean and Rocket gritty to infinity..... and beyond?

The extra preamp tube falls well within the Toneslut / Heyboer PT current capacity. These are monster transformers.

[M Fowler]

Basically same as building the Vox AC 15 EF86 preamp can up that to 30-36w or keep it with two EL84 power section.

Mark