Matchless components

[skyboltone]

I was intending to use Orange PS and RN-65 Vishey/Dales for my Spitfire build.

Anybody seen inside one? What's in there.

DanH

[lastwinj]

oops edit

germ

[ChrisGS]

I used to have a Clubman35 , It had signal caps that looked like Mallory 150's(pale yellow, about the size of a cigarette filter), only they had "Matchless" printed on them

[spankenstrat]

I have seen a few innards of Bad Cats. I saw Mallory / Xicon /Carbon film. I don't recall seeing any Carbon Comps or Sprague Atom. I have a Star Nova I could send you some pics if you like. Not many parts that aren't available at Radio Shack thats for sure. Hee hee.

[LeeMo]

Does this help?

http://p2p-amps.com/search_results.aspx?msrch=Matchless

LeeMo

[skyboltone]

Does this help?

http://p2p-amps.com/search_results.aspx?msrch=Matchless

LeeMo

Thanks again Lee. Carbon comps/Mallory 150s and some other oddballs. BMI filters. Never seen one.

[tubetek]

Howdy Skyboltone-
NOTICE- OPINION FOLLOWS
Are you set on the Spitfire? I built one sometime back and was never satisfied; re-built it as a Lightning and was WAY more impressed with the native sound and flexibility. For my build, I used Xicon carbon film resistors and Mallory 150 series caps where appropriate. Caveat: I mostly use a STRAT with Texas Specials (hotter single coils) so this may vary with Humbucker equipped guitars. Of course, YMMV etcetera...
tubetek

[ChrisGS]

I think that apexjr.com has BMI filter caps, or at least thay used to.

Chris.

[skyboltone]

Howdy Skyboltone-
NOTICE- OPINION FOLLOWS
Are you set on the Spitfire? I built one sometime back and was never satisfied; re-built it as a Lightning and was WAY more impressed with the native sound and flexibility. For my build, I used Xicon carbon film resistors and Mallory 150 series caps where appropriate. Caveat: I mostly use a STRAT with Texas Specials (hotter single coils) so this may vary with Humbucker equipped guitars. Of course, YMMV etcetera...
tubetek

Thanks for the comments Tubetek. I am basing the spitfire/lightning decision on a couple of things: 1) There's a regular everyday working musician over on the Les Paul Forum that has gigged with both. He says there's something subtly special about the spitfire over the lightning.(with a Matchless that could be pretty esoteric, every amp with the same name has different topology inside!!) 2) I'm gonna actually build this thing (for now) inside an original Hammond organ AO-35 reverb amp chassis with original iron. It's a tiny thing w/o a lot of extra room for knobs and stuff. That's the amp that the Lightning/Spitfire and Carman Ghia are based upon. For now it'll go into an itty bitty head cab made Trainwreck style. 3) Like you, I can and will make it into a Lightning if it doesn't light my fire. It's gonna get a workout with both single coil and humbucker pups.

If it works out OK the amp will spend it's life mic'd into a PA.

What did you use for a speaker(s)??

Dan H

[skyboltone]

I think that apexjr.com has BMI filter caps, or at least thay used to.

Chris.

Thanks, and cheap too!!

[tubetek]

Hmm, that was a couple of years ago; I sold it with an Eminence Legend. (1x12 open back) I tried a V-30 and EVM-12 but I think the Legend was the best sounding of the three (in this situation only!) I also used it thru a 70's Fender 2x12 cab from a Dual Showman or Bassman with the original Fender-installed speakers; sounded GREAT but was too loud before the mojo started workin'
tubetek

EDIT> Watch the plate and screen voltages carefully; Matchless ran 'em on the ragged edge. I wound up using the Russian EL84M; the same tube Matchless spec'd in these amps. They are still available and not expensive. They weren't quite the best sounding but they were the only ones that would survive the torture for long. ( And I wouldn't sacrifice NOS 7189s just to experiment!)

[skyboltone]

EDIT> Wath the plate and screen voltages carefully; Matchless ran 'em on the ragged edge. I wound up using the Russian EL84M; the same tube Matchless spec'd in these amps. They are still available and not expensive. They weren't quite the best sounding but they were the only ones that would survive the torture for long. ( And I wouldn't sacrifice NOS 7189s just to experiment!)

For better or worse, I'll be using Hammond Organ AO-35 original iron. We'll see what comes out with the stock dropping string and then experiment.

Thanks
Dan

[LeeMo]

Have you looked at Trinity Amps? Coco built a Lightning from an A-o35.

http://www.cohrs.ca/staged/lightning_project.htm

LeeMo

[skyboltone]

Have you looked at Trinity Amps? Coco built a Lightning from an A-o35.

http://www.cohrs.ca/staged/lightning_project.htm

LeeMo

The trinity has a choke input filter, matchless and Hammond used cap input. The trinity also uses no filter at all to the output transformer (plates).

Have you heard one of those?

[sliberty]

I did a Spitfire build using an old Lafayette PA chassis from the 40's. I kept the Lafayette OT, but replaced the PT with an appropriate voltage Hammond. I used Orange drop caps.

The amps sparkles on low to mid volume levels, and when cranked it just screams. I love it. My only mods were:

1. Power resistor instead of choke (no room in this little old chassis)
2. Push-pull pot bright switch
3. Push-pull pot to bypass the tone control