OK- this is probably one of my 1st posts ever I think so here goes! I am building an AC30 without the tremolo circuit. I am a high gain metal guy and a studio owner, BUT I have a strange fetish for Class "A" EL84 power sections ever since I bought(then foolishly sold) a Mesa Boogie .22 Studio plus amp. SO i amp going to stock build this amp from zero to 60 and enjoy it but them I want to bastardize it into a possible high gain beast.
So, can I mod this amp into a shredding type of thing, can I do the Marshall jumper wire mod from the 59 plexi world to this vox circuit? I am setting it up with the four inputs BUT I already know this will never be used. does any one have any interesting things to put in on this idea I have? or is my road to single ended Class "A" paved with hellish intentions and blasphemy?!?!?!?!? hahahahahaha look forward to anyone chiming in on my silly idea here!
love and Metal Curran
Curran
Owner of Custom Audio Mutation Recording Studio, Guitar/Amp/Pedal Repair, and Mod center in Akron Ohio
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I've never tried the one wire mod in an AC30, but why not?
Also, look in the Trainwreck files section for schematics of the Rocket. That is Ken Fischer's take on a single channel AC30.
But also look at the Liverpool if you like higher gain. Similar topology, and if you search there is someone (Richie?) that made an amp switchable between the Rocket and Liverpool.
The Liverpool will do jangly clean tones with the volume rolled back, and more high gain tones with the volume up.
yeah I have been looking at the trainwreck page here as well. I want to start classic then ruin it with mega gain. so I may just end up building two of these amps for the heck of it to really get inside the glory of Class "A" power
Curran
Owner of Custom Audio Mutation Recording Studio, Guitar/Amp/Pedal Repair, and Mod center in Akron Ohio
Devout Distortion Worshipper and fan of warm hugs
234-788-6141
Curranproducer wrote:yeah I have been looking at the trainwreck page here as well. I want to start classic then ruin it with mega gain. so I may just end up building two of these amps for the heck of it to really get inside the glory of Class "A" power
That would be the glory of EL-84 rather than Class A.
Just enjoy the sound - or, if you really want to experience Class A, adjust the power supply to get the operating voltage right.
thanks for the offer of help! I am about midway through wiring this little monster up(I have been super busy at the guitar company I work at getting guitars built) BUT I have pre-driller the chassis for a POST PI MV. after I get this thing running I will MV mod it then play around a bit more. I am really excited to hear this amp with these "Classic Tone" transformers I bought from Illinois triode store guys. I got all Orange drop caps in this beast except for three sprauge I got in there. this is going to be a very fun amp. The next move is going to be a trainwreck type of high gain EL84 amp
Curran
Owner of Custom Audio Mutation Recording Studio, Guitar/Amp/Pedal Repair, and Mod center in Akron Ohio
Devout Distortion Worshipper and fan of warm hugs
234-788-6141
I am now a little confused! I just need to confirm the power wiring for the amp. I take my (N) connection from the power socket to one side of the PT (BLK/RED=BLK/WHT) twist it all together and make the connection to one side of my switch. I take the (L) connection from the power socket to the other side of my PT (BLK+WHT) twist and connect to the other side of my power switch. This connector has a fuse holder build into it and pre-wired so I only have three connection lugs on it. L, N, G. G has a short wire going righ to a ground bolt on the chassis
Curran
Owner of Custom Audio Mutation Recording Studio, Guitar/Amp/Pedal Repair, and Mod center in Akron Ohio
Devout Distortion Worshipper and fan of warm hugs
234-788-6141
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Curran
Owner of Custom Audio Mutation Recording Studio, Guitar/Amp/Pedal Repair, and Mod center in Akron Ohio
Devout Distortion Worshipper and fan of warm hugs
234-788-6141
Curranproducer wrote:I am now a little confused! I just need to confirm the power wiring for the amp. I take my (N) connection from the power socket to one side of the PT (BLK/RED=BLK/WHT) twist it all together and make the connection to one side of my switch. I take the (L) connection from the power socket to the other side of my PT (BLK+WHT) twist and connect to the other side of my power switch. This connector has a fuse holder build into it and pre-wired so I only have three connection lugs on it. L, N, G. G has a short wire going righ to a ground bolt on the chassis
This doesn't sound right... Is your power switch a single-pole (two terminals) or double-pole (four terminals)?
SIngle-pole wiring would be Blk/Red and Blk/Wht to power inlet neutral (N), Power inlet Line (L) to switch, and Blk and Wht to the other side of the switch.
For a two-pole switch you'd run the line and neutral to one side of the switch, and the paired transformer leads to the other side.
it is a single pole (2 terminals) I have not powered it up yet, but I was looking at this and it wasn't making any sense in my noodle
Curran
Owner of Custom Audio Mutation Recording Studio, Guitar/Amp/Pedal Repair, and Mod center in Akron Ohio
Devout Distortion Worshipper and fan of warm hugs
234-788-6141
alright, I have powered up and got the filaments to light up, however, when I switch the standby to on mode, I get some sparks coming from the power tubes underneath. I am still noob, so my OT is wired with the yellow and white wires going to pin #7 on each el84, I am running a single wire between tubes #1, and #2 pin 7 on each to the yellow, and the same for tubes #3, and #4 for the white wire. my red wire off of the OT is my CT and is going to the one of the standby lugs twisted with one side of the choke tranny. the layour for the OT is in the link below. am I reading this right OR is my white wire go to the standby switch with the choke? it has the little DOT on layout drawing and that is the ground wire on the other side of the tranny. Just not sure what to do.
Owner of Custom Audio Mutation Recording Studio, Guitar/Amp/Pedal Repair, and Mod center in Akron Ohio
Devout Distortion Worshipper and fan of warm hugs
234-788-6141
M Fowler wrote:Just be careful with the wiring from Tino's book it's black & white hand drawn and easy to get lost following the wiring.
Go over your connects again checking with AC30 schematics and layouts.
+1 Tino's known for including errors. Quadruple check everything against another schematic. Luckily, there are many AC30 schems all over the web. The original may be kinda chaotic, but it's discernible. Hope all turns out right.
OK- this is probably one of my 1st posts ever I think so here goes! I am building an AC30 without the tremolo circuit. I am a high gain metal guy and a studio owner, BUT I have a strange fetish for Class "A" EL84 power sections ever since I bought(then foolishly sold) a Mesa Boogie .22 Studio plus amp. SO i amp going to stock build this amp from zero to 60 and enjoy it but them I want to bastardize it into a possible high gain beast. 
