Steel String Singer question

[SixStringBender]

I agree. I'll keep adding what I can find to the post with the edit feature until there are sufficient links to start a new thread for stickying. And others feel free to search. I'm a blind guy (not black blind, but I only have light perception and some motion perception), believe it or not. I can see doorways and windows, if they are well lit. I navigate, read and type on the PC using a screen reader (JAWS for Windows). So finding stuff is a lot slower and more difficult for me. I have learned a lot over the last few years. Rolloman and I are good friends, and together we have built an amp that is single channel AB763 preamp (with reverb and without tremolo), with MOSFET source followers for the driver into a pair of output tubes. It also has Kevin O'Connors power scaling and master volume design. Right now I'm monkeying with the tone stack and the preamp in effort to reduce extended treble. Other than the extended piercing treble it sounds really good. Anyway, back on topic.

[martin manning]

If this is to become a general SSS info thread it should be renamed, and perhaps edited.

Add to the pile this great build thread by member Dreric, describing an adaptation of Mike Hartman's SSS with three big changes:

- UL output section using Sunn 3-60T OT
- A bipolar power supply for the CF running off the bias tap (there is a link to the thread where that is described)
- Improved step filter circuit (there is a link to the thread where that is described)

https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=30673

To top it off, there are two fantastic You Tube demos of the amp being played by Dreric.

[talbany]

I think the point is though guys: we have a sticky for the #102, the #124. the #183 the BM why isn't there one for the SSS



M

Marcus..Here is why.
Here is what you need In order to do an accurate layout of a Steel String Singer! (like the ones in the files section)
1. Someone has to be willing to blueprint the amp. Measure all critical voltages confirm certain part values and types throughout the amp, answer any questions one might have. when doing the layout I know several over the years who have been inside these amps and have given me this critical info it always comes with the same caveat! "Keep this to yourself" Some of these guys are commercial amp builders doing there own SSS versions and dont want the info shared here in fear of Ceriatone(and other commercial builders) getting this info and then having to compete with them on info they have shared here. Can you blame them. Bottom line this info is still kept underground.
2. There are a total of I believe 7 SSS amps that we know of that exist and no 2 are identical. So which one do you do the layout on?
There are ones with CF driver sections, tremolo, Different reverb sections, different tone stacks and different output tube configurations,NFB loops in different spots,transformers, filters array configurations,power supply filtering,
3. You also need an accurate schematic of the amp and very detailed shots of the entire amp to follow the correct layout lead-dress types of wire etc.(Good luck finding detailed shots of an SSS )
4.After you have all that if you are a Killer with Visio it would take you about 14 hours or so from start to finish to do a complete dead on accurate to scale layout. Another word's it's A LOT OF WORK!

IMO. The layout mheartman did is a perfect build for the DIY'rs here. It's a nice clean fairly easy build that I am sure will get you pretty close to what an original SSS would sound.
AFAIK. The other alternative would be to get a copy of the hand drawn schematic of 002 and start from there and just build the amp using the schematic do some in depth studying from the info of 002 posted here and if you get stuck I am sure others here might help you along the way.
OR!!!. You might get lucky and someone will send you one and on the layout it would say "Confidential"..
Good Luck
Tony

[SixStringBender]

Martin, I added dreric's build to my post on page 1 and I added your step filter correction link too.

I'll try to keep adding to my post on page 1 so the moderators can decide what to do with the info.

As for my own future build. I have a few SSS type amps planned. I have several custom Heyboer power trannies. One amp will have the CF with a +160V and -160V bipolar power supply. The PT also has a 50VAC CT winding I will be using for a fullwave bias supply. This is the one I plan to build first because it is simpler.

I have two other Heyboer PTs designed for MOSFET SF drivers. No 50V bias supply because I had them built for power scaling. I have a 125VAC winding that will go into a bridge rectifier. This is the bias supply voltage to the power scaling and the -170V supply at the source resistors. There is a 20VAC winding for +25V supply for the drains.

Here is a demo of an amp Rolloman built for me with one of these custom Heyboer PTs with MOSFET SF driver and power scaling in a Fender AB763 single channel type build. It is a bit bright in the treble. I'm working on solving that. I also tried the SSS rock mode in the tonestack, after the below video, and the bass is weak, so I gotta get that fixed. The .1uF cap I tried must be bad because we rewired it to Fender spec and the bass is still weak.

The amp is off camera because it is unfinished and it has my name for the amp on the faceplate that I'm keeping secret. Forgive my singing. HAHA It is a good demo of how well power scaling works, and how well Kevin O'Connors's master volume works. It does fatten up with high master settings and higher power settings, but his power scaling is awesome. The volume was pretty low during this recording. You can hear my toaster oven clicking in the background and you can hear me talk as I play at this volume. Also a good demo of how clean the output stage is with MOSFET drivers. Preamp volume was around half throughout the entire video.
Tin Pan Alley demo using custom amp with power scaling and MOSFET source followers driving the output stage

[martin manning]

Further to what Tony Albany says above, the best use of this proposed SSS info sticky may be to gather a collection of ideas to work from. Most builders of SSS-type amps have already moved past the idea of cloning a specific example, and some improvements have been made along the way. You might add a link to the thread describing the bipolar supply running off the standard 50V bias tap too. No need for auxiliary transformers or a custom-wound PT: https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=29882

There is also this thread on 001, which has some work done on deciphering the vibrato: https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18881

A secret amp name? Just put a piece of tape over it!

[norburybrook]

isn't it interesting that the Ceriatone SSS is the only amp that doesn't have a downloadable layout available

one of out members 'Coglan' has chassis available I believe.


@Tony, I hear you and understand exactly what you're saying, I just think that a general 'TAG SSS' wouldn't be a bad thing for us to have as Martin suggests above. I'm sure members are cool with it not being an exact clone of a particular amp.



I'm not going to build one.
I'm not going to build one
I'm not going to build one
I'm not going to build one
I'm not going to build one
I'm not going to build one
I'm not going to build one




MC

[martin manning]

I think some of the ones constructed by members here might be better than the originals ;^)

[talbany]

@Tony, I hear you and understand exactly what you're saying, I just think that a general 'TAG SSS' wouldn't be a bad thing for us to have as Martin suggests above. I'm sure members are cool with it not being an exact clone of a particular amp.

Yeah I don't know I think you would be surprised at how many "Guitar Players" out there are sayin to themselves if it aint an exact Dumble SSS #000XX I aint intrested (no braggin rights there)
But put me down for posting the Mheartman layout and anything else Martin wants to add and Sticky away!. Hopefully one day someone will post Nik's SSS layout here and that way he can at least pay us back for all info and layouts he ripped from this site.

BTW.You should build an SSS IT's AWESOME!!

Tony

[norburybrook]

@Tony, I hear you and understand exactly what you're saying, I just think that a general 'TAG SSS' wouldn't be a bad thing for us to have as Martin suggests above. I'm sure members are cool with it not being an exact clone of a particular amp.

Yeah I don't know I think you would be surprised at how many "Guitar Players" out there are sayin to themselves if it aint an exact Dumble SSS #000XX I aint intrested (no braggin rights there)
But put me down for posting the Mheartman layout and anything else Martin wants to add and Sticky away!. Hopefully one day someone will post Nik's SSS layout here and that way he can at least pay us back for all info and layouts he ripped from this site.

BTW.You should build an SSS IT's AWESOME!!

Tony

LOL I Knew you were going to say that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


M

[talbany]

[Colossal]

I will be happy to do a layout and schematic for a TAG based SSS homage.

[norburybrook]

Seriously though, how different would it be to my 100w Peavey ironed JM Wonderland? cathode follower and a set of filters make that much difference?



M

[martin manning]

I think the CF driver would change the sound fundamentally, but maybe not drastically, filters would be an added feature.

[norburybrook]

I think the Ceriatone SSS is actually just a JM wonderland with filters







M

[SixStringBender]

Martin, the bipolar supply link is added. I'll read that when I have time. As for the amp name. My son lost my tape. I started to hang something over it, but I thought that would look goofy.

I don't have any experience with an SSS type amp with or without CF, but I do a single channel AB763 with MOSFET SF followers vs stock. The SF drivers offer more punch and less compression. There is also less poweramp distortion. I haven't cranked it up wide open much, but it only has a little hair with the volume and master way up. My single channel modded DRRI distorts and compresses heavily once the volume is over 6, or so. The DRRI doesn't seem as loud either. It may be, but it doesn't seem like it. I haven't really compared them for loudness though.

Both amps are running JJ 6V6S with a larger 6L6 OT running the primary at 8K. 8 ohm cab on the 4 ohm tap. It is a 4K OT with a pair of 6L6 and 8 ohm on the 8 ohm tap. The DRRI has this OT too.