cys wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 8:33 am
I've turned a sonic corner with the 183 I built recently, and it wasn't by changing resistors, caps or transformers in the amp -- it was by tweaking a guitar. I had initially found the 183 overdrive was making a signal that was too busy, kind of a harmonic mess, with the humbucker guitars I have on hand. I have a Les Paul that I've probably swapped eight pickups through getting it to sound right for other amps. One set of pickups was close to being good (BKP Stormy Mondays), so I started magnet swaps with it. The third magnet swap did the trick for another amp... alnico III's. I tried it with the 183, and it's as close as I've gotten to some of the Cream type tones. I'm finally hearing some overdrive tones that captured my interest and drew me to this amp (properties like the OP described in the first post).
Hello Cys - OP here!
You seem like someone who knows their pups. I basically use Seymour Duncan Hot Rails with series and parallel switching. They are all-rounders with a wide sonic palette. However, your experience with all these different kinds of pups and mods tells me that your search for the strange brew of tone could be better directed at the one common factor you describe: the amp. If you read these pages you are likely to come away with the impression that
induction is something of a Dark Art. But lead dress, the proximity of components to each other on the board. The interaction between transformers, the chassis and the components internally all produce an EMF signature. Get it wrong and the amp will sound dry and lifeless, get it right and the amp will start to sing. MrD talked about "circuit constants" and this was what, I believe, he was referring to.
Have other people tried playing your amp and come away with the same impressions you found? Resistor and cap types make a difference as well, otherwise why not build an amp using all wirewound resistors? People may disagree about the level of difference these components make, some people hear it, some don't. But everyone agrees at least, that the type of components we use, make
some difference. But if you're happy with where you are with it, good-on-ye! However, if you are at a crossroads with your thinking about this "problem", you should feel free to look again at the amp. Changing your approach could make it the sunshine of your love
Stephen
Thank you! The J201 has some different parameters to an NTE452 but both FETs are just a handful of parts. Okay, I will give it a go! The boards are easy to access and swap out. It will be in the listening...
