Curbdog's Rocket Build

[Curbdog]

This is my hybrid / Rocket-inspired amp. It is almost finished (need to add the faceplate, light and cab), but it is making music, so it is time I posted it.

It had an oscillation, but I put some aluminum foil on the roof of the 2 x 12" / 16 ohm cab I am using, grounded it to the speaker jack on the cab, and that seemed to fix it.

I installed Dana's VVR, and I am very pleased with it. I ordered the Saratov EL-84s from Sgt. Overdrive, and I am also pleased with the tone there. The half-power thing, likewise, is a winner. Why not, for $5 in parts? I can pull either the inner or outer 2 tubes, drop the impedance switch on the amp to 8 ohms, and I am there. This option, combined with the VVR, makes for a very versatile amp.

Enjoy the pics and clips. Thanks to all on this forum, and RJ especially, for providing a great platform to build an amp. For those who may be nervous or discouraged about thier first couple of builds...keep buuilding, they get better ! This amp is definitely my best yet. Cheers !

[guitarsnguns04]

nice and clean..great work..What is the board behind your pots? A

[jelle]

Nice amp! Congrats.

How much help is the VVR in a cleaner amp like this one? I would have expected these VVR's more in Express or liverpool style amps.

Jelle

[Curbdog]

The VVR works as advertised, and to my ears keeps the gain structure the same, whatever it is (clean, crunch, high-gain distortion), with the ability to reduce the volume. Takes the edge off at rehearsals when I can tell we are geting too loud, or the opposite, at a gig on Friday, I was able to reach behind me and turn up just a little lounder on the last tune, when we wanted to kick it out, but keep the tone and eq about the same.

The board behind my pots is a ground buss. Worked OK, but I probably won't do that again. I like RJs copper wire/rod buss off the board (not soldered to the back of the POTS, Trainwreck style).

Thanks for looking...

[Tubetwang]

Nice job!!

Thanks for sharing!!!

[DocJames]

Yeah looks good! Hope mine turns out half as nice . I like RJ's buss ground off the board, also, but its too late for me in implement that as well.

[RJ Guitars]

Curbdog you rock.... great job and an inspiration to the masses!

Nice sound. I guess the clipfest and tweaks should be begin...

rj

[angelodp]

So rj, does curbdogs sound more or less like yours??

ange