MESA BOOGIE DUAL RECTIFIER build

[Runaway J]

There's a lot of stuff about dual rectifier clones to be found here: http://www.tube-town.net/diy/doityourself.html
(scroll down a bit)
You speak german ?

[austinb]

Thanks guys for all the good comments and links. I will keep you posted if I decide to build it.

[marshmellow]

Hi austinb,

I built a Rectifier as my first amp, no trouble with that. If you already have some experience go for it. I used this schematic:

Clean channel, OD channels, power amp, power supply, FX loop, switching matrix

I think the clean channel is derived from a Mark XXX whatever. Somebody put it together like this for a three channel setup.
Actually I left out the loop since I don't need it and reduced the power amp to two 6L6 which also fits me better. Also no tube rectifier, no need for that in a high gain amp for me. I built the switching unit around a µC because that was the easiest thing, no overly complex analog switching. Mesa normally uses Vactrols for switching, I used AQY210 (photomos relais) in the whole amp. They are tiny, easy to handle and much faster in switching. Caps are Orange Drops. For transformers I went with Hammond for OT, PT, and choke as well. I am quite content with that choice. The whole thing is on eyelet boards, I don't really like PCB for DIY or in tube amps in general.

And to weaken the money argument... I paid for the whole amp including tolex, wood and tubes a good 600 Euros, only new parts throughout the amp. You can convert that to whatever currency you are used to.


Think about it and maybe have fun building it, that's the more important thing.


Volker

[ic-racer]

Marshmellow,

Did you do your amp as a point-to-point with eyelets or terminals, or did you etch PC boards?

[thousandshirts]

Marshmellow,

Did you do your amp as a point-to-point with eyelets or terminals, or did you etch PC boards?

Not to speak for Volker. . . Who can speak for himself!

The whole thing is on eyelet boards, I don't really like PCB for DIY or in tube amps in general.

[marshmellow]

Yes sir, that's it!

In the end it looked something like this. Excuse the bad handy shot. Probably not the best layout possible, but as already said it was my first amp. Not the most clever thing to do when it's even a high gain amp but fortunately I didn't have any problems at all. You can also see the relais mounted on the little pieces of perfboard. I did it this way because soldering directly to the eyelets (too big!) would have made a nice silicon barbecue out of these little sissies. Meanwhile I would just use some smaller sleeves for that, don't know why I didn't think about that .


Cheers, Volker

[ic-racer]

Marshmellow,

Did you do your amp as a point-to-point with eyelets or terminals, or did you etch PC boards?

Not to speak for Volker. . . Who can speak for himself!

The whole thing is on eyelet boards, I don't really like PCB for DIY or in tube amps in general.

Good things come to those who actually read the whole post....

[ic-racer]

I have had my Dual Rectifier for many years and I have always wondered it it would ever reach the status where people were cloning the circuit for home builds.

I don't play in the style that I think the amp was intended, but I got one of the best sounds of any recording using that amp and was always thought of it as a unique contribution to my amp arsenal.

Tremoverb:

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6147741

[drz400]

I have had my Dual Rectifier for many years and I have always wondered it it would ever reach the status where people were cloning the circuit for home builds.

I don't play in the style that I think the amp was intended, but I got one of the best sounds of any recording using that amp and was always thought of it as a unique contribution to my amp arsenal.

Tremoverb:

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6147741

Pretty much, it is called an SLO100 (with an added presence cut after the EQ stack)

[thousandshirts]

Good things come to those who actually read the whole post....

Speaking of good things though...how about that picture Volker posted? The camera leaves a bit something to be desired, but HEY, great to see a true DIY spirit job on a homebuild like that. Maybe without your question we don't get a picture out of Volker? Hmm. . .I think it worked out well Also we get the clip from your playing! It is fantastic to hear, although, perhaps not quite my first choice of music in style or sound to listen to, really a great track to hear from the guitar player (you?) and thank you for sharing.

[Bob-I]

I'm not an expert by any means, but most real amp guys say the dual rect as well as the Peavey 5150 or now 6505 are basically versions of a Soldano SLO. There is a SLO clone forum at : http://www.yesterdaysrevolt.com/sloclone/index.php

One of the guy's on this site turned me on to that site. I think it was Bob I and whoever it is is on the SLO forum as well.

I believe they use PCB.

Maybe Bob can comment f he sees this.

I built a dual EQ SLO Clone using a turrett board. My layout should be still posted at the SLO clone forum. I agree that the Rectifier is a SLO copy with a few changes.

The great thing about the SLO forum is the layouts are posted so you can etch your own board easily, no design work needed.

The down side is the SLO is pretty much a one trick pony. Of course this pony can deflower a virgin at 100 years with the sheer tone of it.

[bnwitt]

Bob,
the link to your layout is not working on the sloclone forum. Maybe you could post it here. The VSD file would be even better.

[Bob-I]

Bob,
the link to your layout is not working on the sloclone forum. Maybe you could post it here. The VSD file would be even better.

.VSD is not allowed here, so I renamed it .txt. Change the extension to .vsd and you're good to go.