Looking for opinions on the guts of a Vibroverb clone

[AerialBoundries]

So I'm planning on checking out a 64 Vibroverb clone in the next week or so. I have a few in progress pics from the original owner/builder, and I wanted to get some opinions on the wiring job and in particular the component selection. It is currently set up with KT66's. It also has New Sensor transformers and an Eminence Commonwealth 15". I haven't heard great things about these NS transformers - opinions? I think some MM iron and an EV 15 would do this amp good, but I don't necessarily want to buy it and feel I have to put a bunch of money in getting it where I want it. Of course I will let my ears be the judge, but I thought I'd ask for some opinions.

What do you think?:

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c157/AerialBoundries/VVgut1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c157/AerialBoundries/VVgut2.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c157/AerialBoundries/VVpic3.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c157/AerialBoundries/VVfront.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c157/AerialBoundries/VVback.jpg

[phsyconoodler]

From what I see,there are a few things I would not do.
1) I would not use metal film resistors,just because they are not original and the tone is colored,but quiet.
2) The grounds look like they are crimped and not soldered.? Not a good idea.
3) the basic wiring looks fine,but wrapping bundles introduces capacitance
where it may alter the tone somewhat.(or not)
4) these amps love alnico magnet speakers.Big power like the commonwealth and EV's make them stiff and unyielding.The breakup characteristics are the beauty of this design.
5) I would use smaller diameter shielded wire.RG174 is smaller and looks neater.
6) it looks like a kit amp,mojo or weber?Probably weber because of all the meatl films.
7) if those are weber transformers,they are ok but not even close to MM's or Heyboer.
These are just my opinions,and the amp will likely sound just fine as is.

[twangbanger]

I agree w/ the metal film not being a good idea. Not 100 % sure but the power cord hot(black) seems to go right to the trannie and the neutral (white) appears to go to the fuse? If thats the case it would be a no no in my book. I'd go w/ the heyboer trannies great bang for the buck!

[hasserl]

Well here's one vote for the metal film resistors. Quiet is good, so is stability. IMO the tone mojo of carbon comp and carbon film is mostly hype. The only place where there is significant difference in coloration is in applications with a large voltage drop across the resistor, like plate loads, which is exactly where you do not want the noise of the carbon resistors. And just to clarify, metal film resistors don't add coloration, coloration is added by the carbon resistors in the form of distortion.

[jay42]

Is that a Bandmaster Reverb donor or a new chassis? The wrapping dress is something I associate more with silverface amps. I hope the orange drops are not P715 or P716. I think you want P418/P225/PS/PVC in there.

I don't recognize the resistors as metal film unless they're Xicons. There's enough difference with RN65 (mf) plate resistors compared to carbon comp/film, that I'd experiment with them on the input triodes.

I agree with twangbanger -- the power cord wiring is a major screw up and must be redone correctly: Hot(blk) to fuse to power switch to transformer primary. It looks like a medical grade power cord. Ask for a picture of the plug end. Some are almost too big to share a wall socket.

[AerialBoundries]

interesting comments, guys - thanks a lot! You can see the power cord in the second pic.

He bought the chassis and faceplates on ebay. All electronics were sourced by a local amp tech. The transformers are New Sensor.

I can't tell if the grounds are crimped AND soldered, but I would totally agree that they should be!

Should be checking it out sometime next week. Thanks again for giving me some things to think about :)

[ChickenLover]

Don't know about those specific trannies but I have read some good things about the New Sensor Marshall iron. And that was compared to MM/Heyboer/etc.. However these were used in high-gain amps so...different trannies and different application. Just thought I'd mention it.

[JJman]

I would just snip off the plastic part of the crimps connectors and hit them with the iron and solder. Every amp I've ever owned had it's hiss come from only the 1st stage(s), if at all. That's the plate resistor(s) that I target for possible MF type. The others I apply the voodoo to obtain the mojo.:BluesBros