Crate Palomino V32 mod - swap Reverb Tanks and NOS tubes

[r9player]

Here is a little quick project I did today.
I had a long Accutronics pan and decided to finally swap out the short one from my Crate Palomino V32. I had before hand externally plugged it in to compare the sound and the sound with the long pan was better so I figure time to do it!
I also had some NOS tubes lying around so finally decided to retube.
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668134757_621578_37514793_1422735_n.jpg
Back of the amp before disassembly.
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668139747_621578_37514794_7869364_n.jpg
The new tank. Tape shows positive side.
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668149727_621578_37514795_6063068_n.jpg
Back taken off and one wood support that obstructed the tranny.
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668154717_621578_37514796_188663_n.jpg
Chassis out
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668159707_621578_37514797_4796928_n.jpg
Gut Shot!
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668164697_621578_37514798_3507527_n.jpg
The short tank
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668169687_621578_37514799_1615811_n.jpg
Reverb Tank Gut Shot!
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668174677_621578_37514800_5493285_n.jpg
Empty Shell
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668179667_621578_37514801_3655748_n.jpg
First fitting
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668184657_621578_37514802_6186099_n.jpg
Pretty tight but it will fit!
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668189647_621578_37514803_4004972_n.jpg
Assorted NOS tubes. Went with two pairs that were closely matched to each other for the EL84s and were not too far apart. And the Kaufman 12AX7s (all reading very strong)
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668194637_621578_37514804_1417342_n.jpg
All back together.
The verdict?
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs034.snc1/4317_641668199627_621578_37514805_2872140_n.jpg
Its the Cat's Meow!!!

It was all pretty simple and fun, the end result is awesome. Better cleans, better drive, better reverb. I actually enjoy the cleans now on the Crate. Amazing sounds, also much deeper sound with the new tank.
The only part that was hard was screwing down the tank because of space limitations.
One trick was to first screw in a narrower screw as a guide/starter hole then the actual screw, saved me some sore wrists!
I highly recommend this mod (and NOS tubes) makes the Crate just so much better!

[Hangfire]

Excellent, thanks for sharing, I upgraded my tank as well, makes a world of difference!

Is that a Maine Coon?

[rockon1]

Yeah cool upgrade. Ive been meaning to figure out which Accutronics tank fits the V32. I dont dare use anymore NOS power tubes in mine anymore though. After checking the bias I calculated its idling at over 13 watts. It ate a set of RCA's I tried in it :messedup (and JJ's and Sovtek 6BQ5's) At its current bias the only tubes that seem to hang are Sovtek EL84M's. I have done some other mods. Cool burgundy color change and a fan install. (besides tubes and speaker wich I dont really consider mods-niethers a color change come to think of it! lol!).

http://i39.tinypic.com/34pyn2g.jpg

[r9player]

That color is really cool! Shame its eating your tubes, I'll keep an eye on mine see how long they live for. But for now they stay in because the amp sounds so much better with them!

[rockon1]

That color is really cool! Shame its eating your tubes, I'll keep an eye on mine see how long they live for. But for now they stay in because the amp sounds so much better with them!

Thanks I dig the color too. They bias the combo using a 60 ohm resistor. Something in the 100-125 ohm range would lower the dissapation but I like the way it sounds running hot. Its not that bad . Its only eaten (redplated) 3 sets of tubes in 3 years. Im just not willing to put any old stock in it until i get it running cooler. New production Im not worried about and like I said the Sovtek EL84M's are really tough.

[Hangfire]

How'd you do the color change? Looks very cool...

[phatdave]

Yeah! I love my Crate VC3112 .

Nice job guys.

I'm trying to save up for hemp cone T.T. for mine already have done the tube thing, including a Mullard 12at7 in the second spot. seemed to smooth out the od a bit.

I'm curious about the retolex job also. Id like to change my blonde to orange.

[rockon1]

How'd you do the color change? Looks very cool...


Vinyl upholstery paint from Auto Zone. Its important to clean it well with something like Prep Sol-also at Auto Zone. For the first week or two its susceptable to scratching but after that its almost bonded on. Bob

[erikm5150]

cool mods to the crate!

i also am very impressed with the sounds coming from my V32 combo. and that is with the stock "crappy" celestion 70/80 speaker.

What speakers are you guys using?

[r9player]

I got a head on purpose (and paid a little more then I would've for a combo! crazy me).
I have a Tonetools Fatcat 1x12 cab loaded with a Scumback 12sa65HP