tweed champ build ideas

[smolder]

I have a 1x10 fender cab and can make a simple chassis to fit. Thinking about building a single ended 5 or so watt amp. The tweed champ 5E or 5F1 are obvious options. Just wondering what variants or other options are out there and that you guys might suggest?

 

[CDA]

Well do you want a tone stack? (Bass and treble controls)

Are you opting for the 6V6GT output final, or something else.

Do you want to make it tweakey or somewhat standard.

 

[smolder]

Good questions... I want to build it, I want lower volume that the 18's and 40-50's I have, but I want it to sound big. I had a sf champ and rarely played it - primarily because of the harsh little speaker in it I think.

I doubt it will be stable. I tend to tweak stuff that I build. I'll probably stick with the 5Y3/6V6/12AX7 arrangement. And I have a set of tweed champ transformers. Outside of that I am pretty open.

Well do you want a tone stack? (Bass and treble controls)

Are you opting for the 6V6GT output final, or something else.

Do you want to make it tweakey or somewhat standard.

 

[danny60]

I think the champs 4 ohm output limits speaker options. I was looking around for rebuild kits for a vibrochamp. Triode electronics sells a OT that works with either 4 or 8 ohm loads. I was wondering if anyone has any experiance with these?

 

[Keyser Soze]

How about one of the ax84 projects, maybe the SEL?

Lets you omit the rectifier (which, I tend to think are unnecessary in low output SE amps anyway) and has a full TMB tone stack.

http://www.ax84.com/sel.html

 

[CDA]

Good questions... I want to build it, I want lower volume that the 18's and 40-50's I have, but I want it to sound big. I had a sf champ and rarely played it - primarily because of the harsh little speaker in it I think.

I doubt it will be stable. I tend to tweak stuff that I build. I'll probably stick with the 5Y3/6V6/12AX7 arrangement. And I have a set of tweed champ transformers. Outside of that I am pretty open.

Ok, well I build stuff like this all the time out of oddball stuff. The guys on GearSlutz seem to be a big fan of them, they never stick around long.

Why not try a 2 tube preamp and a 6V6GT output tube.

Whether you tube rectify it or SS will make a difference in the end result.

So with 2 preamp tubes, you could go 12AY7 front end. Run the tone stack from a AB763 Super reverb (Example) Bass/Treble Recover your signal out of the tone stack with the 2nd 12AY7 triode. Pass that on to the next preamp tube. 12AX7 and then on to the power tube.

But along the way you can do silly **** like make cathode resistors switchable and cathode bypass caps switchable etc. Add a master volume between preamp stages and between power tube and final preamp stage.

Use a Potentiometer to vary the value of the plate resistor on your driver tube. etc etc...

This is how you end up with a versatile amplifier. Make it do all sorts of stuff if you want it to.

 

[smolder]

Soze... I will check out the ax84 stuff. I have built a couple of amps designed for el84 but with 6v6 instead. I seem to be awash in 5y3's and have never built an amp with diodes.

I have also read about a trainwreck little monster thing that was reported as a modified champ. Any thoughts?

CDA - I am trying to get to the 'design a circuit' stage... but would be more inclined to start with a proven schematic and modify... otherwise I will just end up back here annoying everyone with basic questions.

I like the simplicity of a single tone control (carmen ghia-ish) and tweaking the circuit to fit. I also really like the tone stack from the doctor's 66 with the gain push on the T and B above half way on that amp.

Thanks for the suggestions... it's helping me figure out what I want and don't want. More input is welcome!

 

[Trout]

I think the champs 4 ohm output limits speaker options. I was looking around for rebuild kits for a vibrochamp. Triode electronics sells a OT that works with either 4 or 8 ohm loads. I was wondering if anyone has any experiance with these?

I have tried those particular transformers. They actually suck pretty bad. I have also seen other threads elsewhere where guys have had consistant problems with them.

They are VERY small, and VERY limited in power handling which kills the bandwidth.
If you are looking for great bang for the buck, grab either the MPS, or Edcore. Both are far better for the same money.
Next step upward in price would be Hammond, though I feel both Edcore & MPS are equal in quality to the Hammond.

 

[gayler]

http://www.freewebs.com/jonesamps/jones-derailment-2.pdf

 

[CDA]

In countless lab tests, bench tests etc etc EDCOR iron kicks Hammonds **** in the dirt....

.02

 

[smolder]

any idea which edcor would be the equivalent of the 270dax from hammond? or should i just ask edcor?

 

[Trout]

any idea which edcor would be the equivalent of the 270dax from hammond? or should i just ask edcor?

In champ circuits I used the XSE15-8-5K for output. That way you can use 6V6's or 6L6's easily.

The 270DAX does not have a 5V tap for rectifier.

270DAX 75VA, sec. 260-0-260 @ DC ma 90, 6.3V @ 3.5A, upright mounting, bell ended

This one is VERY close XPWR106 to the Hammond
Edcor will make a custom for a very reasonable price, Or,

Allied sells a really nice unit(made by Hammond) with a 5V tap.
6K56VG $44.95

PRI:110-120V, 50/60HZ, 540VCT @120DCMA, 5V @3A, 6.3V @3.5A, LEADS

 

[smolder]

Very helpful Trout. I was beginning to wonder who sold hammonds. Now I have a better idea what to look for in the spec's. Thanks.

 

[Trout]

Very helpful Trout. I was beginning to wonder who sold hammonds. Now I have a better idea what to look for in the spec's. Thanks.

Lots of places sell Hammonds as Hammonds, Allied is one of the few that buys them " Made for Allied"

BTW, you are aware that Hammond sells a good number of a newer series for guitar amps right?

Hammond Guitar Line

Tubesandmore.com sells them as well as a few other vendors.

 

[smolder]

BTW, you are aware that Hammond sells a good number of a newer series for guitar amps right?

.

lol... actually Trout, I was not. I'd found a small assortment at various site (antique elect, etc) but since there was no 'buy' button anywhere to be found on the site... and they refer you to their distributors, I assumed they did not sell ones and twos direct. Silly me.

 

[Roundtone]

In champ circuits I used the XSE15-8-5K for output. That way you can use 6V6's or 6L6's easily.[/URL]

+1 on this Edcor iron... I have used it and loved it in a SE 6V6 circuit. Great people to deal with as well. Check them out on Facebook LINK