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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:19 am
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Thanks tyronne,

The normal pots are "Alpha" and there's also a couple of "Bourns" pots which also perform a second "pull-switch" function for "Fat" and "Tweed/'Tude".

Snowy


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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:18 pm
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Lookin' good. Can't wait to hear some sound samples. :D

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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:05 pm
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Very close now, almost done, just two shielded wires to add around the input jack area and that's it, then on to final check.

Here's some detail shots from various angles.

Detail around controls and negative feedback wire.
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More VRM area detail
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A couple of pics of the overall chassis detail
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Last couple of wires and testing coming up today.

:idea: Hmm, I just realised, I'll try to track down a 500ma Slow Blow fuse as the 1 Amp supplied is really for an amp running off 120V mains.



Snowy


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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:12 pm
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Just about time for the "smoke test", Snowy.

She looks great.

Rawk on!

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:30 pm
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Impressive. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:52 pm
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Woohoo, fired her up, ran some tests, plugged in and she sounds great, not a single problem, no puffs of smoke, sparks or strange noises.

I managed to pick up a 500ma fuse, they only had fast Blo and it's been fine so far, I will get a Slow Blo to install during next week.

I used a "Dim-Bulb" tester I made to fire her up, swapping in 15W, 25W, 40W, 60W and 100W bulbs in order and then straight to the wall, everything was fine.

The amp is dead quite and sounds fantastic, I've been playing it through the Texas Heat in my Tweed Deluxe cab, nice warm and fat sound, fantastic clarity and sounds like a much bigger amp :!: . The VRM B+ control works really well, turn it down and it "Browns Out" the amp, the resulting breakup is very smooth too, not flabby at all. There's a ton of great tones on tap for an amp with literally two tubes in it :shock:

Next up I'll swap in a 6L6GC and see how that sounds.


Some final pics.

Here is the finished chassis.
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Chassis sits in it's office.
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The plan comes to fruition.
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Image

I'd recommend anyone looking at building a Champ to first take a serious look at this amp, it's more involved to build for sure, but there's a lot of options here and the Champ and Princeton sounds really are in there anyway, plus a heap of others. The VRM B+ control, switchable impedance for different cab options and also the ability to switch tubes are real sweeteners too. I think Trinity have a real nice amp on offer with the Tramp.

Snowy


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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 8:44 pm
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Very, very nice. :D

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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 5:24 am
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She's a beauty!

Wish I could hear it. Any plans for a speaker cab Snowy?

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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 3:06 pm
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Thanks fellas, yeah I'm really stoked with the way it turned out.

Tyronne, I just planned on using it with my 5E3 cabs as pictured, the beauty is that with the Head on top I still have a pretty small easily mobile rig to carry, and with the safety net of a backup amp right there in the 5E3. With the two parrallel wired speaker outs on the Head and switchable impedance I can also switch to 4 Ohms and run separate speaker leads from the Head into my two 5E3 cabs sittting side by side with the Head on top. I haven't tried that yet but it's an option.

Snowy


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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 3:40 pm
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What are you using to switch the speaker between the Tramp and 5E3?

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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 4:21 pm
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Bill, I'm not running with both amps "on" at the same time, I've been leaving the 5E3 off, unplugging it's speaker, then plugging the speaker into the Head and just using it as the speaker cab for the Head.

Snowy


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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 6:56 pm
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No457 Snowy wrote:
Bill, I'm not running with both amps "on" at the same time, I've been leaving the 5E3 off, unplugging it's speaker, then plugging the speaker into the Head and just using it as the speaker cab for the Head.

Snowy


A little pricey but might be worth looking into:

https://taweber.powweb.com/store/2head.htm

Don't have to worry about forgetting what's plugged where and turning the wrong amp on.

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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 1:35 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
No457 Snowy wrote:
Bill, I'm not running with both amps "on" at the same time, I've been leaving the 5E3 off, unplugging it's speaker, then plugging the speaker into the Head and just using it as the speaker cab for the Head.

Snowy


A little pricey but might be worth looking into:

https://taweber.powweb.com/store/2head.htm

Don't have to worry about forgetting what's plugged where and turning the wrong amp on.



Yeah, I know what you mean, I just make it a rule that if I'm going to use the 5E3 as a cab, I just leave the power cord rolled up inside the back. I figure if I don't plug it into the outlet I can't mistakenly power it up with the speaker unplugged.

Snowy.


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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 2:27 pm
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No457 Snowy wrote:
Yeah, I know what you mean, I just make it a rule that if I'm going to use the 5E3 as a cab, I just leave the power cord rolled up inside the back. I figure if I don't plug it into the outlet I can't mistakenly power it up with the speaker unplugged.

Snowy.


I would forget to unplug it in the first place. :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Building another amp (Tramp Head)
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:53 pm
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Snowy...I missed this one somehow and just went through the entire post...I don't think I have seen a Hiwatt wired that nice! Sweet! I like the exterior comsetics of that head too! Fantastic!

T2

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