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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 11:01 pm
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I never thought about that but you're quite right, shimmi. It's definitely possible and also quite probable that the Ghost disc will be bootable. If they were thinking at all when they designed the program they could have and should have forseen the eventuality of needing to boot a dead computer in order to restore it. Man, I sure hope so. That would put and end to any future troubles wreakng havoc with my wallet from having to buy new software. I'll let you know when I buy it.

On that subject, Microsoft wanted me to buy a new license to re-install Office even though they knew it was on the same computer with the same hard disc but after a reformat. I found their support page, found a link and had an online chat with a support tech. He told me Microsoft does not actually sell a license to use the product, they sell a license to install the product and I had already used mine. Or some words to that affect. Bastards! Fortunately I remembered that it had happened to me once before and had to go out and spend several hundred on a new version that I didn't like or want. Before I installed it last time I thought long and hard about how I could prevent that from happening again. What I came up with was to disconnect the internet during installation to prevent the software from activating automatically, forcing it to offer me the option of activating over the phone. I saved the activation code they gave me. I had forgotten all about it until that tech angered me so much I closed the window on his chat mid conversation. Then I remembered. It took about 40 minutes of rummaging around but I eventually found that precious piece of paper and voila! Another offline activation was successful!

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 4:04 am
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That's awesome, I'm glad that you didn't have to pay again, and that your install is going well.

I got a copy of XP from a local college library back when they had some special agreement with MS and there is no activation required. Since I did some work for them, I was allowed to check the disc out of the library and take it home and make a copy for any future use. My last laptop, with XP MCE, has a recovery disc, also no extra activation required, just type in the key that came with it, and it will restore the laptop back to the way that it came new. I still have to de-install/reinstall my preferred software to get where I want with it, or just transfer an image after recovery.

I started noticing a trend away from the recovery discs, and the recovery on a partition on the hard drive and this trend toward having to activate the OS, sometimes even after changing a bad component such as a hard drive or motherboard.

I have really had enough of the MS, Norton AV, McAfee AV cr@p, and upgrade treadmills, and have learned so many things about making the computer work for me and not them. No automatic updates, disabling many of the programs on Windows that run in the background, etc. There are lots of free AV and firewall programs out there that work great. I used AntiVir for awhile (the umbrella symbol) and it works great, as good as any, and now I use Zone Alarm firewall alone with no AV at all. I just don't download anything that I'm not sure about, turn off cookies (prompt to accept or not) and stay away from most of the crap that people use computers for, such as games and stupid social sites.

I hope that Norton works well for you. I would put your computer in complete working order, with everything installed and then make an image. That way, after you restore the image you up and running with no more work to do. That was one thing that I did for the college, made images and stored on their network. When they moved labs around and/or got new computers, it was a breeze to put them in working order. I just go from computer to computer with my boot disc, start the backup, and it was all automatic from there. Which reminds me of another cool program that you might want to look at, "Deep Freeze", which allows you to restore an existing install by just rebooting the computer.

What a mixed bag. The computer has lot's of cool tech stuff and it's a great tool with tremendous capability, yet can also be a major PITA. And to think, my Abacus has never crashed once. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 11:28 am
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That's exactly what I plan to do, shimmi. I'm sending you a PM.

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:37 pm
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So I recently discovered there is a ham radio enthusiast who lives about 4 miles from me and he has a pretty large collection of tubes. I arranged to meet him and we talked about guitar amp tubes. He had no idea which tube types were common to guitar amps. I gave him the bare bones run-down; 6L6, 6V6, EL34, EL84, 12AX7, 12AT7, 12AU7, 5AR4, GZ34, 5U4, etc. I know there are more but I think I gave him the most common ones. After chatting for a while I asked if he happened to have any NOS RCA BlackPlate 6V6 tubes. He said he was sure he did and sold me these Philips tubes for pretty cheap. They don't say RCA on them but he inferred they were RCA tubes made by Philips. They were inexpensive enough that I decided to take them regardless.

Now I'm hoping some of the more seasoned amp gurus around here can tell me if he was pulling my leg about the RCA-ness of them and whether they'll be a good fit for my 5E3 kit when it arrives. I watched him select these two from about 7 or 8 of them. He used a Knight Tube Tester that looked like it was made in the 50's and said the two he sold me were matched the closest. I don't remember the numbers he quoted because it was all Greek to me. Here's a pic:

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:23 am
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The kit arrived today!!
Initial pics:

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The laquered tweed is better than I expected. The grille cloth is perfectly straight. There's no way I could have done the cabinet this well myself.

Carbon comp resistors, Switchcraft jacks, Carling switches, CTS pots, Mercury Magnetics, Jupiter, Sprague .... I got all the name brands I've seen you guys recommend time and time again. I have only 10 days before we play an outdoor show and I have a lot of work still left to do so I won't be getting on the completion of this project for at least a few weeks yet but I'm still kinda stoked about getting going. I still have to read that book first as well. I've just been too busy preparing for the show as well as renewing some of my work related training that had expired so I'll be ready in the fall when I go back to work. Look for a new thread by me soon.

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:51 am
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Can't wait. :mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 11:57 am
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Stoked! Kit looks great. :D

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 6:58 pm
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This is a tip I picked up somewhere that has really help me a lot.

Print out an extra copy of the schematic and layout (if available). When installing a part double check the value and the location. After it is soldered in correctly highlight the part on the copies. This is a very methodical procedure that really helps get everything connected correctly the first time.

Cheers,

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 7:15 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
Now I'm hoping some of the more seasoned amp gurus around here can tell me if he was pulling my leg about the RCA-ness of them and whether they'll be a good fit for my 5E3 kit when it arrives. I watched him select these two from about 7 or 8 of them. He used a Knight Tube Tester that looked like it was made in the 50's and said the two he sold me were matched the closest. I don't remember the numbers he quoted because it was all Greek to me. Here's a pic:

Image



These are Sylvania made 6V6GT's. Very good tubes.


http://www.tubemongerlib.com/gallery2/d ... +-+USA.jpg


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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:14 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
Stoked! Kit looks great. :D


+1

Everything looks "top shelf" to me.

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 10:10 pm
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Thanks guys! My back is killing me from all the heavy work in prep for this show we're playing. This Saturday we rock!! Then I have a few courses to take and some appointments but come September I'll start reading that book and sorting out and organising parts and creating a couple of hand made specialty tools I've been thinking about.


mhowell wrote:
This is a tip I picked up somewhere that has really help me a lot.

Print out an extra copy of the schematic and layout (if available). When installing a part double check the value and the location. After it is soldered in correctly highlight the part on the copies. This is a very methodical procedure that really helps get everything connected correctly the first time.

Cheers,


Excellent idea. That system will work perfectly for me. Methodical and fool-proof without requiring a degree in statisical analysis. Thanks!

BMW2002Ti wrote:
These are Sylvania made 6V6GT's. Very good tubes.


http://www.tubemongerlib.com/gallery2/d ... +-+USA.jpg


Thanks fellow Bimmer-man!

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 10:43 pm
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"Snowy" from Oz-Tralia posted an excellent photo tutorial a while back on building a 5E3 clone -- use the search function to locate and check it out. He's got some outstanding assembly tips.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:26 am
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I'll do that. Thanks, RJ!

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 3:22 am
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+1 Snowy was my inspiration for building mine. If you decide to build one, just triple check all the connections and take your time and you'll be fine.

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Post subject: Re: Build Your Own Amp - 2
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 5:25 pm
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BMW,

I hoped you get started soon. If you have any problems, you know where to come. This forum has been kind of lame these last few weeks (the ENTIRE forum, not just modern amps) and we need a good build thread to liven things up. :mrgreen:

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