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Post subject: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:33 am
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I finally finished the 18 watt clone build. I gotta say, it sounds beautiful and the tremolo is amazing.
Everything went off without a hitch. I installed a switchable solid state rectifier mod that works like a charm.
This is my first turret board build. I also installed the turrets with a home-made "swage' tool. Swaging is just a way to mount the turrets instead of press fitting. They'll never come loose. The tool presses the bottom of the turret into a flange type attachment.

The build isn't too complex, but you still really need to pay attention to details and not get sloppy with the wiring. I kept everything as short, neat and tidy as I possibly could. This is only my third tube amp build and I gotta say it still scares the snot out of me when I first power it up. I used a dim bulb tester this time. There's a bit of a difference between a Marshall style build and a Fender build. But it's a fun way to learn.

Sound wise, I've played a Marshall 1974x and this amp is similar, but not exactly the same. A lot of builds use carbon comp resistors. They usually have a 5 or 10% tolerance. A lot of people think yhis is where the Mojo lies. Could be. This one uses Dale 1% tolerance Military Spec resistors. Most of the components are modern made metal film and smaller modern electrolytic caps. I upgraded the power resistor from a cement resistor to a Ohmite Brown Devil because I think the Brown Devil dissipates the heat better. I also used an F&T 22ufd 500 volt electrolytic for the supplied Illinois cap. I the Illinois caps take a huge dump after six months in my HRDlx. Once bitten twice shy I guess.
Sound wise, this amp is seriously loud for an 18 watt amp. It seems to have a bit more headroom than my friends Marshall. Could be the tight spec resistors and the Classic Tone Trannies. I don't know, but the tone is similar. I like the Chinese Celestion Greenback, but I think I still might replace it with a Weber Silver Bell ceramic 30 or 50 watt. The Greenback is rated at 25 watts and seems a little close to the 18 watt rating, but has a real nice bass, mid, and articulate treble response.

I took some photos, but not my usual stuff. My studio has a ton of product work in it waiting to be shot. When it clears, I'll do some nice stuff.

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Anyway, it was a fun build and sounds amazing.

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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:36 am
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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:38 am
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Congrat for this nice amp ,

Good and clean job


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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:39 am
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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:40 am
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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:44 am
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stratele52 wrote:
Congrat for this nice amp ,

Good and clean job


stratele52, Thanks! If it weren't for you guys, I would have never thought I had the skills to pull this stuff off. I'm still learning, and you guys are a huge help with all your technical knowledge. The biggest thig I've learned is neatness counts. If it ain't neat, it ain't quiet.

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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:56 am
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I have yet to do a build. I will try the mojotone tweed deluxe first, I think. We'll see after taxes.

Love your build Supro. If one wants a quality amp, a self build is a very good way to insure that. Future troubleshooting, if required, should be easier when one has assembled the amp themselves.

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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:12 pm
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Thanks Modwiz! the only thing with the Mojo builds is there is no instructions. I know on the 18 watt Marshall they don't even supply the heater wiring diagram. I'm sure you can get that anywhere though. I love my 5e3. It sounds great, but it is on a PCB. A high quality board, but still not old school.

I just cranked the 18 watter to 10 to see if it will hold up and it sounds amazing. No weird noises or anything. I'm taking it out to one of my friends gigs in a couple weeks. It should be interesting. He owns the real deal so I'll be able to A/B the thing and report back.

Amp building and kit building is addictive. I've built over a dozen pedals too. Next up is a ModKits DIY outboard tube reverb unit.

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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:41 pm
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Absolutely superb mate, it even looks gorgeous, the build is a real credit to you. It's easy to see a lot of love and care has gone into the amp and I'll bet that's evident in the tone quality as well. The cab looks gorgeous as well, real classy, old school Marshall. I'd even be tempted to get a old style Marshal badge for the front of the cab and call it a "tribute" amp.

Awesome!

Modwiz, if you are looking at 5E3 kits and want a more old school build have a look at the Trinity kit. Top quality parts and a comprehensive build manual, they also have a builders forum where you can get help or just talk about your build and also Stephen the owner is a great guy and will help out as well. My dealings with Stephen and Trinity Amps were a very pleasant experience, as it also was Rob Hull at The Tube Depot.

http://www.trinityamps.com/phpbb/viewto ... f=6&t=1036

PS. Sorry about the brief hijack Supro.


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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:05 pm
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Snowy, thanks so much. You were the one who pushed me over the edge and got me hooked. For that I say Thank You!

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Last edited by 63supro on Mon Jan 12, 2015 7:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 5:57 pm
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Bob that look fantastic. Very clean and neat. If you don't mind could you send me the info on that. I think I'm gonna give it a go. Very impressive. :D


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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 5:58 pm
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Excellent workmanship 63supro! That looks fantastic. 8)

The picture labeled "Impedance Switch Photo", the left side of the resistor on the cap can, looks like it needs some solder. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 6:02 pm
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Way nice amigo. Very good work.

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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 7:06 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
Excellent workmanship 63supro! That looks fantastic. 8)

The picture labeled "Impedance Switch Photo", the left side of the resistor on the cap can, looks like it needs some solder. :idea:


Thanks Lou, resistor was waiting for another connection. I took care of it later. It was one of the last connections with the power supply. Nice catch though.

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Post subject: Re: 18 watt Marshall Clone Build. It's Alive!!
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 7:17 pm
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OK, that does it. You now have 3 builds and I have yet to start my first. I have to get my butt in gear and get started on that thing. It's been over a year since I bought it and I just keep putting it off. Time to stop finding reasons not to start.

Congrats on completing a new project! Looks great and I'm sure it sounds even better.

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