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Post subject: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 5:32 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Ok, I am now the proud owner of a tube amp. It is a Fender Champ Clone( 5F1 ) that I built myself. I just finished it Saturday morning, I am really liking this amp! It is only 5 watts but it is still too loud for my small practice room, I can only crank it up a little past halfway.

I also now understand what so many of you have said about tube sound, it is really "In your face". I have heard tube amps in the stores, but until I heard one in an environment that I was familiar with I just didn't get it, I get it now!

I plugged in my CryBaby between the amp and my favorite Strat and..........Instant Joy! :D

The documentation that came with the kit shows that I can replace the 12AX7A preamp tube with a 12AY7 and it will reduce the amplification by over half. Does anyone have any experience doing this? I want to be able to overdrive the preamp to distortion without rattling the walls(the wife doesn't mind, but neighbors........) Any suggestions would be welcome.

8)

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 6:13 pm
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A 12AY7 in the V1 position will actually lower the preamp gain and clean up the overall sound.

Congrats on your new amp!

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 6:14 pm
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Congrats Omar! A great choice for a first tube amp! Not sure that swapping the 12AX7 for a 12AT7 will drop the loudness by half. That tube should result in a big cut to the gain though. I got no suggestions for lowering the volume other than turning that knob counter clockwise.

T2

Edit...Our Friend Arjay from out West is still the quick draw!

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 7:42 pm
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Serious congrats Omar! As everyone has said, the 12AT7 will drop the gain but not the volume. As Arjay said, it will clean up the sound but not cut the overall volume.

Where did you get the kit? I've built three tube amps. Two from Tube Depot, their 5e3 and their 18 watt Marshall clone, the third came from Modkits DIY. The Modkits is a 5 watt amp with volume, bass and treble controls. It's a nice sounding little amp.
Congrats Againon the build!

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:13 pm
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So cool!!
Happy for you!

.

I work too much
I need to find some time to build mine
(heavy sigh)

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:13 pm
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That is awesome....and would be more so with pics! :wink:

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 2:20 am
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I agree with you entirely. I am a great fan of 5W tube amps and the 5F1 particularly.

I also agree that they can be deceptively loud.

I fitted a triode/pentode switch to calm mine down.

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 3:36 am
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63supro wrote:
Serious congrats Omar! As everyone has said, the 12AT7 will drop the gain but not the volume. As Arjay said, it will clean up the sound but not cut the overall volume.

Where did you get the kit? I've built three tube amps. Two from Tube Depot, their 5e3 and their 18 watt Marshall clone, the third came from Modkits DIY. The Modkits is a 5 watt amp with volume, bass and treble controls. It's a nice sounding little amp.
Congrats Againon the build!


The kit was from Tube Depot, they are great Guys, I had a problem with the power trans not matching the documentation and they responded right away with an answer. I looked at 5E3 but I was worried it would be too much for my small room. :)


8)

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 3:49 am
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Congratulations Omar ! Very cool ! 8)

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 3:51 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
A 12AY7 in the V1 position will actually lower the preamp gain and clean up the overall sound.

Congrats on your new amp!

8)



Arjay



Ok, so that is not what I'm after. So about distortion, is it from the preamp tube or the power tube, or both? I really want to understand how it works, just the kind of guy I am. I learned how the amp actually works before I bought the kit(Uncle Doug on Youtube). I have a fair understanding of electronics, so if anyone can explain, please do!

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:38 am
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shimmilou wrote:
That is awesome....and would be more so with pics! :wink:


Yes, yes I knew I should have posted pics, but I was to excited to wait, but here they are.

Image

Image

Image

8)

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 6:20 am
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omar59,
It sounds like you might want to look into an attenuator.
I also have a 5w Class A tube amp (Swart 6V6se) that is far too loud to achieve breakup at modest volumes.
I have been very pleased with my Night Light, though there are a number of attenuator solutions out there.
The attenuator steps down the output volume, allowing you to turn up the volume pot to drive the tubes to breakup (distortion), while maintaining a comfortable output volume level.

http://swartamps.com/night_light_attenuator.htm

A more modestly price version, with less features:
http://swartamps.com/night_light_attenuator.htm

Nice looking amp, well done!
Good luck and cheers.

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 7:33 am
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omar59 wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
A 12AY7 in the V1 position will actually lower the preamp gain and clean up the overall sound.

Congrats on your new amp!

8)




Arjay



Ok, so that is not what I'm after. So about distortion, is it from the preamp tube or the power tube, or both? I really want to understand how it works, just the kind of guy I am. I learned how the amp actually works before I bought the kit(Uncle Doug on Youtube). I have a fair understanding of electronics, so if anyone can explain, please do!


Omar, the 5F1and 5e3 are very simple circuits. Neither have very much headroom. The way you control it is with the volume control on your guitar and pick attack. These amps are very dynamic and and touch sensitive and respond to subtle guitar volume changes really well. I really don't think you need an attenuator because even one watt can be loud. I can dial my Egnater 20 down to one watt and it's still really loud. With an attenuator, if you push the amp constantly, you just wear out the tubes faster. You're lucky you didn't get the 5e3. That thing is seriously loud and I gig with it on a regular basis. You can get a headphone tap. Weber makes one. Then you can play whenever you want as loud as you want. It's a 50 watt dummy load with a output control. https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/hpa50.htm

Funny, 5 watts is pretty loud. The Tube Depot kits are great. Some people have a problem with the 5F1 and 5e3 being a PCB build, but their boards are first rate as are most of the components.

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 7:48 am
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Oh, man! That is awesome and so sharp looking! I've wanted to get into doing this for a long time. Congrats!

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Post subject: Re: First Tube Amp......Lovin it!
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 7:56 am
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TheKingofPain wrote:
Oh, man! That is awesome and so sharp looking! I've wanted to get into doing this for a long time. Congrats!


Do it!! There's nothing more satisfying than building your own gear!
If you're a beginner, start with a pedal and work your way up the food chain.

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