Builders Thread

[dunwichamps]

this was just the proto but somewhere in the order of 200-300 bucks, and yes it could be designed for bass.

[James1214]

me likey, and that seems a totally reasonable price range as well.

on another note, I'm gonna take some pics of my first cigar boxitar and put em up soon, super stoked about how it came out.

[dunwichamps]

for bass id do the baxandall out of an Ampeg SVT then adjust the cap values and overall gain structure. Ill ty to post some bass clips ASAP

[Mr. Foxen]

Even though I spend all my time talking about amp, guitars and basses is supposed to be what I do. Accumulated parts just condensed into this:



Needs a better bridge, saddles on that one are loose as fuck.

Also, this is what has been taking all my time of late: http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/lca/#cat_linder

Bass tuned to a 16hz C that works acoustically, the bit about it being inaudible is BS though and I told them to remove it, fundamentals are pretty irrelevant to the output of string instruments. Actually, we mostly used it detuned a tone, because Doom.

[dunwichamps]

[dunwichamps]

[xayk]

I just want to belong. Baldwin Burns Buzzaround-Alike.  The red knobs were all I had around, but I kinda like how McDonald'sy they look.

[The Shocker]

Is it a compliment or jank when somebody clones a boutique pedal?

Pharaoh clone:





http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110918720975&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

[dunwichamps]

Its a dickhead move when you sell it like this, using BATs name to sell it.

[VOLVO)))]

What a rats nest piece of shit.

[xayk]

What a rats nest piece of shit.

First thought.

[James1214]

Its a dickhead move when you sell it like this, using BATs name to sell it.

this. its one thing to make a clone, its another thing to sell a clone but the worst thing is using a companies name and image to sell a copy of their work without immediately making clear what's up. the proper way for that dude to have titled his listing would be "hand built fuzz pedal inspired by circuitry in the Pharaoh Fuzz by BAT" or something similar. You list what it IS before you list what it ISN'T.

[dunwichamps]

oh yea, we all make clones of stuff to certain degree, (FAC OFF -> modded up Meathead) but id be a fuckin dick to use DAMs name to sell my shit. fuckin super annoying.

[bitter]

I've always been a supporter of clone "stuff", whether musical or not. A lot of times, clones are more affordable and can have features that improve on the original. A good example would be all of the wonderful Marshall killers and big muff variants that have come out. Proper clones should strike out against "evil" manufacturers and support the every-man, like a good revolutionary insurgency, not as a dick move to make some coin.

Marshall, Gibson, DAM = "evil"

BAT = not evil

[VOLVO)))]

Im finna break his kneecaps.

[moose23]

I've always been a supporter of clone "stuff", whether musical or not. A lot of times, clones are more affordable and can have features that improve on the original. A good example would be all of the wonderful Marshall killers and big muff variants that have come out. Proper clones should strike out against "evil" manufacturers and support the every-man, like a good revolutionary insurgency, not as a dick move to make some coin.

Marshall, Gibson, DAM = "evil"

BAT = not evil

How'd you get to calling DAM evil? Two person operation hand building pedals sounds like a every-man stuff to me. Waiting lists may be long but the regular prices are pretty spot on imo.

Agree with pretty much everything Dunwich said already, tweaks and improvements is pretty much the name of the game these days but using someone else's name/brand to sell your replica is bullshit.

[James1214]

so i put this up in my cigar box guitar thread, bit i figured it can go here, too.

this is a 24 inch scale E string diddely bow, with a maple/red oak neck, and a piezo pickup. It really was a proof of concept and i learned a bunch, overall i am super happy with it, a ripping little one stringer, really fun to play. i am also amazed with how approachable and non threatening if an instrument it is, friends who are not musicians have picked it up and fucked around and have a good time and even made some music. i am gonna do a little video this weekend and will put it up here if anyone is interested in how it sounds.

working on #2 at the moment, a 4 string, maple neck, will be tuned to G with a 24 inch scale, piezo pickup with at least a volume control. will be for Dr Zayus. i am taking a lot of what i learned on #1 and refining it. will have pics soon.

planning #3, i'm thinking a 2 string, 30 inch scale bass to play with a slide a-la mark sandman, will have a pickup

also if anyone is interested i am willing to do a custom job, please inquire if interested, no idea dumb or out of the question.

[AgentofOblivion]

FYI:  I recently put down money for a custom building to make me an amp.  His company is Stonecutter and he's a fan of stoner rock/doom stuff.  A local (St. Louis) heavy doom band Fister uses one of his.  I also got to try one out when he brought a couple along to a recording studio's open house.  Anyhoo, I'll be reviewing it for anyone interested.  I should have it in 1.5-2 months.

Specs:

Around 40 watts.  2 6L6s.  EQ defeat switch for a gain boost.  Negative feedback knob to control responsiveness.  External bias measuring points.  Two easily accessible bias pots so can independently adjust each tube and therefore use unmatched tubes.  Parallel tube FX loop with send/return levels and wet/dry knob.   

[dunwichamps]

make sure u get a tap to measure B+, and cathode current or those external bias adjusts wont do you much good.

[AgentofOblivion]

This will be a fixed bias amp.  Does that change anything you mentioned?  If not, do you care to expand on why you suggested that?  I'm not sure of his circuit design, but I recall seeing people put 1 Ohm resistors in the relevant spots on Fender Deluxe Reverbs so that a voltage measurement equates to the bias current.  Couldn't this be the same principal? 

[dunwichamps]

This will be a fixed bias amp.  Does that change anything you mentioned?  If not, do you care to expand on why you suggested that?  I'm not sure of his circuit design, but I recall seeing people put 1 Ohm resistors in the relevant spots on Fender Deluxe Reverbs so that a voltage measurement equates to the bias current.  Couldn't this be the same principal?  

Yea you need 1R, 1% (or less) 2W or so metal film resistors from pin 8 to ground on each power tube to measure the cathode current, along with the plate voltage to properly bias shit. Id recommend having him put in 5 taps on your output along with 2 bias knobs. 2 taps for the cathode current measurement, 2 ground taps, 1 tap for the plate voltage. You should have him divide the plate voltage from Volts to mV by using a 1M/1K voltage divider (again using 1-2W 1% MF resistors) and send the plate voltage to the back panel but converted to mV. So say 450V is the plate voltage, ur meter would read 450mV so theres not risk of potential shock.

something like this

[Mr. Foxen]

Isn't an eq defeat give something like 20-40db of gain suddenly? That's quite a lot, tone stack losses are big.

"Fixed bias" just means the sort of amp that needs bias adjusted, as opposed to cathode/self bias which sorts itself out.

[dunwichamps]

Isn't an eq defeat give something like 20-40db of gain suddenly? That's quite a lot, tone stack losses are big.

"Fixed bias" just means the sort of amp that needs bias adjusted, as opposed to cathode/self bias which sorts itself out.

it would be ~10 db gain for a cathode follower driven FMV, ~10-20 db gain for a plate driven FMV, ~25 db gain for a plate driven James/Bax. You can still have adjustable cathode biased amps, but its not often done.

[AgentofOblivion]

This will be a fixed bias amp.  Does that change anything you mentioned?  If not, do you care to expand on why you suggested that?  I'm not sure of his circuit design, but I recall seeing people put 1 Ohm resistors in the relevant spots on Fender Deluxe Reverbs so that a voltage measurement equates to the bias current.  Couldn't this be the same principal?  

Yea you need 1R, 1% (or less) 2W or so metal film resistors from pin 8 to ground on each power tube to measure the cathode current, along with the plate voltage to properly bias shit. Id recommend having him put in 5 taps on your output along with 2 bias knobs. 2 taps for the cathode current measurement, 2 ground taps, 1 tap for the plate voltage. You should have him divide the plate voltage from Volts to mV by using a 1M/1K voltage divider (again using 1-2W 1% MF resistors) and send the plate voltage to the back panel but converted to mV. So say 450V is the plate voltage, ur meter would read 450mV so theres not risk of potential shock.

something like this

Why would you want two grounds and why a B+?  And why did you suggest it won't be much good without them?

[dunwichamps]

2 grounds for 2 meters. In order to bias an amp you need to know B+, cathode current, and have bias adjust. Otherwise u cant do it.

You will have to open up the amp without those to measure cathode current and plate voltage. If so then why bother with external bias adjustments.