Good set there - do you know what became of the old Schematic Heaven site?  That one had a massive archive of all kids of schematics and some were for some vintage tube gear but also solid state stuff.  Was there an archive for it somewhere that someone had stashed away some of that stuff?  What a shame to lose a resource like that. 

Jim

Found some more:

http://blueguitar.org/schems.htm

http://www.about-guitar-amps.com/free_guitar_amplifier_schematics.html

Mostly tube:

http://www.guitarnucleus.com/gnstore/schematics.html

Lots of them here: 

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schempage.php?cat=1

Jim

Here's one I ran across and it seems like there's a bunch of stuff there:

http://www.schematics.ca/

There was SchematicHeaven but last I checked it was gone.  Anyone know if that stuff is out there on the WEBS anywhere as an archive or something. 

Unless there's another thread for Misc Schematics I guess this is as good as any if anyone runs across any sites that fit the bill. 

Thanks,

Jim

Ok more clips:  All of them are from Krister Sundstrom. 

http://soundcloud.com/spudjds/sets/lxh2-1/

Jim

Hey, I remember those plans.  Cool project.  Very nice clips.  I was fascinated with this project when i saw it back in 06.  I had saved a bunch of his (Krister Sundstrom) stuff.  This is Marshall stuff but I also have the Fender stuff somewhere too. 

I have more clips but will need to post them elsewhere and link because they are pretty large.  (The clips are not me, I just saved them from the original developer's page (Kirster Sundstrom) and posted them here as that page is no longer available.)

Jim

Thanks for all the great input guys.

JM - Yeah, you'd think there would dozens of them but I've looked on Craigslist and hadn't seen much.  I'll have to be more diligent and check more often.  As far as garage sales, I hadn't considered that but might give it a try.  I suppose they're listed on Craigslist as well.  I was also thinking about the old Pawn shop - I managed to get a decent dual Sony cassette deck there for $50.- a while back when mine died on me.  It was in perfect shape and still works great. 

Mex - I was working along those lines too - I finally figured out that the way the amp is designed, with all the distortion coming from the pre-amp on the OD channel (using the tube and clipping LEDs), my sound is way fuller if I run on the clean channel and use by old Boss OD pedal.  I do that mostly now but every once in while I need some real massive OD and what I've found is that I can do pretty good if I turn down the dist on the amp and run my OD with minimal OD (just starting to break up) I can get some pretty nice thick lead tones out it that way, thicker than before.  I think the amp's natural distortion starts to sound thin when you really turn up the volume - it sound great a lower volume but as you turn it up, it gets shrill and thin - even with lots of mid and bass and little treble.  Getting the dist lower preserves more of the punch and doesn't thin it out so much.  I have another dist pedal that I need to experiment with more to try an use that as well to see how that works. 

QReuCk - I've seen that EQ but I'm looking for super cheap so it's kind of outside my price range at the moment.  Thanks for the suggestion though.  Your setup ideas are right on though and I'm already on to some of that in my experiments with my amp and the pedals I have.  My pedal board is pretty limited (in order) is: Cry baby Wah (the "original" one), Delta Lab Rock Dist (cheap dirt pedal), Boss OD-1, Washburn Chorus, Boss TU-3 tuner.  Oh, I'm also using a A-B switch now to switch between my Strat to Ibanez - just quicker/easier/cleaner than un-plugging/plugging to switch guitars. 

One thing is that I've been kind of limited in what I can do experimentation wise because my is over at the drummer's house - I have to arrive early to rehearsal to try out different set ups.  But I think I'll drag that thing home next time and work with it here with various set ups to nail this down once and for all.  At home I've been using one of the tube amps I've built - the AX-84 HO and my Jet City 16 ohm cab.  I really like to play the HO at home but it's just not loud enough to play with the the band.  I tried it once and it was just not quite loud enough - everyone kept saying that I needed to turn it up. 

About the AX-84 HO amp: It's a singled ended amp with a "hot rodded" Marshal pre-amp.  It can run a EL84 or 6V6 to max output: about 5-7 watts.  It can also run other Octals: EL34 or 6L6 too but those it won't push to the max due to PT voltage/current ratings - it gets about 10 or so watts out of one of those where it should be closer to 15 or more - some folks run the larger 5881/6550 or KT-66 or even KT-88 for up to 12 watts or so (but I figured if I can't get the max output, I'll just stick with my EL34 or 6L6).  The PT only puts out ~290V at ~70ma.  The output tube is run between 250v for the EL84 and 280v for the Octals.  The PT's current capacity is really the limiting factor because I can't bias the output tube to more than 60-63mA because there are 2 12AX7 pre-amp tubes - it starts sagging and stealing current from the pre-amp if I set the bias higher than 63mA or so.  At these voltages you'd have to bias the EL34 at over 80mA to get max output, the larger tubes would be even higher - inverse voltage/current relationship - higher voltages would require less current.  Typically I run the larger Octals around 60ma and the 6V6 much lower, 40-45mA or so and the EL84 sub-40mA.  It has a bias pot/circuit on it to set the bias for the different tubes - a monster pot with a locking nut on the shaft which only takes a screwdriver to turn.  I built it back in 2006 from a kit I got from Doberman Amps (the retail side of AX84 - the amp building forum).  I have pics of it if your interested. 

Again, thanks for all the ideas,

Jim

Phil,

Still messing around with this although I've gotten a better sound by working the eq and pedals I have now.  But i haven't abandoned your eq approach - just looking for an eq that will meet the needs and is priced right.  For some reason they are all pretty pricey around here (Wash DC/N VA area).  I'd like to find a stereo one that I can re-purpose and have the advantage of using the L/R as 2 alternate eq channels - sound familiar? 

I decided to look at speakers since I'll be getting a 16 ohm as the internal speaker for the Marshall.  When I found the comparisons, I decided to compile them and post here.  Also WGS speakers look like a great alternative and from I've seen on YouTube and other places compare well to the Celestians, as much as you can get from YouTube vids.

I've also been looking at just running clean and doing all my overdrive from pedals.  I'm seriously considering the Valvecaster or one of its variants (as on DIYSTOMPBOXES and BeavisAudio). 

Jim

Joe,

I didn't create the comparisons but got the info from various sources and mapped them all out on one SS. 

I found this that mapped the Celestians with the Eminence models: 


http://thetoneking.com/wp/eminence-celestion-speaker-comparison-chart/


and this:

http://forums.peavey.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=6947&p=42694

also some more comparisons here.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/archive/index.php/t-124326.html

The WGS data I got from their site:

http://wgs4.com/sites/default/files/WGS2011.pdf

I didn't see anything that mapped Weber directly to Celestian like I found about the EMI's or WGS but it might be out on the web somewhere I just didn't do the correct search phrasing for it.  And to be fair there's the whole ToneTubby and Hellatone as other options but they are typically higher $ and I'm on a serious budget. 

One last thing is that I'm looking at replacing a speaker in a Marshall so I was focused on the Celestian comparison angle so I didn't even consider Jensens - which may be a fallacy in my thinking but in my mind Jensen is more for Fender type amps.

Jim

Ok - so an update is in order.  We haven't played in a while so nothing new on the amp and cab front.  What I've been doing is looking for a new speaker for the guitar amp.  So far I think I'm going with the Warehouse Guitar Speaker (WGS) Retro 30 or the HM-75.  Here's a comparison I've compiled.  Some of the data is from other comparison charts but I just put it all into one (rather than 2 or 3).  The pricing is from the web (Amazon and Parts Express) but the WGS prices are from them direct.  Note that the WH (Plus) column is Warehouse Plus models.  These are enhanced models that map back to previous versions under the "Warehouse" column. 

Anyway, I'll post the links of the comparison Vids if anyone is interested. 

Jim

Thanks for a really good list - some I'd seen before but many I hadn't. 

A few other books that are getting a lot of mention on the tube amp sites are the series (well 2 so far) by Merlin Blencowe:

http://www.freewebs.com/valvewizard/

Apparently several of the articles on his website are early versions of chapters in his books so you can check out what his books are about and how he writes - to me, very clearly - for free.  Just thought I'd mention it as you had several books from some of the tube amp "big guns" and Merlin's books are pretty and really great too.

Jim

Well there are several places that are good to buy speakers and it depends on what your looking for.  Weber sells some great guitar amp speakers.  So does Warehouse Speakers.  PartsExpress has a bunch of various types and they seem to cover PA and Audio stuff pretty well to include pro-sound stuff.  Plus if your building cabs, they have all the other parts as well.  I've ordered from them and they are competitive and they have great sales and ship very quickly.  I've also dealt with Weber and they have competitive prices but they're shipping is spotty - if they have it  in stock no problem, speakers may or may not be in stock so it may take a while - just depends with them.  I've not ordered from Warehouse but I'm going to get one of them, just have to make up my mind!   

https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/

http://wgs4.com/home

http://www.parts-express.com/speakers.cfm

Jim

If you have a Rat Shack nearby, they sell a few products that might fit your needs.  I used something they sell called "Control Contact Cleaner and Lubricant" - it says it's safe on "most" plastics.  I used it for a scratchy pot - cleared it right up no issues.  It was "RadioShack" brand but IIRC they had the DEOXIT stuff also. 

Just a thought as it might be quicker than ordering it on-line. 

Jim

+1 on what Phatt said -

I know your were leaning toward discrete components but really, go with LM3886 (or something similar) and say you "rationalized" it as being the most efficient, cheapest, least complex way to build the power amp - get some project points there.   :tu:

Like he said, focus on the pre-amp to get that right and pop in the LM3886 (with appropriate power supply) and away you go!

Jim

Yes, indeed - found some at Mouser.  Not bad prices. 

Thanks for the help,

Jim

Erokit,

Yes, I checked out the link it's talking primarily about sensitivity and doesn't address the wattage issue I'm talking about.  I'm purely talking about the idea that your speaker should have a rating of double the RMS rating of the amp.  Even better would be double the max output (but then we'd all have to get full stacks.)     But if both speakers are the same sensitivity, why would you want to risk blowing out the speaker by using one with half the power handling?  Really power rating of the speaker is only to ensure that your speaker won't be fried by the output of the amp.  However, there are lots of examples of manufacturers putting barely adequately rated speakers in their gear.  My Marshall amp came with an Eminence OEM speaker rated at 80w - I consider it to be low in terms of power handling as the amp is a 80w amp.  That's based on my rule of thumb being speaker power rating should be double the amps output rating.  It's a SS (MOSFET) output stage & hybrid pre-amp.  So I would consider a 150-160 watt speaker to be the "proper stock equipment" for this amplifier but obviously that would have cost Marshall more so they opted for the "barely adequate" IMO.  For example, if I were to crank it to the max (which I have never done, BTW) I would probably blow the stock Eminence speaker - hit a E power chord or do a Pete Towsend windmill on one!     I bet that would kill it if not seriously damage it.   

Recently I started using a ext cab built by Jet City (Soldano "entry level" line) that has a 75w "Eminence built for Jet City" in it - it's rated at 16 ohm.  Using the calculations from my other thread, it works out that the output is about 50w due to the increased load.  First, it sounds way better and comparable in terms of volume so it must have a little better sensitivity considering it's higher impedance (16 vs 8 ohms of the stock spkr).  I had expected it to cut more of the volume but due to (what I suspect is) the slight increase in sensitivity (I have no specs on this speaker), I'm getting pretty close to the same output volume at the same knob setting.  I'm using it because I don't want to shell out for more gear at this point in time and I'm making do - otherwise, I'd get a higher sensitivity speaker rated similarly or maybe even higher - I think that would give me even more volume and a safer operational buffer (at 100 or 120w power handling).  I'd get 16 ohms since that lowers the effective output the amp but coupled with even more sensitive speakers would give me better volume (slightly). 

Jim