Solid State Guitar Amp Forum | DIY Guitar Amplifiers

Solid State Amplifiers => Amplifier Discussion => Topic started by: Giulio on December 23, 2013, 01:04:28 PM

Title: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: Giulio on December 23, 2013, 01:04:28 PM
Yamaha 1280 solid state guitar amp with tube pre section ...Help me, i need schematic diagram or manual service. 
:dbtu:

Thanks
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: J M Fahey on December 23, 2013, 02:25:23 PM
Mystery amp, not even Yamaha mentions it in its own page.
What kind of problem do you have with it?
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: teemuk on December 23, 2013, 03:47:53 PM
QuoteMystery amp, not even Yamaha mentions it in its own page.

Yamaha has plenty of mystery amps in their sleeve.

Evidently they made a whole series of these hybrid amps in Italy.

Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: Giulio on December 24, 2013, 04:54:18 AM
Thanks for answers.
  I would like to make changes to the preamp to get a warmer sound.
In origin it is very harsh and metallic. (the tube is ok)
I tested an external preamplifier and the sound improves. direct entry into the "return"

http://en.audiofanzine.com/guitar-combo-amplifier/yamaha/1280r-tube-80w/medias/pictures/a.play,m.716654.html

http://en.audiofanzine.com/guitar-combo-amplifier/yamaha/1280r-tube-80w/medias/pictures/a.play,m.641318.html
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: Roly on December 24, 2013, 06:07:27 AM
Hi Giulio, welcome.


What is the valve/tube type in the preamp?

If it's a 12AX7 then there are several other twin triodes which are plug in substitutes with less gain that may make it sound less harsh, 12AT7, 12AY7, and the lowest 12AU7.  YMMV.
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: Giulio on December 25, 2013, 05:52:55 PM
Hi Roly, Thank you!
Original is a 12ax7w I tried with different types of valve-tube.
noticed a change in volume, but the sound as transistors poor cheapest.  :-\

This amp model TU1280r has been proposed to the European market, probably in the U.S. is a different model code
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: J M Fahey on December 26, 2013, 06:16:30 PM
Maybe the best bet is to build an external preamp, Tube or SS, either inside a rack type cabinet or housed in a "big pedal" enclosure.
*There are* "pedals" which are actually preamps, such as MB VTwin and even Marshall Guv'nor/ShredMaster/Jackhammer "Distortion Pedals" which are actually a full preamp (some even have their own effects loop, go figure)
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: Giulio on December 28, 2013, 03:24:03 PM
Yes, at the moment the best thing is to use an external preamp, but it is not convenient  :-\
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: J M Fahey on December 29, 2013, 04:32:35 AM
Well, then you'll have to grab pencil, paper, a good light, and start drawing the schematic yourself :(
That's how all those "mystery amp/pedal" schematics eventually appear on Internet.
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: teemuk on December 29, 2013, 05:25:05 AM
And of course an obvious question is: has Yamaha been contacted yet?

If they are not willing to share shcematics then it's pencil and paper time.
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: Giulio on December 31, 2013, 09:48:20 AM
Yamaha has advised me to contact the service center. :trouble
But in fact it is not a fault but a natural characteristic of this amplifier.
A design schematic ? (the only pre-amp) .... I'll see you next year :cheesy:
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: Roly on December 31, 2013, 10:46:06 AM
 Keep plugging at them until you get it.   :trouble  :dbtu:
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: J M Fahey on January 01, 2014, 11:06:32 AM
FWIW I don't think there's much room for "improvement" there, if any at all.
Yamaha are not fools or beginners, I bet they *already* got the best sound they could .... for that configuration anyway.
But it's probably, from what can be seen, a "Marshall Valvestate type" amplifier, a full SS amplifier with , at best, a lonely small tube thrown in for distortion ... and that's not enough for what I guess you want.
Don't expect miracles  :(
Usually most what can be done is to, say, add a small capacitor, killing some highs to make it *somewhat* less harsh ... usually making sound dull in the process .... or cutting some lows before distortion so it's less farty, or finding some stage where there's a little extra gain still unused, to give it a little more sustain (this alone opens a new can of worms).
All small tweaks, but which won't radically turn it into something else.
I repeat, Yamaha know their stuff, I bet it already sounds as good as it can, or very close to it.
And by the way, I don't think it sounds *that* bad, play it loud and most of the little problems disappear.
Now, at lower volume in a bedroom or something, yes, most amps (even a few good ones), sound buzzy and harsh.
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: J M Fahey on January 01, 2014, 11:14:50 AM
Hey !!! Just found this:
http://youtu.be/zBjsitYZGG4
It sounds VERY good !!!!!!!  (as I suspected).
You just need a good distortion pedal (your choice) .
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: Giulio on January 06, 2014, 02:08:33 PM
To be or not to be this is problem,
the sound is   :duh  "acid" in clean channel... in lead channel, the "distortion" is without bass tone, 4-5-6th strings is same "sounding" of 1-2-3th-strings  :'(
Title: Re: Yamaha 1280r need schematic diagram
Post by: J M Fahey on January 06, 2014, 09:37:27 PM
The sound you describe is so much like what a Valvestate 8080 would sound like, that I fear it's just a straight clone, or at least *very* close.
Given that your amp works, the problem is one of taste, and it's practically impossible somebody can mod it to your liking, doubly so without schematic and not being able to hear it.
As of the lack of bass you notice, it's a normal design decision to minimize farting and very dirty and muddy distortion.

So in a nutshell:

1) if it were burnt/shorted, maybe we could help you detect and replace shorted power transistors, open emitter resistors, blown rectifiers, etc., which is what you'd probably find there ... but , best case, it would sound exactly as before.

2) if you don't like its sound, well, if neither Yamaha nor Marshall could make them sound the way you like, what can *we* do?

3) I insist on you making an external preamp is the only practical solution.
Name an 80W , 1 x 12"Celestion speaker SS amp you like and *maybe* we can help you clone its preamp.