Solid State Guitar Amp Forum | DIY Guitar Amplifiers

Solid State Amplifiers => The Newcomer's Forum => Topic started by: kevinrontel on February 09, 2010, 09:57:43 PM

Title: Is it possible fatten the bottom end of my Vox Berkeley III?
Post by: kevinrontel on February 09, 2010, 09:57:43 PM
I'm playing a late-sixties Vox Berkeley III solid state amp and it sounds terrific and I love it. 

Except I want more bottom end.  Would it be realistic for either me--who has built a few guitar pedals--or a qualified amp tech to swap out some caps here and there and open up the bass? 

Or should I let this amp be what it is and look elsewhere for my fat bottom?
Title: Re: Is it possible fatten the bottom end of my Vox Berkeley III?
Post by: J M Fahey on February 10, 2010, 03:39:11 AM
I agree it can sound terrific, but I think that "electronically" increasing bass may very probably turn that gorgeous sound into mud.
Plug it into a larger 2x12" closed back box.
Title: Re: Is it possible fatten the bottom end of my Vox Berkeley III?
Post by: kevinrontel on February 10, 2010, 11:12:25 PM
Thanks, J.M.  That's precisely the kind of sensible advice I was hoping to get here.  A closed-back cabinet sounds (hopefully literally) a million times better than going crazy with the soldering iron.

At the moment, I'm playing in a guitar/drums rock and roll duo so I need to compensate as much as possible for the absence of a bass guitar.

Title: Re: Is it possible fatten the bottom end of my Vox Berkeley III?
Post by: joecool85 on February 11, 2010, 08:22:41 AM
I'm with Juan, first try a different cab.  But, if with a good 2 x 12" it doesn't sound bassy enough for you, you can tweak the capacitors in the preamp to allow more bass through.
Title: Re: Is it possible fatten the bottom end of my Vox Berkeley III?
Post by: kevinrontel on February 15, 2010, 04:40:40 PM
After a little crude experimentation, I slapped backs on three speaker cabinets I've recently built and, while I will probably make some refinements as I do more research, the bottom end of the amp has gotten much more pronounced. 

Advice:  Taken.

Results:  Excellent.