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Which preamp to match 2xEL84 class A ?

9/8/1997 10:00 AM
Niek	Which preamp to match 2xEL84 class A ? Hello, Last month I've finished my DIY project (3xECC83, 2xEL84) Power amp: Class A cathode biased 2xEL84 power amp with a cathodyene (1/2 ECC83) phase splitter. Circuit copied from a Crate VC2110. Preamp: Tweed Fender Bassman cathode follower preamp. The output level of the preamp was too high, I reduced the output by changinging the anode/cathode resistors and a voltage divider after the tone stack. Tremolo: Single stage (1/2 ECC83), copied from a Gibson Hawk. This amp sounded fine, especially with my Telecaster. You can get a really good blues sound with just a little tremolo and the power amp cranked halfway. I'd like to built another amp like this, but with a different preamp. I would like to get a really bright old Fender tone, with lots of compression when pushed up. The amp I've built sounds cool played semi-clean but pushed up the sound is al little too flat and bassy and I think it's beacause of the preamp. Can anybody suggest a nice preamp? I was thinking about a Blackface preamp. Does anybody have experiece with this combination? What is your opinion on single (cathodyene) and double stage (VOX, Marshall) phase splitters ? I tend to think the single stage splitter lacks headroom. But I guess I don't think I really need the amplification of a double stage splitter in a 2xEL84 setup. I'd also like to build a tremolo for this amp. I was thinking of copying the trem from the Tremolux with EL84's. Does anybody have experiece with this combination/amp? Thanks, Niek (The Netherlands)

9/8/1997 10:00 AM

Niek

Which preamp to match 2xEL84 class A ?

Hello,

Last month I've finished my DIY project (3xECC83, 2xEL84)
Power amp: Class A cathode biased 2xEL84 power amp with a cathodyene (1/2 ECC83) phase splitter. Circuit copied from a Crate VC2110.
Preamp: Tweed Fender Bassman cathode follower preamp. The output level of the preamp was too high, I reduced the output by changinging the anode/cathode resistors and a voltage divider after the tone stack.
Tremolo: Single stage (1/2 ECC83), copied from a Gibson Hawk.

This amp sounded fine, especially with my Telecaster. You can get a really good blues sound with just a little tremolo and the power amp cranked halfway.

I'd like to built another amp like this, but with a different preamp. I would like to get a really bright old Fender tone, with lots of compression when pushed up. The amp I've built sounds cool played semi-clean but pushed up the sound is al little too flat and bassy and I think it's beacause of the preamp.

Can anybody suggest a nice preamp? I was thinking about a Blackface preamp. Does anybody have experiece with this combination?

What is your opinion on single (cathodyene) and double stage (VOX, Marshall) phase splitters ? I tend to think the single stage splitter lacks headroom. But I guess I don't think I really need the amplification of a double stage splitter in a 2xEL84 setup.

I'd also like to build a tremolo for this amp. I was thinking of copying the trem from the Tremolux with EL84's. Does anybody have experiece with this combination/amp?

Thanks, Niek (The Netherlands)

Replies:

Roger Hey Niek,Congrats on your f... -- 9/10/1997 8:36 PM
eth Sounds like a cool project. As far ... -- 9/24/1997 8:56 AM
M Helin It's maybe the cathode-biasing that... -- 9/24/1997 9:44 AM