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Input wanted on a new amp design

6/16/1999 12:22 PM
Carl	Input wanted on a new amp design Howdy Ya'all I'm hoping to get some input from all you guys on an amplifier I've been working on over here that I'm trying to get to the marketplace. It's just about done and it's in the final test and tweak stages. I'm asking everybody to check out the Amp Project section of my website and stick your two cents in on the design elements with regard to features, visual appearance, and overall tone. I'm looking for comments and suggestions; good, bad or indifferent on virtually every aspect of what I have posted so far. The sound samples aren't perfect by a long shot but I'll be posting more and better ones probably within the next week. Here the link to the site http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/1655/ Thanks in advance for all your help and suggestions. Regards; Carl Summit Amps

6/16/1999 12:22 PM

Carl

Input wanted on a new amp design

Howdy Ya'all

I'm hoping to get some input from all you guys on an amplifier I've been working on over here that I'm trying to get to the marketplace. It's just about done and it's in the final test and tweak stages. I'm asking everybody to check out the Amp Project section of my website and stick your two cents in on the design elements with regard to features, visual appearance, and overall tone. I'm looking for comments and suggestions; good, bad or indifferent on virtually every aspect of what I have posted so far. The sound samples aren't perfect by a long shot but I'll be posting more and better ones probably within the next week. Here the link to the site

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/1655/

Thanks in advance for all your help and suggestions.

Regards;

Carl

Summit Amps

6/16/1999 12:51 PM
Mook	I'll take the first stab at this: 1) I'd go for Modern cosmetics as opposed to the Vintage/Tweed look. Separate yourself from the Fender Clones. Fill the gap that Matchless has left. Seems like your amp is more Modern than vintage, so I'll base the rest of my comments on that assumption.... 2) Add a 16 ohm OT tap. 3) Some might like reverb as an option. Consider that. 4) The clean sounds seems nice and loushious (sp?). They sound good, so I wouldn't touch them. 5) Consider a "voltage dropping" switch for 6V6s. 6) Re-record Hotdog with an LP. I'd like to hear that, before I can give comments on the mild overdrive sound. 7) Also, re-record Sandman. I thought this was the worst soundfile, cause it sounded the LEAST like the real recording. Seems like the recording needed more distortion, scouped mids, and a tighter bottom. Hmmmm, seems like my wife could use this as well..... Can you get more "drive" out of the amp. I'd like to hear that, before I can give comments on the "over-the-top" overdrive sound. Mook

6/16/1999 12:51 PM

Mook

I'll take the first stab at this:

1) I'd go for Modern cosmetics as opposed to the Vintage/Tweed look. Separate yourself from the Fender Clones. Fill the gap that Matchless has left. Seems like your amp is more Modern than vintage, so I'll base the rest of my comments on that assumption....

2) Add a 16 ohm OT tap.

3) Some might like reverb as an option. Consider that.

4) The clean sounds seems nice and loushious (sp?). They sound good, so I wouldn't touch them.

5) Consider a "voltage dropping" switch for 6V6s.

6) Re-record Hotdog with an LP. I'd like to hear that, before I can give comments on the mild overdrive sound.

7) Also, re-record Sandman. I thought this was the worst soundfile, cause it sounded the LEAST like the real recording. Seems like the recording needed more distortion, scouped mids, and a tighter bottom. Hmmmm, seems like my wife could use this as well..... Can you get more "drive" out of the amp. I'd like to hear that, before I can give comments on the "over-the-top" overdrive sound.

Mook

6/17/1999 4:56 AM
Carl	Howdy; One of the problems with Matchless is that they were really expensive. It may have been a large part of their undoing. I'm trying to stroke this in at about 1200 for the combo version. I'm still working on a reverb version. Getting it to sound good and retain the tonal qualities of the amp has been a major feat. Getting good reverb seems to be harder than getting good drive tones! A LOT harder!!!! Dropping switch for 6V6's? Now that's a thought! I'm working on getting into something of a real recording studio and cutting some really good sound samples. I'm shooting for this weekend hopefully, If I don't get tied up with some other garbage! I knew going in that the drive tones didn't come out too terrific. What's up there now is head and shoulders above the originals. I had tried them as real audio files and they really sounded horrible. There's a ton more drive available in the amp. Setting 3 is scalding hot. I personally prefer the second channel but having massive amounts of preamp gain is available should somebody want it. Thank's for the suggestions Mook Regards; Carl Summit Amps http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/1655/

6/17/1999 4:56 AM

Carl

Howdy;

One of the problems with Matchless is that they were really expensive. It may have been a large part of their undoing. I'm trying to stroke this in at about 1200 for the combo version.

I'm still working on a reverb version. Getting it to sound good and retain the tonal qualities of the amp has been a major feat. Getting good reverb seems to be harder than getting good drive tones! A LOT harder!!!!

Dropping switch for 6V6's? Now that's a thought!

I'm working on getting into something of a real recording studio and cutting some really good sound samples. I'm shooting for this weekend hopefully, If I don't get tied up with some other garbage!

I knew going in that the drive tones didn't come out too terrific. What's up there now is head and shoulders above the originals. I had tried them as real audio files and they really sounded horrible.

There's a ton more drive available in the amp. Setting 3 is scalding hot. I personally prefer the second channel but having massive amounts of preamp gain is available should somebody want it.

Thank's for the suggestions Mook

Regards;

Carl

Summit Amps

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/1655/

6/17/1999 1:04 PM
Trace	Carl; Hey there! I'm glad things are forging ahead for you Carl! I'd like to hear the "newer" tones before I repeat my same comments on the older fikes you have. One thing I could mention is that ALOT of players like tons of bass and ALOT like tight bass. So this is usually a slight problem. (it's the whole Fender VS. Marshall issue) I'd borrow "you know who's" resonance knob so that you can appeal to both sides of the proverbial fence when it comes to loose or tight lowend. Someone can simply turn the knob until they are happy. I MUST tip my hat to the Mook-Man because a bias switch that allows you to run 6V6's is pretty damn cleaver! I may borrow that one later on Mook if you don't mind? I'd also go with the 50K midrange pot to have the flexibility there for those who like alot of mids and for those who don't care for mids much at all. As far the "look" is concerned...I'd go modern and skip the who vintage look here. Mook made a very valid point actually with going head to head with Fender and what not. Make it slick looking but no tover blown. Keep the lettering and numbering easy to read, etc. Those are a few suggestions and I hope I didn't repeat what someone else has already said. (where's my mourning coffee??) Trace

6/17/1999 1:04 PM

Trace

Carl;

Hey there! I'm glad things are forging ahead for you Carl! :-)

I'd like to hear the "newer" tones before I repeat my same comments on the older fikes you have.

One thing I could mention is that ALOT of players like tons of bass and ALOT like tight bass. So this is usually a slight problem. (it's the whole Fender VS. Marshall issue)

I'd borrow "you know who's" resonance knob so that you can appeal to both sides of the proverbial fence when it comes to loose or tight lowend. Someone can simply turn the knob until they are happy.

I MUST tip my hat to the Mook-Man because a bias switch that allows you to run 6V6's is pretty damn cleaver! I may borrow that one later on Mook if you don't mind?

I'd also go with the 50K midrange pot to have the flexibility there for those who like alot of mids and for those who don't care for mids much at all.

As far the "look" is concerned...I'd go modern and skip the who vintage look here. Mook made a very valid point actually with going head to head with Fender and what not. Make it slick looking but no tover blown. Keep the lettering and numbering easy to read, etc.

Those are a few suggestions and I hope I didn't repeat what someone else has already said. (where's my mourning coffee??)

Trace

6/18/1999 6:44 PM
Carl	Trace; I gotta tell you, there are days that I think I've bitten off way more than I can chew! This is no easy feat by any stretch. As for the recording, there's a few guys that have whipped up a really sweet mini-studio. The guy that runs it somehow has managed to snag several RCA ribbon mics from the 50's. I'm not really sure what the model #'s are but it sure would be nice to get an idea of how they sound. They're also using 2 Mackie consoles and are running into a 3/4" Alesis(I think) digital recorder and a Yamaha CD-R. If I can't get some good sound files from this setup I'm a lost cause in the recording arena. As for my personal taste in tone I'm something of a fan of amps with a nice fat bottom and a healthy amount of mids. But this isn't just going to be my personal amp so I need to put my own personal tastes on the back burner. Not real easy to do! I wouldn't even consider trying to butt heads with Fender or Marshall. That's a sure fire recipe for getting squashed. However going head to head with companies like Victoria are quite reasonable. So...do you prefer the idea of three switchable settings or a continuously variable one? Thanks for the suggestions Trace. BTW....do you still have the same phone #? Ciao 4 now Carl Summit Amps http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/1655/

6/18/1999 6:44 PM

Carl

Trace;

I gotta tell you, there are days that I think I've bitten off way more than I can chew! This is no easy feat by any stretch.

As for the recording, there's a few guys that have whipped up a really sweet mini-studio. The guy that runs it somehow has managed to snag several RCA ribbon mics from the 50's. I'm not really sure what the model #'s are but it sure would be nice to get an idea of how they sound. They're also using 2 Mackie consoles and are running into a 3/4" Alesis(I think) digital recorder and a Yamaha CD-R. If I can't get some good sound files from this setup I'm a lost cause in the recording arena.

As for my personal taste in tone I'm something of a fan of amps with a nice fat bottom and a healthy amount of mids. But this isn't just going to be my personal amp so I need to put my own personal tastes on the back burner. Not real easy to do!

I wouldn't even consider trying to butt heads with Fender or Marshall. That's a sure fire recipe for getting squashed. However going head to head with companies like Victoria are quite reasonable.

So...do you prefer the idea of three switchable settings or a continuously variable one?

Thanks for the suggestions Trace. BTW....do you still have the same phone #?

Ciao 4 now

Carl

Summit Amps

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Station/1655/

6/20/1999 1:17 PM
anonymous	~~~I gotta tell you, there are days that I think I've bitten off way more than I can chew! This is no easy feat by any stretch. @@@ Ayy Men Carl! I agree with you a 1000%. It's a hard road to travel and many simply hang up their hat halfway through the trip because there's so many road blocks. Keep charging ahead Carl! ~~~As for the recording, there's a few guys that have whipped up a really sweet mini-studio. The guy that runs it somehow has managed to snag several RCA ribbon mics from the 50's. I'm not really sure what the model #'s are but it sure would be nice to get an idea of how they sound. @@@ WOW! RCA ribbons rule!!! That's one lucky guy there. ~~~They're also using 2 Mackie consoles and are running into a 3/4" Alesis(I think) digital recorder and a Yamaha CD-R. If I can't get some good sound files from this setup I'm a lost cause in the recording arena. @@@ I'd be more than happy to help you in any way I can Carl. If you have more than one prototype I can take it into the studio I work at and record a few little ditties (ha, ha) Just hollar of you want to. ~~~As for my personal taste in tone I'm something of a fan of amps with a nice fat bottom and a healthy amount of mids. But this isn't just going to be my personal amp so I need to put my own personal tastes on the back burner. Not real easy to do! @@@ Not easy at all! It's a hard thing to do to be honest. When I tweak amps I always ask the owner to give me three tunes on a cassette that they want the amp to sound like. This has helped me tremendously with understanding where they are coming from! ~~~I wouldn't even consider trying to butt heads with Fender or Marshall. That's a sure fire recipe for getting squashed. @@@ I got ahead of myself in my reply Carl....I meant if you steared away from the Tweed look as Mook said it would better. This way you DON'T go head to head with those companies. Oppss ~~~However going head to head with companies like Victoria are quite reasonable. @@@ True enough! ~~~So...do you prefer the idea of three switchable settings or a continuously variable one? @@@ Well...personally I like the variable ones HOWEVER, I think that it would be best to run with 3-switchable ones. Many players seem to get lost when you give them too many tonal options. Did that make any sense? ~~~Thanks for the suggestions Trace. BTW....do you still have the same phone #? @@@ Actually no I don't since I moved to Ithaca...here's the number though --> 607-256-0465. You can also reach me at the studio if need be at --> 607-273-3931 Chow for now! Trace

6/20/1999 1:17 PM

anonymous

~~~I gotta tell you, there are days that I think I've bitten off way more than I can chew! This is no easy feat by any stretch.

@@@ Ayy Men Carl! I agree with you a 1000%. It's a hard road to travel and many simply hang up their hat halfway through the trip because there's so many road blocks. Keep charging ahead Carl! :-)

~~~As for the recording, there's a few guys that have whipped up a really sweet mini-studio. The guy that runs it somehow has managed to snag several RCA ribbon mics from the 50's. I'm not really sure what the model #'s are but it sure would be nice to get an idea of how they sound.

@@@ WOW! RCA ribbons rule!!! That's one lucky guy there.

~~~They're also using 2 Mackie consoles and are running into a 3/4" Alesis(I think) digital recorder and a Yamaha CD-R. If I can't get some good sound files from this setup I'm a lost cause in the recording arena.

@@@ I'd be more than happy to help you in any way I can Carl. If you have more than one prototype I can take it into the studio I work at and record a few little ditties (ha, ha) Just hollar of you want to.

~~~As for my personal taste in tone I'm something of a fan of amps with a nice fat bottom and a healthy amount of mids. But this isn't just going to be my personal amp so I need to put my own personal tastes on the back burner. Not real easy to do!

@@@ Not easy at all! It's a hard thing to do to be honest. When I tweak amps I always ask the owner to give me three tunes on a cassette that they want the amp to sound like. This has helped me tremendously with understanding where they are coming from!

~~~I wouldn't even consider trying to butt heads with Fender or Marshall. That's a sure fire recipe for getting squashed.

@@@ I got ahead of myself in my reply Carl....I meant if you steared away from the Tweed look as Mook said it would better. This way you DON'T go head to head with those companies. Oppss :-)

~~~However going head to head with companies like Victoria are quite reasonable.

@@@ True enough!

~~~So...do you prefer the idea of three switchable settings or a continuously variable one?

@@@ Well...personally I like the variable ones HOWEVER, I think that it would be best to run with 3-switchable ones. Many players seem to get lost when you give them too many tonal options. Did that make any sense?

~~~Thanks for the suggestions Trace. BTW....do you still have the same phone #?

@@@ Actually no I don't since I moved to Ithaca...here's the number though --> 607-256-0465. You can also reach me at the studio if need be at --> 607-273-3931

Chow for now!

Trace

6/22/1999 6:04 PM
Carl(B)	Hey, there's another "Carl" out here. Suppose it was just a matter of time (or merging of BBSs). I'm very much a hobbie guitar-amp-builder and ponderer of imponderables, and have this wistful wish to design and build amps full-time (but hey, who doesn't?) Whereas you have, and my hat is off-to-you. Anyway, I'll try to refer to myself as CarlB so as not confuse! Later, CarlB

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