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First off, a big hello to everyone! I've been sifting through the forum for a while now, pointed this direction by JamesO, lots of great info to be found!
Quick bit of background: I'm a guitar maker and player, neither professionally, although I like to think I'm a better builder than I am a player. I tend to spend more time building than playing, anyway, so here's hoping that's true! Thing is, making things makes you see other things and decide you can probably make those too, and when someone like James posts a completed, very pretty amp in a guitar making forum, someone like me gets ideas.
Long story short: I just paid Stephen for a TC-15 kit + transformer set + set of tubes. It'll be a while arriving, as I'm having it shipped ground to the Netherlands, which gives me time to polish up my schematic reading skills, peruse the basic amp book I've got to try and understand what's going on, etc.
Now, I'm thinking of making a few modifications to the 'standard' amp kit. Let's start with what I suspect is fairly simple:
- pentode/triode switch for the EF86 preamp tube, as found on the Vox AC-15 heritage handwired series. Briefly tried one out, and I really liked the 'cleanup' that provided.
- Pentode/triode / Half power switch for the amp overall. Again, Heritage Handwired. 15 watts is still frighteningly loud, and sometimes I don't want to kill the neighbours.
Anyone done this? Anything to keep in mind/tips for wiring it up properly (ie, cable runs, layout, that sort of thing)
Now the slightly more complex: I don't use much in the way of effects, but I do like my reverb. A fully buffered, parallel effects loop would be ideal, but seems a little much to bite off. On the other hand, how about a proper tube driven reverb, with an accutronics 3 spring long delay tank? Not sure which circuit diagram to study/steal from, and I'll certainly be posting an adjusted schematic for the experts to critique when I have it sorted out. I've read several discussions about 'foldback' reverb, and I'd be very curious to hear any clips recorded with it, because I think it's not going to be quite as rich as I'd like it to be. I mean, I 'grew up' on a solid state fender 112 deluxe, which for all its boring sterility does have that nice, rich, fendery reverb. No character or distortion that doesn't make you want to pull out your hair, but still. The reverb on my Rivera TBR, by comparison, is weak.
So, what do folks think of feasibility? In terms of controls (I'm going for a head+cab, so extra controls on the back panel), a simple one knob or two knob design?
Finally, cab design. Seeing as I have large stacks of tonewoods, and good relationships with my local wood yards (ie, I buy lots of their stock, they tend to give me discounts), I'm thinking I'll be going with a solid wood head and cab enclosure. Type to be determined, possibly white Limba or African Mahogany with maple and wenge trim. I've more or less settled on a 2x12", although not yet on the dimensions - will play the amp through some sample cabs at a store before deciding.
Re: speakers, I've got a bit of a dilemma. My slight preference is a Vox Blue + G12H (or just 2 Vox Blues), but that means I can't use the cab with my 60 watt Rivera. I can't find the specs on the Tone Tubbys, but can they handle 60 watts of tube in a 2x12? Website's thin on specifics...
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