Got myself a feature laden 90s young timer (NAD)

[hunter]

So I thought I'd share the news. Got this for reasonable money, in a bad state, but it works, I have retubed it and it's gotten MUCH better, actually it's become AWESOME!

My new baby is a '93 Ecstasy 100B. The famous first series where only 100 have been made. Some shop sells a mint one for 4999,-, (http://tonetoys.biz/vintagetoys.html) but I got mine for less than 1/3 of that.

It's pretty feature laden, here an overview:
-3 Channels, Channel 2 and 3 with a boost
-Optional Plexi Mode in Ch3
-3 position pre EQ on each channel
-Air switch in Ch 2/3
-Master Tight/Loose switch
-Footswitchable serial loop with 2 levels for send/return and fine adjustable loop send to match loop/dry
-Selectable Variac to bring down the voltage and make it more chewy (output -20%)
-Selectable Triode Mode (output -30%)
-Selectable to run on half power/two tubes (output -50%)
-So it can go from 100W to 50W to 25W to 7W
-Switchable internal dummy load that activates also automatically if no cab is connected
-Line outs with separate level per channel
-Plate voltage is 570V Surprised well, but who cares ...
-Tone, did I say TONE?

As mentioned, the amp is in a bad state:
-Front panel missing, Logo missing
-dirty looks
-Original tubes were so dead, 2 red plating power tubes, and it still had the first preamp tubes with Bogner print on them, crazy
-some dodgy cables in the inside that look like it has been tinkered with
-some of the fuse holders are falling apart

Things I did:
Pre- and Poweramp retube, bias adjust
Clean some stuff
Ordered new fuse holders and fuses

HOWEVER: despite all the mentioned quibbles, dodgy wires inside etc, after the retube (and I tried some different tubes in it) the thing now SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

It's in no way like a normal Ecstasy or the Shiva. Much more open. Amazing punch and touch dynamics. It needs to be turned up, I only cranked it for 20 seconds but there were some crazy hormons floating my blood stream when I did, it was beyond anything I played before. Searing, transparent, fat, three dimensional tone.

I think I got very lucky with this one!



Here are some first clips I made:

Some stuff in Plexi Mode and Blue Channel with the VariAC on:
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/i ... ttach=6613

Some first attempt to do some AIC kinda riffing:
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/i ... ttach=6614

Here are some pics:

 

[Digital Jams]

DAMN!!!! Killer find and extra points for playing some Nuge!!!

I am sure you can score some plates from Bogner considering the history of that amp

 

[stefvorcide]

AWESOME !!!!

 

[hunter]

I bought it from a guy who got it new in 94, when he was studying at Munich Guitar Institute. He then played 70 gigs a year with a cover/dance band. And his band mates always complained that it's too much up front in the mix.

He looked very sad when I went out of his house with it ...

I think you can see the heavy touring it's been through. Still, sounds great, that's all that counts. Let's see how reliable it will be. I think the amp is happy it can play some ROCK now!

 

[duesentrieb]

Yummy - RFT EL34s. Congrats. I know a guitar builder in germany with an XTC like this - Jörg Tandler (Morgaine).

 

[duesentrieb]

2/3 things:


if you retube it: measure the screen volts too - not all of todays EL34s will may handle it b/c the plate is already so high

the connectors off the PT look a bit "worn" - keep an eye on them . . .

 

[hunter]

2/3 things:


if you retube it: measure the screen volts too - not all of todays EL34s will may handle it b/c the plate is already so high

the connectors off the PT look a bit "worn" - keep an eye on them . . .

Ah those are RFTs?? They have no label except "R.O.S.A. Nova amp tested" and the rating 38mA. They are VERY well matched. The guy threw them in as the amp wasn't working when we tried it (re plating tubes). I pulled one of the two fuses and ran the amp in 50W to see if it works with the 2 proper tubes that were in. He had this quad lying around (bought them for the amp somewhere in the 90s but never used them) and gave them to me. So these are good ones?

I am not a pro tech. My Bias Rite says 570V and then when I turn the bias all the way down, I only get to 33-34 with this quad, not lower. I know it's too high and I might fry the tubes. There are two jumpered pins next to the bias pot, where it says "BIAS" on the PCB. Maybe this jumper can be capped to get more range? What do you think? I also put some Mullards in that were rated 39 (VHT matched, the stock ones from my 2502) and with those I could go as low as 23. But they didn't sound as good as these, and I don't think the New Sensor Mullards are spec'd for 600V plate voltage.

How do I measure screen volts and what would be good values for it? What do I do if I'm out? Visit you?

 

[guitarslinger]

Surprised nobody has commented on the ribbon cables and such.

 

[Digital Jams]

Surprised nobody has commented on the ribbon cables and such.

If it was made in china I would have been all over the guy

Wrong forum anyways for that stuff

I should have bought that 100B that Vai used

 

[duesentrieb]

2/3 things:


if you retube it: measure the screen volts too - not all of todays EL34s will may handle it b/c the plate is already so high

the connectors off the PT look a bit "worn" - keep an eye on them . . .

Ah those are RFTs?? They have no label except "R.O.S.A. Nova amp tested" and the rating 38mA. They are VERY well matched. The guy threw them in as the amp wasn't working when we tried it (re plating tubes). I pulled one of the two fuses and ran the amp in 50W to see if it works with the 2 proper tubes that were in. He had this quad lying around (bought them for the amp somewhere in the 90s but never used them) and gave them to me. So these are good ones?

I am not a pro tech. My Bias Rite says 570V and then when I turn the bias all the way down, I only get to 33-34 with this quad, not lower. I know it's too high and I might fry the tubes. There are two jumpered pins next to the bias pot, where it says "BIAS" on the PCB. Maybe this jumper can be capped to get more range? What do you think? I also put some Mullards in that were rated 39 (VHT matched, the stock ones from my 2502) and with those I could go as low as 23. But they didn't sound as good as these, and I don't think the New Sensor Mullards are spec'd for 600V plate voltage.

How do I measure screen volts and what would be good values for it? What do I do if I'm out? Visit you?

To read the screen volts you need to get a DMM, set it to 1000V DC, black to chassis, red to PIN 4. Should be in the >>500V area. Problem is, that most tubes of today won't be able to survive that for a long time - solution: NOS types (RFTs) or let a tech install some additional (fat ass) resistors to drop that down to 460-470V - then you could use at least Svet =C=s.
Don't worry - with those resistors the amps is less loud (lol), but still has the same sound. (I foresee a discussion about that coming )

Yes, those are RFTs. Typical dimple top.

 

[hunter]

2/3 things:


if you retube it: measure the screen volts too - not all of todays EL34s will may handle it b/c the plate is already so high

the connectors off the PT look a bit "worn" - keep an eye on them . . .

Ah those are RFTs?? They have no label except "R.O.S.A. Nova amp tested" and the rating 38mA. They are VERY well matched. The guy threw them in as the amp wasn't working when we tried it (re plating tubes). I pulled one of the two fuses and ran the amp in 50W to see if it works with the 2 proper tubes that were in. He had this quad lying around (bought them for the amp somewhere in the 90s but never used them) and gave them to me. So these are good ones?

I am not a pro tech. My Bias Rite says 570V and then when I turn the bias all the way down, I only get to 33-34 with this quad, not lower. I know it's too high and I might fry the tubes. There are two jumpered pins next to the bias pot, where it says "BIAS" on the PCB. Maybe this jumper can be capped to get more range? What do you think? I also put some Mullards in that were rated 39 (VHT matched, the stock ones from my 2502) and with those I could go as low as 23. But they didn't sound as good as these, and I don't think the New Sensor Mullards are spec'd for 600V plate voltage.

How do I measure screen volts and what would be good values for it? What do I do if I'm out? Visit you?

To read the screen volts you need to get a DMM, set it to 1000V DC, black to chassis, red to PIN 4. Should be in the >>500V area. Problem is, that most tubes of today won't be able to survive that for a long time - solution: NOS types (RFTs) or let a tech install some additional (fat ass) resistors to drop that down to 460-470V - then you could use at least Svet =C=s.
Don't worry - with those resistors the amps is less loud (lol), but still has the same sound. (I foresee a discussion about that coming )

Yes, those are RFTs. Typical dimple top.

Heideblitz. I need someone like you to go through the amp for me. I cannot give this to any murks Belgian wannabe amp tech. Whereabouts are you located? NRW or more east?

 

[duesentrieb]

Marburg - 150km south-east of Dortmund or so . . .

 

[yngzaklynch]

Sounds great!!

 

[lordriffenstein]

Heideblitz. I need someone like you to go through the amp for me. I cannot give this to any murks Belgian wannabe amp tech. Whereabouts are you located? NRW or more east?

I know 2 really good amp techs in Belgium, 1 is in Gent, he checked out my 73 JMP Bass last year (http://www.freeqi.be) and the other is my go-to guy. He's up north near the Dutch border in Lommel. He's really good and is official tech center for a bunch of brands like Engl, Mesa etc. http://www.n-e-l.be/

Unless Olaf wants to make another trip to my place and we can all hook up there and have some amp-fun

Clips sound great btw, would love to try it out!! I had a XTC Classic at my place for a couple of days and really loved that one.

 

[hunter]

Heideblitz. I need someone like you to go through the amp for me. I cannot give this to any murks Belgian wannabe amp tech. Whereabouts are you located? NRW or more east?

I know 2 really good amp techs in Belgium, 1 is in Gent, he checked out my 73 JMP Bass last year (http://www.freeqi.be) and the other is my go-to guy. He's up north near the Dutch border in Lommel. He's really good and is official tech center for a bunch of brands like Engl, Mesa etc. http://www.n-e-l.be/

Unless Olaf wants to make another trip to my place and we can all hook up there and have some amp-fun

Clips sound great btw, would love to try it out!! I had a XTC Classic at my place for a couple of days and really loved that one.

Thanks a lot Yoeri, that's great info, I'll check them out. Amp fest at Riffensteins would be fun. I'm up for it!

 

[duesentrieb]

Unless Olaf wants to make another trip to my place and we can all hook up there and have some amp-fun

.

Anytime

I recommended to ask you.

How are you btw? Long time no show here - how's the digital axe thing working out for you?

 

[lordriffenstein]

Unless Olaf wants to make another trip to my place and we can all hook up there and have some amp-fun

.

Anytime

I recommended to ask you.

How are you btw? Long time no show here - how's the digital axe thing working out for you?

Hi Olaf, all is fine here, been busy as hell, one band kinda exploded, have another one that is going to be DA BOMB.

What digital axe thing are you talking about? I'm still flying in a strictly no-AxeFX zone here I'll be playing one next week and am curious to hear it thru a tube power amp this time. I am not GASsing for one and like the previous test session, probably won't afterwards. Guess I'm pretty frigging happy with my amps.

Retubed the Marshalls with some Winged Cs and what a difference. I guess the old RFTs in the plexi were more or less done. Playing either one of them most of the time at home with my pedalboard. Will start rehearsing/gigging with the bluesband soon so the JMP Bass will see some good action. Also still enjoying the hell out of the rack setup , 1.5 years with the same setup, probably a record for me Oh yeah, I still have an Engl somewhere It's on loan with a friend and I haven't really missed it

 

[yngzaklynch]

Since I've watched this video like 20 times... make another please. I love those tones.

 

[duesentrieb]

Hi Olaf, all is fine here, been busy as hell, one band kinda exploded, have another one that is going to be DA BOMB.

What digital axe thing are you talking about? I'm still flying in a strictly no-AxeFX zone here I'll be playing one next week and am curious to hear it thru a tube power amp this time. I am not GASsing for one and like the previous test session, probably won't afterwards. Guess I'm pretty frigging happy with my amps.

Retubed the Marshalls with some Winged Cs and what a difference. I guess the old RFTs in the plexi were more or less done. Playing either one of them most of the time at home with my pedalboard. Will start rehearsing/gigging with the bluesband soon so the JMP Bass will see some good action. Also still enjoying the hell out of the rack setup , 1.5 years with the same setup, probably a record for me Oh yeah, I still have an Engl somewhere It's on loan with a friend and I haven't really missed it

Cool. I was under the impression that you sold one of the Marshalls to get an AxeFX, Yoeri.
Good luck with the new DaBombBand and my kindest regards to Sabine.


Sorry for the hijack hunter

 

[hunter]

Hi Olaf, all is fine here, been busy as hell, one band kinda exploded, have another one that is going to be DA BOMB.

What digital axe thing are you talking about? I'm still flying in a strictly no-AxeFX zone here I'll be playing one next week and am curious to hear it thru a tube power amp this time. I am not GASsing for one and like the previous test session, probably won't afterwards. Guess I'm pretty frigging happy with my amps.

Retubed the Marshalls with some Winged Cs and what a difference. I guess the old RFTs in the plexi were more or less done. Playing either one of them most of the time at home with my pedalboard. Will start rehearsing/gigging with the bluesband soon so the JMP Bass will see some good action. Also still enjoying the hell out of the rack setup , 1.5 years with the same setup, probably a record for me Oh yeah, I still have an Engl somewhere It's on loan with a friend and I haven't really missed it

Cool. I was under the impression that you sold one of the Marshalls to get an AxeFX, Yoeri.
Good luck with the new DaBombBand and my kindest regards to Sabine.


Sorry for the hijack hunter

No prob.

By the way if anyone's interested, I play tonight in Mons, Imagiscène
Imagipark
Avenue du Grand Large, 1
7011 MONS-Ghlin

Tomorrow Fiesta Du Rock in Flémalle (20.30)
http://maps.google.be/maps/ms?source=s_ ... fda5fb8907

Thesa are with FreeLaunch (kinda Rammsteinesque stuff we do).

But both gigs will be Axe-FX into Verve 12MA. So Digital into solid state fullrange. Well works quite well for metal riffing I gotta say.

Not gonna change or dare use this Bogner beast last minute. It's biased a bit too hot for this kind of experiments right now and I don't wanna burn those precious RFTs in my first week