Just built my first tube amp! Custom Dual Rec!

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheMagicEight
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TheMagicEight

TheMagicEight

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Very happy to announce that I've just built my take on the Dual Rectifier!

I'm new to electronics and amp building, but I decided rather than build a typical small Fender or Marshall as a first build, I'd go for something a little "cooler". Basically, I've got a one-channel amp with some options. My Ecstasy does everything I need for most things, but I wanted the classic Rectifier sound, so I build the Red channel. I want to use it as more of a metal amp, so I skipped the Rectifier tubes, but kept a switch to lower the voltages. Adjustable bias and a switch for cutting in and out a negative feedback loop. It was my first build, so everything isn't perfect (have a little extra noise and if I crank the gain, some oscillation), but I'm going to keep at it until that's gone.

How does it sound? Pretty damn good! I'm going to tweak the NFB / presence circuit a little more (I want to have the option of pre-500 tone and possibly SLO territory), but for now, I'd be confident putting it up to the real thing!

IMG_0540.jpg
 
Randall Smith will be most displeased. He patented electricity I believe.
 
This is stock a Rectifier sound with gain at 9:30, BMT at noon, presence off, and MV somewhere between 9 and 10; no negative feedback, just the "stock Rectifier" setting. Guitar was a friend's Les Paul with an open poled (I think) 498T. The pickup is too close to the strings and that comes through a little. Bogner 4x12 with 65w M75s, with an MD421 close miked, and a Neumann 147 and Royer 121 in M/S config for room. Not too much time spent on placement, but you get the idea. Excuse the noodling!

https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=10467223

Any feedback on the tone is appreciated; good, bad or otherwise.
 
TheMagicEight":20wh15s8 said:
This is stock a Rectifier sound with gain at 9:30, BMT at noon, presence off, and MV somewhere between 9 and 10; no negative feedback, just the "stock Rectifier" setting. Guitar was a friend's Les Paul with an open poled (I think) 498T. The pickup is too close to the strings and that comes through a little. Bogner 4x12 with 65w M75s, with an MD421 close miked, and a Neumann 147 and Royer 121 in M/S config for room. Not too much time spent on placement, but you get the idea. Excuse the noodling!

https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=10467223

Any feedback on the tone is appreciated; good, bad or otherwise.
Sounds very cool.
 
duesentrieb":2ps0kqns said:
TheMagicEight":2ps0kqns said:
This is stock a Rectifier sound with gain at 9:30, BMT at noon, presence off, and MV somewhere between 9 and 10; no negative feedback, just the "stock Rectifier" setting. Guitar was a friend's Les Paul with an open poled (I think) 498T. The pickup is too close to the strings and that comes through a little. Bogner 4x12 with 65w M75s, with an MD421 close miked, and a Neumann 147 and Royer 121 in M/S config for room. Not too much time spent on placement, but you get the idea. Excuse the noodling!

https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=10467223

Any feedback on the tone is appreciated; good, bad or otherwise.
Sounds very cool.

Sounds great! :rock:
 
Sounds pretty killer!! How much time did you have invested in the build
 
TheMagicEight":al32lykb said:
This is stock a Rectifier sound with gain at 9:30, BMT at noon, presence off, and MV somewhere between 9 and 10; no negative feedback, just the "stock Rectifier" setting. Guitar was a friend's Les Paul with an open poled (I think) 498T. The pickup is too close to the strings and that comes through a little. Bogner 4x12 with 65w M75s, with an MD421 close miked, and a Neumann 147 and Royer 121 in M/S config for room. Not too much time spent on placement, but you get the idea. Excuse the noodling!

https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=10467223

Any feedback on the tone is appreciated; good, bad or otherwise.

Sounds nice...wanna hear it *boosted* though :-)
 
Thanks guys!
sschultz242":cev9j56g said:
Sounds pretty killer!! How much time did you have invested in the build
In actual build time, probably about 36 hours, but that includes mistakes, troubleshooting, and revisions. I'm still not really finished as I want to continue tweaking the negative feedback / presence circuit, but as for stock Rectifier sounds, I'd say it's there.

Researching and sourcing parts took most of my time. I've been poking around in a VTM120 for the past year or so and have read three books on this stuff (not to mention countless hours online). Cost hasn't been too much lower than a used 2 channel, but then again, I did use better parts (2 channel Rectifiers are wound to 8 ohms, not 16; 16 out is tied to the 8 ohm tap).

jkdsteve":cev9j56g said:
Sounds nice...wanna hear it *boosted* though :-)
Thanks! I would love to record a boosted clip, but alas, I don't own a boost.
 
Sounds great! Though the attack seems to be a bit more 5150-ish than recto. Very cool though, good job!
 
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