Knock Knock, Who's There, Another FIVE-STAGE THRASH MOD!

FourT6and2

FourT6and2

Well-known member
This time it's on my personal '70 Super Trem. When this one was built, Marshall tapped the B+ for the tremolo circuit at the wrong place, putting 515v on V1. When you turned the amp on, it would go crazy with noise and weird sounds for a bit until it calmed down a bit. But the trem circuit in these never sounded amazing to be honest. So I don't feel bad repurposing the board space and 4th tube for this mod.

When I bought it, the seller showed me photos of an all-original amp. But when it arrived, tons of changes had been made to it. Filter caps disconnected and new ones installed inside the chassis to hide what had been done, bias caps tacked in all ghetto-like, wrong cathode bypass cap values installed, preamp filter cap grounded incorrectly, etc. The more I dug into the amp, the more problems I found.

I thought about restoring it, but I already have a pretty clean Super Lead. I figured... I've been modding these things for other people, I might as well do one for myself.

IMG_8587.jpeg
 
Probably a silly question, but what's the red resistors? Is that a shrink tube you put on them? I don't think I've seen those before.
shawn
 
shawn w said:
Probably a silly question, but what's the red resistors? Is that a shrink tube you put on them? I don't think I've seen those before.
shawn
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Made in the USA! Check 'em out: https://www.prpinc.com/

Their 1/2-watt version is still rated for 500v, which is great. I like 'em because they're small, with relatively thin leads, so I can fit multiple components on one turret without too many issues.
 
Very nice, I was wondering if you’d make one for yourself.

Any low input on this one or will it be high gain all the time?
 
mnemonic said:
Very nice, I was wondering if you’d make one for yourself.

Any low input on this one or will it be high gain all the time?
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For now, high-gain only. But I suppose I could run another input and bypass a stage or two or even three.
 
Why would someone go to all that trouble to install axial filter caps instead of replacing the dual radial caps? That's just strange....:dunno:

The PRP's are USA made? Now you have my attention! It looks like the have enough lead length to span a vintage Marshall turret board so that's a big plus but USA made is even better!:2thumbsup: I'll be ordering some! Thanks 4T6&2! Do you order direct from them or do you know of a distributor that stocks them?
 
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harddriver said:
Why would someone go to all that trouble to install axial filter caps instead of replacing the dual radial caps? That's just strange....:dunno:
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Right?! I thought the same thing. It took a lot of effort to do it the wrong way. It was 100% to hide the fact that it had been done. Shady seller.

harddriver said:
The PRP's are USA made? Now you have my attention! It looks like the have enough lead length to span a vintage Marshall turret board so that's a big plus but USA made is even better!:2thumbsup: I'll be ordering some! Thanks 4T6&2! Do you order direct from them or do you know of a distributor that stocks them?
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Sonic Craft and Parts Connexion sell 'em :2thumbsup:
 
I literally cannot stop playing mine.

No more 'honeymoon' period for me...it's still as amazing as the first day I got it back. This 5 stage amp can also clean up really well with just the guitar vol....I have a 'reunion' gig coming up..there's a few tunes that need a clean ch or 'mostly' clean...with the gain at noon, I can dial it down to a 'dirty blues' tone.
Incredible amp. And whisper quiet too, less than a double boosted 2203/4 or Jubilee...
Mike does amazing work.
 
Racerxrated said:
I literally cannot stop playing mine.

No more 'honeymoon' period for me...it's still as amazing as the first day I got it back. This 5 stage amp can also clean up really well with just the guitar vol....I have a 'reunion' gig coming up..there's a few tunes that need a clean ch or 'mostly' clean...with the gain at noon, I can dial it down to a 'dirty blues' tone.
Incredible amp. And whisper quiet too, less than a double boosted 2203/4 or Jubilee...
Mike does amazing work.
Click to expand...

You're a scholar and shredderman, thank you for entrusting me with your Marshall dude!
 
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