Modifying Chupacabra

[FourT6and2]

I remember reading that a member here modified their Chupacabra to Yeti specs. If that was you, please PM me! I'd like to do the same.

 

[FourT6and2]

And in any event, if any of you knowledgable people out there want to chime in, let me know. I want to tighten up the amp a bit and reduce a little of the harsh high-end. So far, the recommendation has been to change V1a Plate Resistor from 475k to something between 220k—390k and change V1a Cathode Resistor to 2.7k, from 820 ohm. And possibly V1b and V2a as well to 2.7k. Should get me a little more "plexi" and a little less harsh/loose (although, to me, the 1959 circuit is fairly loose to begin with...).

 

[RockNRun]

Mine was modded, but not to Yeti specs but rather to simply be a little warmer, and to also be a bit chewier in the mids. HOW and WHAT Cameron did to make that happen is way beyond be. Guess that's no help at all...but it does establish that the previous owner of this amp grew to feel the same way you do now - a little nip and tuck is just what it needed. I love mine this way fwiw. I stopped looking into high gain amps when I got this thing. Zero gas in that area.

 

[FourT6and2]

Mine was modded, but not to Yeti specs but rather to simply be a little warmer, and to also be a bit chewier in the mids. HOW and WHAT Cameron did to make that happen is way beyond be. Guess that's no help at all...but it does establish that the previous owner of this amp grew to feel the same way you do now - a little nip and tuck is just what it needed. I love mine this way fwiw. I stopped looking into high gain amps when I got this thing. Zero gas in that area.

Yeah, a similar desire I guess. I don't want chewy, though. I want tighter and less harsh in the top-end. These amps are very easy and simple to modify, I'd rather do it myself. But I KNOW I read someone on here modified it himself, I just can't find the post now to see who it was.

And yeah, these amps are awesome. Very versatile and has a really mean, aggressive snarl to it (which is in part to the tone stack — 47k slope resistor and 500pF treble cap).

Don't suppose you'd be willing to PM photos of your Chupa's board? Not like I'm gonna build a clone and sell it or anything.

 

[King Crimson]

I remember reading that a member here modified their Chupacabra to Yeti specs. If that was you, please PM me! I'd like to do the same.

I think you're confusing this guy with the bloke that was modifying his Loch Ness Monster with the submersible MIDI valve.

 

[FourT6and2]

I remember reading that a member here modified their Chupacabra to Yeti specs. If that was you, please PM me! I'd like to do the same.

I think you're confusing this guy with the bloke that was modifying his Loch Ness Monster with the submersible MIDI valve.

Thanks! You're right. My mistake.

 

[joepete77]

Mine was modded, but not to Yeti specs but rather to simply be a little warmer, and to also be a bit chewier in the mids. HOW and WHAT Cameron did to make that happen is way beyond be. Guess that's no help at all...but it does establish that the previous owner of this amp grew to feel the same way you do now - a little nip and tuck is just what it needed. I love mine this way fwiw. I stopped looking into high gain amps when I got this thing. Zero gas in that area.

Well if u really want to help just take four screws out and see what mark swapped out

 

[FourT6and2]

Mine was modded, but not to Yeti specs but rather to simply be a little warmer, and to also be a bit chewier in the mids. HOW and WHAT Cameron did to make that happen is way beyond be. Guess that's no help at all...but it does establish that the previous owner of this amp grew to feel the same way you do now - a little nip and tuck is just what it needed. I love mine this way fwiw. I stopped looking into high gain amps when I got this thing. Zero gas in that area.

Well if u really want to help just take four screws out and see what mark swapped out

I doubt anybody would do that. Mark's work is the sacred cow of amplifier design. lol even though there's nothing proprietary about changing out a few resistor/cap values.

 

[RockNRun]

I did speak with Nik (super responsive/nice dude) at Ceriatone about my particular amp (he heard about it actually as there was some tension between the two builders it seems) because I had a few unrelated questions (tubes, bias levels, etc...like I hinted at above, I'm a novice when it comes to amp tech stuff - that's one of the reasons I wanted a Chewpa, those external pots!). Anyway, I did have some gut shots I showed Nik since I had his attention and he said the mods were "fairly minor." That's great, because these things sound pretty killer 'as is' and I can't imagine too much needing to be done too simply warm up and chew up an amp while retaining the main character.

FWIW, I've heard one of your clips at some point, 46&2 and thought your amp sounded awesome already.

 

[FourT6and2]

I did speak with Nik (super responsive/nice dude) at Ceriatone about my particular amp (he heard about it actually as there was some tension between the two builders it seems) because I had a few unrelated questions (tubes, bias levels, etc...like I hinted at above, I'm a novice when it comes to amp tech stuff - that's one of the reasons I wanted a Chewpa, those external pots!). Anyway, I did have some gut shots I showed Nik since I had his attention and he said the mods were "fairly minor." That's great, because these things sound pretty killer 'as is' and I can't imagine too much needing to be done too simply warm up and chew up an amp while retaining the main character.

FWIW, I've heard one of your clips at some point, 46&2 and thought your amp sounded awesome already.

Yeah, it sounds pretty good. I just want the response to be a little tighter. It can get mushy at times. And the top-end is super harsh. I know what I need to do to rectify that. But I'm curious what was altered in your amp. If you're willing, I'd love to get a gut-shot. Like I said, any mods done to an amp like this are going to be minor (like Nik said). So it's not like anybody is going to get their panties in a bunch by posting up some photos of the board.

 

[RockNRun]

I did speak with Nik (super responsive/nice dude) at Ceriatone about my particular amp (he heard about it actually as there was some tension between the two builders it seems) because I had a few unrelated questions (tubes, bias levels, etc...like I hinted at above, I'm a novice when it comes to amp tech stuff - that's one of the reasons I wanted a Chewpa, those external pots!). Anyway, I did have some gut shots I showed Nik since I had his attention and he said the mods were "fairly minor." That's great, because these things sound pretty killer 'as is' and I can't imagine too much needing to be done too simply warm up and chew up an amp while retaining the main character.

FWIW, I've heard one of your clips at some point, 46&2 and thought your amp sounded awesome already.

Yeah, it sounds pretty good. I just want the response to be a little tighter. It can get mushy at times. And the top-end is super harsh. I know what I need to do to rectify that. But I'm curious what was altered in your amp. If you're willing, I'd love to get a gut-shot. Like I said, any mods done to an amp like this are going to be minor (like Nik said). So it's not like anybody is going to get their panties in a bunch by posting up some photos of the board.

PM'd ya what I have. Let me know if the pic went through, it was large (2.8MB).

 

[FourT6and2]

I did speak with Nik (super responsive/nice dude) at Ceriatone about my particular amp (he heard about it actually as there was some tension between the two builders it seems) because I had a few unrelated questions (tubes, bias levels, etc...like I hinted at above, I'm a novice when it comes to amp tech stuff - that's one of the reasons I wanted a Chewpa, those external pots!). Anyway, I did have some gut shots I showed Nik since I had his attention and he said the mods were "fairly minor." That's great, because these things sound pretty killer 'as is' and I can't imagine too much needing to be done too simply warm up and chew up an amp while retaining the main character.

FWIW, I've heard one of your clips at some point, 46&2 and thought your amp sounded awesome already.

Yeah, it sounds pretty good. I just want the response to be a little tighter. It can get mushy at times. And the top-end is super harsh. I know what I need to do to rectify that. But I'm curious what was altered in your amp. If you're willing, I'd love to get a gut-shot. Like I said, any mods done to an amp like this are going to be minor (like Nik said). So it's not like anybody is going to get their panties in a bunch by posting up some photos of the board.

PM'd ya what I have. Let me know if the pic went through, it was large (2.8MB).

Nope. No photo attached. Can you email it? I'll PM my address.

 

[jd267]

Old thread but would one of you guys maybe pm me that pic ? Or hook me up with what was done? Thx Lmk

 

[messenger]

Could always check the layouts on Ceriatone website and see what the difference is

 

[endofall]

I have a Yeti and the amp is absolutely amazing, but the speakers have to be right for it to really shine. I tried it first with my vintage 30 cab, then a Marshall cab loaded with WGS Invaders, and the my Splawn cab with Smallblock/big block speakers. The v30's sounded horrible with this amp, the rest of the cabs sounded great especially the Splawn.

Chuppa Layout

Yeti Layout

 

[FourT6and2]

I no longer have the Chupa. But it really was an awesome amp. Better than the CCV I had. I might build a Yeti at some point.

I think I started this thread back before Ceriatone released the scheme/layout for these amps.

 

[Racerxrated]

Better than a CCV??? Blasphemy I say!!!!.. Lol.

 

[FourT6and2]

Better than a CCV??? Blasphemy I say!!!!.. Lol.

CCV was... meh. Nothing special. Although one of my favorite tones (youtube clip) came from Mark playing some heavy shit on a CCV. But my CCV didn't come anywhere close to that sort of sound. The Chupacabra was awesome though.

 

[jd267]

Does anyone have or no what mark did to tighten up the chupa?