So what is the Rigtalk view of PCB vs PTP

[Bob Savage]

Can you explain why ptp would be less consistant then PCB? Interelement capacitances?

Human error/consistency is the reason I've heard. There may be more, like components on a PCB don't move around into new positions, etc.

 

[stephen sawall]

 

[killertone]

Like others have said, I think if its done with the proper circuit design then PCB is just fine. I own Turret and PCB amps and I like 'em both. The biggest argument against PCB is difficulty of repair, IMO. However, I have never based an an amp purchase on the worry of it breaking and having to repair it. If I have that concern then it is an amp I probably am not looking at anyway.

I have heard Turret constructed amps sound like utter shit, sometimes from the same manufacturer, as well as PCB amps sound like shit. It's all about the design, IMO.

 

[Meathead]

What does mopey, nopey, shriveled penis, boob watcher, dandruff scratcher, cry baby, loghead, happy, winky, smiley, humper and nodder have to do with this?

 

[stephen sawall]

What does mopey, nopey, shriveled penis, boob watcher, dandruff scratcher, cry baby, loghead, happy, winky, smiley, humper and nodder have to do with this?

Well I was going to write something .... but the icons expressed my mood so much better.

I guess for me the only real advantage to PTP is like the old cars ..... you can work on them with tools you have in your garage (or something like that). Both have advantages and weakness. I have heard good and bad sounding amp from both PTP and PCB.

 

[loudgtr]

Well...if it was done right you shouldn't hear a difference. Make sure you listen to it first thing in the morining or better yet, very late at night so as not to hear all the morning birds cluttering up the sound spectrum. I'd bet it's ok

Will it change the sound if my 9 volt backup battery in my sprinkler timer is old?

From what I've heard... it depends on the battery. Phillips branded British made 9 volt Rayovacs are the best

 

[Vrad]

The way I see it, the only advantage to PTP over PCB is if you want to mod the amp. It's easier to work with PCB than PTP. All things being equal, I'm sure it makes no difference whether the amp is PCB or PTP.

 

[IHateRap]

I don't care what construction method is used....as long as it sounds good and doesn't fail.

 

[rupe]

I own and use both...when done right I can't see that there would be much of a difference. Too many people spend too much time sweating the details instead of just playing and listening.

Although there are exceptions, I find all too often that the guys who are the most anal about their gear are also the shittiest players.

 

[rsm]

As long as it sounds good, who cares?

^^^^ This. Same goes for any guitar, tube, SS, digital, mainstream, booteek, etc. gear IMO. If you dig it, and it gets you what you want and sounds good, who really cares? Unless you need to make a statement of some kind with the type and branding of your gear to someone somewhere?

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday? ("here in status symbol land".) comes to mind...

 

[titanamps]

Can you explain why ptp would be less consistant then PCB? Interelement capacitances?

a capacitor is just two conductors with some non conductor between them. in a turret board amp, the leads of the components form capacitors, which will interact with the components and have some affect on the frequency response of the amp. you can change the value of these inter element capacitors simply by changing the distance between the conductors.

in a PCB based amp, the potential for differences in these capacitances goes away, thus the increase in consistency. additionally, some PCB designs have capacitances designed in...randall smith claims to do this in rectos (i think) and i know peavey does/did it in 5150s.

 

[stratotone]

One thing I never hear the PTP folk talk about are old fender amps where the PTP (ok, actually tag board, but most of the PTP snobs call tag board amps PTP) - where the old fender amps built on the crappy waxed cardboard or whatever the hell it was becomes conductive and freakin' warps like a piece of bacon.

I would take most PCB 'boutique' amps over an old Fender built like that any day of the week for reliability.

Pete

 

[titanamps]

One thing I never hear the PTP folk talk about are old fender amps where the PTP (ok, actually tag board, but most of the PTP snobs call tag board amps PTP) - where the old fender amps built on the crappy waxed cardboard or whatever the hell it was becomes conductive and freakin' warps like a piece of bacon.

I would take most PCB 'boutique' amps over an old Fender built like that any day of the week for reliability.

Pete

the nice name for it is tagboard.

when you smell some that's just right, you'll see where the appropriate name comes from...fish paper

 

[Anonymous]

If it sounds good,feels good,built good...it's all good. Could give a rats festering asshole what it's built from or out of, or how..

 

[stratotone]

Too bad my fab amp is in storage, I could take it apart and post pics on the gear page for all the point to point fans.

 

[Code001]

Too bad my fab amp is in storage, I could take it apart and post pics on the gear page for all the point to point fans.

And set the house on fire all at the same time!

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

There are proper ways to build PCB amps and there are wrong ways, same goes for PTP, turret board and eyelet board construction.

 

[Shark Diver]

I honestly think there is something to it. I can say for certain that the amps I've played that I would consider the most 'organic' and natural feeling are PTP - i.e. old Marshalls, Two Rocks, Bad Cats. The amps that have felt fake and disconnected to me have an extensive PCB layout, ribbon cable etc.. - Engl, Diezel, JVM.
.

More likely than not if you hear a difference it is because most PTP amps are less massed produced, and so more care is taken in the building of them and this:

Wouldn't it matter what components are being used, not if it's PtP or PCB? Top of the line components are going to sound like top of the line components if they're stuffed in a board or wired by hand to each other. The opposite is true as well.

Probably better matching of components. Which is why you might like a PCP SLO, Mike takes the time to make a kick ass amp.

I don't care either way, if it sounds good, it simply sounds good. Who cares?

 

[glpg80]

I honestly think there is something to it. I can say for certain that the amps I've played that I would consider the most 'organic' and natural feeling are PTP - i.e. old Marshalls, Two Rocks, Bad Cats. The amps that have felt fake and disconnected to me have an extensive PCB layout, ribbon cable etc.. - Engl, Diezel, JVM.
.

More likely than not if you hear a difference it is because most PTP amps are less massed produced, and so more care is taken in the building of them and this:

Wouldn't it matter what components are being used, not if it's PtP or PCB? Top of the line components are going to sound like top of the line components if they're stuffed in a board or wired by hand to each other. The opposite is true as well.

Probably better matching of components. Which is why you might like a PCP SLO, Mike takes the time to make a kick ass amp.

I don't care either way, if it sounds good, it simply sounds good. Who cares?

your avatar is giving me wood

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Which is why you might like a PCP SLO

I agree, some say PCP is dangerous but I these days I prefer PCP amps over PCB/PTP.