is this possible????????

darren1 · 2010-03-23T13:26:29+00:00

right i have a solid state Ibanez amp, is it possible to convert it to a valve amp and what would i need to do to it. it has a rather large chassis so im n...

is this possible????????

TomCat

MikeM wrote: Very very valid. I built my amp after many months of research, but still managed to hit myself once with 400v dc and tripped the lights twice bridging the 220ac and earth. It's not fun and really dangerous.

Not to mention the involuntary change of underpants.... :-[

MikeM

That's TOTALLY voluntary, it's what happens just before that that's involuntary ?

TomCat

MikeM wrote: That's TOTALLY voluntary, it's what happens just before that that's involuntary ?

LOL........ ? ?.

Gearhead

I still say OP needs to understand there's more to 400V DC on your body than cr@pping yer pants. It is lethal. So far I've managed not to get shocked (Eddy Floyd required).

TomCat

Absolutely +1 there Gearhead....These voltages are not to be laughed at....

However, when things do go wrong....and they often do...you develop anew respect for tube amps and what they are capable of.....

My scariest was 1000vDC off a multimeter calibrator.......Thought my world was coming to and end.....then it tripped and released me....very scary though...

MikeM

TomCat wrote:
MikeM wrote: Very very valid. I built my amp after many months of research, but still managed to hit myself once with 400v dc and tripped the lights twice bridging the 220ac and earth. It's not fun and really dangerous.

Quoted for emphasis.

vic

TomCat wrote: Absolutely +1 there Gearhead....These voltages are not to be laughed at....

However, when things do go wrong....and they often do...you develop anew respect for tube amps and what they are capable of.....

My scariest was 1000vDC off a multimeter calibrator.......Thought my world was coming to and end.....then it tripped and released me....very scary though...

Tom, was it at this point when you changed your underpants..? ? ?

TomCat

Nope......the 1kVDC closed everything up too tightly.......... ?

vic

@Darren...hope you are learning a lot from the boys...dangerous ground indeed.

Skywalker

vic wrote:
Skywalker wrote:
Attila wrote: or take a course with Karel Mars .....a member of thei forum you can www his name
+1

Good call 8)
Karel is great and living in Paarl....Darren lives in Joburg... ☹ and he'll have to have Karel watching over his shoulder in the beginning .... ???

DOH! Didn't see that :-[

After reading the other posts I agree that if one doesn't really know what's cooking under the hood of a tube amp, one should not attempt to fiddle around. Look for a 2nd tube amp. Plenty of bargains floating around 8) I picked up my JCM2000 + cab a few years ago for R10k and have never looked back.

darren1

thanks guys really appreciated

the main thing i was going for was learning how the amp works in order to gain a better understanding, 2 of my friends are attempting to build an amp so i guess best would be to find out how they do it first, checked the mars amps kits looking at bout 7-8k for the kit and 3k for the workshop, havent seen anything for 2010 though,

well i guess its time to start saving

Karel-Mars

Yeah... the voltages are quite high. But there are a few procedures that will protect you from shock:

* Do not work on the circuit with the amp connected to mains
* Always design you power supply with a leakage resistor (470K 1/2watt should be OK) over the first cap.
* Do not power up the amp if you are tired or late at night
* Do not work on the amp when you are stoned or drunk.
* Have a 40watt light bulb in series with your power cord when you switch on first time.
* First test the amp with no tubes in sockets
* Next test the amp with only rectifier tube in place
* Take your time. If you do not know what you are doing, go for a walk outside. Jimi Hendrix will come to you and tell you what to do.
* If you still shock yourself ? walk away from the amp and go for shock treatment (have a wiff of rescue remedy or whatever). Call it a day.

And so on. Bang Jan lives to solder another day!

TomCat

Karel Mars wrote: Yeah... the voltages are quite high. But there are a few procedures that will protect you from shock:

* Do not work on the circuit with the amp connected to mains
* Always design you power supply with a leakage resistor (470K 1/2watt should be OK) over the first cap.
* Do not power up the amp if you are tired or late at night
* Do not work on the amp when you are stoned or drunk.
* Have a 40watt light bulb in series with your power cord when you switch on first time.
* First test the amp with no tubes in sockets
* Next test the amp with only rectifier tube in place
* Take your time. If you do not know what you are doing, go for a walk outside. Jimi Hendrix will come to you and tell you what to do.
* If you still shock yourself ? walk away from the amp and go for shock treatment (have a wiff of rescue remedy or whatever). Call it a day.

And so on. Bang Jan lives to solder another day!

Good advice there Karel.

I forgot about the 40W lamp on the power cord....old trick that one and works well if there is a short on the PSU. Keeps your underpants intact....

MikeM

Karel Mars wrote:* Do not power up the amp if you are tired or late at night

Important

Karel Mars wrote:* Do not work on the amp when you are stoned or drunk.

Ahahahhha!!!

Karel Mars wrote:* Take your time. If you do not know what you are doing, go for a walk outside. Jimi Hendrix will come to you and tell you what to do.

True. That bit of advice bothered me awfully but the guru has spoken ?

vic

Check this nice valve amp at a great price... ? in Roodepoort.

http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-Peavey-Valveking-112-Guitar-Amplifier-W0QQAdIdZ194098598

TomCat

vic wrote: Check this nice valve amp at a great price... ? in Roodepoort.

http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-Peavey-Valveking-112-Guitar-Amplifier-W0QQAdIdZ194098598

That is a good deal. You can't build one for that price.