THE HW Marshall thread. Tweaking it step by step.

Post by **VelvetGeorge** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:59 pm

Here's the stock HW 100 watt. I put in Mullard reissue EL34's, the stock outputs were not sent with the amp. The preamps tubes are stock 12ax7s.

It's my typical chain:

Les Paul w/ '68 T tops > straight in > Power Brake, down 3 clicks > mid 70's straight cab with 25 W blackbacks > SM57 > N72 Neve clone > Nuendo.

No EQ or FX.

The clip starts with Vol on 10, all tone controls on 5. Half way through I turned all the tone controls to 10, but it squealed really bad, so I backed the presence off to 9.

George

EDIT I have attached a parts list for the tweaks I made, with links to the products in my store. VG

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Mon May 08, 2006 6:07 pm

Sounds OK. Doesn't suck but I'm not sure I hear anything "special" there either. Sounds kinda furry for the pickup output you have, too....so you suppose that's the Power Brake's effect or the amp itself?

You can improve that puppy.

Post by **VelvetGeorge** » Mon May 08, 2006 6:22 pm

Just checked and the bright cap was already clipped on this amp. In person it is extremely bright. A high frequency hiss seems attatched to each note, that I can't dial out.

Beyond that, it sounds an awful lot like my '70 100.

Not bad, but lots of room for tweaking. More clips and pictures to follow.

george

Bainzy · Post by **Bainzy** » Mon May 08, 2006 6:28 pm

I'd say it sounds half way between the 1959slp RI and an amp with Metroamp parts or a real vintage plexi Marshall.

N72 preamp sounds great

rockstah · Post by **rockstah** » Mon May 08, 2006 6:43 pm

George,
which pickup is this?
sm57?
Mark

77custom · Post by **77custom** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:19 pm

Bainzy wrote:I'd say it sounds half way between the 1959slp RI and an amp with Metroamp parts or a real vintage plexi Marshall.

N72 preamp sounds great

I was going to say my 1959slp ri w/metro board in it sounds much better. I have to get some clips up. I'm not too computer recording savy!!!!

Post by **VelvetGeorge** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:20 pm

rockstah wrote:George,
which pickup is this?
sm57?
Mark

I have a set of T top humbuckers from a '68 SG in my LP.

The output is really low. They both measure 7.35k and lean more to the mellow side. If something sounds at all harsh with these, it will kill you with more common pickups.

George

Post by **VelvetGeorge** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:32 pm

Here's a couple pics. I was surprized to find the choke was not bolted down competely on one side.

Also a pic of the board.

george

novosibir · Post by **novosibir** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:53 pm

Flames1950 wrote:Sounds OK. Doesn't suck but I'm not sure I hear anything "special" there either.

Hey Andy! Did you listen to the clip with regular computer speakers or have you connected a stereo system to your PC?

In my ears it sounds sharp and bity w/o chunk in the bottom. IMO a unreasonable demand for people, who are spoilt of the full and rich sound of the good old real ones.

Larry

Post by **VelvetGeorge** » Mon May 08, 2006 8:28 pm

Tweaking ROUND 1

Here's the next clip. Here I have:

replaced the stock signal and presence caps with Sozo Vintage +

shortened and rerouted wires for less noise and no squeal

tightened down the choke mounting bolt.

No break in or anything. Just fired it up and hit record.

I also checked the B+. With exactly 120VAC coming in I have 470 on the plates of the outputs.

george

Post by **VelvetGeorge** » Mon May 08, 2006 8:29 pm

Here's a pic:

VG

Bluesgeetar · Post by **Bluesgeetar** » Mon May 08, 2006 8:39 pm

Amazing how the Sozo caps can turn it into a usable amp. I hated it before honestly. But now it is actually nice to listen to.

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Mon May 08, 2006 8:51 pm

novosibir wrote:
Flames1950 wrote:Sounds OK. Doesn't suck but I'm not sure I hear anything "special" there either.
Hey Andy! Did you listen to the clip with regular computer speakers or have you connected a stereo system to your PC?

In my ears it sounds sharp and bity w/o chunk in the bottom. IMO a unreasonable demand for people, who are spoilt of the full and rich sound of the good old real ones.

Larry

Well, I'm listening on computer speakers....a Klipsch 2.1 set though, not terribly cheap junk, although I'm sure my old Infinity Studio Monitor series speakers would tell a little more of the tale. Plus the volume was lower since my son was in the room. I'll give both clips a listen now that no one's around for a few minutes.

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Mon May 08, 2006 8:58 pm

Yeah, Larry, when I can crank it louder it gets more noticeable how "picky" the tone was, and a lot of extraneous fur to it as well......the SoZo's and lead dress changes helped a lot but I still hear a lot of fuzziness (I know, those SoZo's need to cook) but it is already clearer in the lows and low mids to my ears, and a little fatter in the highs......

But my opinion is also jaded a bit, I know I personally don't care for split cathode Lead spec, I want the Super Bass circuit or the early JTM45/100 sound.........

George, do you have license to simply to whatever it takes to make them great with these two HW Marshalls, cost not a consideration? OT and everything?

77custom · Post by **77custom** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:06 pm

VelvetGeorge wrote:Tweaking ROUND 1

Here's the next clip. Here I have:

replaced the stock signal and presence caps with Sozo Vintage +

shortened and rerouted wires for less noise and no squeal

tightened down the choke mounting bolt.

No break in or anything. Just fired it up and hit record.

I also checked the B+. With exactly 120VAC coming in I have 470 on the plates of the outputs.

george

I like it better now. It's warmer and smoother than stock.

Metropoulos Forum

THE HW Marshall thread. Tweaking it step by step.

THE HW Marshall thread. Tweaking it step by step.

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