Newbie questions

Info for maintaining and tweaking your amp to perfection.

Moderator: VelvetGeorge

Post Reply
User avatar
Bad Kitty
Senior Member
Posts: 820
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:49 pm
Location: St. Helens, OR

Newbie questions

Post by Bad Kitty » Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:23 am

I'm going to rebuild my 1959RI. And I have a few questions?

1. What board do I order? The 67, 68 or 69? Or is it just a matter of components that make the difference and all the turrets are laid out the same?

2. I'm going to order the Sozo Premiums. Do I need to replace all the caps or just the ones on the board? By this I mean which ones are in the actual signal path and which ones aren't?

3. What benefit, if any, will I get by upgrading the pots to PEC pots?

4. Is there a benefit to using Teflon coated wire? I seem to remember reading that it's difficult to work with.

5. Do I need to worry about the resistors? Is any one kind superior to the rest?

I'll leave the Power Scaling questions for after I finish this part of the rebuild :) .

I would really appreciate this boards input. I don't mind spending the money on what is going to be the best amp I've ever owned. I just don't want to waste money on things I don't need.
Never settle for an amp thats smaller then you are.

User avatar
Bad Kitty
Senior Member
Posts: 820
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:49 pm
Location: St. Helens, OR

Post by Bad Kitty » Tue Feb 21, 2006 5:13 am

Guess I should have done a search first :oops: .

I got my answers to 3, 4, and 5.

Sorry.
Never settle for an amp thats smaller then you are.

Billy Batz
Senior Member
Posts: 8566
Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 8:49 pm

Re: Newbie questions

Post by Billy Batz » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:44 am

Bad Kitty wrote:I'm going to rebuild my 1959RI. And I have a few questions?

1. What board do I order? The 67, 68 or 69? Or is it just a matter of components that make the difference and all the turrets are laid out the same?
That depends on what sound your looking for. A rule of thumb is its easier to order a later board because you can always use it for the earlier values and just leave a few turrets empty but the earlier boards wont have all the turrets needed for soem later values. Its only like 2 turrets that make the difference and I think George might even be doing this anyway.
2. I'm going to order the Sozo Premiums. Do I need to replace all the caps or just the ones on the board? By this I mean which ones are in the actual signal path and which ones aren't?
The only values Sozo makes are for the on board caps. The only acception being the presence cap and the later .005 bright cap. Get them too if you want.
4. Is there a benefit to using Teflon coated wire? I seem to remember reading that it's difficult to work with.
Its stiff but in many ways its easier to work with. I prefer teflon sheilded cable for instance. Theres no need to twist the braid away from the inner condunctors insulation because its telfon, You can solder right to the braid even when its wrapped around the inner insulation because it wont melt.
I'll leave the Power Scaling questions for after I finish this part of the rebuild :) .
Its best to take it one step at a time. Then you can even step back, play a bit, and listen to the changes as you make them. Id give it a few weeks to break in though. If you play everyday the change in tone after the first week then next week is pretty significant.
I would really appreciate this boards input. I don't mind spending the money on what is going to be the best amp I've ever owned. I just don't want to waste money on things I don't need.
What you need is different to everyone but I think if you just say what your looking for most people will give you an unbiased opinion. I dont think you should get the PECs for instance. I didnt notice any great change in tone. I guess its mostly about looks and people say the action is different (how the log is tapered on there I guess?) but I havent taken much notice.

User avatar
Bad Kitty
Senior Member
Posts: 820
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:49 pm
Location: St. Helens, OR

Post by Bad Kitty » Tue Feb 21, 2006 6:28 pm

Thanks, Dan. appreciate the response. I think I will get the pots because when I install the power scaling kit I'm going to have to put in some sort of active cooling and those pots are sealed.
Never settle for an amp thats smaller then you are.

Post Reply