DJW amps
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- k1w1
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Re: DJW amps
Ah I know the guy Dave Watson, used to jam with him. He is a draughtsman by trade, was self employed in that back in 2008 when I last spoke to him. Modded one of my amps once. Self taught.
- GrantB
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Re: DJW amps
I've oft looked at his amps, and like the base principles he employs (valve type, circuit type etc)....but one thing EVERY modern amp builder should get their heads around is power scaling. To compete properly, at any boutique level, amps need to have power scaling. The parts are only worth a few bucks, but it's the actual implementation that's tricky. For those at Tronfest they can hear John Gilmores power scaling in my AC30.
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- rocklander
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Re: DJW amps
was talking to John last night... he mentioned that you near made his head explode with the last thing you had him do.. I guess that was it
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Re: DJW amps
erm... IB...rocklander wrote:was talking to John last night... he mentioned that you near made his head explode with the last thing you had him do.. I guess that was it
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Re: DJW amps
I've heard mixed results about power scaling so I'm not actually won over by it. Besides, there's no substitute for actual volume, you need the trousers flapping in the breeze of an overdriven speaker cone.*UNIQUE* wrote:I've oft looked at his amps, and like the base principles he employs (valve type, circuit type etc)....but one thing EVERY modern amp builder should get their heads around is power scaling. To compete properly, at any boutique level, amps need to have power scaling. The parts are only worth a few bucks, but it's the actual implementation that's tricky. For those at Tronfest they can hear John Gilmores power scaling in my AC30.
So, is that low alcohol or no alcohol at all? mmmm, no alcohol, do you want to try it? Noooooooooo.
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Re: DJW amps
Unique, you mean like http://www.hallamplification.com/main.html?src=%2F#2,2 ? They seem to get good reports from Express-style amps.
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Re: DJW amps
Just turn the scaling unit to fullBG wrote:*UNIQUE* wrote: I've heard mixed results about power scaling so I'm not actually won over by it. Besides, there's no substitute for actual volume, you need the trousers flapping in the breeze of an overdriven speaker cone.
65 Amps and my AC disengage the circuit completely when wide open...but who wants to hear ear bleeding AC volume in a small bar? Asides from me? So there is an application for it...and the naysayers usually haven't owned/played an amp with it correctly utilised.
For anyone interested in how well it works try a 65 at Ryans...they've nailed it.
@rocklander - John doesn't seem to return my phone calls anymore...and pulls his curtains when I drive past? Weird.
@alan - yes, that concept...I used london power EL84 version (obviously). Not a simple task, and there's plenty of bullshit surrounding it (some of those amp guru's we talked to in the USA were painful...self important etc)...John stuck to it and implemented very well. Amp is incredibly usable now.
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Re: DJW amps
Some of the naysayers have been amp designers... some people are quite scathing about Kevin o'Connor.*UNIQUE* wrote: usually haven't owned/played an amp with it correctly utilised
So, is that low alcohol or no alcohol at all? mmmm, no alcohol, do you want to try it? Noooooooooo.
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Re: DJW amps
imo O'Connor has good and bad points . Some information in his books is just incorrect (and he's yet to offer any addendum for the series ) and they are imo too expensive and some aren't particularly well written, but he is approachable, helpful and has replied to the queries I've put to him.
His books were however pioneering in the field of guitar amp design for serious amateurs and pros. I reckon in balance he's been a good influence on the field.
Btw I think the term powerscaling is proprietary to London Power. More generically the technology is referred to as VVR or variable voltage regulation.
His books were however pioneering in the field of guitar amp design for serious amateurs and pros. I reckon in balance he's been a good influence on the field.
Btw I think the term powerscaling is proprietary to London Power. More generically the technology is referred to as VVR or variable voltage regulation.
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Re: DJW amps
I don't blame them...speaking with Kevin is like trying to communicate with Yoda after he's consumed half a bottle of Absynthe.BG wrote:Some of the naysayers have been amp designers... some people are quite scathing about Kevin o'Connor.*UNIQUE* wrote: usually haven't owned/played an amp with it correctly utilised
I think amp designers probably should look at 65 Amps and take Kevin out of the equation, in terms of looking at a working principle.
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Re: DJW amps
but it still comes down to that basic flaw that all attenuation suffers from, whether its a hot plate, ppimv or power scaling (Tm), you've taken the speaker out of the equation. And all of these methods suffer to an extent anyway even without the speaker - not one is entirely satisfactory, tone is diminished in some way. Even Kevin o'Connor admits this.
If you were that bothered about hitting the audience with a wall of sound, you'd be using a 2 watt Firefly
Just sayin PPIMV works for me, might try power scaling (Tm) on my next build though.
If you were that bothered about hitting the audience with a wall of sound, you'd be using a 2 watt Firefly
Just sayin PPIMV works for me, might try power scaling (Tm) on my next build though.
So, is that low alcohol or no alcohol at all? mmmm, no alcohol, do you want to try it? Noooooooooo.
Re: DJW amps
Finally someone has said it, Its just not the same without the punch and all!!!BG wrote:I've heard mixed results about power scaling so I'm not actually won over by it. Besides, there's no substitute for actual volume, you need the trousers flapping in the breeze of an overdriven speaker cone.*UNIQUE* wrote:I've oft looked at his amps, and like the base principles he employs (valve type, circuit type etc)....but one thing EVERY modern amp builder should get their heads around is power scaling. To compete properly, at any boutique level, amps need to have power scaling. The parts are only worth a few bucks, but it's the actual implementation that's tricky. For those at Tronfest they can hear John Gilmores power scaling in my AC30.
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Re: DJW amps
I was talking to Rich at Rivera, they have a new Attenuator out, but it is suppose to operate differently or something. Also will not damage your amp. I would like to grab one but no funds at the moment..
I had a dream last night, that everything I have got replaced with an exact replica.... (Steven Wright)
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Re: DJW amps
Will you admit then that PPIMV has the same effect as scaling does on a speaker?BG wrote:but it still comes down to that basic flaw that all attenuation suffers from, whether its a hot plate, ppimv or power scaling (Tm), you've taken the speaker out of the equation. And all of these methods suffer to an extent anyway even without the speaker - not one is entirely satisfactory, tone is diminished in some way. Even Kevin o'Connor admits this.
If you were that bothered about hitting the audience with a wall of sound, you'd be using a 2 watt Firefly
Just sayin PPIMV works for me, might try power scaling (Tm) on my next build though.
Having had PPIMV's and compared to scaling/VVR - no contest...I pick VVR. My TopHat still has a PPIMV however, which works pretty good.
And lets call it, as Ears suggests, VVR....because that's what it is regardless of the minor tweaks to circuits, or some mad tube theorists brand.
And no arguments from me - in the studio, for full on rockin tone, that speaker has to be working hard, so everything is cranked. Live performances to smaller audiences requires a different approach. To get an AC30 cranked tone through a Celestion Blue (which by nature almost sounds like its working hard all the time) at a gig friendly volume is something that I had previously thought was impossible. Not so.
OP - anyone heard that 6V6 amp he has on there now as his "best amp"?
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Re: DJW amps
Look, let's clear this up. You cannot beat the sound of a Marshall stack operating at the sweet point (as a representation of any amp/speaker array working at their respective peaks), but there is a place for controlled volumes when you give a fuck about the customer.Tonemaker wrote:Finally someone has said it, Its just not the same without the punch and all!!!BG wrote:I've heard mixed results about power scaling so I'm not actually won over by it. Besides, there's no substitute for actual volume, you need the trousers flapping in the breeze of an overdriven speaker cone.*UNIQUE* wrote:I've oft looked at his amps, and like the base principles he employs (valve type, circuit type etc)....but one thing EVERY modern amp builder should get their heads around is power scaling. To compete properly, at any boutique level, amps need to have power scaling. The parts are only worth a few bucks, but it's the actual implementation that's tricky. For those at Tronfest they can hear John Gilmores power scaling in my AC30.
"Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible god and destroys a visible nature. Unaware that this nature he's destroying is this god he's worshipping." - Hubert Reeves