B-15 Build - Layout Help

[chaz]

Hello All,
This is myfirst post, and I had a few questions about layout design.

I'm attempting to build a B-15 head. The design, from what I've seen here is fairly popular, is from the TUT3 book.
The book includes a layout from Kevin, though for some reason it is confusing me to no end.
I'm trying to get a layout on paper that it clear to me before I get into ordering parts to save myself the hassle (and frustration) of having to order additional things because I didnt plan ahead.

This isn't my first build, as I have built a hand full of mic pres and pedals in the past, though it is my first "from scratch" build without the use of a kit or instructor's aid.

I was just wondering what tips any of you have for turning your schematics into layouts or if anyone has done this build recently and has a layout they wouldn't mind sharing to help me decipher this a little more.

[loudthud]

Plenty of info here, do a search. There have been problems with hum from current manufacture 6SL7s and there is a mistake in KOC's schematic. Don't improvise on the ground connections, follow TUT3 for best results.

[chaz]

so would you recommend using the 12at7 instead of the 6sl7?

and i feel like a searched for a while without turning up anything, which is why i felt compelled to make a post.
what is the mistake you're referring to?

[loudthud]

The search function on this board doesn't work very well. I think it ignors words with three characters or less like "B15". I have problems finding threads I posted in. I usually try to guess what words I might have used, get several hundred hits and look for the little green arrows.

This is a good thread with a layout and info on the errors in TUT3.

http://music-electronics-forum.com/t11317/

Layout: http://music-electronics-forum.com/t17328/

Big thread about hum: http://music-electronics-forum.com/t22693/

And another: http://music-electronics-forum.com/t15809/

[loudthud]

so would you recommend using the 12at7 instead of the 6sl7?

I have a bunch of NOS 12AT7s. I haven't experimented with them very much except in phase inverters. Having been on this board for a number of years, I don't recall anyone ever saying they built a good sounding preamp with them. 6SL7s are the opposite, everybody loves them except for the hum issues that seem to follow the Russian built tubes available these days. A couple of people have said that circuits need to be tweeked for 12AT7s, you just can't shove them in 12AX7 circuits and expect good results. You can try them, but I think you will be losing the B15 magic.

Search hint: Try looking for B15N instead of just B15.