Gerald Weber Sig Amp

[tedmich]

Wow amp porn!


Kendrick Amplifiers Online Store: Gerald Weber Signature Amp

they say all the circuits are unique??!

$8k ulp!


Mojo ain't cheap apparently...

[MWJB]

Circuits in many cases are evolutions/developments of Western Electric circuits, like those used in tweed Fenders. They do make much cheaper amps than that, this amp is Gerald's "flagship" amp & therefore was always going to be a premium price...it does come with a flight case...

Prices generally are not out of synch with other boutique builders such as Victoria, Carr, Clark.

[Loogie]

I wonder if its available without the chrome strip.

[truth_hz]

"All non-polarized capacitors are installed in proper polarity to prevent hum (this is an important process that has been ignored by virtually all amp builders)."


really...? can't be serious...

[fyl]

really...? can't be serious...

"Why is the outside foil marked?

Why do the capacitor manufacturers go to the trouble of marking the outside foil with a band? Aren't electrolytic capacitors the only ones where polarity matters? While it it true that polarity on a non-electrolytic capacitor doesn't matter, signal-wise, the outer foil is marked because it can be used as a shield against electric field coupling into the capacitor. In order to take advantage of the shielding properties of the outside foil, the capacitor must be connected in the circuit in a particular orientation.
"

Where to connect outside foil on capacitors

[JoeM]

"All non-polarized capacitors are installed in proper polarity to prevent hum (this is an important process that has been ignored by virtually all amp builders)."


really...? can't be serious...

Certainly that alone makes it worth 8K!

[Bruce / Mission Amps]

"Why is the outside foil marked?

Why do the capacitor manufacturers go to the trouble of marking the outside foil with a band? Aren't electrolytic capacitors the only ones where polarity matters? While it it true that polarity on a non-electrolytic capacitor doesn't matter, signal-wise, the outer foil is marked because it can be used as a shield against electric field coupling into the capacitor. In order to take advantage of the shielding properties of the outside foil, the capacitor must be connected in the circuit in a particular orientation.
"

Where to connect outside foil on capacitors

Except the most all the cap manufactures don't mark the outside foil of coupling caps and even admit it is a waste of time if you ask.

[truth_hz]

"Why is the outside foil marked?

Why do the capacitor manufacturers go to the trouble of marking the outside foil with a band? Aren't electrolytic capacitors the only ones where polarity matters? While it it true that polarity on a non-electrolytic capacitor doesn't matter, signal-wise, the outer foil is marked because it can be used as a shield against electric field coupling into the capacitor. In order to take advantage of the shielding properties of the outside foil, the capacitor must be connected in the circuit in a particular orientation.
"

Where to connect outside foil on capacitors

huh, I did not know that. Learn something new everyday...

Is this a possible reason there are a million "this coupling cap sounds different" threads

[MWJB]

8K is cheap compared to some...

[Steve Conner]

Except the most all the cap manufactures don't mark the outside foil of coupling caps and even admit it is a waste of time if you ask.

I agree it's an utter waste of time.

After all, hum gets onto the outside foil by capacitive coupling from the surroundings. Now, what's between the outside foil and the inside foil? A capacitor! And one much bigger than the stray capacitance that the hum got in through.

This says to me that anything that couples onto the outside foil will go straight through to the inside one. Unless the outside foil is grounded, but film caps in guitar amps are almost never connected like that.

The Kendrick amp is beautiful, though.

No, I don't think it would be available without the chrome strip, because it hides the join between the two baffle boards.

[MWJB]

"No, I don't think it would be available without the chrome strip, because it hides the join between the two baffle boards."...and protects the grill cloth at the apex of the V front...but I guess once you've paid your $8K it's yours and you can unscrew whatever bits you like...a nice bit of duct tap would conceal the join! ;-)

[Steve Conner]

Yeah! NOS cryo duct tape of course

For 8k I'd at least have expected him to plug up the unused holes in the chassis...

[Robert M. Martinelli]

Oh, and while we're at it, what about the plexiglass "see-through" back panel?
Definitely a triumph of "appearance over function"....Good if you want to look at your amp's guts all the time, good to keep your fingers from touching something when the amp's on, get electrocuted and go straight to (amp's) heaven, but a little less effective in shielding the d@mn thing from the outer world's (electromagnetic) noise. What's the use of building the thing inside a Faraday cage and then leave the cage open?

Well' I guess if you're up to spend $ 8K for that amp, you'll at least have the common sense of keeping it cosy and warm at home, leaving it off at all times and spend your time just looking at it instead of playing your guitar.

Cheers

Bob

[MWJB]

I don't know whether the amp actually ships with the plexiglass panel, I doubt it (GWSA owners feel free to chime in....), Gerald is aware of the benefits of shielding (though Leo apparently wasn't in the 50's & neither are some other "boutique" builders that I could mention). Amp should be cosy & warm at all times, at home or not, due to the flight case included in the purchase price. If I had spent 8K on an amp I think I'd play it. If you can afford it why not...Fenders were much more expensive in real terms back in the day, compared to high end reissue & reproductions are today, people still took them out & worked with them.

If you just want to look at it, some photos of it would be cheaper & do the job.

[Robert M. Martinelli]

I don't know whether the amp actually ships with the plexiglass panel, I doubt it (GWSA owners feel free to chime in....), Gerald is aware of the benefits of shielding (though Leo apparently wasn't in the 50's & neither are some other "boutique" builders that I could mention).

Mark,
I beg your pardon, it wasn't my intention to insult anyone or to raise doubts about Mr. Weber's skills, I am sure he's waaaay more knowledgeable than I am, I was only trying to highlight the "oddity" (or not?) of form and appearance "triumphing" over function, as nowadays I see it happening almost everywhere.

Respectfully

Bob