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A few general questions
Well this past week it turns out has been enlightening for me so... before I go back to the drawing board I've a few "general questions" I'd like answered first regarding circuit design.
1.) What is the advantage of a "dual rectifier" PS design like that employed in several models of Mesa Boogie amps? My thinking is 1st the obvious, the ability to switch between a sag-less SS rectifier & a "saggy" tube rectifier & by doubling up tube rectifiers allows for a larger reservoir cap resulting in less ripple to be employed. Is this correct?
2.) What is the advantage of a concertina reservoir? Is it solely to allow the use of lower voltage caps or is there something else to it?
3.) I'd like to create a low power (12-18 watt) amplifier with a very classic Fender sound or tone, or to put it another way a bright very single coil pickup friendly amp, scooped mid (perhaps with a switch to a more "peaked" or "punchy" mid option) & a good strong, powerful bass yet a bit more "modern" sound mainly for country, blues, classic (early to mid 60's) rock. I want a smooth, punchy clean sound & a very musical overdriven sound that's not muddy & only approches full blown distortion when run full out. I'm not after a heavy metal/shredder style amp per se, only if that's the way to get the kind of tone I'm after. I'd also prefer it more simplistic control wise, so the fewer switches & knobs the better in my opinion. That said I'm thinking of a "beefier" kind of Princeton design (or somewhere between a BF Princeton & a blonde Bandmaster) & after careful re-thinking of some of my earlier designs which haven't managed to "pass muster" will leave me with an unused triode just sitting there. How can I make best use of the extra triode in accomplishing my goals... a "switchable" cascaded 2nd stage, a single triode effects loop, or can I employ a LTP instead of cathodyne PI without "overpowering" the OT?
I may have a few more questions before I can finally put this project to rest but for now answers to the burning questions should keep me placated for a little while & as always many thanks for your assistance & expertise.
1.) What is the advantage of a "dual rectifier" PS design like that employed in several models of Mesa Boogie amps? My thinking is 1st the obvious, the ability to switch between a sag-less SS rectifier & a "saggy" tube rectifier & by doubling up tube rectifiers allows for a larger reservoir cap resulting in less ripple to be employed. Is this correct?
2.) What is the advantage of a concertina reservoir? Is it solely to allow the use of lower voltage caps or is there something else to it?
3.) I'd like to create a low power (12-18 watt) amplifier with a very classic Fender sound or tone, or to put it another way a bright very single coil pickup friendly amp, scooped mid (perhaps with a switch to a more "peaked" or "punchy" mid option) & a good strong, powerful bass yet a bit more "modern" sound mainly for country, blues, classic (early to mid 60's) rock. I want a smooth, punchy clean sound & a very musical overdriven sound that's not muddy & only approches full blown distortion when run full out. I'm not after a heavy metal/shredder style amp per se, only if that's the way to get the kind of tone I'm after. I'd also prefer it more simplistic control wise, so the fewer switches & knobs the better in my opinion. That said I'm thinking of a "beefier" kind of Princeton design (or somewhere between a BF Princeton & a blonde Bandmaster) & after careful re-thinking of some of my earlier designs which haven't managed to "pass muster" will leave me with an unused triode just sitting there. How can I make best use of the extra triode in accomplishing my goals... a "switchable" cascaded 2nd stage, a single triode effects loop, or can I employ a LTP instead of cathodyne PI without "overpowering" the OT?
I may have a few more questions before I can finally put this project to rest but for now answers to the burning questions should keep me placated for a little while & as always many thanks for your assistance & expertise.