wagdog
Ack
A little behind in posting this.
I've got a Marshall Class 5 I picked up on craigslist a while ago. It was OK sounding, not great. I modded it, it got better, a lot better. This past week, I went a little crazy with it. It's not done yet, but here's where it's at:
I reconfigured the cathode follower to be another gain stage prior to the tone stack.
I added a volume control after the tone stack.
I made the cathode bypass on the new gain stage configurable with a 3-way switch - it has a .47uf, 2.2uf and 4.7uf switchable cap - this is pretty cool 'cause you can tone down the bass response for humbucker guitars.
The first gain stage has a switchable cathode bypass as well, but only two settings: .47uf and 4.7uf + the .47uf.
The second gain stage cathode also has a switch to lower the cathode resistor value and get more gain. MOAR GAIN IS GOOD, <evil laugh>.
I liked the sound of it through my MESA 1x12 cab with a black shadow, so I ordered a back shadow and sliced and diced up the cab. I'm going to need to front mount the speaker so it will fit. It *should* fit... I hope. If it doesn't, I'll have to cut a spacer ring to move out more in front.
I'm still waiting for the new speaker, should be here Wednesday. The speaker in the pics is an old, tired, fender speaker - doesn't sound good in this amp. The mods sound great. It's LOUD.
Pre-slice and dice:
Extra vol control installed after tone stack.
12" speaker is going to be a tight fit. The tubes are very close to the speaker.
Old nasty grill.
I used the old baffle to make a frame for the new grill cloth.
New baffle cut from plywood. The new grill frame is below it.
Speaker fits. (that's an old cruddy fender speaker)
Cathode bypass cap switch(es) and gain switch.
New switches on the front.
New grill cloth mounted on frame. I used the old piping. I ordered new piping, but didn't need it... maybe I'll build a matching external 1x12 cab?
Waiting on the speaker to finish it off.
I've got a Marshall Class 5 I picked up on craigslist a while ago. It was OK sounding, not great. I modded it, it got better, a lot better. This past week, I went a little crazy with it. It's not done yet, but here's where it's at:
I reconfigured the cathode follower to be another gain stage prior to the tone stack.
I added a volume control after the tone stack.
I made the cathode bypass on the new gain stage configurable with a 3-way switch - it has a .47uf, 2.2uf and 4.7uf switchable cap - this is pretty cool 'cause you can tone down the bass response for humbucker guitars.
The first gain stage has a switchable cathode bypass as well, but only two settings: .47uf and 4.7uf + the .47uf.
The second gain stage cathode also has a switch to lower the cathode resistor value and get more gain. MOAR GAIN IS GOOD, <evil laugh>.
I liked the sound of it through my MESA 1x12 cab with a black shadow, so I ordered a back shadow and sliced and diced up the cab. I'm going to need to front mount the speaker so it will fit. It *should* fit... I hope. If it doesn't, I'll have to cut a spacer ring to move out more in front.
I'm still waiting for the new speaker, should be here Wednesday. The speaker in the pics is an old, tired, fender speaker - doesn't sound good in this amp. The mods sound great. It's LOUD.
Pre-slice and dice:
Extra vol control installed after tone stack.
12" speaker is going to be a tight fit. The tubes are very close to the speaker.
Old nasty grill.
I used the old baffle to make a frame for the new grill cloth.
New baffle cut from plywood. The new grill frame is below it.
Speaker fits. (that's an old cruddy fender speaker)
Cathode bypass cap switch(es) and gain switch.
New switches on the front.
New grill cloth mounted on frame. I used the old piping. I ordered new piping, but didn't need it... maybe I'll build a matching external 1x12 cab?
Waiting on the speaker to finish it off.