SLO looks fairly simple inside

[akoch]

Twisteramp, just looking at your pictures of the clone and original SLO... looks like a simple amp, not very much to it. Even my Decatone seems to have a more interestingly looking PCB with a bit more components. What do you think, the simplicity is deceptive there, or the trick is in the transformers, or? The gain structure and feel is still different on the Soldanos, don't you find?

I mean - take the VHT's PCB, it looks quite a bit more complex, even for the two-channel 50CL.

[Firebird V]

They do look very simple inside. i think it is just the quality of the parts and trannys + the very rigid spec of the parts inside that make it what it is.

I love them!

[horns666]

Cleveland John sent me pics of the inside of a Uberschall..that thing looks nuts. He has them, I can't post pics..I'm computerly gay.

[akoch]

please post the pics. I have the pics of the VHT 50CL guts too.

[Twisteramps]

Simple isn't bad, IMHO... neither is complex. Bottom line is, how does it sound? I've heard awesome sounding complex looking amps and complex looking amps that sounded like crap to me, same as for simple ones. It's still fun to look at amp porn though!

Pete

[jgcable]

Simple isn't bad, IMHO... neither is complex. Bottom line is, how does it sound? I've heard awesome sounding complex looking amps and complex looking amps that sounded like crap to me, same as for simple ones. It's still fun to look at amp porn though!

Pete

The inside of my Mesa Stiletto is extremely neat. The chassis is even chrome plated. Everything is perfect but I got to tell you.. there is a ton of components and boards in there!!

[akoch]

Well, there is certain complexity to Soldano's sound, both harmonically and to the gain structure. I guess I was wondering where it was coming from. Being a techie, it is easier for me to justify it coming from the VHT amp for example. I entirely realise that a simple looking amp can sound awesome. Though usually the sound structure is less complex as well, while still awesome.

[Twisteramps]

Akoch - I just finished reading an interview in one of my amp books with Ken Fischer, the Trainwreck amp guy. His thought was every switch, every extra inch of wire that wasn't absolutely necessary compromised and messed with the tone. It's a pretty interesting read - he even goes into different types of wire and how they sound, even how the type of insulation can affect the tone. He probably had Eric Johnson ears, but ya never know!

Oh, btw - the main reason the SLO imho is so simple is because it shares EQ with both channels, and is basically a marshall that's been hotrodded to hell and back. Look at an old plexi, and compared to a new amp you'll think there aren't enough parts for it to work!

[Fretburner]

Guts

Here's my Ecstasy guts. LOL

[akoch]

Looks like a 'proper' amp to me Personally, this is what I would rather see inside - good quality PCBs, direct mounted pots, minimum p-t-p wiring, short runs, high quality components.

I don't know how to post pictures, but the VHT guts look somewhat similar.

[horns666]

that's a Bogner alright!!

[RacerX]

I don't know how to post pictures,

Here ya go, dude: http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29708

[Twisteramps]

Looks like a 'proper' amp to me Personally, this is what I would rather see inside - good quality PCBs, direct mounted pots, minimum p-t-p wiring, short runs, high quality components.

I don't know how to post pictures, but the VHT guts look somewhat similar.

Errgh, you'd rather see PCB mounted pots, PCB mounted tube sockets and small capacitors? I guess I'm more a vintage amp kinda guy... but again, it's all about how it sounds, not just how it looks.

Pete

[akoch]

"Errgh, you'd rather see PCB mounted pots, PCB mounted tube sockets and small capacitors? I guess I'm more a vintage amp kinda guy... but again, it's all about how it sounds, not just how it looks. "

Pete, no need to ridicule it here. But no, I am NOT 'a vintage amp kinda guy', that's for sure. I appriciate improvements and good technology. P-t-p for the sake of 'vintage' thingy I am not interested in, it does not sound any better to me (never mind production consistency). I will take a well-designed and well-executed modern amp over a vintage one any day. Now am I going to be slaughtered here?

[slo100]

I see it as more of an issue with reliability, durability, and serviceability. Amps with components directly mounted to the board are cheaper to produce. However, this introduces risk in terms of board mounted tube sockets due to heat and pressure on the board when replacing tubes. If a tube socket needs to be replaced on an amp with board mounted tubes it is 100 times more complex than an amp with chassis mounted sockets. Same goes for potentiometers, jacks, etc.

The heat issue is especially so for power tube sockets. Much of the heat no absorbed by the (hopefully ceramic) socket gets transferred to the board. In that case you hope the engineer spec'd the appropriate stength board material to take that. Also, if users are not careful about removing tubes from their sockets, i.e. gently rocking them out vs. forcefully yanking on them, a board mounted tube socket is much more prone to cracking the board. At that point the whole board has to be replaced many times including three (or one) other tube sockets also resident on the board.

Here's an example:

My little Soldano SP77 has board mounted pots. I had to change one out do to a broken shaft. I had to disassemble the entire thing to remove the board. Then change out the pot and reassemble. A very time consuming process. Had it been chassis mounted I would have just needed to replace the pot as you would on a guitar.

I have a 1970 super bass that came to me with a shorted output tube socket. The amp had been on fire (literally) around the area on the inside of the chassis on that particular socket. I was able to replace the socket and rewire it easily. Had this been a board mounted socket it would have fried the entire thing making the repair way more complicated and expensive (especially if a shop did it).

My SLO has chassis mounted sockets, pots, and jacks. My Ecstasy has board mounted components. It is not necessarily a vintage vs. modern things or even a quality amp vs. cheapo amp thing. Just construction and manufacturing design.

Now pray my Bogner never breaks! LOL!