How do i do this simple mod on my amp?!

[Maximusgordon 2.0]

Hey everyone,
New forum is lookin good, its no good that we all had to loose our status, oh well, i have rebirthed as Maximusgordon 2.0, why you ask? Not sure, why not!?

Anyways, i was reading Budda's newsletter and apparently there supposed to be a mod that they can up with that makes the amp sound more like a Marshall. It says: "Craig and Jeff worked on pulling off the 156k resistor from the mid pot. By clipping it's wings the 80 becomes......" and then says to give em a call if they wanted to send there amp in to have it modded. But, the mod sounds pretty simple, couldn't i just do it myself if i found the resistor and cut it? Which on is it? Is it really that simple?

Thanks

 

[mrid]

If you need to ask how to do it, then I'd send in your amp. Those are pretty straight-forward directions, and you run the risk of injuring yourself if you don't know what to do based on the quote.

 

[Maximusgordon 2.0]

I looked inside and im almost positive how to do it, but when it comes to my amps i really wanna be sure. I opened the amp up and looked in the chasis, found the mid pot, i know i just would clip the resistor (ive done it before), i am just making sure its the right one... Humor me!!!

 

[Gearjoneser]

I doubt it'll do anything other than alter the tone of the mids, which they said is an improvement, so it's worth trying.

Just unsolder one end of that resistor and see what the difference is. Another option is to find a Budda authorized tech
and pay him to dial the amp to your taste. If he has the time,
he may tonally tweak it till you basically have a new amp.

 

[mrid]

I looked inside and im almost positive how to do it, but when it comes to my amps i really wanna be sure. I opened the amp up and looked in the chasis, found the mid pot, i know i just would clip the resistor (ive done it before), i am just making sure its the right one... Humor me!!!

OK, then. Yes, you've found the right one. The resistor is apparently just doubling the value of the 80k tone pot, so cut the sucka.

 

[Pandemonium]

Sell it and buy a Marshall. :smokin:

 

[Maximusgordon 2.0]

Alright then. The reason i was so apprehensive is because it also says "This will make the bass control act like an active pot", why would cutting a mid pots value change the bass pot in that way? What do they mean, that the bass wont be interactive and will be more of a linear type? Im sure it cant mean that it would boost bass like an active pot when it past "5", that wouldnt make sense. Can someone clarify? The mod is supposed to quicken attack time and aggression and also (the selling point for me) make the bass less heavy and more pronounced.

 

[Maximusgordon 2.0]

Sell it and buy a Marshall. :smokin:

No! I've played my share of Marshalls and this is simply a better amp, no Marshall ive played has been as pure as this amp, minus the old Plexis. But the Plexis dont have the headroom or cleans or gain etc. that this amp has. I like the idea of this mod mostly because the idea of having the voice of this amp to have that sound that amps get (mostly old ones) when they have a lot of bass but the bass isnt so CHUGGA CHUG if you know what i mean, old Marshalls have that. And when i want Chucca Chug, i can pull the "modern" voicing on the mid pot or even use a good pedal if i must.

 

[rspst14]

Before you go poking around inside the amp, it is absolutely crucial that you properly discharge the filter capacitors. If you don't know how to do this, take it to a tech and have him do it. These capacitors store enough charge to potentially kill you.

Ryan

 

[MDS]

You could also add a switch with the resistor on it. This would let you switch it back and forth from stock to your modded EQ circuit.

In response to how it'll effect the circuit, I'll say this: Passive EQs are vevy counterintuitive. We're kind of sold thd idea that the treble nob effects the treble, mid the mids, etc. but they do far more than that. Each nob effects the whole EQ curve in a typical EQ design. For example, the traditional Fender EQ isn't flat unless you put the mid on 10 and the bass and treble close to zero. Do a search for the Duncan Amp Tools Tone Stack Calculator online. This little app shows you how different designs and different value effect the way the pots work....interesting stuff...

Definitely be careful with the filter caps. You should discharge them before digging around in your amp, though the tone stack is most likely no where near the filter caps...

Mike

 

[Maximusgordon 2.0]

Yah, i know that passive pots are counteractive, but im just not sure if active pots are... anyone know?

 

[Pandemonium]

I like the idea of this mod mostly because the idea of having the voice of this amp to have that sound that amps get (mostly old ones) when they have a lot of bass but the bass isnt so CHUGGA CHUG if you know what i mean, old Marshalls have that.

Yep, I know exactly what you mean, just kiddin wit ya.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Have you ever asked Budda if your amp could be biased for
EL-34's? It would be interesting to see how fine tuned you
could get that amp, since it's such a good platform for tone.

 

[Maximusgordon 2.0]

Have you ever asked Budda if your amp could be biased for
EL-34's? It would be interesting to see how fine tuned you
could get that amp, since it's such a good platform for tone.

Actually that was one of the first things i asked about, even before i bought it actually. They said that it couldn't do EL34's unfortunently, only 6L6/5881 and 6550's. I guess i could if i really wanted to but i really wouldnt trust anyone to do it, plus its already set up for 6L6 real well. Luckily for me, a lot of the things i like about EL34 amp show up in this one anyway; it has a sweetness and creaminess in the mids that i normally only hear in great EL34 amps. But i also get the headroom and low end punch of the 6L6. What i think is so great about the amp has ecerything to do with the way the pre amp and power amp interact. I can roll the guitar's volume pot way down and still sound sparkily and muddless and have a feeling of great headroom, then go full up and get a killer break up from the tubes which i love. Its incredible, single notes sound so big and phat but not at the expense of dynamics, even with tons of gain if i play soft it cleans up, i never thought i could get a tone that would sound so phat and smooth yet be uncompressed and keep incredible dynamics. Even though they only have 6 knobs, I swear ive gotten a wider range of great tones out of this than any 3 channel amp ive ever used (no, Gearjonser i havent ever played a Ecstacy!) .... ill shut up now, but ill just say that those Budda guys know there stuff!

 

[Maximusgordon 2.0]

Oh yah, Gearjonser do u know why the mod would make the bass control act like an active pot? They probably mean its just a linear bass control?