Suggestions for taming my amp's brightess - please help!

[zzmoore]

Re: Suggestions for taming my amp's brightess - please help!

Put a small-value capacitor across the outputs of the phase inverter tube or output transformer primary.

Yeah, I would be tempted to say the same thing.....a "fizz cap". But I am not sure if that is really what you are complaining about.
At any rate. it is a Real Easy Test on a hand wired amp. Not sure what the inside of your Laney presents to you.
Take a look at C16.
What is it... 48pF.? Something in the 50pF range is fine.
Strap it across the Phase Inverter plates and see what you get.
Crusty may have this solved for you. If not, you are only out a dollar.
ON the other hand, if it is just a matter of NOT turning your knobs past a certain point.....
best

http://www.el34world.com/charts/Schematics/files/marshall/jcm800_lead_50w_1987.pdf

 

[MrTondo]

Re: Suggestions for taming my amp's brightess - please help!

I second the idea of a speaker swap. That really is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways of drastically changing your sound. As for me, it would be V30's for drive sounds, yet they might not be the way to go for you, having a high treble amp. Especially since you admit not to like the general sound of the speaker, I would go to the store, get into looking at some cabs and different speakers and let your ears do the picking

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Suggestions for taming my amp's brightess - please help!

As for a speaker swap, I have a 2X12 cab with a Celestion V30 and a G12H. I decided to purchase a second 2X12 and loaded it with the WGS 'counterparts' to the Celestions; the Retro 30 and the Reaper HP. These speakers, although supposedly cloned after the Celestions, are warmer with definitely less treble. And the WGS Veteran 30 is claimed to be an even warmer clone of the V30, although I haven't tried one.

If you know anyone with any of these, see if you can try them with your amp. Most all comments I've ever read about most WGS is that they are warmer.

 

[jumble jumble]

Re: Suggestions for taming my amp's brightess - please help!

With the gain knob maxed, if I dial the tone knob above 1.5 and the treble knob above 4.5, the amp’s high frequencies become harsh and piercing.
Peace.

My suggestion is to dial the tone knob between 0 and 1.5 and to set the treble somewhere below 4.5.

 

[Rabelais]

Re: Suggestions for taming my amp's brightess - please help!

Thanks zzmoore, MrTondo, IM4Tone and jumble jumble. I'm afraid WGS speakers migh be a little hard to find where I live, but I'll surely try to find someone who has them. I'll also discuss with the amp tech about a possible fizz cap.
Cheers

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Suggestions for taming my amp's brightess - please help!

If you're going to see a tech about the possibility of the cap across the outputs of the phase inverter, be aware that he could also put a pot in series with it to create a 'cut' control as used on the Vox AC30 and Matchless DC30 and various other boutique amps. Of course doing that might mean drilling a hole to install the pot, but it could be a very useful addition to help with your amp's issue, and the parts would probably cost 3 or four dollars ... the work should be simple so a tech's fee should not be expensive.

The Vox uses a 250 Log (Audio) pot and a 0.0047 cap, Matchless uses the same pot but a 0.0022 cap.