Modding my XTC :)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Setneck
  • Start date Start date
pedal builder":1llpyvta said:
What would you say is the most effective/useful mod you have done aside from the recap.
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Depends what You're after. But all-around mod for everyone - besides the tone caps what is IMO essential - is removing C40 Excursion cap and changing dirty Treble pot to linear. For most users not fully satisfied with their XTC's tone those mods would be enough to be totally happy. It really opens the amp, make it more alive, more present.

From the other hand it shouldn't alter the tone, meaning that it should fully retain, simply even emphasize, original Bogner flavour, because first of all it removes famous "blanket effect". But the overall character of an amp stays the same IMO, despite above mods.

Rest of my mods are "mods to taste" actually. As I have said many times, my goal was to brighten the tone and make the amp more cutting on stage. The modding process was actually "trial of tears", some mods were left alone, some were "modified" further, some were reversed. But If I'd mod my amp again, knowing what I know about it now, I'd definitely start with C40 and Treble pot. Then I'd change PI output caps to 22nF, which opens up poweramp more.

Not till then I'd start modding preamp. But it is possible that after above mods I'd be satisfied only with changing 2nd gain stage to fixed 2.7k//1.5uF.

Complete mods list attached :)


Regards, Andy
 

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Setneck":mqnes0q0 said:
Clips:

RFT/Siemens: https://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... 84552&q=hi
=C='s: https://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... 84553&q=hi

Don't mind my crappy playing but hopefully You'll get how the amp sounds after the mods.

Regards, Andy :)
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Hi I listened to your amp and it really doesn't sound like a ecstasy anymore to my ears. How was your amp recorded. I have had several ecstasy 101b's over the years and have been selling the 20th anniversary for over a year now along with the kt88 Shiva's and I still Like my amp better than any of the ecstasy's I've heard. I will try to get a picture up of the board, its quite a bit different than any of the 101bs I've heard. I have 2 Bogner straight 4x12 cabs with the wheat grill and I like the sound of those cabs with V30s better than any of the new stuff. Back to the point, I think if you went with lower output pickups in your Paul's you would get that open Marshall tone your looking for without having to do all the mods. It's great that you understand how to perform all of these or you have had someone do this for you but I have heard about 150 or more of the ecstasy's over the last 20+ years of working in a shop and still think they sound best stock with Wing Cs and well for preamp tubes, I change my mind on those every few months depending on the gig. there just isn't one best one for every application. I do know the Bogner Likes EL34Ls and they are a very reliable tube from JJ but I still prefer wing C EL34. Your playing was fine for the demo, it wasn't 10 minutes of a guy sweep picking his nuts off. thanks for all the info and work you put into your post. I read everything you did to your amp and kind of wondered if you should have just bought a Marshall or a totally different amp.
 
I do know the Bogner Likes EL34Ls and they are a very reliable tube from JJ
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i tried a set of these since thats what the come with now and didnt care for the tone but also it seemed like didnt like the high plate voltage.
after about 5 hrs they started making strange noise "pings and cracking sounds after the amp was turned off :confused:
 
thinking about lowering the plate volts. currently at 510 with tubes 532 w/o tubes
 
and the strange thing is i had to change the bias resistor to get it in the right range :confused:
 
510-515V is correct B+ voltage in XTC. Mine amp, after changing trannies to MM, has about 500V there.

Your problem are the tubes IMO. Forget about a JJ crap, get a Shugs or =C='s. They will stand the B+ easy.

Regards, Andy :)
 
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