Tweaker 40 Head - Choke Mod, OT Specs, 6V6 Tubes

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lil bunny fufu

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Hello,

I'm interested in doing a choke mod on my Tweaker 40 and am wondering what specs Egnater would recommend for a choke for it & exactly where to put it in the circuit.

I'd also like to replace the output transformer on it and am wondering what the primary impedance and DC per side recommendations / requirements would be.

Finally, I'd also like to know what changes, if any, would be required to use 6V6 power tubes in it instead of the 6L6s.

I have quite a bit of experience replacing op amps, resistors, caps, switches, and pots on mixing console & outboard gear circuit boards and feel relatively confident in the basic work involved, I'm just not that familiar with tube amp circuits. Even if I end up taking it to a local tech, I'd still like to have the above info so that I have a better idea of what I'm talking about if I take it in.
 
Why? What do you hope to accomplish? Or, is your OT bad?

If you want to add a choke, they are typically added between the first and second stage of the power supply for more filtering. Good luck getting specs from Egnater. :confused: It would be easier, as effective, to double the capacitance in the first stage of the power supply, but why?

As far as replacing the OT, as I see it you have two choices. 1) buy another from Egnater, which would be the same as the one that you have (not a good idea), 2) buy one from Mercury Magnetics. Contact MM for the specs on their transformer.

http://www.mercurymagnetics.com/pages/mainframe.htm

To use 6V6 in place of the 6L6, simply use a 6V6 that is rated for the higher Plate and screen voltages. I know that the "GT 6V6 S", the "JJ 6V6" and maybe the "EH 6V6" will work with no modification to the amp. Double check with the tube supplier about the "EH 6V6", but I believe that sites list them as being able to handle 475 VDC on the Plate, but you might have to increase the screen grid resistor value quite a bit to use them in this amp. I increased the value of my SGR in the HRDlx to 2K ohms, but probably should go to at least 5K ohm to use the EH. Of those three tubes, the "EH 6V6" sounds more like a 6V6 should sound in my HRDlx.

My recommendation, skip the choke and OT (unless your OT is bad). Replace the PT with a MM (since Egnater transformers suck) and use either the GT or JJ output tubes and be done with it. :thumbsup: I would be surprised if any tech would go near this amp for what you are asking. :thumbsdown:
 
Uhhh . . . thanks?

Its OK with me that you have an opinion about what, if any, alterations I should make to my amp, but I didn't post this inquiry here to get ideas or other peoples' opinions on it. The only reason I posted here is because, once again, my phone calls and emails directly to Egnater seem to have gone unnoticed or ignored. My guess is that they're probably still "busy". Oh, so "busy". And, the voicemail machine probably ate the message again and they never got it. And their inboxes are probably still so full that they're like email black holes.

I get the idea of folks being swamped and eternally running like their hair is on fire and their ass is catching but, as a paying customer looking for a little customer service, understanding doesn't make being functionally ignored any less aggravating. Hell, even a "Fuck you, we ain't telling you shit about shit." response would be better than no response at all.

The techs I have handy access to have always been happy to do pretty much whatever I ask about, provided that its technically feasible, that I'm willing to pay the bill, and that I'm comfortable accepting what I end up with. Your mileage may vary. I'd just take it in and talk to one of them, but it'd be nice to get the relevant technical info from Egnater first.

So, thanks for your thoughts, I guess, but all I'm really interested in is a little technical info from Egnater (or, I suppose, from a knowledgeable tech who's familiar with the amp).

Have a good one.
 
Listen to Lew, you're putting lipstick on a pig..
Tech advice from Egnater ? You'll win the lotto first!!
 
Listen to me: I'm not interested in your or Lew's or anyone else's opinion on what I should or shouldn't do with my amp.

If I were, I'd have asked you. My original post would have included hallmarks of soliciting opinions, such as, "hey, what do you think I should do?" or, "how do you think it would work if I . . . " You know, that kind of thing.
 
" I am interested in..." is soliciting an opinion on a forum.

I suggest leaving your attitude at the door..
 
In that case, thanks for indulging yourself by posting a reply that didn't provide any of the requested information.

I suggest taking your own advice about attitude.
 
lil bunny fufu":3cog768m said:
...The only reason I posted here is because, once again, my phone calls and emails directly to Egnater seem to have gone unnoticed or ignored. My guess is that they're probably still "busy". Oh, so "busy". And, the voicemail machine probably ate the message again and they never got it. And their inboxes are probably still so full that they're like email black holes...
Click to expand...

So you come to a public forum, with an attitude against the only couple of people that have offered some advice. I only answered because I noticed that a week after your post, still no one answered you. I did give all of the advice that I could, including the fact that Egnater isn't going to give you squat, as you should already know from your previously unanswered queries. Good luck waiting for some response from Egnater. ;)
 
No.

As has been stated, I posted here only in an attempt to make contact with Egnater staff because other communication avenues haven't proven fruitful.

I don't have an attitude against you - I don't even know you. I have an attitude against your presumption that you know what I want and/or need out of the amp and what I'm trying to do with the amp. It just rubs me the wrong way that you and daviedog don't have the technical info I said I was looking for and don't have any idea how I'm using the amp but nonetheless felt safe in telling me what to do with my amp anyway.

What would you think if I started giving you unsolicited, uninformed opinions on what you should do with your gear? Or if I essentially called you a grumpy ass when you reminded me that you weren't looking for my opinion on any of it in the first place?

None of this is hard, man. I'm just looking for some technical info here because Egnater can't seem to conduct customer communication worth a good goddamn. No offense, but what you posted hardly seemed to be the product of direct, first-hand knowledge of the amp.

Am I frustrated? Fuck yes, I'm frustrated.
 
Since this was at the forefront of my consciousness I called Egnater again and - wonders ever cease - Nate actually answered. He forwarded my inquiry to Bruce, no idea when Bruce might be able to get back to me. Que sera.

Maybe what a guy needs to do if he needs to get in touch w/ Egnater is keep calling a couple / few times a day? I dunno . . .

NOTE TO EGNATER STAFF: A simple, quick email response that you got the email, you read it, and you were working on it would've been nice.

<I've now unsubscribed from this thread.>
 
I did answer Chris via email with some questions. Have not heard back yet.
 
Follow-up:

Bruce Egnater has been corresponding with me on these items directly via email; he's been approachable, accommodating, helpful, and engaged and he's got me squared away with what I needed and then some.

I was frustrated about how tough it seemed to be to make contact but, once they were on it, Egnater folks came through for me.
 
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