Flipster build report

[Meanderthal]

 Well, I finally got round to building one. Yes, it really does have an Ampeg personality, although it will never 'grab the air' like a tube amp...

I used all j201, having tried MPS102 for q4, I personally preferred the higher gain on the last stage- more headroom before distortion. It biased up like a dream! When I built the Thunderchief, the trannys squirmed and fought me, they resisted being biased like they were deliberately trying to avoid working or something(but eventually they behaved). This build, I simply dialed in (close to) 4.5v with no trouble at all. Later, I tweaked them by ear, which led to an even more Ampeggish tone! Q2(especially) and Q3 made a big difference when tweaking by ear...

Yeah, I'm a happy camper with this one! I'm pretty sure it'll replace my TS9.

Thanks, ROG! 

[jlullo]

i've been thinking about building this for our bassplayer as well to compare with the ts808 that i built for him... does it get nice and gritty?

[col]

I really like the one I built but our current bass player isn't over keen on it. It knocked the crap out of an old Marshall solid state bass combo I fixed and made it sound like a proper bass amp.

[Meanderthal]

does it get nice and gritty?

More grit than I'll ever need!  Yep, it actually had too much for my taste with the MPF102 in q4, but the j201 tamed it a bit.

Also, by tweaking the trimpots, you can get more distortion than the suggested 4.5v if ya want, but it has plenty as is.

I intend to use it as a mild overdrive like I do my TS9, to sorta imitate a tube sound... and being a long time Ampeg owner, that's the tube sound I'm trying to imitate. Sorta.

Why don't I use my V4b and just be done with it? Heh- because it'll never sound anything like a good Solid State, but you can sorta fake a tube sound from a SS amp... plus the damn thing sounds a little different every time I turn it on(moody). Naah, for live use I'll take SS...

[jlullo]

i'll have to give it a shot!  our bassplayer plays through an ampeg svt, but since he plays with his fingers he could use a little bit of filth

[Meanderthal]

 Then, filth he shall have!

No wonder he needs a bit o' dirt... if he has the coffin cab(I do, but the 1 15, 4 10, horn version, not the 8 10) to go with that SVT, he would need to cause earthquakes to get that rig to distort much! The V4b is only 100 watts, but the SVT coffin cabs are so efficient, I can't stand it myself turning up past half.. (and everyone else is yelling "knock it off!") yet that's when those Ampegs really start to sound rich.

Oh, BTW, I use a pick(usually, except when technique demands otherwise), and yes, it's much louder than fingers. Til ya kick on the compressor, anyway.

Maybe I should use a smaller crappy cab, but I just love the way it shakes yer guts... to me there's just no way around it...

Speaking of which, I haven't tested it thru that yet(not til sat, it's at the drummer's house), but I'm confident it'll sound even better!

Now... back to the enclosure...(working on that right now)It's going into a 3-effect enclosure, along with the Brassmaster and the Hog's Foot. Bit of a PITA, but oughtta save room on the pedalboard...

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

  I can't stand it myself turning up past half.. (and everyone else is yelling "knock it off!") yet that's when those Ampegs really start to sound rich.
.... Maybe I should use a smaller crappy cab, but I just love the way it shakes yer guts... to me there's just no way around it...

This is interesting reading, compared to the thread elsewhere about the bass player that is to loud!
I suggest that all bass players be made to wear those 'thumper' backpacks that jolt computer game players

[Meanderthal]

 Just an update- after testing it thru my serious rig, I found it a bit lacking in bottom end, so I changed out all the decoupling caps for 1uf box caps, and that did the trick. I left the tonestack alone, I prefer both bass and treble all the way up.

It does not like being after the Hog's foot...   

[MartyMart]

Just an update- after testing it thru my serious rig, I found it a bit lacking in bottom end, so I changed out all the decoupling caps for 1uf box caps, and that did the trick. I left the tonestack alone, I prefer both bass and treble all the way up.

I seem to remember doing this to mine also 
I may have used 470n's though .... It's a superb bass "toy" !