12V Ruby+Tremolo...very good, help me boost Ruby please!

[momo]

So I just finished the wireing on my Ruby project, some of you may be aware that I included the Heartthrob tremolo in the design all running on 12v. I just tested the rig, well I like the sound, a bit middish, but the spkr was not in the enclosure so I think I can extract a bit more low end once its in there. Now I have 2 issues, first is the fact that that Im using a 20k pot instead of 25 for the dwell on the tremolo, I will put a 25k once I get it. But for now when I turn the dwell off, it turns down almost shutting off the sound. Now if I can remember in my tests on the tremolo alone, when the dwell was off, it was at unity gain without the tremolo felt even if its still online.
I dont know if the 20 k is for something in that. (Signal flow is...input jack-tremolo-ruby input).

So since the tremolo is using transistors, could it be possible to jack up the signal at the output of the tremolo, to use it as a 'preamp'. so that I would have a stonger signal at the Ruby input?
That would be awsome, as I would have more volume and I guess more distortion on the gain pot.
thanks!

[momo]

Oh and I forgot to say that I have 2 35 watt 8ohm spkr.  I will try out a lower watt spkr, but I could not find any info on boosting the tremolo output, in my case, to have a stonger signal hitting the Ruby. I guess anything is possible....

[petemoore]

  I don't know whath HT Trem output section looks like.
  doesn't Ruby have a Jfet Input transistor?
  Well you could put an Omega between the Trem and Ruby.
  Depending on the ohmage of the speakers, the Ruby should be pretty 'hot' with a guitar driving it.
 

[momo]

Hmm, well thats a great idea, the thing is I dont have anymore space on my amp for more pots. I could do it but it would muck with the general layout, altough I guess I could use trimpots...( I have a metal 'bevel' with 4 pot holes, I would have to add the pots on other places on the amp. So I would rather if possible, muck with either the tremolo output, or the Jfet input tranny on the ruby, or the out put section on the Ruby.
Im guessing boosting the tremolo output would be the way to go.

A little note, my Heartthrob tremolo is on perf board, and so I can easily mod it. The Ruby is using the etched layout, so I could only modify by replacing components and not add.
thanks for the help!

[momo]

Im adding a related question, instead of starting a new thread.....wireing in series 2 spkrs adds the ohms. Then why am I reading 3.8 ohms on this setup? As far as I can see, the spkrs are wired in series.(they read 7.8 ohms each on the meter.) So just to clarify my setup, the spkr output from Ruby is going to spkr upfront on the right of the pic,(Ruby wires not plugged in on the pic) then I continue the link to the other spkr. Now as far as I know these are plugged in series.

I know that 4 ohms is better than 16 for output volume, I just dont understand the setup and why its doing the opposite that it should as far as Ohms calculations.

[rockgardenlove]

That looks like series to me alright.  Don't know why it would show up otherwise.

[momo]

Thanks Christian, Yaaa, thats what I think also, I checked the resistance again today, um, well yesterday, I was kind of very tired , but ya, I still get 4 ohms on 2 8 ohm spkrs in series, .
Whoooo is going to be the King debugger on this!, can it be the combination of the tremolo and Ruby?, Ive read in searches,lots of Rubys with added effects, no problem. This is driving me nuts cause its just 2 wires(they are in phase)- I checked the phase with a 9v battery.

At least I have the max volume possible at 4 ohms. I should maybe makeup a heat sink for the chip, like using the good thermal glue, but maybe on a coin.