My Modded Vjr, Electro Swap!

[GrindCustoms]

Hi Y'all!

I got my Vjr in a trade couple months ago, what made me want to get that amp was the simplicity of modding it. It's now done..........well.........., there's still some stuff that i want to get done, but that's just to let the fun last.  

My evening picstory:

First of all, i needed to drill the chassis face plate to accomodate the added switch and knob.



I changed the response capacitors for NOS Russian PETP and the 100nf cap for a fish tank.....
Also change the 2 electros for some ELNA audio grade.



Once all the mods are installed.

From left to right you have:
Master Volume (Mod)
Gain Switch (Mod)
Bright Switch (Mod)
Negative Feedback Switch (Mod), that need to be wired to the 8ohms speaker outlet (the one i use the most)
Volume (Stock), now act as the preamp volume  
And input jack (Stock)

While i was at it i changed some 1M resistors with the Allen Bradley that Capt'N generously PIFed me Thanks Man!

I will later change the input jack and volume to they are directly wired to the pcb instead of using those quick connects



The components i removed!  



Completely assembled and ready to rock!



Now! The extreme make over!  

[nzCdog]

Now aint that cute
Nice job, looks like a fun project and the Vjrs are awesome

[raulduke]

Nice work mate!

I love the vernier dial style knobs.

So then... How's it sound?

Mod'ing amps is super fun isn't it.

[GrindCustoms]

Thanks guys

It really sounds better than it was, the bright switch is a necessity on that amp... the capacitors also did their job, i can now feel the sound....wich i could'nt before.

The other performed mods are cool and have their use aswell, having the master volume is great, i can now have a nice clean sound.

Just for info, i'm using a Sovtek EL84 and TungSol 12AX7, i'm waiting after some RCA 12AU7 clear top, i may put one in there to get it even cleaner......the other going into a BoobTube....wich will be used with this setup.

Anyone have an advice on wich power tube could help me to clean my signal even more?

Thanks

Rej

[jimmybjj]

Nice job! I didn't have to play around with the tubes but when I change the output transformer to a Hammond 125ese it went from a amp that sounded ok to amazing it also seemed to increase headroom. My friend was over when I did the mod and instantly made me a rediculous offer for it, so I no longer have it

[GrindCustoms]

Nice job! I didn't have to play around with the tubes but when I change the output transformer to a Hammond 125ese it went from a amp that sounded ok to amazing it also seemed to increase headroom. My friend was over when I did the mod and instantly made me a rediculous offer for it, so I no longer have it

Changing the OT is on the list but i can't seem to find some under 66$, it's always in my mouser cart...but everytime i checkout i take it off hoping i'll find a better deal before the next order....

I may do the hard-wired effect loop mod tomorrow, i realised that it was pretty easy to perform, but i think i'll have to install a buffer somewhere in there....

[GrindCustoms]

My dream have finally come true! I have an FXLoop on my Vjr! 

I tried it with and without a Buffer, does'nt seems to change anything, i will know better tomorrow at high volumes.

One thing that i have to mod is the switch, it need a 3PDT with the send with a ground link and a pulldown resistor, it got some serious pop when switching.... and since i will have a ground on the switch.........it will probably end with a LED party somewhere in there...

The pics!

While i was in that area, i changed the remaining 22uf 50v cap with a ELNA....so it looks like the others

[alanp]

Very tidily done! Any reason you didn't use a switching jack?

[jimmybjj]

Very nice, do you find it very useful?

[GrindCustoms]

Very tidily done! Any reason you didn't use a switching jack?

Thanks sir, yeah............i did'nt have any......, i got some coming in....

I will replace the switch with the switching jack and use the switch hole for the pentode/triode mod.

It does a nice POP when bypassed, wich i don't like too much...

Very nice, do you find it very useful?

Yeah, love it alot, this is my pedal testing amp, so being to test the reverb/delay/modulations in the loop is a big plus.

[timbo_93631]

Nice job! I didn't have to play around with the tubes but when I change the output transformer to a Hammond 125ese it went from a amp that sounded ok to amazing it also seemed to increase headroom. My friend was over when I did the mod and instantly made me a rediculous offer for it, so I no longer have it

Changing the OT is on the list but i can't seem to find some under 66$, it's always in my mouser cart...but everytime i checkout i take it off hoping i'll find a better deal before the next order....

I may do the hard-wired effect loop mod tomorrow, i realised that it was pretty easy to perform, but i think i'll have to install a buffer somewhere in there....

When the original OT in my '61 Supro started to die I got this Magnetic Components one for about $30USD from Triode Electronics and have never missed the original OT since:
http://www.classictone.net/40-18031.html
Nice to have multi taps in an amp that used to be 3.2 ohm secondary only!

[GrindCustoms]

Thanks for the link Timbo!

I just checked it, price is awesome but they 30$ to ship it to canada when it fits in a 5$ flat rate box.......


And by the way, my FXLoop did'nt work, i was overloading the crap out of my pedal input when running the amp at normal volumes....

[timbo_93631]

Yeah that's pretty steep...  I'd shoot triode electronics an email and see if that is really the price, they have a disclaimer about shipping rates being high using their calculator.  Seems like it should be around $15-$20.  FWIW I paid $11.95 for priority mail to California, that tansformer is pretty beefy so it seemed ok.

[GrindCustoms]

I swapped some of the electro's, RIFA and BC Phillips............for the mojo of it........

[jimmybjj]

Looks awesome! Did it change the bass response any?