@Kitarist88 Tubes.. I don't know, whatever I had lying around. I really stick a mix of tubes in and don't worry about matching. Matched tubes are give you more cleans, but unmatched power tubes give you more harmonic richness. I think it was a 1 ruby el84, a sovtek el84, a JJ 12ax7 in the pre amp and a NOS phillips 12ax7 in the PI. Stock transformers, celestion greenback speaker.
@hughesp Oh - and I've since replaced the OT with a custom wound one from hammond that sounds 1000 times better, and replaced the greenback speaker with an eminance Wizard. I like the amp a lot more now - I'll have to make a video sometime.
@PinkFZeppelin Thanks for the kind words. I did this over a year ago now... I think the chords were C#m and A (some form of those, anyway). Then just improvising in E Major.
@ferdiwarmanton well, yes and no... Using the blues junior transformers as I did, I don't believe the transformers are quite robust enough to handle the current draw of the EZ81 (I could be wrong). Likewise, you'll experience more voltage drop and won't get the voltages you want for an classic 18 watt sound. With a better power transformer and an EZ81, I'm sure it could sound even better, but that defeats the purpose of a conversion at that point, IMO.
Nice atmospheric playing!! Now how about a clip with just the raw tone of your amp and guitar, with the volume turned up a little more so the amp overdrives? It would be nice to hear how it sounds.
I'm thinkin of gettin this guitar .For those of us who can't afford a Mosrite. shit, these might be better. But what i need to know is does this guitar get you any pussy. Don't matter what level of pussy but does it do the job. And if it does ,what kind of pussy does it usually attract. Shit , i get nice quality puss with my Italia marrenello,but it has a flake finish. My duo jet gets nice puss too, cool let me know
the tuners are flashing like christmas lights haha! nice clean tone demo for the sidejack i really apreciate because i wanna buy this guitar in sunburst
Great playing and awesome sounding amp. I'm building one as well and cant decide what rectification to use. What did you use for the solid state rectification?
I used four 1N4007 diodes. The voltages work out pretty well with a bit of playing around with the power section. The voltages are a little lower than a lot of 18 watt PTs provide, so from my understanding solid state rectification is really the only way to go with these conversions.
@copilottheband None, just heavier duty, for the few extra cents I use the 007's as well, just one less thing to worry about for me, either will work fine.
The speaker is changed to a Celestion Greenback. The transformers are the same old ones, though. I'm sure they could be better, especially to OT, but I'm quite happy with the amp and get a lot of compliments on it all of the time.
no - it just comes out - kind of like a strat. Keep in mind, mine is a 2009 model - so it has the newer fender-jaguar style tremolo instead of the old burns unit.
This is the first video I have heard of someone tastefully playing an 18watt instead of all distorted. I am impressed by the way it sounds clean. Great playing by the way.
Did you manage to use the reverb pre-existing in the Blues Jr in your build or is that a pedal?
Thanks for the comments! I'm not quite savy enough to employ a reverb circuit in my amp builds... especially a solid state one that would re-use the old reverb pan. I've considered doing a fold-back reverb design, but haven't bothered yet as I really like the amp as is.. I'm using a really cheap First Act delay pedal for a bit of reverb in the clip (bought at a Toys R Us in the US!).
The 18 watt lite IIb is just a great sounding circuit.
@m0b1liz3 Unlikely on the reverb, BJ as you might know uses a solid state reverb driver, before I converted my lite IIb over to a TMB 18 watter, I had a 1 tube reverb from a layout from Hoffman amp's forum, required 1 tube socket 1 pot, a fender reverb transformer and reverb tank and of course a small turret board. Worked really slick, but if your looking for the Dick Dale deep reverb it'd require another tube I suspect.
Great sounding amp. Had I known I could make a Blues Jr sound like that, I probably would have stuck with it. I have a Rivera Amp now which I love to death but it was considerably more expensive than the Blues Jr.
Yeah, the new 2009 version seems to work pretty well. Not quite perfect, but better than most other tremolos I've ever had. It's a real improvement over the burns unit on the older ones.
Buddy, this sounds good. Very nicely done. I will subscribe, just in case you post more
lighteningboy 3 weeks ago
I've read mixed reviews about the fender style trem. How does it feel to you? Does it stay in tune well while using the trem?
shub10 2 months ago
I love your playing & loop this for hours!
My favorite 18watt clip! MOAR!!
EW57 11 months ago
what kind of delay are you using
Kitarist88 1 year ago
@Kitarist88 A first act delay bought at a toys R us a few years ago for $30! Nothing fancy here.
hughesp 1 year ago
Wow the amp sounds great its really dynamic. What kind of speakers did you use here and tubes. What kind of transfomers are here
Kitarist88 1 year ago
@Kitarist88 Tubes.. I don't know, whatever I had lying around. I really stick a mix of tubes in and don't worry about matching. Matched tubes are give you more cleans, but unmatched power tubes give you more harmonic richness. I think it was a 1 ruby el84, a sovtek el84, a JJ 12ax7 in the pre amp and a NOS phillips 12ax7 in the PI. Stock transformers, celestion greenback speaker.
hughesp 1 year ago
@hughesp Oh - and I've since replaced the OT with a custom wound one from hammond that sounds 1000 times better, and replaced the greenback speaker with an eminance Wizard. I like the amp a lot more now - I'll have to make a video sometime.
hughesp 1 year ago
@hughesp Please do, I'd love to hear that
lighteningboy 3 weeks ago
Hey man! Good work! This project is the same of Silvatone site? Amazing, congratulations!!!!
Srtarugas 1 year ago
@Srtarugas I think it basically is. 18watt.com is the place to go for info on the lite IIb circuit.
hughesp 1 year ago
Hey man! Good work! This project is the same of Silvatone site? Amazing, congratulations!!!
Srtarugas 1 year ago
Dude that was amazing. What was the chord progession you used for the looping. Also what key did you solo in?
PinkFZeppelin 1 year ago
@PinkFZeppelin Thanks for the kind words. I did this over a year ago now... I think the chords were C#m and A (some form of those, anyway). Then just improvising in E Major.
hughesp 1 year ago
That was fuckin good dude.
PinkFZeppelin 1 year ago
lovely sounding amp. congratulations.
pwgrahamster 1 year ago
that was just lovely
calamaya48 1 year ago
so im going to replay this a few times.. awesome style.. i just did the same thing to a valve junior, sick setup
JohnEffingWallace 1 year ago
Neighbours - enemy of every guitarist :)
kwyt 1 year ago 3
there is also the possibilty of using the EZ81 rectifier tube to get the sound without semiconductors
ferdiwarmanton 1 year ago
@ferdiwarmanton well, yes and no... Using the blues junior transformers as I did, I don't believe the transformers are quite robust enough to handle the current draw of the EZ81 (I could be wrong). Likewise, you'll experience more voltage drop and won't get the voltages you want for an classic 18 watt sound. With a better power transformer and an EZ81, I'm sure it could sound even better, but that defeats the purpose of a conversion at that point, IMO.
hughesp 1 year ago
Nice atmospheric playing!! Now how about a clip with just the raw tone of your amp and guitar, with the volume turned up a little more so the amp overdrives? It would be nice to hear how it sounds.
zaphodphil 1 year ago
I'm thinkin of gettin this guitar .For those of us who can't afford a Mosrite. shit, these might be better. But what i need to know is does this guitar get you any pussy. Don't matter what level of pussy but does it do the job. And if it does ,what kind of pussy does it usually attract. Shit , i get nice quality puss with my Italia marrenello,but it has a flake finish. My duo jet gets nice puss too, cool let me know
TheSonicmule 2 years ago
the tuners are flashing like christmas lights haha! nice clean tone demo for the sidejack i really apreciate because i wanna buy this guitar in sunburst
jks2 2 years ago
Great video! I'm researching the Eastwood Sidejack Dlx and your videos have just about convinced me!
LasPlagas54 2 years ago
Great playing and awesome sounding amp. I'm building one as well and cant decide what rectification to use. What did you use for the solid state rectification?
MrHaroldoftherock 2 years ago
I used four 1N4007 diodes. The voltages work out pretty well with a bit of playing around with the power section. The voltages are a little lower than a lot of 18 watt PTs provide, so from my understanding solid state rectification is really the only way to go with these conversions.
hughesp 2 years ago
@hughesp why 1n4007, if i may ask? i'm starting an 18W lite build, and I used some 1N4001s, I believe. What difference does it make, tonally?
copilottheband 1 year ago
@copilottheband None, just heavier duty, for the few extra cents I use the 007's as well, just one less thing to worry about for me, either will work fine.
DynaflowDonnie 1 year ago
@MrHaroldoftherock: there is also the possibilty of using the EZ81 rectifier tube to get the sound without semiconductors.
ferdiwarmanton 1 year ago
Is this the Baby Will 18 watt conversion?? Sounds amazing
bass1playa8 2 years ago
Nope, just bought a bunch of caps & resistors and wired it up on a turret board.
hughesp 2 years ago
That's a really sweet sound! Did you keep stock speaker and transformers??? Of course, your great playing is a big part of the sound.
Talisk3r 2 years ago
The speaker is changed to a Celestion Greenback. The transformers are the same old ones, though. I'm sure they could be better, especially to OT, but I'm quite happy with the amp and get a lot of compliments on it all of the time.
hughesp 2 years ago
do you have any photos of the guts? i am trying to do a similar blues jr to 18 watt lite IIB conversion. could use the visual help
billsaraceni 2 years ago
I don't have any pics like that. Mine is pretty messy though, and probably not the best example to follow!
hughesp 2 years ago
So you removed the tremolo arm? did you do it yourself, and if so, how?
QOTSA1337 2 years ago
no - it just comes out - kind of like a strat. Keep in mind, mine is a 2009 model - so it has the newer fender-jaguar style tremolo instead of the old burns unit.
hughesp 2 years ago
Are your tuners changing color? o.O
bladerunner12 2 years ago
nope, it is just the lighting combined with using an inexpensive camera that doesn't present colours completely accurately.
hughesp 2 years ago
This is the first video I have heard of someone tastefully playing an 18watt instead of all distorted. I am impressed by the way it sounds clean. Great playing by the way.
Did you manage to use the reverb pre-existing in the Blues Jr in your build or is that a pedal?
m0b1liz3 2 years ago
Thanks for the comments! I'm not quite savy enough to employ a reverb circuit in my amp builds... especially a solid state one that would re-use the old reverb pan. I've considered doing a fold-back reverb design, but haven't bothered yet as I really like the amp as is.. I'm using a really cheap First Act delay pedal for a bit of reverb in the clip (bought at a Toys R Us in the US!).
The 18 watt lite IIb is just a great sounding circuit.
hughesp 2 years ago
@m0b1liz3 Unlikely on the reverb, BJ as you might know uses a solid state reverb driver, before I converted my lite IIb over to a TMB 18 watter, I had a 1 tube reverb from a layout from Hoffman amp's forum, required 1 tube socket 1 pot, a fender reverb transformer and reverb tank and of course a small turret board. Worked really slick, but if your looking for the Dick Dale deep reverb it'd require another tube I suspect.
DynaflowDonnie 1 year ago
@m0b1liz3 That is a delay pedal I've got on this. No reverb at all.
hughesp 1 year ago
Hello!
Where did you find the conversion?
Can you show me? =]
Tks
BetinhoSM 2 years ago
so trippy...the tuning heads change colors!
timmonsisbest 2 years ago 6
I've got the older version, with the Burns trem. Am I just seeing things, or are your tuners flashing different colors?
gomer1021 3 years ago
he's got some christmas lights hooked up to that thing!
himomSLAYER 3 years ago
Great sounding amp. Had I known I could make a Blues Jr sound like that, I probably would have stuck with it. I have a Rivera Amp now which I love to death but it was considerably more expensive than the Blues Jr.
waspy89 3 years ago
Yeah, I think it's a pretty cool sounding amp... I still have to make some clips of it turned up - that's when it really comes to life!
hughesp 3 years ago
Love that tone! I have an Eastwood JR Elite myself. :)
ShinMilkManX 3 years ago
would love to get your thoughts on the new improved Sidejacks, does she stay in tune with tremolo use?
jackson27403 3 years ago
Yeah, the new 2009 version seems to work pretty well. Not quite perfect, but better than most other tremolos I've ever had. It's a real improvement over the burns unit on the older ones.
hughesp 3 years ago
Great playing!
TehZombie 3 years ago
Thanks!
hughesp 3 years ago