Idle thumbs, curiosity, thought i'd try some Crack..

[Doc B]

I think they have a 12 step program for that.

Yeah, which includes buying 8 more Crack kits.

 

[mcandmar]

Step 1: Admit we were powerless over our addiction.

Yup, i am

I like the new transformer design, makes for neater wiring too.  Green filament wiring is a nice touch too.  Only thing i would change in the manual is the IEC inlet wiring, red for neutral and black for live makes no sense to nobody.  Sticking with the US convention it should really be black for neutral and white for live.

 

[JamieMcC]

Neat I like the vintage look to the corners

So what’s the verdict on those big red Chinese caps ?

 

[Doc B]

Sticking with the US convention it should really be black for neutral and white for live.

That is backwards. White is neutral and black is live in US AC wiring.

The amp looks great!

 

[mcandmar]

Neat I like the vintage look to the corners

So what’s the verdict on those big red Chinese caps ?

Really good actually.  I first used them in the DV amplifier and was impressed by them, seems the same as a JFX or Mundorf from what i can tell. They were only €13 each https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1pcs-Audiophiler-MKP-100uF-250V-Audio-Grade-AXIAL-Capacitor-for-Tube-Guitar-Amps/32780470512.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.vcfrxY

That is backwards. White is neutral and black is live in US AC wiring.

The amp looks great!

Dangit, you mean all these years i have been using my tube tester wired backwards :

 

[mcandmar]

Step 2: Find a Power Greater Than Yourself.

Well, this one was by request. Build a black crack with a very dark wood polished to a high gloss finish.  Challenge accepted!

Wood stain is Indian Rosewood which gave a lovely black/brown colour to the grain which really stands out in direct sunlight.  Top coat was about a dozen thin layers of clear poly followed by lots of elbow grease wet sanding to a flat finish.  Finally the finish was buffed using a dual action polisher and cutting compound to a mirror finish.  The photos really don't do it justice as it was a gray overcast day when i took them.

 

[JamieMcC]

Nice work Mark

 

[ALL212]

You keep at this you're going to get good at building these.  ;D

Very nice work as usual!

 

[BZ58]

Yes excellent and neat work!

If you take more pictures I would like to request that you take some close up angles of your Speedball soldering. I'm going to be adding it in a few weeks and would like to have as much reference as possible.

 

[adeep42]

Wow, that is some fine work.

Does the Alps Blue Pot require any mods and is the wiring the same as the standard pot?

 

[mcandmar]

If you take more pictures I would like to request that you take some close up angles of your Speedball soldering. I'm going to be adding it in a few weeks and would like to have as much reference as possible.

I didn't take any pics of those areas, but the manual will be all that you need to install it.

Does the Alps Blue Pot require any mods and is the wiring the same as the standard pot?

The pin out is the same, only issue is the pot has pins instead of solder lugs.  Solution is to bend the pins, and the end of the wires into a hook shape so you can mechanically link them together before soldering.

 

[mcandmar]

The curiosity was too much, i just had to know what a Crackatwoa was like 8)

Simple recipe for this one, polished chassis plate with stainless hardware, Indian Rosewood stain, and some Birchwood Casey Tru Oil for a smooth glossy finish. To finish it off an Alps volume pot and Poly Film output capacitors were added.

I have become very fond of this one, the improvement the regulated power supply makes to the Crack circuit is not insignificant. Having built numerous Cracks with various mods this one is clearly a step above in performance. Highly recommended!

 

[Jay]

Nice work!

 

[Paul Birkeland]

That's a nice, clean C2A!

 

[Doc B]

The TwoQuiet attenuator will take it up another notch.