Steve Vai

Wayne Guitars was not formerly Charvel. They are two different companies.

The channel switching JCM800s and any non RI amps built after that use diodes for clipping, so this includes the Silver Jubilees, JCM900s, and JCM2000s.

The slugs 'conduct' the magnetic field, but aren't magnets themselves, not intrinsically. Ok, that's what I thought. Most likely drilling out the slugs will affect the tone then.

I thought the bar magnet was the only magnetic part on a humbucker. The slugs are magnetic too?

Has anyone heard from him lately? I sent a payment in May and lost contact in August... I've been emailing him since and have gotten no word back...

I've decided to sell the Marshall and use the money to buy a Traynor Bassmaster, and mod that into a Plexi (or something gainier). So I'll probably make a thread for help on that, but I have a lot of info now as it is. Thanks for all the help everyone! I learn so much here

I was actually looking into the Ceriatone products about a year ago. I got an MP-1 to run into the Marshall's effects return, so I didn't get anything from them. I then bought a Peavey Classic 60/60 to go with the MP-1, and now the Marshall's just sitting around... So I guess I've ended up right where I started I was looking into the Plexi 50 board, but I don't think that will have enough gain. I'm looking for something with similar gain to a Splawn, VHT, modified JCM800s that were big in the 80s, etc.

So what would you recommend if I'd like to build a hot rodded JCM800 style amp? I have a Marshall Artist 3203 (SS pre, tube power) that I could use the transformers, filter caps, chassis, and head enclosure from.

Yeah, I understand that. I meant I didn't want to add anything with MIDI into the head design. I want to make either a head or a rack preamp. Would it be possible to adapt this tube breakaway circuit to a 2204 preamp for more gain and a voicing similar to the MP-1? I like the sound of the MP-1, and I considered making a JCM800, but it won't be enough gain. If I could make a 2204 preamp modified to be closer to this MP-1 tube circuit, that would be ideal. I'll just ignore the SS parts of the MP-1 and focus on the tube board circuit. My goal isn't to copy the MP-1, but to make something with a similar gain structure and voicing. Thanks for your response, it really helps clear things up.

The schematic is for a modified ADA MP-1. It's a rackmount MIDI preamp with a PCB, and I want to use the same preamp circuit, but also add a power amp, and wire it up on a PTP board (no MIDI). So my question is how would I go about doing this?

Greetings, I'm interested in developing a preamp circuit or modifying a Marshall circuit so that it is similar to one of the modified ADA MP-1 preamp circuits, that I can use in an amp head. The one I have in mind is the Mod 4: http://home.lehighone.com:8081/adadepot/mo...OD4_Mark_II.zip Basically what I want to do is create a version of this preamp that could be put on a PTP board, without any solid state components. So how would I go about adapting the schematic found in the link so it could be a new amp design? Thanks!

I like that one a lot.

I'm not sure if you've thought of this, or it may be too subtle for what you want, but where you pick makes a big difference. If you want a neck pickup sound, you can play closer to the neck, etc. By moving the picking location, I'm totally satisfied with the versitility of a single humbucker guitar.

I don't have any footswitch or MIDI controller to change channels, and the Behringer seems like it was designed to be used for recording, so there is a couple seconds delay when switching presets. I guess I could wait until I can afford a MIDI controller, and make another patch on the MP-1.

I was planning on using a Super Overdrive as a booster by maxing the level control and setting the drive to just over a boost, but a clean booster might be a better choice, since the main thing I want is a volume increase, and a little more gain to cut through the mix, but with any kind of boost I should get more gain out of the preamp. I really like the looks of this - http://timemachineboost.com/AboutGL.htm (a different version of this - http://timemachineboost.com/) but it's way out of my price range. Maybe if someone knows the basic design of that booster, or has a schematic, I could find something close and try to make that. I play 80s rock (Van Halen, Dokken, etc.) and I use a Behringer Vitrualizer for light compression into an ADA MP-1, and I will soon have a Peavey Classi 60/60 power amp. I have a plywood Epiphone Les Paul right now, but I want to get a Charvel. Next week I'm going to wind a custom Seymour Duncan pickup, and it will probably be like an EVH or Screamin Demon. I really appreciate everyone here sharing their knowledge, and I'm sorry if I ask any stupid questions or anything.

So what pedal would you recommend?

I changed it.

I'm probably going to get a booster pedal for leads to use in front of my ADA MP-1, and I'm leaning towards a Boss Super Overdrive. If someone can build me one, I'll pay a fair price we both agree on. Thanks!

I'm leaning towards a guitar with a humbucker in the bridge and a single coil in the neck, but it's good to see it'll work either way. A piezo in the neck pocket can be used to give the driver the signal? I have one of these (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_Acoustic/Schatten_Soundboard_Transducer.html) lying around, could I use that?

I'm back; I've been pretty busy lately. How's everything going?

That's great news! I can't wait until you have a finalized product that we can use!

That's the thinking behind direct mounting pickups, that the springs will absorb some of the energy, just to a lesser extent. I can think of any better way to mount it, other than springs, rubber tubing, or shims. Maybe brass tubing? That's not one size fits all anymore though.. I'll think about this some more.

I don't really like the layout of that.. the switches seem to far away and the whammy bar could make the knob hard to get to. The knob will be the same height as the Strat controls, but it's behind the whammy bar and far from the strings. It's a good idea, but I'd rather have the controls mounted to a pickguard.

The retro look does go well with guitars like Les Pauls, even on most guitars the look fits it. But an infinite sustain system isn't exactly retro... that look may be bit out of place. What is your idea for the Strat jack? This is the idea I get: Sorry about the bad graphics, I'm using Windows Paint. Is that what you have in mind? I was thinking that the knob could be titled up to get to it easier. It may not be the best angle, but it should work better than having it flat. Maybe someone can make a 3D drawing of your idea, it should be easy if they have the jack modeled out, they just need to add a knob (or whatever you're thinking of). Are you considering making a prewired pickguard version for Strats? Having the logo light up in the pickguard would look awesome, and you could probably do it without a box if you put a knob on the jack and the miniswitches (or maybe a 5 way?) on the pickguard.

Great, thanks!