Brian May Deacy Amplifier Build Part 1 - Introduction
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- Опубліковано 29 тра 2024
- This is the first in a series of three videos about making a replica of Brian May’s legendary Deacy amplifier. In this introductory video I briefly discuss the origins of the Deacy amp circuit (salvaged from a vintage transistor radio that John Deacon found in a London dumpster in 1971) and what Queen tracks Brian used it to record on. I then move on to talk about the new Knight Audio Technologies (KAT) amplifier board kit and the other component parts required including suitable vintage and modern woofer and tweeter loudspeakers and the cabinet itself. I finish by introducing the only official Deacy amplifier replica which was made by Knight Audio Technologies between 2011 and 2019.
00:00 - Musical introduction: a short segment of Brian’s isolated guitar track from Bohemian Rhapsody
00:15 - Start of the narrative - Origins of the Deacy with various images of two of the three donor transistor radio variants
00:59 - Deacy build component parts overview
01:35 - KAT Deacy amplifier PCB kit overview
02:15 - How to order the KAT Deacy amplifier PCB kit
03:08 - Original Deacy amplifier loudspeakers (ELAC 6RM/202 woofer and TW4/17 tweeter)
03:16 - Vintage ELAC 6RM/186 and 6RM/199 6.5 inch woofers and TW4/16 tweeter loudspeakers
04:57 - Plessey 1 microF electrolytic high pass filter crossover capacitor
05:09 - Modern KAT DSP-6.5 TC twin cone speaker with built-in filters for Deacy voicing
05:42 - How to order the KAT DSP-6.5 TC twin cone speaker
06:05 - Front baffle material option 1: the original ICI Vynair textured plastic ‘cloth’
07:00 - Front baffle material option 2: screen printed man made textile
07:29 - Arrangement of transformers and germanium can type capacitors in 1960s vintage transistor radio circuits
07:55 - The KAT Deacy amplifier replica
08:33 - The Deacy Amp Battery Simulator Unit (DABS)
08:53 - The KAT Deacy amplifier replica owner’s manual booklet: “The Story So Far…”
09:12 - Outro
Thanks to Nigel Knight for developing the KAT products illustrated in this video and supporting my projects over the years and Mark Reynolds for helping me source some of the items required for this build.
Part 2 - Circuit Board Components Assembly and Discussion
• Brian May Deacy Amplif...
Part 3 - Making the Cabinet and Final Assembly
• Brian May Deacy Amplif...
Demonstration
• Brian May Guitar Digit...
Please take a look at my other UA-cam videos on Brian May’s Red Special guitar and musical equipment and visit my website, dsgb.net for further information on the Deacy amplifier and my other Brian May related guitar projects.
#BrianMay #Deacy #Deacyamp #JohnDeacon
Very nice. The thing that gets to me about RS and accessory fan builds and groups, is that it's such a different beast to what Brian and Harold were themselves doing. The contradictory nature of painstakingly recreating something that was an attempt to make a unique sounding instrument with what they had available never sits right with me. Having said that, I'm loving your videos.
I understand, thanks for commenting. There is indeed a strange contradiction there, I agree, but I sweat the details to learn in depth about Brian May's equipment and pass on what I find out in addition to learning new skills and, of course, trying to create unique, good quality equipment that you can't buy anywhere else. I do it for a personal challenge but it's satisfying to know that others get some benefit or entertainment from my videos. 👍🏻😀
I've ordered the board and components finally, Nigel won't have them forever and they're so good.
I ordered a Deacy board kit as soon as I became aware that they were available for sale then kept it until I was ready to begin the build.
Great video! I am interested in buying this kit from Nigel. One question: do you still need a seperate tweeter if you use the KAT speaker (made originaly for the VBM1)? If so, what modern alternative can be used for this? There is no tweeter for sale on the KAT website.
I understand that the tweeter is not functional in Brian's original Deacy amp. This was stated in an article Greg Fryer wrote for BrianMay.com, the text of which can be found here:
queenwillrockyou.weebly.com/deacy-amp.html
Brian only records by placing a microphone close to the LF driver zone in any case.
@@dsgb thanks!
Hi, can you please let me know what tweeter to use and if possible where to order it? thanks
Any HF driver unit with an AlNiCo magnet and similar specifications to the original (ELAC TW4/17 at
3 1/2 inches housing width with a 2 inch diameter cone) would suffice. However, I understand that the HF driver unit in Brian's original Deacy amplifier is disconnected.
If you examine photographs of him recording with it, only the LF driver has a microphone placed in front of it.
@@dsgb thanks so much for the explanation
@@dsgb I've noticed in the pictures of the board published on Nigels website that he connected the grey cable to another pin. Do you know why?
@@dsgb finally, I've just finished the board, I'm turning the screw of the bias but I can't hear any difference...
No, I'm sorry, I don't know. Somebody else brought this to my attention too. I explained that I followed the assembly instructions to the letter and the unit functions correctly, so I recommend seeking clarification from Nigel directly. Let me know what he advises. 👍🏻😀
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What was that cool guitar?
Guyton RS Transporter.
www.guytonrstransporter.com
Thanks! I wish BMG would issue an affordable version it's such a beautiful design. Although i've tried many "travel guitars" with a small body and they're not that easy to play with an arm rest and a lower bout to counter balance. But it's beautifully executed. @@dsgb
Yes it is. That's what £5K of boutique luthiery buys you! 👌🏻😀 I'm not sure whether the design could be replicated at an affordable price point and, more importantly whether there would be sufficient consumer demand.