TRASHED 1950s Rickenbacker M8 Guitar Amp Needs Complete REWIRE...Let's Hot Rod It!
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- Опубліковано 4 бер 2018
- In this vid, we'll completely rewire a trashed, Fender Champ like 1950s Rickenbacker M8 guitar amp. The original wiring in this thing was ill-conceived. They used a vertical board for mounting components rather than just point-to-point wiring. We'll fix all of that mess, then we'll talk about some mods, look at some mistakes in the schematic, and you'll get an impromptu guitar lesson in vibrato during the demo. Also, you'll get to see my new PRS Custom 22! You won't want to miss this one. Pinky swear.
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Big shout out to Anatoly who just completed a cool little build on his channel and dedicated his demo video to me! Thanks Anatoly! Sounds good, buddy. Go check it out!
ua-cam.com/video/CbWK-Lefl74/v-deo.html
Bro I definitely subscribed to your Channel...bro your talent in guitar and electronics is amazing...love your videos!!!
That was solid! No doubt that guy was thrilled with what you did with that amp!
You dirty rotten, bad ass, amp tech !
Not to mention,
a pretty damn good guitar player too !
LOL !
Looking back through some old vids... I think this was one of my very best. For whatever that's worth.
Jack of all trades here. A player. A singer. Amp and guitar fixer upper and modder. Damn. Nice job!!!
Jack of all trades...that's the idea. Thanks man! I'd rather die than be an expert in something.
Brad, I'm 60 yrs old. I wish I had more teachers like you in my life. Go teach this to some kids or we are going to be screwed!
I always chuckle when I see a schematic that reads "May not be reproduced in any fashion without permission".
In my almost 40 years in the repair business I've yet to get a knock on my door by the "Schematic Police". :-)
Totally. I think when I saw that I made an audible "pssht!" Especially after seeing how wrong it was.
That schematic was incorrect because you didn't get permission to reprint it. :-)
hr jr something like that ☺I heard story that a swat team was sent to someone's house because he was illegally making guitars in his basement.
They leave in mistakes that are revealed when you pay. Death is therefore a certainty Mr.Bond.
"The wages of sin are death, but the hours are good!" - Marty Feldman
@@TheGuitologist I've heard that often these mistakes are intentional, so you can't just straight copy them and reproduce them.
Would love a history lesson on how you became such a great player
I gotta say Brad, between you and Uncle Doug, I just keep learning more and more about amps. Thanks buddy.
Always good to see you round, Carl. We subscribe to a lot of the same channels, and it's always good to see a familiar face in the comments.
You are the man! You took on a bunch more work for probably little reward, but wanted to do the right thing making this a point to point amp. Hope the customer appreciated it.
Thanks Matthew.
It's great the way you took pity and rescued this poor little amp.
Great video you made my evening :)
I know nothing about electronics but watch all you videos and find them relaxing and interesting.
Thank you !
Love your videos. Love the Mr. Spock shirt. Your amp builds are so Tasty as is your playing. i second the motion on you making/designing your own amps. The Linzy Special series. Featuring point to point wiring, hand built to the customer's specifications! With your UA-cam following you would do well. I didn't suggest it but I wholeheartedly agree. Keep making us smile and keep warming our hearts Brad. U ROCK. 🎸
Brad, Great video. You rock!!! Great balance of educational, entertaining, originality, with a very unique presentation. Thank you for the awesome videos, please keep up the good work. Cheers and bravo!!
Thanks man. I enjoy making the videos and reading the comments. Makes it all worthwhile to know the audience appreciates what I try to do, so your comment means a lot.
Brad is a real artist. Pleasure to watch you work!
Thanks for watching. I appreciate it.
that amp sounds killer. love your videos man. you're a hell of an amp tech and guitar player. i wish i had your skills!
We dont necessarily want to adopt a nanny goat vibrato, not that you did, but its easy to fall into that rabbit hole. I love these amp transformations, amongst a bunch of other stuff you do! Nice guitar work.
Thanks, John.
From junk to jewel!! Outstanding😜 As usual, your videos are informative, innovative, and down right FUN!!! Another home run. Thanks for the walk through and the laughs. U ROCK 🎸.
Thanks so much for watching, commenting, sharing...all of it. I have the best subscriber base on UA-cam.
Grreat work,beautiful growly PRS,excellent chops,competent singing koj,great vid Brad,cheers man.
Well friggin done! The build/rebuild, and the multi instrument demo of good old fashioned tech. Your enthusiasm on the point to point and the playing was 10 stars. Nice PRS. Thanks much for sharing.
Thanks for the comment, Randall. Glad you enjoyed it.
Dude, not only can you work magic fixing amps, your guitar playing is sweet!
Great work and fantastic playing as always, but I gotta say the editing is getting great too!
awesome guitar!.... amp highlights your playing well!... great job Brad!... love this channel!...
That thing sounds so great! Nice work and nice playing!
Hell yeah brother, sounds great! Thanks for the video. Good work.
Love the fix for such an old jem. the Ricky amp sounds alive - has some color too. Thanks for the technical specs - I enjoyed it!
Thanks for watching!
Always a pleasure watching your electronic wizardry eradicate the ill issues. I've a few amps and guitars that need some Brad-like t.l.c. around the homestead here. Wish you were closer, shipping wise. ;) Thanks for sharing your expertise!
A more recent subscriber here. I'm getting inspired more to try my hand at a Champ circuit as a first go at things. I might have to think about this one, it sounds freakin great! I'll need to study this next to the Champ schematic to get a feel for how they differ. Awesome channel man, really enjoy the combination of tech learning and great jams
Brad,
Another great video, plus some Toadies. Had a college flashback!!
that amp sounds amazing; great presence and attack and it really sings. and so few components.
I wonder why aren't you a rockstar? You play superbly and your singing is very good too.
Awesome video Brad. Love the choice of song you sang.
Thanks, Donald.
Jesus, Brad- that little amp just RIPS! Loved when you started playing "Possum Kingdom".... what a GREAT riff. Plus, now I can learn it off ya! Thanks buddy!
sounds phenomenal! both the amp and your playing!
Thanks
Hey Brad really enjoyed this video , keep up the good work.
Great vid! I just got one of these done and back into playing condition (maybe for the first time since it left the line). It seems the guys at Rickenbacker built these after their lunch breaks, mine was packed full of surprises: 5V filament supply swapped with the 6.3V supply, both leads going to the fuse wired onto the same lug, middle lug of volume pot was being fed by the decoupling cap from the preamp stage with the grid of the 6V6 going to the 3rd lug... all of this from the factory mind you! I also chose to reduce the first filter cap down to 22uF / 450V, the 5Y3GT datasheet specifies 20uF at the filter input but I guess the builders just threw in what they had on hand - either that or they were working on an early flavour of planned obsolescence alongside rectifier tube manufacturers (:
Despite the shoddy attempt at a PCB you're lucky to have had the double-triode preamp version, I got a late '55 early '56 6AV6 one and it is a poor sod... underwhelming to say the least, unless you crank it and then you get a bedroom level cranked Champ sound!...
Interesting amp nonetheless, and a great example of translating radio tech into instrument amplifiers!
Another great video Brad keep em commin.
Excellent video. Great rebuild. Sounds awesome.
That amp sounds very nice. Great job!
The best guitar channel on youtube!
Awesome channel mate. Cheers from Melbourne, Australia!
Another great sounding amp Brad!
You make it look almost easy... funny thing about a genuine magician is no fancy moves are hidden... no secret complex incantations...
Just the truth .
"Some folks know about it ...some don't (some don't),
Some will learn to shout it, some won't (some won't),
...right down to the real Nitty Gritty..."
Thanx for another great vid, Brad and...
cheers
Awesome electronic tech and awesome guitar player! Love the new PRS!
Thanks, Ron.
Rock it out, Brad! Good singing voice, man! Let's hear more of it.
Sounds killer! Great playing and vocals! Rock On!
Thanks, dude.
Wow that amp sounded better than I could have imagined. Nice playing and singing too. I love the Mojo Jojo figure on the wall too.
Mojo Jojo is like my spirit animal...that is to say, my spirit, if it were an animal, as in a non-vegetable or mineral, would be him, Mojo Jojo...the character about whom we are speaking.
Great stuff Brad ! HNGD ! I'm from Indiana originally and my in laws are from Kentucky which is a beautiful state and has great people !
I agree. Hard to find friendlier people and better hospitality.
I really enjoy your videos, that little amp sounded great.
man thats a sweet sounding little amp good skills as ever !!
Enjoyed your wrenching on this amp bro. Looks and sounds a great guitar too.
Thanks, Ken.
Hay it's been awhile. still love your stuff. man contineoed blessing. Nice work! as usaul
some good playing and singing there Brad...
Dude- I love the yoga bricks your using as an amp stand!!
They work, man. :)
Mighty fine playin', through a mighty fine little amp!
Great video. I just fell in love with your Telecaster.
I love those amp knobs for tuners on your tele.
Looks like you were definitely having fun with this amp...
looks like you had some fun when you got done. i knew it was possum kingdom from the strike of the second chord. wasn't expecting that.
Neither was I. :P
Mang, that finished sounds fang-tastic, happy Halloween!
Oh shit, the amp sounds GREAT. Great guitar playing and Player
super! leiwande gitschn- wunderbarer rocksong! great repair workshop! weiter so!-rockn rolly brad!
Danke, Francis.
It's 3am and I swore to myself this is the last vid I'm watching, that is until I saw in my recommended "Rusty Yard Sale Amp!" Covid-19 lockdown boredom ain't got shit on The Guitologist!
great vid ,Brad
Nice username!
Nice little "Bradlybacker 18" amp.... good job again Brad
Thanks, Scott.
Nice video it’s cool to see a little rickenbacker on here.
Thanks, Matt!
sounds amazing man
Thanks, dude. I agree.
Love that soldering montage!
Everyone needs a montage, whether they realize it or not. Even Rocky had a montage.
LOL, that short, occasional Batman clip cracks me up, 14:40.
That little Rick Rocks, cool ! Nice new guitar, now how many do you have now!. I hear the wife telling me all the time,why do you need another one.You're gonna have to tell me.Great noodling!! Cya on the next one.
Awesome as usual Brad :)
Thanks, Pedro.
Just a minor point for those learning. The original input was using a grid leak bias arrangement, not grid bias(which necessitates a negative applied voltage). The grid leak (and grid bias) allows the cathode to be connected directly to earth and can minimise noise picked up from heater and such. The big value grid to ground resistor is needed to keep the grid negative as it collects electrons (grid leak current) that otherwise would find their way to ground. 4Meg is a bit low and 10Meg was a standard value. The cap blocks DC of course. The grid leak would be helped by audio input too, though it's not a very linear arrangement and I too prefer cathode bias which is sensible. Hope everyone noticed that 470K error early! Disc caps are frowned upon in audiophile circles, but one thing in their favour - they never fail, ever.
Good job. Nice playing (Grrr, where I am jealous )
Thanks for the comment, Martin. The input cap blocks DC, yes, and the value moves the bass frequency cutoff for the high pass filter formed by the cap and resistor.
;0)) Thanks. The resistor was not there to set bass cut off as I said but to allow the grid leak to work. (The cut off as a filter is about a tenth of a hertz (0.1). )The bass is seriously limited by the small amount of iron in the output transformer and the other (2) filters made by CR coupling are 10hz ish (without doing the calculations) but since the transformer will have no output here its not a concern. (I mentioned the DC block, as without it the grid leak doesn't work). Having absolutely no feedback at all! (adding bypass caps) will make the response and distortion figures interesting )) but will certainly be immediate sounding in the midband - where everything will work well.
I love your stuff
Excellent Toadies cover. I love the use of the neck as the wammy bar! That song is hard to play. It feels like it's in a strange time signature. I think it's just 4/4 though. Anyhow, well done sir.
Great sounding amp!
Tip: on most Android devices, you can take a screenshot by pressing the volume-down and power buttons at the same time!
Another great job, Brad. Honestly tempted to build one of those little guys for myself now!
I drew the schematic so I can make one for myself later too. ;)
By the way, I saw your subminiature tube amp build. Very nice job, man!
Most Android devices are Samsung and in that case it is volume down and home button not power button.
@blckcorvo Hey mate hope you're well! Dude I just tried the - 'vol. down + pwr' button combo on my samsung S11 & it worked! How cool! Thanks bud!
I think this customer was a group of drunk amp techs trying to create the most screwed up chassis possible to play stump the instructor? Then you turn it into a gem!
Thanks brother, I was just thinking about vibrato and trem. I think I'll fire up the old deluxe !
Fire away. Never a bad time for that. Unless it's at someone's funeral or something. Then it might still be ok if you play really well.
Nice looking PRS !
Hell of a good video man
Beautiful sounding amp. Reminds me of The Beatles sound in their early yrs.
This amp sounds better than any Champ I've ever heard.
Great singing, man!
Guess I was 'feeling it'.
Yes, but I want to hear him play Scuzz Twittly's song "Party Like Charlie Sheen".
Nice build Brad. Nice grind on the amp. In reference to your other post, If you want to mix in some playing lessons on your channel, anytime bro. You are obviously a skilled player.
Thanks. Your input is noted.
Great video.
Sounds Great...
Hell of a clean shred on that Tele! Carpal tunnels be damned!
In BOTH HANDS, no less. PIA!
Enjoyed the build, thanks for the well done concert. Lol
+1 for the Toadies cover :)
If you check some of the other M-8 schematic they have the high voltage going straight to ground or to the transformer thru a cap
New guitar Wow PRS nice !
Great job!
Thanks, man.
It'd be fun to hear a '64 Mosrite Ventures model through that little guy.
Nice pipes dude ;)
Its so basic. I was playing with tubes as a child, surprised I am alive sometimes. Built many a circuit at 10 years old. I pushed that all aside for transistors, ICs then digital and Microprocessors and finally retired from it all when I inherited a storage business. You take me back to childhood memories.
Mark Anderson It never ceases to amaze me that most males manage to make it to adulthood. The human body is truly an amazing piece of kit.
I got plenty of shocks and a few burns. Never worried too much about a shock. I used tubes because at the time, they cost less than transistors.
That tone is a wet dream!
Early days of Led Zepplin, page used some kind of Rickenbacker amps, never played through one, but sound pretty good
I have been running into redoing from scratch "variants" of amps like these, except they're Silvertone. Still working on the "HiFi" conversion that is almost identical from your Silvertone HiFi conversion video. I need help sorting it out. Mine is the exact Chassis, Iron and Valve compliment as yours., except for additional switching circuits because it is a reel to reel If you could draw a pencil schematic of the mods you did, would be greatly appreciated. Nice cover of "Possum King"!!!
Absolutely captivating, an ear that's driven by tech knowledge... way cool. R U open for amp repairs?
Holy crap... PRS 10 Top Custom 22 WooHoo... congratulations. . How do you like the feel. I like the quality of the PRS and yours is way up there quality wise but I have trouble getting comfy with them. It sounds like that one fits you pretty good.
Fantastic thanks and keep doing this kind of video. Repair of a basket case followed by great music
Thanks, Craig. As long as there are broken amps in the world, I'll keep doing it.
Hi guy like your spot and you have taught me move a players out look but to use pilers on those chassis bolts keep up your work especially shit post Friday