PLEXI Jr. Build -DAY 1

I've mod pedals, then mod my tube amp, and then build pedals. a quite addictive hobby i must admit.. so, next?

I'm building an amp! Been playing with that idea in my head for quite a while now. Hi-Octane was one of my target. but then i found... Plexi SE!

It was designed by the guys at sewatt.com (initiated by z_stingray) and was intended to be as a drop replacement for Epiphone Valve junior. The Plexi SE pcb can be bought at guitar amplifier pcbs website.

But the board cost USD30, thats RM100+ after conversion n shipping! so, i designed a layout of the schematic, in a PTP turreted style. all the ground would go on one line and grounded one point on the chasis.

This is the layout i've done. btw, its not gonna be build on a stripboard as shown, its just that software i use for my convinience. those red dots (cut tracks symbol) is the turret.

Components are bought from Jalan Pasar and from Nik Azam of ceriatone. chasis and transformers are from Razi of rseaudio.

as of now, i've already soldered most of the part on the turret board except about 4 parts coz i bought wrong values of resistors! and also, i have to drill some of the holes on the chassis to increase those hole sizes.

Below are some pics!

package unpacked!

Drawn up layout on the board as markings when drilling (forgot to took a picture of it after drilled an turreted though)

turret board 90% soldered up

full pic with the chassis, output transformers, and power transformers

2.06 a.m.

Hungry at 2.06 am,
sitting on my bed infront of this,
sinking inside the soothing music of my collection,
need i say more?

the season is in,
as the flu 'flu' around hoping from one to another,
infecting others in sight or upon touch,
annoying as it is,
distracting normal life and its activities.

sleepy eyes,
blurry and blurry it gets,
but still
scribbling away by pressing
this written words of no directions
hoping to go somewhere
but hopeless without plan n direction

these are the words
that hav no meaning or direction
and it will
it will
it will
STOP!

Dr Boogie build (Day 1)

As an intro, Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier is a very well known amp for its brutal and crushing distortion that's very sinonim in the world of Metal music scene. but the price is however ridiculously pricey especially here in Msia; >RM10k.

So, i decided to build this Dual rectifier emulator pedal called Dr. Boogie which was designed by a guy called Electritab from diystompbox.com forum. Below is the perfboard schematic of it which is based on the revised circuit by gaussmarkov.



So, finally the parts came today (saturday, 4/7/09). and i started building it just now. however, what i did was only putting the components on the perfboard base on the schematic above. Soldering will be done later coz there's still missing parts. gotta go to Jalan Pasar to get 'em.

the present work

Finally, demo of my modded MT-2

Yeah! I finally got off my lazy ass to find a camera to record a demo of my pride n joy; My modded MT-2! Btw, this is juz with the germanium/diode clipping (my favourite!) mode.

Here is where i rant about wut i did with it the last time.
Metal Zone... Modded!

However, i changed the JFet clippings with a pair of silicon diodes which give.... kinda the same sound as my favourite; germanium diode & silicon diodes. But somehow to my ears, germanium/silicon clippings has a bit tighter distortion than silicon pairs. Think i'm gonna try silicon/LED sometimes later.

p/s i know, i know.. i suck in that video but hope it'll give some 'picture' of the tone. and also sorry for the video quality. had to convert it to reduce the size coz the limit is 100mb

Spotlight

Played with Nik, a cover of red hot chilli pepper's under the bridge.. damn, i was quite fast there, unnecessarily.. hmmm..


Me and nik again, with our attemp at yuna's Dan sebenarnya.

Mogwai Live in KL!!!!!

Yup.. dats rite.. they're coming here. 21st Jan 2009 at KL Convention Centre. The infamous scottish post-rock/experimental band is coming! I dunno if i'm going or not actually. haha! but will be askin around who wanna come. Try to get the early bird ticket.. can save me rm40!
Not really a big Mogwai fan actually but kinda like their music. And this are MUSICIANS that are really worth seeing IMO. Not like LP or MCR shits.. HAHAHA!

UPDATE: Bought the ticket already!!!!!

Spotlight!

Dated 10th December, UNiM's Music Society's Spotlight event. Saw the email bout dis event two weeks ago and decided to join it. The thing is, i emailed saying i would be playing with my friends. but somehow i dunno why, the guy thought i said me + me n my friends. but i decided to go for it anyway! played 2 cover songs. Past recedes by John Frusciante and Joe Satriani's Always with Me Always with You. I was friggin nervous before and during it!

That was Past Recedes originally performed by John Frusciante (of RHCP). Damn my timing was everywhere. Not constant at all! Too fast actually.. hahaha! minor mistakes though.. vocal.. no comment.. hahaha! 1 and half star out of 5 for me!

This one is Satch's AWMAWU... same.. rubbish timing! Hence, the feelings of the song is failed to be brought to the audience.. mistakes? ofcourse! hehehe.. 1 star only! Booooo!

So, conclusion is simple.. stop visiting jamtank.net and watching gear reviews at youtube at free time. and most importantly... PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! Especially about the timing! Damn! 8 years of playing guitar and this is what i am now???


p/s probably i should do this again next year if there is another event like this. hopefully there'll be improvement then...

Stellar

Meet me in outer space
We could spend the night
Watch the earth come up
I've grown tired of this place
Won't you come with me?
Wecould start again

How do you do it?
Make me feel like I do
How do you do it?
It's better than I ever knew

Meet me in outer space
I will hold you close
If you're afraid of heights
I need you to see this place
It might be the only way
That I can show you how
It feels to be inside of you

How do you do it?
Make me feel like I do
How do you do it?
It's better than I ever knew

You're a stellar...

(dedicated for my gurl)