How to install a bias pot in a Rectifier

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mikey383

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Let me preface this by saying that if you don't feel comfortable working on the inside of your amp, don't do it. Take it to a tech. You've heard this a thousand times already, but tube amps contain lethal voltages, and all it takes is one slip for you to become toast. Furthermore, this takes some soldering abilities. A good medium wattage iron (30 watts or so) is a must...don't use a gun. You'll fry something if you use a gun. I assume no responsibility if you harm yourself or damage your amp. I suggest reading this thread in it's entirety before diving into this project. Pay attention to the pics also.

Second, all I can find are Dual Rectifier schematics. The same principle should apply to Triple Rectos though. These pics are from a 2 channel head, but the same procedure applies to the 3 channel heads as well.

Ok, ready?

First off, start by draining the caps. Power the amp off by flipping the power switch while standby is in the "play" position.
Remove the chassis from the headshell. Using your multimeter on the DC volt setting, check each power tube pin with respect to ground. If you get any voltage readings, let the amp sit until you don't get any. Remove the tubes and turn the chassis upside down.

I took out the Slave pot and installed my bias pot in it's place. Since I swap tubes often due to working with various groups/recording and I keep my head housed in a road case, it's easier for me to have access to the bias pot on the outside of the amp. The choice is yours whether you want to install the pot there or on the inside of the amp. On the 3 channel heads, the Slave pot is on the other side of the amp from the bias section, so you'll have to run a wire down the length of the chassis, which could result in voltage drop. So decide if that's something you want to risk beforehand. If so, remove the slave pot and all wires connecting the pot to the speaker outputs. I removed the wires to the jack too. You'll see why later. If you want to put the bias pot where the Slave pot was, you'll need a suitable pot. I used a Bourns pot. I recommend using a 50K pot. I would give you the part number that I used, but I don't even remember where I got it from and I can't find the exact part online. So, here's a search for 50K pots at Mouser. http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?N=254357+4294571660. If you don't want to replace the slave pot, I recommend a multi-turn trimpot, such as Bourns. Mouser part no. 652-3252W-1-503. FWIW, if you do not change tubes often, I recommend going with the pot on the inside of the amp. It's less prone to get bumped that way.

The resistor you want to replace with a pot is a 22K resistor which is in parallel with a 15K resistor (the brown, green, black, red, brown resistor) and two 47uF 100V caps. Here it is on a 2 channel head. Resistor number R255. I already had it removed when I took the pic, but you can see where it was. The resistor I removed was coded red, red, brown, red, brown, so it was actually a 22.1K. Yours may vary slightly also, but should be ~22K. Leave the 15K resistor alone and remove the ~22K. Use this site to figure out the resistors: http://samengstrom.com/nxl/10116/5_band_resistor_color_code_page.en.html

004-1.jpg


This is in the corner of the PC board opposite the big blue caps. Circled in yellow here:

3366474609_a4a78e2e3b.jpg


Also, my pics are taken from the other side of the amp...with the front of the amp facing toward me.

On the 3 channel heads, this section is right beside the big blue caps. There are 2 smaller blue caps to the side of the smallest big blue cap. See the pic for the resistor to replace. The arrow points to the resistor to replace. Thanks to fluff191 for the pic!

IMG00072.jpg




When I took the Slave pot out, I saved the hard wire connecting it to the speaker outs. I used this hard wire to make a couple standoffs that go where the resistor used to. (If you are using the multi-turn pot mounted on the inside of the amp, you can bypass this step. In that case, simply bend the legs of the pot to match the holes in the PCB for the resistor and solder the pot in.)

002.jpg


I then soldered a length of wire to the standoffs. These then went to the pot. One wire went to the middle lug on the pot, one went to an outside lug.

005-1.jpg


EDIT: I took some of Mansfield Guitar's advice and adapted it. Originally I had a 100K pot with a 100K resistor in parallel with the outside lugs to drop it down to 50K. I just reworked my Recto, and I replaced the 100K pot with a 50K, and used a 56K resistor across the outside lugs. This way I get a 26K total resistance (I measured it). I also tied the center lug to one of the opposite lug that I soldered the wire to. This way, if the wiper loses contact with the pot, the amp sees 26K of resistance, which will run it a little colder than stock. If the pot fails completely, there will be 56K resistance, which will run very cold, but save the amp. The range of adjustment is also much less. HOWEVER, it will still be possible to run your tubes very hot, and this won't save you in case of accidental adjustment. So my advice is to either remember where your pot is set at by using a piece of tape and marking it, or frequently check your bias with a bias probe/multimeter. If you would like to add a safety resistor, simply solder it in series with the pot. See Mansfield Guitar's post on page 5.

Picture2.jpg


Here's the finished product. The blue pot is my bias pot.

007.jpg


If you chose to go with the multi-turn pot, here's what you'll end up with. Use the middle leg and one of the outside legs. It doesn't matter which one you use. One way will increase by turning CW, the other will increase by turning CCW. I would trim off the unused leg also, or solder it to the wiper so that in case of the wiper losing contact, the amp would see the full resistance of the pot.

0210090443a.jpg


This is the outside view:

008.jpg


Now, you'll want to leave the tubes out of the amp for a moment. Plug the amp in, and make sure both switches are in the off position. Then turn the power switch on. DO NOT FLIP THE STANDBY SWITCH!!! LEAVE IT IN THE DOWN POSITION!!! You're just going to be taking a voltage reading, so this should cause no harm. Measure the DC voltage from pin 5 on a power tube socket (they should be numbered on the underside) to ground. You should have a negative number. Turn the newly added bias pot until you get -51 volts with the bias switch in 6L6 mode, or -39 volts in EL34 mode. This is your factory setting. That will give you a good baseline to start with. The closer the negative voltage is to zero, the hotter the tubes will be. The further away from zero, the colder the tubes will be. Now, turn the amp off, reinstall the tubes, power it back on and let them warm up. Flip it from standby and measure the voltage from pin 3 to ground. You may want to go through all the settings (Bold, spongy, diodes, tube rectifier) and check. Write these numbers down for future reference.

I should also mention that I could only adjust down to -45 volts in EL34 mode. This will still run most EL34s on the hot side. In EL34 mode, I could go clear up to -3 volts, which is WAY too hot. I recommend leaving the amp in 6L6 mode and adjusting the bias that way. In 6L6 mode, I had a full range of adjustment on EL34s. Using 6L6s, the lowest setting got me a little colder than stock, and went way beyond what is usable.
I went one step further and soldered a wire from pin 5 of a tube socket to the old Slave jack. This way, I can insert my meter's probe into the jack and check the voltage without having to disassemble the amp. It's just easier for me that way.

009.jpg


From here, it's a standard bias procedure. There are plenty of resources available on the net showing how to bias an amp. I use a bias probe. These handy devices plug in between your tube and the socket, plug into your meter, and read the current. This is a good link for biasing: http://www.diyguitarist.com/GuitarAmps/PT-Biasing.htm

While I had the amp open, I decided to check for loose solder connections and bad parts. I ended up finding a burnt screen resistor on one of my tube sockets. This would be a good time to replace any bad parts.

If you have any questions, please ask, either in this thread, or you can shoot me a PM.

Good Luck!
 
Thanks for your help too! I looked all over trying to find a decent gutshot of a 3 channel Recto. You came in and saved the day.


If anyone cares to send me a close shot of the mentioned area in a 3 channel head, I will confirm the resistor to be swapped and add the pics to the original post. As of now, I can only speculate as to it's exact location.
 
I just ordered a 10 piece lot of small trimmers for like $3....... The external pot you used is almost $20 a piece!!! Wow!

I never thought just replacing the one resister with a pot would be so easy. For insurance I am having a co-worker who has modded his Recto come over for guidance.
 
They aren't cheap. The trimmer I used the first time around was $18 IIRC. Where did you find your lot of 10?


Snap a couple shots when you mod, yours if you would please.
 
I didnt explain that right. I bought 10 of the really small internal multi-turn trim pots. And I will take pics! I will be doing the mod probably next weekend!
 
On the 3 channel head, you leave the 15k resister alone correct? And just replace the Bias resister only?
 
fluff191 said:
On the 3 channel head, you leave the 15k resister alone correct? And just replace the Bias resister only?


Leave it alone on both heads. The 15K resistor is what gets switched in when you go to EL34 mode. When that happens, the total resistance DROPS which causes the negative voltage to go UP.
 
Quick question. I was reading on a nother forum about this mod, and they made this mod seem WAY more complicated then I would think it actually is. Something about removing the second, smaller resister and replacing it with a lower-rated one? WTF?

Here's the forum:
http://mesaboogieampforum77319.yuku.com/forum/viewtopic/id/2148

I just really want to know if this mod is as simple as it looks, as I am about to dive in this weekend. Seems to me the other forum is over thinking the mod itself.
 
fluff191 said:
Quick question. I was reading on a nother forum about this mod, and they made this mod seem WAY more complicated then I would think it actually is. Something about removing the second, smaller resister and replacing it with a lower-rated one? WTF?

Here's the forum:
http://mesaboogieampforum77319.yuku.com/forum/viewtopic/id/2148

He's talking about adding a resistor in-line with the pot to reduce the sweep. Not really necessary.

I just really want to know if this mod is as simple as it looks, as I am about to dive in this weekend. Seems to me the other forum is over thinking the mod itself.

Yes, they are.
 
No problem.

I think what they're talking about is making the sweep higher.

For instance, on mine, I have a little range to make the tubes colder, but I can make them VERY hot. Too hot. If you add a resistor in-line with the pot, it will make that range on the colder side.
 
Oh I see. I dont really get the point seeing as how if you're smart enought o do the mod in the first place, you are smart enough to *hopefully* not set your bias to high. :wink:

If my tubes get here in time I will be doing the mod and changing out a presence pot this weekend. Pics to come!
 
Well I just put in the trim pot for the Bias adjustment, but forgot my Amps fuse was blown, so all done for tonight. Im pretty pissed about it actually. All that work and its killin me to know if I did everything right!!!!

The installation of the actual pot was a pain in the a$$........The leads are just barely long enough to span the width of the board holes. And Im praying I replaced the correct resister. One measured out at 17k and thother at about 23k-ish. So thats the one I took out. Keep your fingers crossed!
 
If you want to be on the safe side, measure the pot and set it to around 23K. That way, when you turn the amp on, it's seeing what it normally sees. Then you can measure the negative voltage while slowly turning the pot to see if it changes. ;)
 
Ok I did the Bias mod and WOW it really fills out the amp nicely.

And while I initially tried to read the colored stripes (Mesa seems to not like standard color configs) and replaced the WRONG resister, I finally got it today. Heres a pic with an arrow pointing to the correct resister to replace.

IMG00072.jpg


And the confirming resistance reading on the board.
IMG00073.jpg


And the final product. Wiring the pot directly onto the board is a HUGE pain in the a$$ due to the terminals simply not being long enough. So I just got some solid-core wire and made extensions. Work really well in the end.
IMG00074.jpg
 

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