Valve Junior Build Manual v4
Valve Junior Build Manual v4
Valve Junior Build Manual v4
com
Baby Will
Valve Junior Conversion
Build Manual
Baby Will Valve Junior Conversion
Build Manual
Version 4
22 September 2009
1 of 36
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
1. Introduction
This manual contains instructions to convert an Epiphone Valve Junior guitar
amplifier to a roaring 18Watt amp modeled after the famed Marshall 1974X
circuit. The heart of it all is the Baby Will, a simplified version of Marshalls
1974X amp known as the LiteIIb. The Baby Will takes the LiteIIb circuit and
conveniently lays it out in a printed circuit board, PCB, package.
This manual provides instruction for the assembly of version 2.3 of the Baby Will
circuit board. Several of the pictures or diagrams in this manual may refer to or
display a previous version of the circuit board. However, these still apply to the
current version.
To simplify things,
The Epiphone Valve Junior will be referred to as EVJ, and
The Baby Will 18 Watt LiteIIb PCB will be referred to as the Baby Will.
This manual guides you through the conversion which includes:
removing the stock EVJ chassis from its cabinet,
extracting the stock EVJ pcb,
assembling the Baby Will,
installation and hookup of the Baby Will into the EVJ chassis,
initial power-up and testing, and
reinstalling the chassis back into the EVJ cabinet to finish up the job.
Version 4
22 September 2009
2 of 36
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Heres a look at the Baby Will PCB if you havent purchased yours yet.
Version 2.3
Version 4
22 September 2009
3 of 36
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
3. Disclaimer of Liability
GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com assumes no liability or responsibility, under any
circumstance, for personal injury or damage to property or personal property.
GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com reserves the right to make design changes or
improvements without obligation to revise prior versions.
All specifications are subject to change without notice.
Version 4
22 September 2009
4 of 36
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 2
Electrical Shock Warning ........................................................................................................ 4
Disclaimer of Liability .............................................................................................................. 4
Project Overview..................................................................................................................... 6
4.1
Heres what youll need: ................................................................................................. 6
4.1.1
Parts: ..................................................................................................................... 6
4.1.2
Tools: ..................................................................................................................... 6
4.1.3
Supplies: ................................................................................................................ 6
5.
Lets get started................................................................................................................... 7
5.1
Remove the EVJ chassis ............................................................................................... 7
5.2
Remove the EVJs Stock Components .......................................................................... 8
5.2.1
Remove the Tubes and Tube Retainers ............................................................... 8
5.2.2
Remove the Output Transformer........................................................................... 8
5.2.3
Clean Up the Power Transformer........................................................................ 10
5.2.4
Remove the Volume Potentiometer .................................................................... 11
5.2.5
Remove the Stock EVJ Circuit Board.................................................................. 11
6.
Prepare the Chassis ............................................................................................................. 13
6.1
Layout and Drill ............................................................................................................ 13
6.1.1
Layout the Drill Plans........................................................................................... 13
6.1.2
Drilling the Chassis.............................................................................................. 14
7.
The Baby Will........................................................................................................................ 16
7.1
Assemble the Baby Will Circuit Board.......................................................................... 16
7.1.1
Tube Sockets....................................................................................................... 16
7.1.2
PCB Standoffs ..................................................................................................... 17
7.1.3
The Power Grid ................................................................................................... 17
7.1.4
Signal Path and Cathode Resistors .................................................................... 19
7.1.5
Sag Resistor ........................................................................................................ 19
7.1.6
Signal Path and Cathode Capacitors .................................................................. 20
7.1.7
Hum Balance ....................................................................................................... 20
7.1.8
Filter Capacitors and Ground Wire...................................................................... 21
7.1.9
Jumper Wires ...................................................................................................... 21
7.1.10
Input Jack Hookup............................................................................................... 22
7.1.11
Volume and Tone Controls.................................................................................. 25
8.
Putting it All Together............................................................................................................ 26
8.1
Install the New Components ........................................................................................ 26
8.1.1
The New Output Transformer.............................................................................. 26
8.1.2
The Baby Will PCB and Tube Hardware ............................................................. 28
8.1.3
Hookup the Leads to the Baby Will ..................................................................... 29
9.
Turn on the Power ................................................................................................................ 31
9.1
Check Your Work ......................................................................................................... 31
9.1.1
Take a Break ....................................................................................................... 31
9.1.2
Visual Inspection ................................................................................................. 31
9.2
Power Up without Tubes .............................................................................................. 32
9.2.1
The First Power Up.............................................................................................. 32
9.3
Power Up with Tubes ................................................................................................... 33
9.3
Power Up with Tubes ................................................................................................... 34
9.3.1
The Real Test ...................................................................................................... 34
11.
Finish Things Up............................................................................................................... 35
11.
Finish Things Up............................................................................................................... 36
11.1
Re-Assemble the Amp ................................................................................................. 36
Version 4
22 September 2009
5 of 36
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
4. Project Overview
Youll find that this is a fun project that can be completed by an inexperienced
builder in a day or two. We at GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com wrote this manual
specifically for the novice builder. So anyone can do it. Really, its simple and it
doesnt require expensive tools or complex equipment.
4.1.2 Tools:
4.1.3 Supplies:
Fluxed solder
Roughly 3 ft. 600v rated wire (22-18 AWG)
32 Spade connectors (youll need at least three)
Tag strip
Version 4
22 September 2009
6 of 36
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
7 of 36
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
8 of 36
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Unscrew the output jacks from the chassis and
separate the board from the chassis.
The board will be glued to the chassis. It
may require some extra work to pick the
glue off. Be careful not to damage the
board or the output jacks. They will be
reused later.
Flow the solder to each transformer
lead on the output jack board and pull
the lead out.
Remove the fastening nut at the star
grounding post and remove the output
boards ground wire.
Version 4
22 September 2009
9 of 36
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Heres the output board and the output transformer
after removal. Set the output board aside. It will be
used later in the build.
The output transformer can be discarded. It will
NOT be used later in the build.
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Remove the stock circuit board and
pull all of the power transformer leads
to the rim of the chassis.
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Here, a unibit was used to drill out the 7/8 hole for the two (2) additional tube
socket holes.
Deburr or countersink
each hole to ensure no
sharp edges will cause
injury or component
failure.
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 2.3 of the Baby Will circuit board was designed to use most of the stock
chassis mounted pcb standoffs. However, you need to remove one (1) standoff
for the board to fit.
Drill out and remove the stock standoff as shown in the picture below.
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Trim the leads off at the top of each
solder pool.
Install, solder and trim all of the resistors in the power grid as shown. Refer to
the latest version of the schematic on GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com, the Baby Will
circuit board, and the component package to identify, locate and position
component values.
The filtering capacitors are not installed at this time. The height of these
capacitors interferes with the installation of the other components. These
capacitors will be the last component installed.
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Dont bother with the input section. Well get to that later.
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Insert the two (2) 10K in the R21 and R23 component locations.
Solder and trim the leads.
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Prepare the stock input jack by cutting
off the stock connector.
Cut off the connector that
plugged into the stock EVJ
circuit board. Leave the
input connector plugged into
the input jack board.
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Heres what everything should look like so far - minus the input jack wiring.
Oops, this picture is missing the ground wire, too.
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Fasten the ground wires from the Baby Will circuit board and the output
transformer to the star ground screw post.
Baby Will Valve Junior Conversion
Build Manual
29 of 36
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Heres how it should look when everything is hooked up.
Good Job!
Youre almost done. But, before you start celebrating, you still have to review
your work, start it up and test the voltages.
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Check that the IEC mains power connector is equipped with a good fuse.
The fuse should be rated for 2A Slo-Blo.
Check that the heater element supply (orange wires) is equipped with a
good fuse. The fuse should be rated for no more than 4A Slo-Blo.
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Version 4
22 September 2009
http://www.GuitarAmplifierPCBs.com
Congratulations! Your Valve Junior is complete. Plug in a guitar and enjoy the
legendary tone of your 18 Watt LiteIIb Baby Will guitar amplifier.
Version 4
22 September 2009