Seriously Goofy!

Rob Bell’s “Love Wins” – Good to Read for Many Reasons

Hoopy Frood — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:57:08 +0000

I’ve just finished reading Rob Bell‘s new book, “Love Wins“. I hadn’t really seriously considered posting to this blog much anymore. But Bell has received a lot of negative press with his book, so I felt compelled to write something in support of it.

All in all, I have to say I really enjoyed the book (in spite of the usual “Bell” issues, more on that in the review), and I would highly recommend it, though not without a disclaimer or two. It’s certainly not perfect. But very much worth picking up. To read my review, click here.

Fender Twin Reverb: Silverface to Blackface Conversion

Hoopy Frood — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:18:00 +0000

I know I don’t publish on this site any more. I don’t really have plans to do so again. But I just finished a major project and I wanted this information to be available to the world. If you want to contact me you’re best off sending an e mail to: benito shavings (no space) via hotmail because I don’t remember to check the comments most of the time. Now on to the good stuff!

I own a 1970 Fender Twin Reverb and it was in need of some significant maintenance. Once I considered doing it I got bit by the amp-mod bug and here’s what happened.

My amp was built in 1970, probably early in the year judging from the parts. The control pots are dated 1969 and the speakers are Oxford speakers built in April of 1970. The tube chart labels the amp with the “AB763″ schematic, but this is obviously incorrect. AB763 was the famous pre-CBS “Blackface” design. The tube callouts are identical for this model, though.

When CBS purchased Fender in 1965, the Twin Reverb design that had been used since 1963 did not change at first. The AB763 circuit design was retained through 1967 (when the Silverface cosmetics were first introduced) and through 1968 (by 1968 the Blackface cosmetics were completely replaced by the Silverface cosmetics). In 1969 the Twin received its first “post-CBS” redesign and it was a significant one. This design, seen in Schematic AA769, most notably changed the operational voltages of the tube plates and removed the adjustable bias in favor of a fixed bias with adjustable tube balance. With all circuit changes in 1969, the amp power output went from around 85W to around 100W. When 1970 hit, more design changes were introduced, as shown in Schematic AA270.

My amp was built using the AA270 design. I purchased it circa 1998 and it was completely stock (including the original RCA tubes). Over the years it has aged and was in need of an overhaul. The preamp tubes were the first things to go, they had become terribly microphonic. I replaced all the preamp tubes: The 12AT7 tubes were replaced with NOS RCA and GE 12AT7 tubes (thank you TheTubeStore.com!) and the 7025 tubes were replaces with new Svetlana 12AX7s and the vibrato 12AX7 was replaced with a new Electro Harmonix. The power tubes are all still the original RCA 6L6s.

During the overhaul, I decided to re-cap the amp since the existing capacitors were over 40 years old and some had deteriorated. Once I had committed to replacing the caps, I explored the idea of converting to the classic Blackface circuit design. The changes were relatively simple in the amp models before the Master Volume knob was introduced in 1972.

In order to make the conversion, a plan had to be developed. The first step: get copies of the electrical schematic and layout of the Blackface Twin Reverb (AB763) and the same drawings for the model of amp I was working on, my AA270. These are available online in Ampwares’ Fender Amp Field Guide. They are also published in different books. I used Aspen Pittman’s “The Tube Amp Book”. I believe they are also in Gerald Weber’s “A Desktop Reference to Hip Vintage Guitar Amps”.

To begin, I just studied the AB763 and AA270 schematics and noted all the differences that were made to get the AA270. Theoretically, you simply need to undo all those changes, and you are back to a Blackface. In Chapter 2 of Weber’s “Desktop Reference” he also has a section called “Silver to Blackface Conversion for Twin Reverb”. That was very helpful, but I thought it was incomplete in a few details, especially the bias circuit modifications, so I refined it developed my own plan.

Blackface Schematic AB763: http://www.ampwares.com/schematics/twin_reverb_ab763.pdf

My Silverface Schematic AA270: http://www.ampwares.com/schematics/twin_reverb_aa270.pdf

The cool thing with the Ampwares copy of the AB763 drawings is they includes the layout; something that is not in Aspen Pittman’s book. Notice in the bias circuit that a 3.3k resistor and a 50uF cap were added to the AA270 design. Weber’s Blackface conversion instructions retained those components, I’m not sure why. But they weren’t there in the Blackface design and, since both models used the same power transformer, I had no qualms about removing them.

Apart from installing new preamp tubes, the only other impact of the overhaul was all six original 25uF/25V capacitors in the preamp section were replaced with new 22uF/25V, because of the unavailability of 25uF.

In the vibrato circuit the AB763 had a 25uF capacitor on one of the cathode grounding connections. This was changed to a 5uF capacitor in 1969 to shunt fewer high frequencies to ground (i.e. allow more of the “lower” high frequencies to stay in the sonic circuitry). This was done because some thought the Blackface vibrato sounded muddy, I think. I like the sound of the 5uF cap, so I replaced it, but didn’t change it to a 25uF. Also in 1969 there was a 0.002uF capacitor added to the ground path on the reverb unit output. In a full Blackface conversion it should be removed (Weber calls for the removal in his Blackface conversion instructions). I tried the amp both ways, with it removed and with it in place. I preferred the sound of leaving it in place. The reverb seemed to have more punch and presence. So I didn’t do that part of the Blackface conversion either.

In the end the Blackface conversion only entailed changing 11 resistors (and removing one more), replacing one capacitor (and removing four others), then some minor rewiring around the bias adjustment pot (see pictures below). Replacing the old capacitors was more work than the conversion.

The electrolytic capacitors were replaced with new Xicon caps. My amp repair guru (Doyle from Doyle’s Broadway Music in Boise, ID) has had Sprague caps die on him a lot so he doesn’t recommend them. I got the Xicons from him for less than you can buy Sprague caps online.

If you attempt to do something similar to your amp, I must offer the ubiquitous warnings: THERE ARE VOLTAGES IN TUBE AMPS THAT CAN KILL YOU. Power tube plate voltages can be between 500 and 600 volts DC. This charge can stay in the amp for a very long time after unplugging it. If you at all doubt your ability to use a voltmeter and safely discharge capacitors – DO NOT WORK ON YOUR OWN AMP.

If you do feel comfortable with those things, use caution and be safe. Your voltmeter is your friend. If you do do the work, here are some tips for capacitors. Old ceramic caps were polarized. Modern ceramic caps are not. So you don’t have to worry about installing modern ceramic caps in backwards. However ALL ELECTROLYTIC CAP ARE POLARITY SENSITIVE. Pay attention to how you remove the old caps and install the new ones. If you get the new one in backwards it will likely explode the first time you turn on the power. The old Malory caps usually had a “+” symbol on one side. My new Xicon caps have arrows and a “-” symbol to indicate the negative side (see my filter cap pictures below).

Also be aware, you may have some parts in your amp that don’t match the spec callouts, or things may not be laid out as shown in the layout drawing. Just pay attention to what you see and if something doesn’t look right, it may not be. These amps weren’t perfect.

Interestingly, since the AA769 design you could use somewhat mismatched tube pairs in the “push” and “pull” circuits of the power amp and use the balance pot to compensate for the mismatch. With the conversion to the AB763 circuit, that feature is removed in favor of an adjustable bias. Therefore it is most desirable to use a matched quad set of tubes in this amp. If that is not possible, two matched pairs can be used. One matched pair should go in sockets V7 and V10 (outside sockets) and one pair should go in V8 and V9 (inside sockets). The stock RCA 6L6 tubes in my amp were not quite a matched quad, so they have been installed in this second fashion.

The end result of all this work? This amp used to sound (what I thought was) amazing. Now it sounds out of this world!

Perhaps now it is not as “collectible” as a bone-stock 1970 Twin Reverb amplifier would be. But how collectible was it before I got it? The Silverface Twin Reverb amps from 1967 and 1968, which contained the original Blackface design, are not nearly as collectable as the 1967 Twin Reverb with Blackface cosmetics. Even at its best, this 1970 amp was only second banana (on a good day) to the Blackfaces in a collector’s eyes. That’s being generous because the 1969, 1968 and 1967 Silverfaces are all more collectable than the 1970.

But in the end, the guitar amp is both tool and it is an instrument. To sacrifice its function – its soul – for the sake of an abstract concept like collectability is to do a great disservice to what made this amp collectible in the first place; it sounds absolutely beautiful. The modifications and maintenance we do over the life of the amp is what keeps that beauty alive.

Have fun out there and go make some noise!

Shutdown

Hoopy Frood — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:43:31 +0000

As has been painfully obvious if anyone looks here anymore, I’m not writing anything these days, or even checking the site (comments) out.

If you want to get a hold of me, shoot me an e-mail (or better, call). This will probably lie dormant until long after Fallout 3 is old. Maybe I’ll check back in March ’09. Peace

Not Just Self-Published Anymore

Hoopy Frood — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:34:23 +0000

Haha, not really. But my work at my church garnered some unexpected media attention. Recently we celebrated our two-year anniversary. A guest attended from the local paper looking to write an article about those who “quietly occupy the middle ground” in Christianity as opposed to the noisy extremists. Well the article turned out rather well. Apparently I play in a rock band (hey, if the paper printed it it must be true). If you’re interested in reading an “outside” perspective on what our church is doing you can read it here. Later!

Universalism and Such

Hoopy Frood — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 22:05:23 +0000

So, as you could see here R responded and I wanted to offer some further thoughts on the matter. Thanks for responding, by the way! Those are some great thoughts.

I totally agree with your idea that no one is going to have God totally figured out in this lifetime. And I of course agree with the idea that opening up conversations with others is of utmost importance and value. That’s why I do this sort of thing, right?

After reading your second paragraph I think I’ll throw a new word out there “Exclusive”. The “inclusive” idea of God is that good people who are not Christians get “included” in life with God after death. The “exclusive” idea is more of what you are describing, I think. That the “exclusive” group are the keepers of the truth and if you don’t buy into their idea, you get “excluded” from life with God. I totally understand and agree with your point that it is attractive to people to “transcend the general mass”. And your point is made that having a view of God that allows some people (whoever they may be) to be outside or cast away from God, is a view that promotes power. Like I said in the last post there are reasons Universalism is the minority view. A major reason it is in the minority is it relinquishes all the domineering power that Christianity can (and often does) exercise over peoples lives. The religion can be exploited to be a tool to bring wealth and power to those in control. And people will always respond to that temptation. But taking up an idea that strips you any potential power and authority is not an idea ambitious people adopt.

I see that as another indicator of the truth here. If we honestly believe there is a God that IS love, then it should not be possible that the truth about God could be employed to oppress people without being corrupted.

But I will offer you this thought. Yes, the idea that people want to be a part of something bigger than themselves is very prominent; I share in that desire. But, rather than taking up with those who want power or those who want to be regarded as a “guardian of truth”, I have taken up with a different group. A group that believes God is working in this world right now. A group that believes God is connected with every life. And I (we) can be a part of that good work. We can be a part of the work of God that strives to redeem this world and make it the good place it was always meant to be. It’s an amazing idea, but certainly one that does not lend itself to putting me in any kind of position of power.

Thanks for your thoughts, that’s really good stuff! Maybe we can drag Krime over here one day and see what he thinks Later!

The Flobots!

Hoopy Frood — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:27:54 +0000

So much for posting a timely update! A combination of my PS2 port blowing up on my PC, preparing for some intense stuff at work and working on music with my sister-in-law has kept me exceedingly busy!

But for the first time in a long time I have a couple hours of freedom. So here’s a quick update. The Flobots? Awesome! If you every have a chance to see them, do so. Great talent, great messages and they are a ton of fun. I’ll now tuck my original post behind the fold.

I think they are the natural progression from Rage Against the Machine. It’s about time someone inherited the counter-establishment torch. They’re awesome musicians, like Rage. They’re completely unsatisfied with our government, like Rage. But they are funny! And, most importantly, they have hope! They’re not raging… they’re trying to create a movement for change: a positive movement. ‘Nuff talking. I’ll let you know how the show was next time I get a chance to write!

“Butterfly wing crosswinds send black hawks toward hurricane survivors.
Roses sprout from empty lots and sidewalk cracks.
Pacifist guerillas move undetected through concrete jungles.
New forms are beginning to take shape.
Once occupied minds are activating;
People are waking up!
The insurgency is alive and well.

Rise of The Flobots:
Portrait of the new American insurgent.
Rattle and shake the foundations of the world order,
Assembly line incent, resist, refuse, inform, create.
Direct loved ones to the trenches.
Suit up, forge rubble into fortresses:
Plaster, cloth, aluminum,
Broken porcelain, Rusted platinum.
Burn blood stains from decompressed diamonds,
Hammer the battle cry into Braille studded armor.

We are building up a new world.
Do not sit idly by.
Do not remain neutral.
Do not rely on this broadcast alone.
We are only as strong as our signal.
There is a war going on for your mind;
If you are thinking, you are winning.
Resistance is victory.
Defeat is impossible.
Your weapons are already in hand.
Reach within you and find the means by which to gain your freedom.
Fight with tools.
Your fate, and that of everyone you know, depends on it.”

From “We Are Winning” off the 2007 Flobots Album “Fight With Tools”.

Maybe Time for Some Action!

Hoopy Frood — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:56:11 +0000

The dust has REALLY been collecting lately. But the gears never stop turning. As soon as the weather turned warm, the XBox was turned off and I’ve been reading. And thinking. I’m not looking to write anything profound. But this has increasingly dawned on me: understanding what people believe and why they believe it is probably one of the most illuminating and enjoyable things to me.

So, if they’re up for it I’d like to call them out: -R- (you know who you are) and Krime/Bikertomj – Share your minds! Of course, only if you feel like it…

I’ve kind of talked with R about this, but this is more real-world. I was talking with a friend about “Universalism”, the Christian thought that states: All people, from all times, regardless of their actions in their lives, will be reconciled to God after the grave. This isn’t trying to say that all religions are equivalent (equating to each other), though. This is a Christian theology that states: Jesus is the means by which that reconciliation is accomplished. It just doesn’t require that we humans have to know/believe/do anything. It’s just DONE.

This is an ancient Christian belief, but it has always been a minority view (for reasons debatable and very extensive, so I will spare you that). That’s why most people (Christians even) are not even aware of this idea. But before I ask you my question, let me first give you some background.

I have been exploring this idea of Universalism for some time now. And only recently have I come to understand it in such a way that it started making REAL sense to me. It introduces more questions than it answers, but it has that ring of truth to it. You know, one of those things that once you hear it you never perceive anything else in quite the same way. What I’ve learned and what I’ve experienced while exploring this are profound, but I’ll spare you the details at this point.

Back to talking to my friend… I said: one thing I found to be a huge indicator of truth in the idea of Universalism is how much easier that idea makes it to talk to people about God. For those who find themselves outside the bounds of any religion, let alone Christianity; for those who reject Christianity for the violence it has done to them or the world; for those who have never seen anything worthwhile in faith (Christian or otherwise). For these people – if I believe God not only wants to be in a relationship with them, but God is in a relationship with them and that that relationship will deepen (either on this side of the grave or the other) into something more wonderful than any relationship we can imagine this world – that should be good news! At least I think it would be…

But my friend’s response struck me as odd. He said, basically, that he didn’t think this would be an effective picture of God to those who did not identify with the Christian Church. Or rather, he didn’t think this was as effective a picture of God as an “inclusive” (as opposed to universal) picture. He said the Universal idea means that everyone will be reconciled to God (including the Hitlers, Pol Pots, serial rapists, etc) and that those outside Christianity will not like that idea. The “inclusive” idea of God is that most (not all) people will be reconciled to God. This gives room for God to call up the good people who aren’t Christians, but it also gives room for God to reject the Hitlers and gives people the means to reject God.

Semantic issues with that last sentence aside – Here’s the question for you two. Since you aren’t affiliated with any organized religion, what do you think? Is one idea about God more appealing than the other? I’d like to know what (if any) truth either of those ideas of God may convey to you. I’d also like to know what problems you see in those ideas (trust me, there’s no shortage of problems!). Don’t feel obligated, of course. I just really like the way you guys approach things, and you obviously have no agendas when it comes to evaluating ideas of Christian theology.

If either of you feel like sharing I’d love to hear it. Either just post thoughts in the comments or e-mail me and we’ll continue the conversation there. Peace!

Lance

Non Update

Hoopy Frood — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:13:16 +0000

I just thought I’d take the time to say I’m not posting much these days No surprise, huh? All my leisure time has been spent playing Oblivion lately. Not sure why that’s so enjoyable. But I thought I should at least say I’m still alive, checking comments occasionally and interested in keeping in touch with you guys.

I just hit the six-month mark of doing Capoeira. Six months ago I didn’t know how to spell it… now I can do this:

[Obviously not a video of me, but I've learned that kick and much more]. Though I did land on my toe doing that kick last week. Ouch. Come one, come all! I need sparring partners!

Angela tagged me on my last post. I’ll simply instruct the interested reader to see my previous response to a tagging here. But just to be fair she asked for 10 things, not 7. So here are three more things that are absolutely true.

8. I can bench-press 360 ounces.

9. I’m secretly running an illegal amoeba fighting ring.

10. I can do 60% of one push-up while doing a hand stand.

Thank you! I’m here all week!

Yeah, that’s the way we roll in Idaho…

Hoopy Frood — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 02:09:19 +0000

I’ve always known since last year’s election that at least one Idaho members of the US Congress would be an embarrassment to one degree or another. As if the past few months haven’t been bad enough, Bill Sali – apparently not one to be out done when it comes to looking like a colossal birk – decided to one-up Larry Craig. Now he wants Idahoans to document they are as intellectually challenged as he is. Anyone in is his district is probably aware of this already, but for those of you who aren’t allow me to show you this painfully hilarious example of democracy inaction.

My wife received the following letter from Sali in the mail today. It speaks for itself.

I was dumbfounded… Even for Sali this is obtuse. Of course! When it comes to illegal immigrants there are only two possible viewpoints; each with only one corresponding course of action! Sali didn’t bother to wait for political commentators to point out his shortcomings, he just jumped the gun, wrote it down for us preemptively and is inviting us to join him in Sali-land.

Well I’m going to save him the trouble of coming up with new questionnaires for future deliberations on complex political issues. Here they are, I hope you enjoy them! Bill, feel free to use them. You don’t even need to pay me.

Done!

Hoopy Frood — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 23:49:37 +0000

Finally! After six weeks of studying and preparing, I have been offered and accepted the position of protection engineer at my company! This is really exciting! As I’ve said before it will mean more self-study and homework, but ultimately this position will be very interesting and engaging.

Thank you everyone for your support in all of this! It’s been a crazy six weeks; now it’s time to start a crazy (but hopefully fun) six months. Peace out – enjoy those video games, folks. You know I will! Oh and speaking of which, Al found something that makes me just wish I had two grand to throw away. This is probably one of the greatest entertainment devices ever created. If I had one that’s how I would be celebrating tonight!