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Originally Posted by danasti How many hours would you estimate that you put into this kit? |
It's a tough estimate... Probably around 60. But I'll say about half of those hours were me just staring at the unit. Basically I'd get to a point where I wasn't quite sure about something... Like how to properly install twisted tube heater wires... or whether I should wrap the ends of the components around the turret board on just solder them on top... or which way was best to rout this wire or that, etc. So often I'd spend a few hours working on it, get to a hang up, sleep on it (or do a little online research), and then just jump back in the next day (even if I didn't have a definite answer). Work a few hours... Get hung up on something... Repeat.
If I were to build a second one I could cut it down to probably 15-20 hours. But in general I'm slow. When I'm doing home improvement and the book rates a project: "2 hours = expert, 4 hours = intermediate, 6 hours = beginner," it usually takes me about 10 hours after I've done it a couple times.
But it was fun work... For the most part.
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Originally Posted by danasti How would you compare the sound of the Bloo to the others it emulates? Only if you have heard them... |
You know I just got it working Monday night, so I'll let you know after I get around to tracking vocals.
That being said, I have never used a "real" LA-2A. I do have extensive experience with 1176's and wanted something a little thicker as a vocal comp. My budget was pointing me towards a distressor or an 1176/mc76/mc77. I ruled out the Distressor since it's not my favorite on vocals, and I thought something optical would be a little more pleasing on my voice (less agressive pop). Plus I though putting this unit together would open a lot of doors for me as well (assuming things went well - which they did), like the MC76 DIY, Seventh Circle Pres, etc.
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Originally Posted by danasti Do you feel as though its sound it is correct and the build is correct? |
Won't comment on the sound for now...
The build... It is an LA-2A with modern components. If you can track down some original input and output transformers (they are out there, actually), an original TB4 optical circuit, and some NOS tubes you would have a "new" LA-2A. It's an LA-2A circuit. In fact I could plug in an old TB4 directly into my unit. I used Sowter transformers which get a lot of nice comments online for this purpose.
There are a couple revisions of the LA-2A circuit. With a little online research you find out these differences, but they are basically just a few resistor value substitutions. You can build it to any revision.
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Originally Posted by danasti Maybe if you had time you could go over some of your stumbling blocks during the build and possibly share some of your experiences. |
1. Get a good soldering iron. No radio shack 2-temp irons. My Hakko is awesome. It's the model recommended by Seventh Circle. This thing is going to make my cable building a lot simpler too. A wonderful investment.
2. This layout put together by a DIY-er named Cayocosta is a life-saver:
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~cayoc...a2a_layout.jpg
The manual that comes with the Bloo is a little vague at times and has few pictures. This is a case where a picture says a thousand words. Every mistake I made (and there were several) was caught by checking things on this layout. And if I had this before I started instead of halfway through the project, I might not have made any.
As a note, this layout is based on a different revision than the the bloo, so there are a couple differences. But they are just a few resistor values (and easy to spot). All the wiring (which is the most helpful part) is the same.
3. The most common error I saw everyone make while I was trouble shooting online (including myself) was putting their diodes in backwards. And there is so much bad info online that makes you think they are right even when they are not.
So here it is:
The lines on the diodes face the front of the unit. That just saved you $5 in fuses and 4 hours online.
4. At some point either before your build or during it, read (or at least skim) this thread start to finish (ideally while on the clock at work):
http://prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtop...62d92b0681a914
Also of interest is a search option on that forum that allows you to search by post rather than by thread. Very helpful when a given thread might be 95 pages long.
5. Obviously get a multimeter, some shink tubing, some sheilded balanced cable, some cable ties, and some extra 22 guage stranded wire if you don't already.
6. Finally, check everything three times (preferably by checking it off of both the Bloo manual and Cayocosta's layout).
And hopefully my photo journal at the beginning of this thread (which will hopefuly remain up for some time now) will help in some way. I couldn't find many pictures online whle I was working, and most of those were just of the completed units.
Let me know if there are any other questions. And I should have audio samples posted within the coming weeks of both vocals and upright bass.
-Jp