Robert Fries wrote:

> This reminds me of the debate over point-to-point wiring vs.
> printed circuit boards - Weber's assertion that the coplanar and parallel
> traces create unwanted capacitances, which conspire to swallow all
> your tone. I don't buy it - I'd bet that given identical components,
> and an equivalent level of expertise in point-to-point wiring and
> practical PCB design, two amps built from the same schematic would
> be virtually indistinguishable.
>

It's a moot point. The real question you have to ask is:

Why do companies use Printed Circuit Boards ?

Hint: It's not to improve the sound. It's to save costs in manufacturing
and to have a consistancy in the resulting products . The unfortunate side
effect of all this is that while switching to PC board designs,
manufactures almost always switch to cheaper/smaller components which also
saves them money. Additionally, engineers anaylize the circuit and
determine where best to switch to more cost effective parts. For example,
Fender's choice of using a fixed resistor instead of a bias pot and their
use of 1/4 watt resistors. Another common practice is to swap out
capacitors with surface mount "offshore" designs. Transformers are also
commonly changed. Take a look at the reissue transformers that Marshall and
Fender use. Neither Fender no Marshall uses transformers with the proper
interleave ratio, paper bobbins, core material, or windings as the
originals. All of this serves to make the products sound totally different.

Robert, all you have to do is compare the Fender Blackface Twin reissue
against a properly restored original to know what I'm talking about. For an
even more startling difference, check out the difference between an
authentic '59 Bassman and the reissue.

On the other hand, when Marshall switched over to PC boards in 1973, the
amps sounded very close to the non PC board 1973 amps. The reason for that
was that it took them several years before they started switching over to
cheaper components.

Additionally, companies such as Mesa Boogie and THD make some outstanding
products using PC board designs. I've never heard the THD bassman copy but
would be interested in actually hearing one.

So, in closing, I think the answer to your question might be that yes, I'd
bet that given identical components,
given and an equivalent level of expertise in point-to-point wiring,
practical PCB design, etc., two amps might actually end up sounding the
same but I bet we'll never get to find out !

> -Jaz

AB crossover	Amp Classes Defined	Amp Classes Explained	Amp Mods Harmful
Bass Cutoff Frequencies	Bias adjust safeguard	Bias Cathode Resistors	Bias Shift
Biasing methods	Biasing	Channel Switching LDRs	Choke Input Filter
Circuit Memory	circuits	Drop B+	Eyelet board
Fender Response Curves	FET source follower	Filament Cathode Ground	Fixed to Cathode Bias
FM Transmitter Voltages	Grid Blocking	Identify Power Trans Leads	Load Impedance
LV No PC boards	Output impedances	PC Boards	PCB amp problems
Phase Inverter Resistors	Pilot Light Tone	Rectifier voltage drops	Resistor Design
Resistor Max Voltage	Resistor noise	Reverb Tank Types	Reverb tanks
Screen Grids	Standby Switch Ratings	Standby switches	TAME Digest
Tone Circuits	Transformer Design Book	Transformer Info	Transformer Placement
Zener Voltage Drop

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