Random: I made figures of the backs of all of my amps.

[danielpasco]

I have a wall of amplifiers and some of the various knobs and switches are hard to get at without either pulling the unit out far enough to actually see what's what, or puling up a manual for a diagram of the back plate.

I finally decided to grab reference images and then mark them up in Omnigraffle. I'm keeping them together in one Notes file so that they're easy to access. I thought I'd share the ones I've made here if they are useful to anyone.

Having these allows me to quickly glance at the image and then know how to find the input jack, switch, or knob that I need by feel, including which side of the amp to try and reach it from. Most things don't change that much but rectification and bold/spongy come up all the time.

One thing that came out of this, I realized that I'd been plugging my cab into my Road King's 4 Ohm output for quite some time

Multiwatt Rectifier

Road King II
This is an obvious composite image, but it works

IIC+

TC-50

Badlander

Tremoverb (Combo)

Mark VII
I clearly yoinked this image from Sweetwater. I *did* buy mine from them, though.

 

[danielpasco]

Can I just say how much I appreciate how isolated the Road King's FX Bypass switch is? My preferred position for the various rotary loop controls is always DIRECTLY NEXT to the bypass setting. Feels like defusing a bomb if I need to change it.

 

[danielpasco]

...especially this guy; Putting the bypass switch directly in line with the pentode/triode switch and the rectifier switches has gotten me several times. I finally started counting knobs, starting on channel one, to get to the pentode switch.

Mark V: 90

 

[bchulse]

Excellent idea!

 

[Eevil]

...especially this guy; Putting the bypass switch directly in line with the pentode/triode switch and the rectifier switches has gotten me several times. I finally started counting knobs, starting on channel one, to get to the pentode switch.

Mark V: 90
View attachment 5602

Yep.

Couple of times (many more…) I have bypassed the fx loop while toying with rectification or triode. Ka-boom

Pretty nice eye opener while noodling around silently..

 

[mace]

...especially this guy; Putting the bypass switch directly in line with the pentode/triode switch and the rectifier switches has gotten me several times. I finally started counting knobs, starting on channel one, to get to the pentode switch.

Mark V: 90
View attachment 5602

Yep, that’s exactly what I do each and every time I mess around back there! LOL

Another tip: plug the 1/4” holes that you don’t use. For example, I plugged all but SEND, RETURN, 8 ohm and both 4 ohms. That way, when plugging in a cab I know if 8 ohm then I shoot for the single vertical hole, if two 4 ohms there are a pair of vertical holes.

Ah yeah, also screwed a dual fuse holder to the inside side board so there are always a couple spares within reach. Haven’t needed that in years since we stopped practicing at the farm house. The click of the electric fence used to come through the amp…my Mark V took all kinds of electrical abuse at that place.

 

[bandit2013]

What becomes an issue if you are not familiar with the back of the amp, just feeling around may get you into trouble. That rotary knob you just moved and the amp suddenly turned off without warning was the fuse holder cap.

 

[danielpasco]

What becomes an issue if you are not familiar with the back of the amp, just feeling around may get you into trouble. That rotary knob you just moved and the amp suddenly turned off without warning was the fuse holder cap.

 

[danielpasco]

Yep, that’s exactly what I do each and every time I mess around back there! LOL

Getting the wrong switch amazing and invigorating experience. With screaming.

Another tip: plug the 1/4” holes that you don’t use. For example, I plugged all but SEND, RETURN, 8 ohm and both 4 ohms. That way, when plugging in a cab I know if 8 ohm then I shoot for the single vertical hole, if two 4 ohms there are a pair of vertical holes.

That is *really* smart. The idea had crossed my mind recently, but you've convinced me that it's the right move. I'll get some myself.

Ah yeah, also screwed a dual fuse holder to the inside side board so there are always a couple spares within reach. Haven’t needed that in years since we stopped practicing at the farm house. The click of the electric fence used to come through the amp…my Mark V took all kinds of electrical abuse at that place.

ooof.