"Say Hello! to my new little friend"

[TigerScent]

Hey TigerScent - details on removing pot? I have a 2.0 version & use it in the tape loop of my pre. Recently swapped out the 5670 GE 5 stars (which were a big upgrade from stock) for some Sylvania 5670s. They sound better yet.

hmmm, trying to remember now ... After taking the top red cover off; I was placing tension on the potentiometer to pull it off the board as I was applying heat, to various parts of it. I think I was partly successful and parts of the pot lugs that tore off I just desoldered removing with tweezers. Then its just a matter of logic in determining which parts should be hardwired together as per the pot connection, ie: so where the pot is inbetween to cause variation, you just hard wire that particular connection. I used the best Mundorf silver solder - works for me ... its a super little unit for the price.

The less inbetween the signal the more direct and accurate the sound reproduction...In addition, will be removing the RCA input/output terminals and just solder some silver plated microphone wire as interconnects straight from the Guanzo, in and out, so that there will be only RCA's on the ends of the cable from the Guanzo..., that will plug into the pre-amp/amp connections...

(Will be putting together a Jadis JP200 preamp clone soon...from 'Analog Metric' --- looking forward to that, but just need to find a way of making the output under 100 ohms, preferably about 10 ohms. Don't ask 'why', I just need solutions on how to do that without compromising the sound on any level, so if anyone knows how, suggestions are most welcome...)

 

[TigerScent]

Hey A-wall

i have owned the gunazo for about six months now and i agree its a great little piece of hardware. i swapped the tubes with a pair of Russian 6n3p tubes i got from the Ukraine and sound improved drastically! i also got a pair of GE 5670 tubes which turned out to be super noisy.. im staying with the Russians for now.

here's my enclosure build:
https://picasaweb.google.com/111109714414066634160/TubePreampProject

hope it helps.

Tank out.

...hey I took note of your post regarding the Russian 6N3P tubes and ordered some..., although I am happy with the sound so far with standard tubes supplied, I want the Russian ones on hand should a valve die...

...do they plug straight in and work off the shelf?? or do I need to make an wiring adjustment for the Russian tubes??

 

[TigerScent]

Hey A-wall

i have owned the gunazo for about six months now and i agree its a great little piece of hardware. i swapped the tubes with a pair of Russian 6n3p tubes i got from the Ukraine and sound improved drastically! i also got a pair of GE 5670 tubes which turned out to be super noisy.. im staying with the Russians for now.

here's my enclosure build:
https://picasaweb.google.com/111109714414066634160/TubePreampProject

hope it helps.

Tank out.

...hmmmm, Im looking at finding a nice old cigar or tobacco tin, or some other classic style tin, and ensuring the tubes stick out of it, as well as the transformer sitting on top..., and will build a mech case to go over the trans...

 

[TigerScent]

:thmbsp:

and one more thing.. once you start building the ecnlosure, you should look into getting an ALPs pot to replace the original, for me that move was a big improvment. just keep in mind that the alps does not fit directly on the board.

Analog Metric have a remote Alps unit with digital screen, looks pretty good from here..., however, with valves and esoteric gear the simpler the better IMO...

 

[TigerScent]

The 6N3P's work beautifully in these; and can be considered an upgrade to the original supplied tubes. I took them straight out, and put the originals in, so that I don't get used to the sound and instead use the originals until they 'expire'...

...the originals sound pretty good again...lol

 

[Poultrygeist]

The originals may last for years. I like the originals too which are taller than the vintage Tung Sols I now use. At first I thought the TS's were an improvement but now I'm not so sure. I may try the 6N3P's.

 

[veejoe]

Hi all,
first post here.
I just ordered one of these little amps and while waiting for it to arrive, I'll start looking for a suitable casing. Could anyone tell me the minimum width I would need with the transformer positioned next to the amp? Also, as I'm not too fond of the tacky green leds, can those just be 'yanked out' so to speak or will this interrupt the signal?

PS the little beast will be connected between a Technics SU-C01 preamp (in order to keep several inputs including phono) and Marantz DMA-1 mono blocks.

thx,
Joseph

 

[Poultrygeist]

I glued two wooden trays together that fit in dresser drawers. One is 7" x 7" and the other is 3.5" X 7" but the 7" X 7" is just large enough to hold the preamp and power supply. Each tray is 2.75" high but with the tubes the preamp is a little taller. There are many options for a case including cigar boxes, tissue boxes, small upside down aluminum pans etc. I saw several small wooden boxes at Michaels' Craft Store that would work.

You could enclose the tubes as they make little heat but they look cool exposed. The LED lights are not like you think as they illuminate the bottoms of the tubes with soft light.

I was never able to remove the volume knob which I believe is glued on. I had to drill an opening that the knob would fit through and then use a rubber washer to fill up the gap.

Good luck and be sure and post pictures when yours is completed.

 

[veejoe]

Will do - in about a month or so (the time it will presumably take to arrive)!

thx for your reply,

Joseph

 

[dryce]

Anyone ever tried the one they refer to as a Little Bear P3? It comes with GE 5670s and a 6Z4.

 

[TigerScent]

Hi all,
first post here.
I just ordered one of these little amps and while waiting for it to arrive, I'll start looking for a suitable casing. Could anyone tell me the minimum width I would need with the transformer positioned next to the amp? Also, as I'm not too fond of the tacky green leds, can those just be 'yanked out' so to speak or will this interrupt the signal?

PS the little beast will be connected between a Technics SU-C01 preamp (in order to keep several inputs including phono) and Marantz DMA-1 mono blocks.

thx,
Joseph

I would use a metal container or line a wooden one on the inside with sheetmetal or at least foil and earth to ground. I am planning of having my tubes extend out of the case, and putting the transformer on top of the box behind the tubes, with a custom made metal housing, also earthed to ground...

 

[veejoe]

Would it be useful to connect the Guanzo to the tape-loop of my SS pre-amp and use IT's (high quality) volume, tone and balance controls while still getting the Guanzo's sound (I'm not too sure I WOULD get that sound this way?)
Or should I stick with my original plan to connect the Technics preamp's 'rec out' to the Guanzo's 'line in' and from the Guanzo's 'line out' (as labeled, though I suspect that should be 'pre out') to the power amps inputs, using the Guanzo's vol.pot as intended?

 

[Poultrygeist]

The Guanzo doesn't require an earth to ground.

 

[TigerScent]

I earth the case and transformer bracket to ground. Case shields from interference ....

 

[TigerScent]

I got Russian 'Red October' (Krasny Octyabr) 6N3P tubes... the Red Octobers are dynamic and crisp sounding ...
...the Chinese ones seem a bit more laid back in comparision ... but still quite detailed ... make sure they are seated properly, as the pins can go to the side of the pin-holders in the sockets...

 

[Poultrygeist]

I just received the 6N3p military versions but haven't tried them yet. They took a month to arrive from the Ukrane.

 

[Gooniman]

First Timer Tuber

I order my Guanzo 2.1 about 4 weeks ago..
Finally hooked up yesterday and I must say that it sound fantastic. I'm running it in stock.
I listened to this little guy for 4 hours..
I couldn't get enough of the beautiful sound
I will buy another one to make some mod the everyone been doing here..
This is definitely the way to get into tubes on the cheap..
I'm loving it..
Now is time to check on some of the others tubes the have been mention here..
Thanks everybody

 

[rinfiniti88]

Hello, it is my first post on forum, I got guanzo almost whole year and I want to tell it a tremendous thing! ! !
I constructed the case for it, used a wooden framework and a plate from stainless steel as I made some internal changes, replaced capacitors with Wima 10.

 

[rinfiniti88]

Guanzo 6n3

 

[rinfiniti88]

Decware Zkit1 and Guanzo 2.0