DaveK Messages: 5 Registered: May 2004 Location: Indian Head, Maryland
Junior Member
New to Kustom amps, great site and info! I was wondering if changing the bridge rectifier will make a noticeable difference in tone. Changed the filter caps, I put in 56000 uf @ 50V tho, because IMHO more filtering is better for bass amps if you want more headroom.
stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
HI, Regular diodes are hard pressed to switch on and off cleanly, even at 60 cycles, so they put alot of hash and noise into the power supply and inturn affect the sound of the amp. Fast recovery doides make a nice upgrade.FREDs as they are called are not offered as one piece bridge diodes.
With all due respect Steve, the "hash and noise" from "slow" diodes in a filtered, bridge rectified power supply doesn't really make sense. Since we are dealing with a 60 Hz sine wave, there is no fast switching involved. And even if the diodes did have some switching noise, they are not supplying power during that part of the cycle, the capacitors are. Sound mods are always subjective, and if you like them, great. But I can't support the idea of replacing the bridge with discreet devices to improve the sound of an amp.
John Forster