Version 1.21 Page: 3
Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Sources of help.................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................................ 5
WARNING .............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Please Read this Information Carefully..................................................................................................................... 7
Version Control ........................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Guitar Amplifier Basics ........................................................................................................................................................... 9
Fender and Marshall tone controls ............................................................................................................................... 10
Distortion ........................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Introduction to Vacuum Tubes and Common Terms .................................................................................................... 17
Input Jack Theory .................................................................................................................................................................. 20
Circuit Description ................................................................................................................................................................ 21
Power Supply .................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Input / Preamp Stage ...................................................................................................................................................... 21
How Grid Leak Bias Works ...................................................................................................................................... 21
Power / Output Stage ..................................................................................................................................................... 22
Triton Specifications.............................................................................................................................................................. 23
Building an Amp .................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Switches and wire ............................................................................................................................................................. 24
Physical layout ................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Grounding ......................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Insulated jacks ................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Minimizing transformer interference ............................................................................................................................ 25
Wiring ................................................................................................................................................................................. 25
Assembling the amp .............................................................................................................................................................. 26
Before You Begin ............................................................................................................................................................. 26
Tools ................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Soldering ............................................................................................................................................................................ 26
Tube Pin Numbering ....................................................................................................................................................... 27
Assembly Steps Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 29
Install Hardware ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Wiring ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Wire Heater Wires ............................................................................................................................................................ 31
Install Power Transformer ................................................................................................................................................... 32
Trinity Triton Grounding Scheme ........................................................................................................................... 33
Mains Power Connection ..................................................................................................................................................... 34
Wire the Rectifier Socket ................................................................................................................................................ 36
Install the Output Transformer - Output Jacks ............................................................................................................... 37
Impedance Switch .................................................................................................................................................................. 37
Assemble the Eyelet Board .................................................................................................................................................. 39
Install the Jumpers ........................................................................................................................................................... 39
Eyelet Board Components .............................................................................................................................................. 39
Build the Eyelet Board..................................................................................................................................................... 39
Mount the Board .................................................................................................................................................................... 40
Connecting the Board ........................................................................................................................................................... 40
Connect Board to Volume Control............................................................................................................................... 42
Co-Axial Cable to Volume Control............................................................................................................................... 43
Input Jacks ............................................................................................................................................................................... 43
Final checkout ........................................................................................................................................................................ 45
Power Up ................................................................................................................................................................................. 46
Working Inside A Tube Amplifier Safely ..................................................................................................................... 46
Unplug .......................................................................................................................................................................... 46
Sit ................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
Drain ............................................................................................................................................................................. 46