The Trinity Amps Triton Builder's Guide USAGE STRICTLY RESERVED FOR TRINITY AMPS CUSTOMERS ONLY - PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE Version 1.5 Parts © Trinity Amps 2005 - 2020 www.trinityamps.com Version 1.51 2 Table of Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Sources of help.................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 WARNING .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Please Read this Information Carefully..................................................................................................................... 6 Version Control ........................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Guitar Amplifier Basics ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 Fender and Marshall tone controls ................................................................................................................................. 9 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 Triton Build Tips .............................................................................................................................................................. 28 Assembly Steps Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 29 Install Hardware ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Wiring ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Run 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 Install Preamp Ground Lug ................................................................................................................................................. 39 Assemble the Eyelet Board .................................................................................................................................................. 39 Install the Jumpers ........................................................................................................................................................... 39 Eyelet Board Components .............................................................................................................................................. 39 Build the Eyelet Board..................................................................................................................................................... 40 Mount the Board .................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Connecting the Board ........................................................................................................................................................... 42 Connect Board to Volume Control............................................................................................................................... 43 Co-Axial Cable to Volume Control............................................................................................................................... 44 Input Jacks ............................................................................................................................................................................... 45 Final checkout ........................................................................................................................................................................ 47 Power Up ................................................................................................................................................................................