The Hunter Modded Ultra

[insightibanez]

Heres a Modded Ultra that The Hunter made for Balou. It has two switches, one that is a bass cap, and the other lets you choose between the Ultra and Ultra XL sound.

 

[Balou]

Cant wait!!! should be here in a day or two.

 

[user 1938]

reflection makes the name look like "hydra"

come to think of that, are there any amps called hydra? that'd be a cool module name

 

[bruce egnater]

Potential modifiers....when you modify the high gain modules, care must be taken routing wires and placing components. Because these layouts are so compact, you can't just randomly stick parts and wires any where you wish. Good chance it will oscillate.
I think it's really cool that this sort of "cottage industry" has come about with the modular stuff. It's easy and fun to do, right? I should point out that we receive modified modules all the time to repair that have been hacked up by some "modifiers". The boards are damaged or they oscillate, or squeal, or just don't work, rendering them modified/cool and useless. I see in the above photos the caps have been replaced with highly regarded Orange capacitors. Even the physically larger size of these can cause instability in the high gain boards. Point here is that you just can't go wild and stick things any where you want. After your modification is complete, be sure to turn up the gain, bright switches, etc. to check for oscillation. Note, the instability will not always manifest itself as an audible tone. The module may just sound bad. If your mod has a sound similar to a blown speaker, it is oscillating.

Bruce Egnater

 

[fuzzyguitars]

Potential modifiers....when you modify the high gain modules, care must be taken routing wires and placing components. Because these layouts are so compact, you can't just randomly stick parts and wires any where you wish. Good chance it will oscillate.
I think it's really cool that this sort of "cottage industry" has come about with the modular stuff. It's easy and fun to do, right? I should point out that we receive modified modules all the time to repair that have been hacked up by some "modifiers". The boards are damaged or they oscillate, or squeal, or just don't work, rendering them modified/cool and useless. I see in the above photos the caps have been replaced with highly regarded Orange capacitors. Even the physically larger size of these can cause instability in the high gain boards. Point here is that you just can't go wild and stick things any where you want. After your modification is complete, be sure to turn up the gain, bright switches, etc. to check for oscillation. Note, the instability will not always manifest itself as an audible tone. The module may just sound bad. If your mod has a sound similar to a blown speaker, it is oscillating.

Bruce Egnater

spoken from the master himself!

thanks Bruce!

 

[insightibanez]

Potential modifiers....when you modify the high gain modules, care must be taken routing wires and placing components. Because these layouts are so compact, you can't just randomly stick parts and wires any where you wish. Good chance it will oscillate.
I think it's really cool that this sort of "cottage industry" has come about with the modular stuff. It's easy and fun to do, right? I should point out that we receive modified modules all the time to repair that have been hacked up by some "modifiers". The boards are damaged or they oscillate, or squeal, or just don't work, rendering them modified/cool and useless. I see in the above photos the caps have been replaced with highly regarded Orange capacitors. Even the physically larger size of these can cause instability in the high gain boards. Point here is that you just can't go wild and stick things any where you want. After your modification is complete, be sure to turn up the gain, bright switches, etc. to check for oscillation. Note, the instability will not always manifest itself as an audible tone. The module may just sound bad. If your mod has a sound similar to a blown speaker, it is oscillating.

Bruce Egnater

Well said, Thanks for the heads up.

BTW: This Moduel is a BEAST!!!!!! :twisted:

 

[Shinozoku]

Potential modifiers....when you modify the high gain modules, care must be taken routing wires and placing components. Because these layouts are so compact, you can't just randomly stick parts and wires any where you wish. Good chance it will oscillate.
I think it's really cool that this sort of "cottage industry" has come about with the modular stuff. It's easy and fun to do, right? I should point out that we receive modified modules all the time to repair that have been hacked up by some "modifiers". The boards are damaged or they oscillate, or squeal, or just don't work, rendering them modified/cool and useless. I see in the above photos the caps have been replaced with highly regarded Orange capacitors. Even the physically larger size of these can cause instability in the high gain boards. Point here is that you just can't go wild and stick things any where you want. After your modification is complete, be sure to turn up the gain, bright switches, etc. to check for oscillation. Note, the instability will not always manifest itself as an audible tone. The module may just sound bad. If your mod has a sound similar to a blown speaker, it is oscillating.

Bruce Egnater

Cool to hear about! I modded mine a while back with some Red Wimas to replace the "box cap positions", silver micas in some of the disk cap positions, and an Orange Drop in the C3. Sounds insane! Luckily I haven't heard any oscillation in any of my modules, so I must be doin something right
Thanks for piping in, Bruce! It's always good to hear from the masters

 

[AXCL]

This is why I love these forums! Having input directly from people like Bruce Egnater. You can't beat that.

I'm new to MTS modding, but certainly not to electronics, what Bruce is saying is very important. Most of the mods I've seen on here should be within spec and as long as they are done correctly should result in improved tone. It does however frighten me when some users are asking how to mod a mod, but are asking what a capacitor is.

It has been said many times on these forms. Don't practice / learn to solder on one of these modules. I'd highly recommend getting a BYOC pedal kit or something similar to start on. If you can make a working FX pedal and have the joints look reasonably clean, then you're likely able to do one of these mods. It's not hard to do the basic mods, but learning how much heat you need, how much solder to apply etc., does take a bit of practice. One bad weld can run your tone completely.

I've built devices that bad solder joints alone were the cause of oscillation. I've gotten better since then!

If you're not 100% confident, but need the tone, send your module of to one of the excellent moders on these forms.

P.S. This wasn't directed at Hunter's mod...I know he's got skills! :twisted:

 

[Balou]

No oscillation here. It sounds really good. I finally feel like I own a tube amp. The KH modules are really tame IMO and this is truly something I can work with. Now I want the high end modded modules... Just have to be patient.

 

[TheHunter]

To all who have comented.
Thanks so much for your interest in my mod, fortunatley this was no hack job, I took my time and did my math and research and with the help of many MTS modders I was able to render a superior ULTRA/XL mod. IMHO this is one of the Sweetest non pro mods that anyone with solder skills can do at home.

I have been modifying pedals, guitars and modules for some time now. I cant say that I have a formal education in electronics but my resources and knowledge surpass many who do have formal education's: in other words I AM NO HACK!!!

Balou I hope you enjoy this mod as much as I did, i am currently seeking another Ultra that I can mod this same way. Happy Shredding!

 

[casey_outlaw]

Hunter, do you have a link to what the modded ultra sounds like with mods and the different switches engaged? Thanks.

 

[TheHunter]

Hunter, do you have a link to what the modded ultra sounds like with mods and the different switches engaged? Thanks.

Will get one soon