Amp Building

Mr 9finger

Mr 9finger

Digitally Challenged
I've seen a few threads on pedal building etc... and this got me to thinking.

I'd really like to build my own amp(s)! I've done some google searchs and found some really cool places. But since there are guys on here that have actually done this type of thing before, I'd like some input from y'all on the best places to buy parts etc....

Just to keep alot of the UNNECESSARY threads to a minimum I do realise these things.

1. Since I'm a total nOOb to this kind of thing, I KNOW I have alot of reading research, learning and trial/error to do.

2. I KNOW that making a mistake with an Amplifier can kill you, that's why 1. is the 1st and most important step in this.

3. I KNOW that building an amplifier will probably cost more in the long run than buying one off the shelf.

4. I KNOW that it will be easier and I'll have a better chance at success with this by starting off with something small and not near as complex.

Some of the amps I'm looking at to build are not of the modern type. I'm talking old Fenders and Marshalls. The ones that aren't real easy to come by.
And something else that is driving me to do this on my own is, When it comes down to it, AMPS JUST AREN'T BUILT LIKE THEY USE TO BE! That is unless you go with boutique amp builders, but then again, you also pay top dollar for someone building amps the old way.

So if any of you have some good links or reading material to point me in the right direction. I'm all eyes & ears!

Thanks in advance!
 
Re: Amp Building

Two links are all you need: AX84.com and 18Watt.com. The folks on these two forums are the greatest: they know there stuff, have built about every kind of amp imaginable, and don't mind answering the same nood questions over and over. Still, search the archives before you ask.

For my first, I went the rebuild-a-donor-amp route, so the main guts came from eBay. (You can read the whole sorted tale at the link in my signature.) I'm now working on my second, a from-scratch build. I pretty much use the same vendors as everyone else, and have had good experience with all of the following:

Mouser Electronics for generic components

Hoffman Amplifiers for amp parts

Antique Electroninc Supply for transformers, tubes, and multisection electrolytics

Parts Express for handles, corners, grill cloth (they also carry tubes, trannies and lots of other cool stuff)

Apex Jr. for teflon wire

YourAutoTrim.com for not-your-run-of-the-mill vinyl (cheaper and cooler than "real" tolex)

Figuring out what to buy from where is possibly the most time-consuming part of learning DIY amp building. I highly recommend the hobby to anybody. PM me anytime with questions.
 
Re: Amp Building

and btw, you can build an amp for a fair amount cheaper than buying one, depending on the amp...I'm currently in the planning stages of my Tweed Bassman build..and it's gonna cost me around $500-$600 to build a 59 Tweed Bassman 4x10...whereas it would cost me $1000 for the reissue (which doesn't sound like the original) or thousands more for the original (which is what I'm building, a copy of the original)
 
Re: Amp Building

If it's your first build, buy a kit. All the parts will be in there, no worries about having to track down something illusive and best of all, find a kit maker with support.

If you are considering a tweed type amp, there is no one better than Lew's brother Bruce, at Mission Amps in Colorado. His Tweed Deluxe kit has been many people's first build. He also has a 35 watt tweed kit that can be a 2x10, 3x10 or 1x15, probably could get a 2x12 cab as well. Bruce costs a bit more, but his parts are the BEST.

Weber, the guys that make speakers, have a bunch of new tweed kits. Their support is not the greatest. Most of their parts are cheaper asian stuff (chinese). But, they're cheap, they come with a nice chassis, combo cab, good transformers and speakers. If you know what you are doing, you could get a weber kit and go find better caps, resistors, jacks and pots.

Allen Amps makes kits. GDS Amplification makes great Marshall kits.

I built my Mission Kit for about 650 bucks total. (tubes, amp, speaker, cab)

I'm about to build an 18 watt Marshall.

It's very rewarding. I've built 2 mission kits and I think Bruce is the greatest for trouble shooting, pictures of the build itself and overall nice person.
 
Re: Amp Building

Thanks for heads up Scott! That Allen amps place looks really cool. I still have alot of research to do before I actually get started building.

For my first project, I'm leaning towards a Marshall super lead type kit. Then maybe a Fender Blackface type kit.
 
Re: Amp Building

I highly advise tackling something simpler for a first build, like an 18 Watter, and AX84 P1 (the P1 Ex supposedly ROCKS), or a small Fender like a Champ or at most a Deluxe. You have a lot to learn, and if you're gonna blow stuff up (a possibility) its better to blow up small cheap stuff rather than big expensive stuff.

Also, the complexity of the amps goes up exponentially with size. For example, not only is a Super Lead bigger than an 18 Watter, but it also has a fixed bias supply and a feedback loop (with presence control). It all contributes to the amount of "stuff" you have to understand, build and debug.

I'm not going to argue the kit vs. from scratch question. Scott likes kits, I built from scratch. It's mostly a tradeoff in time vs. money, which we debated just yesterday I believe, in another thread.

I'm also not reopening the "does anyone really need a hundred watts" debate. My argument for a smaller amp centers around the learning process, and even guys who DO need a hundred watts I'm sure can find plenty of uses of a great small amp, like an 18 Watter or Tweed Deluxe.

Good luck and keep in touch.
 
Re: Amp Building

I'm just leaning that way. I've ordered the books by Gerald Weber and some other how to books on Amp building and I'm going to read over those thoroughly before I make a final decision on what I want to do first. It all depends on how well I understand things when the time comes. I also have a friend that lives right down the street that is into this kind of thing. He's never built a tube amp before, but has some experience building tube radios and such. He said he would help me as much as he could. He's also pretty excited that I'm taking this kind of task on! So I won't be completely blind or helpless if I get stuck.
 
Re: Amp Building

You can always ask Rich and I stuff as well. I know I'm speaking for him, but he and I and most all DIY'ers for that matter, are happy to help a newbie along. The more of us, the better selection of kits that get offered, more options on circuits and such.

I do agree with Rich about starting with something simple. I'd try to decide if you want to Marshall 18 watt or Tweed Deluxe. You can never go wrong with eitehr. The build complexity seems to be pretty close.

It's all about taking your time, checking and rechecking your work. There are just some basics on soldering that you need to get down. Use just the amount you need, hold everything still while it cools down, don't blow on it to cool it faster (leaves potentially bad solder joints). On your wire leads, measure twice, cut once. Cloth covered vintage style wire is much easier to work with. Get a soldering iron that has enough watts for the job. Some of these little 10 and 15 watters take forever to heat up a glob of solder. Go 30 watts.

There are several good sites that talk about start up procedures. Testing the amp with no tubes first, stuff like that.

I think Webers books are good stuff. But, the Hip Guide won't help you a lot on a build except that it has tons of great schematics.

don't get bogged down about the different amp terms for the circuit. that stuff comes with time. Just look at the layout and proceed carefully. I actually make a copy of the layout and then "color" in the parts that I've completed (well I did that on my first one). I also poked all the different parts onto the copied layout such that they were in their proper places. Then I'd just work from right to left attaching everything

this stuff is GREAT FUN! take your time and enjoy the build. I rushed through my first one and regretted it because the fun was over too quickly.

I like kits because I have more money than time. I'd rather have a guy I trust send me everything I'll need. I think if you buy from too many guys, you end up getting hurt on shipping charges.

To each their own though. Also, for what it's worth, Bruce has a few tweaks on the Mission Amp circuits that help make his amps very quiet. Call it tweaks, call it tricks, but I've built two dead silent amp kits that he's provided me.

He and I are talking about an 18 watt kit right now. We'll see how it goes.
 
Re: Amp Building

have you had good luck with Torres in the last few years? the reputation on the net is kinda below average, but not down in the Ed Roman territory.
 
Re: Amp Building

Scott_F said:
have you had good luck with Torres in the last few years? the reputation on the net is kinda below average, but not down in the Ed Roman territory.
Click to expand...

sorry scott .. I didnt notice this til now.

I have a few customers (pro's) who swear by his stuff ... and the 1.5 watt kit is creating quite a stir. not as cool as the lil emerysound amp I have .. but cool nontheless.

I've heard the Q! has gone down but havent experienced that first hand.. and that saddens me if its true .. cus some of the older stuff is amazing IMO.. judging by the guitar kits .. I fear you may be correct. *sigh*

what I will say .. I've had really positive results in the past from them .. ex++ support etc. esp. with the amp mods they offer.

dang~> I am gonna havta go over the bridge and visit .. poke around a bit .. and see what I see.
 
Re: Amp Building

I've dealt w/ Torres one time, and that was one time too many. Customer support was horrible. It took them 3 weeks to ship a magnet and humbucker mounting plate. It was just a truly crappy exp. for me.

On a brighter note. I think I have got my first build project picked out. I really think it will be the High Octane from AX84
http://www.ax84.com/dynpage.php?pg=projects&project=hioctane

The sound clips sound pretty good and it doesn't really look all that hard build wise, even to my Noobish eyes! If I can knock this one down w/out any problems, I'll definately be trying some more of the vintage re creations...I'm a sucker for that blackface clean! It looks like these little kits from AX84 are great for the true beginner and my buddy said that from looking at the schatics for it, it should be very modable, if chose to do some experimenting etc...!


Looks like great fun!
 
Re: Amp Building

In terms of blackface amps, I'd love to try an Allen Old Flame. That amp looks bitchin'.
 
Re: Amp Building

Rich_S said:
YourAutoTrim.com for not-your-run-of-the-mill vinyl (cheaper and cooler than "real" tolex)
Click to expand...


thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou

Errr sorry.


I've been looking for Alligator/Snake/Crocodile tolex/vinyl for a long time with no results.
 
Re: Amp Building

Scott_F said:
In terms of blackface amps, I'd love to try an Allen Old Flame. That amp looks bitchin'.
Click to expand...


I'll look them up now! Never hurts to look into what the future might hold :dance:
 
Re: Amp Building

9finger said:
I've dealt w/ Torres one time, and that was one time too many. Customer support was horrible. It took them 3 weeks to ship a magnet and humbucker mounting plate. It was just a truly crappy exp. for me.

On a brighter note. I think I have got my first build project picked out. I really think it will be the High Octane from AX84
http://www.ax84.com/dynpage.php?pg=projects&project=hioctane

The sound clips sound pretty good and it doesn't really look all that hard build wise, even to my Noobish eyes! If I can knock this one down w/out any problems, I'll definately be trying some more of the vintage re creations...I'm a sucker for that blackface clean! It looks like these little kits from AX84 are great for the true beginner and my buddy said that from looking at the schatics for it, it should be very modable, if chose to do some experimenting etc...!

Looks like great fun!
Click to expand...

The HO can be a real beach to line out. They are very sensitive to the layout and wire positions. The can really squeal like a pig if not layout right. Just a heads-up.
 
Re: Amp Building

I might eventually build a Torres kit. They're 30 minutes away from me, so I don't have to mess with shipping.
 
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