Building one for me, finally.
- Thread starter Scott_F
- Start date
Re: Building one for me, finally.
Once you get on a roll, it can go quickly. The most time seems to be spent mainly after you light the fires the first time. There is always something like a cold solder joint or some hum somewhere. Play around for a while with a chopstick and you can find it pretty quickly often. Take a bunch of meter readings, swap a bunch of tubes out and then play the snot out of it to burn it in. No greater feeling of satisfaction when you get it dialed in.
Once you get on a roll, it can go quickly. The most time seems to be spent mainly after you light the fires the first time. There is always something like a cold solder joint or some hum somewhere. Play around for a while with a chopstick and you can find it pretty quickly often. Take a bunch of meter readings, swap a bunch of tubes out and then play the snot out of it to burn it in. No greater feeling of satisfaction when you get it dialed in.
Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: Building one for me, finally.
I give ya tree fiddy
Seriously though, that looks awesome. I'd rock that with pride.
I give ya tree fiddy
Seriously though, that looks awesome. I'd rock that with pride.
Re: Building one for me, finally.
As close as we get to giving birth, minus the pain. Unless your hand brushes up against an e-cap!
As close as we get to giving birth, minus the pain. Unless your hand brushes up against an e-cap!
trevorus
Modsterbator
Re: Building one for me, finally.
Definitely close enough for me. I've gotten some zaps from 240, but that's about it. I don't need any more than that. Well, I have zapped myself with a stun gun...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Definitely close enough for me. I've gotten some zaps from 240, but that's about it. I don't need any more than that. Well, I have zapped myself with a stun gun...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Building one for me, finally.
Thats such a beuatiful build I shed a tear. I couldnt even hook up the speakers.Thats a Master build. I am dumbstruck.
Thats such a beuatiful build I shed a tear. I couldnt even hook up the speakers.Thats a Master build. I am dumbstruck.
Re: Building one for me, finally.
Random, except green for ground and red for B+. I do try and use the same colors for plates, grids and cathodes for preamp tubes, but even that is kinda random. For instance, pin 3 and pin 8, I'll use the same color.
Honestly, the different colors just help when trouble shooting. My first amp build was a Mission 5e3. Bruce had the heater wires yellow and brown. I still use those colors for the heaters. Just kinda get into a habit.
Random, except green for ground and red for B+. I do try and use the same colors for plates, grids and cathodes for preamp tubes, but even that is kinda random. For instance, pin 3 and pin 8, I'll use the same color.
Honestly, the different colors just help when trouble shooting. My first amp build was a Mission 5e3. Bruce had the heater wires yellow and brown. I still use those colors for the heaters. Just kinda get into a habit.
Big Flannel
New member
Re: Building one for me, finally.
That's some seriously beautiful handiwork there, man. What resources do you use as far as schematics or whatnot?
That's some seriously beautiful handiwork there, man. What resources do you use as far as schematics or whatnot?
stevie_bees
Cat In The Hatministrator
Re: Building one for me, finally.
I really need to build myself an amp. My RAF training and background have given me all the skills I'd need to do it, I just need to buy something and get started!
I really need to build myself an amp. My RAF training and background have given me all the skills I'd need to do it, I just need to buy something and get started!
Re: Building one for me, finally.
Can you build a jig saw puzzle? If so, you can build an amp.
Can you build a jig saw puzzle? If so, you can build an amp.
Re: Building one for me, finally.
The internet is a beautiful thing. Fender's old schematics are everywhere but my main reference is Gerald Weber's book which has the schematics and layouts in very clear to read format. Some of the ones on the net are poor scans.
Secondly, there are kit sites that publish layouts that are based on the originals. For instance, weber's layouts are normally pretty accurate from the older standards. Ceriatone's go off in their own direction sometimes, but it's good to see their takes on the same circuit and then check that against the original. In some cases, you'll fins some improvements your ear might really like.
If you want to build your first amp, get a Mission Amps 5E3 tweed deluxe kit. Great directions from Bruce, and excellent and patient support. There are a lot of kits out there but only Bruce offers personal support. The rest sort of throw you to the. Wolves but offer forums where you can often get your question answered.
We are in the golden age of guitar amplification. So many DIY options.
The internet is a beautiful thing. Fender's old schematics are everywhere but my main reference is Gerald Weber's book which has the schematics and layouts in very clear to read format. Some of the ones on the net are poor scans.
Secondly, there are kit sites that publish layouts that are based on the originals. For instance, weber's layouts are normally pretty accurate from the older standards. Ceriatone's go off in their own direction sometimes, but it's good to see their takes on the same circuit and then check that against the original. In some cases, you'll fins some improvements your ear might really like.
If you want to build your first amp, get a Mission Amps 5E3 tweed deluxe kit. Great directions from Bruce, and excellent and patient support. There are a lot of kits out there but only Bruce offers personal support. The rest sort of throw you to the. Wolves but offer forums where you can often get your question answered.
We are in the golden age of guitar amplification. So many DIY options.
Re: Building one for me, finally.
A good site for G10 garrolite tag boards is Watts tube audio. After buying a few from him, I ended up finding a supplier on the net and ordering a big sheet of the blue G10 and cutting my own boards, drilling them out myself. It's not a huge cost savings, but some satisfaction plus the ability to trim the size down a bit to make working on cramped quarters a bit easier.
I think he sells Supro kits if you're into that sort of thing.
A good site for G10 garrolite tag boards is Watts tube audio. After buying a few from him, I ended up finding a supplier on the net and ordering a big sheet of the blue G10 and cutting my own boards, drilling them out myself. It's not a huge cost savings, but some satisfaction plus the ability to trim the size down a bit to make working on cramped quarters a bit easier.
I think he sells Supro kits if you're into that sort of thing.
stevie_bees
Cat In The Hatministrator
Re: Building one for me, finally.
I'm confident I could do a good job...as I say I just need to find the right project kit to buy, and then give it a go!
I'm confident I could do a good job...as I say I just need to find the right project kit to buy, and then give it a go!
jimijames
New member
Re: Building one for me, finally.
If you don't mind something a little lower quality than the mission kits, the "baby will" is a great circuit that's easy to build (I did it with no prior amp building experience), and pretty cheap too.
Although, not everybody likes the sound of el84's in the push-pull configuration like that amp has. IMO they sound fine but if you want 6v6 tubes you may want to stick with the mission amps build.
At any rate, when it comes down to it, once you get the chassis/speakers/transformers, the price is probably going to be similar between the baby will and the mission. The documentation is great for both, however.
I'm confident I could do a good job...as I say I just need to find the right project kit to buy, and then give it a go!
If you don't mind something a little lower quality than the mission kits, the "baby will" is a great circuit that's easy to build (I did it with no prior amp building experience), and pretty cheap too.
Although, not everybody likes the sound of el84's in the push-pull configuration like that amp has. IMO they sound fine but if you want 6v6 tubes you may want to stick with the mission amps build.
At any rate, when it comes down to it, once you get the chassis/speakers/transformers, the price is probably going to be similar between the baby will and the mission. The documentation is great for both, however.
