Building Amps

[CharvelRocker]

This is one thing of interest to me. Does anyone have any tips on how to go about it, and just getting started in general? I was thinking of building something along the lines of this: http://www.diyguitarist.com/ I'm interested in the expertise of people here who have built amps Thanks!

[roodyrocker]

Never built one myself but I hear nothing but rave reviews about Bruce Egnater's amp building seminars. He will teach you how to build one and you leave the class with your own built amp head. Guys on the Randall forum have gone to them. If I was going to build one thats where I'd start.

Rudy

https://www.wickedrocks.com

[demeyes]

I've never done it but I'd like to give it a go after I've done some basic stuff first. If you've not done it yet you should build some pedals to get used to the stuff on a small scale. Then maybe look into getting an amp kit. It comes with the schematics and all the parts, all you have to do is assemble it. From there you could probably get more drawings from the net and start building/modding things as you learn.

[Tashtego]

I've built one. It was a kit from Allen Amplification. The amp is a black face fender deluxe reverb clone and came out really well. It sounds great. For a first timer I would recommend a kit amp from a supplier that provides concise directions and has a reputation for excellent customer support. Also, make sure you have all the tools, a good soldering iron, good needle nose pliers, etc. The automatic wire stripper hand tool was especially helpful. I wish I bought one of these years ago.

[Twisteramps]

Look around AX84.com and read some of the theory documents. Keep in mind that there are a lot of things that aren't on schematics like heater wiring, or where to use shielded cable, or how to minimize noise in a layout. Also, start small, everyone seems to want to build a 4 channel 300 watt amp at first - anything other than a small champ type amp is going to be a real pain in the ass for a first build unless you go to something like an Egnater seminar where they will hold your hand throughout the process.

[CharvelRocker]

Thanks for the advice guys! I'll get back to this after I finish my coffee and do a little research

[technogumbo]

Considering my first amp build, also

I have a Kustom K100-1 head that I bought dirt cheap as it is non-functional. After spending way too many flippin hours going through the test points and getting nowhere I am thinking this silly 75W solid-state no-frills head is probably not going to give me the tone or volume I want.

So, I started researching either a kit or a head chassis to slap into the tuck-n-roll body. And this is where I came to...

http://www.ceriatone.com/productSubPages/tWreckExpress/tWreckExpressComplete.htm

Trainwreck heads are to flippin die for. Some say it is the best tone ever, and the reviews from a lot of friends are that the Ceriatone head ($627 + shipping) is pretty close to the limited, hand-built Trainwrecks. Real Trainwrecks do not go up for sale often (with artists paying top dollar for the limited units). Check these out...

http://instruments.search.ebay.com/trainwreck_Amplifiers_W0QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfgtpZQQfposZ52404QQfromZR2QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQlopgZQQsacatZ38072QQsadisZ200QQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsaslcZ2QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZunknown

Though the Ceriatone Trainwreck Liverpool is pre-built, and I would love to build an amp, the price is right and the tone is what I am looking for.

Some other great sites for DIY guitarheads...

http://www.triodeelectronics.com/

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/

http://www.allenamps.com/

http://www.valvejunior.com/

[Twisteramps]

You do realize that a Trainwreck is going to rattle the walls of your house when cranked and won't work well at low to moderate volumes, right?

[Chameleonfong]

RIP Mr. Fischer

[technogumbo]

You do realize that a Trainwreck is going to rattle the walls of your house when cranked and won't work well at low to moderate volumes, right?

Amen, brother. I keep it at 11 most of the time anyway.

[Twisteramps]

Amen, brother. I keep it at 11 most of the time anyway.

There ya go! You'll get the most from it that way.

[CharvelRocker]

I was thinking it may be a god idea to do a mod for my Epiphone Valve Junior amp first, so I want to do 2 things: I'm going to order one of the BitMo kits from thetubestore.com, and add a standby switch. Is adding such a switch very hard?

[LastInLine]

Look around AX84.com and read some of the theory documents. Keep in mind that there are a lot of things that aren't on schematics like heater wiring, or where to use shielded cable, or how to minimize noise in a layout. Also, start small, everyone seems to want to build a 4 channel 300 watt amp at first - anything other than a small champ type amp is going to be a real pain in the ass for a first build unless you go to something like an Egnater seminar where they will hold your hand throughout the process.

+1. The AX84 site is where I got my start a few years ago. They had a schematic and parts list for a simple 5 watt class A amp which I built. From there I moved on to "Champ" and "Deluxe" clones, eventually making my own boards and experimenting with different types/values cap's and resistors, speakers etc.... Alot of fun and alot to be learned. Another great site for D.I.Y. amp builders is Hoffman Amplifiers.

[technogumbo]

I was thinking it may be a god idea to do a mod for my Epiphone Valve Junior amp first, so I want to do 2 things: I'm going to order one of the BitMo kits from thetubestore.com, and add a standby switch. Is adding such a switch very hard?

I would love to pickup a Valve Jr and get to work on modding it. For the price it is probably the best tone for the buck out there. I heard someone jamming one of these 5W jobbers, factory, through a 4x12 cabinet and it was an incredible practice tone. There are some great sites with DIY mod kits.

If you know your way around a multimeter and soldering iron, modding a Valve Jr is gravy. I had a link to a Valve Jr site in an earlier post.

[finnman]

think small
2 Watt Tube Amp

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/msg/323666924.html