Thread: Amp Kits or Builds

i have. not difficult to make something that sounds good with a bit of knowledge.

i reccomend http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Amp-Han.../dp/087930863X

very good book to get you started in understanding what does what. can really get you understanding things from very little electronic knowledge to understanding tube circuits. i noticed your in sydney. if you want to borrow my copy let me know. i can give you a few pointers if you want to stop by to borrow the book, and have a quick chat about amps.

Thanks Black Lab for your kind offer,

I dont mind buying the book and now that you have pointed that out I will have a bit of a look at it..

Did you build yours from scratch or a kit of some kind ?

Regards

Greg

Have built a few. Even built a 16 channel mixing desk from kit many years ago. Can be quite good if you are good with soldering and understand what your doing. Certainly enjoyable and educational even if it doesn't come out as good as you might have hoped. Mostly mine have come out quite good.

Many years ago, Jaycar was a good source. Even built some speakers from there. Now days, with the Internet, there are alternatives.

I'm 75% through the 5 watt P1 from the ax84.com site. Can't recommend that board enough for anyone wanting to get into amp building.

Nathan

I've built 2 from jaycar, they are ok at best but they do work. The trick, so I'm told by friends in the know is to get all the connections perfect, with neat solder joints and quality parts. If you go cheapo and nasty on one part it will effect the whole amp (aparently).

Hi Nathan,

Your not wrong about AX84.com. Did you order the whole kit from Doberman Music or did you get the parts locally.

I am still weighing up if I should build one or not, but sites like that kind of inspire me to do it.

It's funny because even with all my "GOOGLING" I never found that site.

Thanks for that .

Regards

Greg

The general consensus is to go with the kit, Chris at doberman is a great fellow and it is doubtfull that you could get the parts cheaper in Aus even taking into account the shipping.

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

The general consensus is to go with the kit, Chris at doberman is a great fellow and it is doubtfull that you could get the parts cheaper in Aus even taking into account the shipping.

Please don't read as a contridiction, rather a tip for all:

If you know what your doing and you don't mind a bit of a wait at times, one of the best places for electronic components on the net is http://www.futurlec.com. I've spent quite a bit with them now over the last few years after trying them out for the first time on something simple.

They are based in Taiwan in the middle of all the main electronic component manufactures so they buy direct and get really good prices. They appear to have a standard markup and do very large volume (tell by the rate order numbers increase between monthly orders I place).

Here is a run down on my experiences:
- don't expect good communication. It doesn't exist. Especially when something is not in stock. We don't pay for it so we shouldn't expect it. Just need to be patient as it does actually eventuate (ie they have never ripped me off).
- don't waste money on express delivery. See previous bullet. Normal post is the best option as it really doesn't make a difference if there is one item not available. Post is pretty quick now days and on other forums to other countries, it seems to be the same comment.
- do expect cheap pricing (generally the best available globally).
- kits, I don't know. I've bought a couple and they are very good, but real poor or non-existant instructions so you need to know the electronics field your into.
- components are genuine from the manufacturer. The only time I've managed to do better on price is when I've found someone that buys in bigger quantaties or when buying direct from the manufacturer (and only sometimes).
- best place I know to get circuit boards made (but happy for someone to correct me with an even better source )
- best place for breadboard. (special circuit board for experimenting or practice soldering)

So how to make the best of them:
- Find a kit that you think is right.
- Get the instructions and the circuit board (or send artwork to Futurelec and they will make the boards for you if you want a few).
- Place order for the components on Futurelec.
- Sit back and wait the average 5-10 days for delivery.
- Enjoy building kit and enjoy using something you've made yourself.

As to:

Originally Posted by bricks

I've built 2 from jaycar, they are ok at best but they do work. The trick, so I'm told by friends in the know is to get all the connections perfect, with neat solder joints and quality parts. If you go cheapo and nasty on one part it will effect the whole amp (aparently).

Absolutely spot on. That's what I have found as well. So to get the best from them, it goes a long way to either having some skill yourself or knowing someone that does and can help. However cheapo should be read as cheap alternative part, not cheap price of quality part.

Enjoy having a go. Don't expect to much the first time. It's just like woodwork, practice and knowledge are key to a good/great end result.

i didnt use a kit. my first was pretty much a 5e3. i used solid state rectification as opposed to a tube rectifier (bought the wrong power transformer trying to save some dough... doh). i then made a ac15 (without the tremolo circuit, just the normal channel, made a simple gain channel as well). i use the ac15 much more than the 5e3, mainly because the 5e3 has a fair bit of hum. i like the sound of the 5e3 alot, and plan on putting it into a larger chassis. i didnt think about laying out the inside much, and got a chassis that was deep with a small opening to get the soldering iron in, and i had wires crossing over and floating. something i made sure to avoid with the ac15.

ive been using them for a long time, but i've been to lazy to make heads for them. just been playing them with things in the chassis.

I haven't made one from a kit but I am part way through a couple of Valve Amp copies from scratch.

This site is in Oz & they have DIY Kits.
http://www.retrosound.com.au/

A couple of other Oz sites worth a look are
http://www.retrovox.com.au/ &
http://www.electronvalve.com.au/

Hey Black_Labb I may have to fire you off a question or two as I get closer to first power up of my amp. I'm a little nervous testing those voltages.......

go for it crazy horse.

Couple of things not covered above.

1. Layout in valve amps is critical. There is emf all round the wires so if you misrout you'll get noise and possibly build an oscillator. I've bilt a few oscilltors over the years. Fixable with point to point wiring of course but can be startling

2. Voltages. Valves run on big volts. Dc is worse than AC. It's instanataneous and no second chance. Please be careful. Note capacitors can hold a charge for some time after power off.

3. Start simple. You may be in love with the dumble or whatever but there is plenty to learn getting an x84 style amp to work without burying yourself in multi gain stage comples eq amps.

4. The essays on x84 are comprehensive and well written. They are also free. I am old fashioned and been doing this for decades so I still refer to the rca recieving tube handbook for my refresher courses in valve theory. It is possible there are better books nowdays but that ones is available on ebay for good $ and it's not full of the snake oil some "modern" exponents want to feed you.

5. Ebay etc are great sources of old chassis. Organs, record players etc I picked up a record player on the side of the road about 6 months ago. Inside was 2 12" magnavox alnico speakers (I happen to like them) and a stereo single ended 6bq5 amp which will make a nice stereo guitar amp with some rework, assuming the tranny's are ok. Free is good and less painful when smoke gets out. Ok your first build won't be your dream amp but the satisfaction of getting it to work plus the learning for small $.

6. Valves are as rough as guts and guitar amps benifite from cheap badly designed unstable circuits. Don't waste your money or tie your guts in a knot about the colour of your capacitors or if the tranny is a bit off, volts are off, anything withing about 50% will work fine. If your buying new of course go for the right bits, but don't believe all the hype and nonsense people spout today. Get it to go then tweak stuff. When you've got a feel for it you'll start forming your own ideas on how to get the sound you want.

2c and falling...

Hi Greg,

I made this 57 Twin (5E8A) earlier this year. http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=73849

The layouts and schematics for these old Fender circuits are pretty easy to find on the web. The layouts are easy to follow as well. All you have to do is buy the hardware and solder it up. Pay good attention to wire layout and neat wire dress and you will end up with a good sounding amp.

Currently building a 56 Bandmaster (5E7). Photos will eventually grace these pages.