I want to build an amp

random thought as well.

when you are researching, i found it really useful to look at how professional companies build their amps. in particular Two Rock has a lot of appointments that are very neat and clean.

heater routing is another thing that can be a rabbit hole.

tdpri's amp section is a great resource.
 
Phil hodson said:
Thoughts?? I have been looking at the AH Deluxe 50.............
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I stand by my statement that Ceriatone kits are the best out there. Nik does excellent layouts that are very easy to follow and uses high-quality components. He's also very responsive to emails (not social media posts or message, but actual emails) when you have issues. He actually once helped me troubleshoot a build I was working on from a Weber kit, which he certainly didn't have to do. Top notch layouts, wiring diagrams show you everything you need to know, top-notch components, and top-notch service.

My opinion based on my personal experiences with them, and I'm unfortunately not affiliated with them in any way.
 
vigilante398 said:
I stand by my statement that Ceriatone kits are the best out there. Nik does excellent layouts that are very easy to follow and uses high-quality components. He's also very responsive to emails (not social media posts or message, but actual emails) when you have issues. He actually once helped me troubleshoot a build I was working on from a Weber kit, which he certainly didn't have to do. Top notch layouts, wiring diagrams show you everything you need to know, top-notch components, and top-notch service.

My opinion based on my personal experiences with them, and I'm unfortunately not affiliated with them in any way.
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Perfect

Exactly what I wanted to hear. I think with this and one of your Slo's I will be in High gain heaven!!!

Phil
 
Unless it was afore-mentioned, EL34 World is another place that has a wealth of information. This is Doug Hoffman's website. He was with Randall amps for a while and maybe other companies. He has a great forum as well. Old guys there like PRR are very knowledgeable. I built three tube amps from scratch using Doug's turret board layout approach. Started with the hole drilling for all the parts including the turrets etc. and then all the way through the finished build. Modified designs slightly too. Even if you go with a kit, you can learn a LOT about tube amps from his site. Have fun and be mindful of tube circuit voltages. From the power transformer secondary windings to all of the plate and screen D.C. voltages, there is danger if you're not careful!!
I'll add, just like pedal building, amp building is addictive.
 
oldtone said:
Unless it was afore-mentioned, EL34 World is another place that has a wealth of information. This is Doug Hoffman's website. He was with Randall amps for a while and maybe other companies. He has a great forum as well. Old guys there like PRR are very knowledgeable. I built three tube amps from scratch using Doug's turret board layout approach. Started with the hole drilling for all the parts including the turrets etc. and then all the way through the finished build. Modified designs slightly too. Even if you go with a kit, you can learn a LOT about tube amps from his site. Have fun and be mindful of tube circuit voltages. From the power transformer secondary windings to all of the plate and screen D.C. voltages, there is danger if you're not careful!!
I'll add, just like pedal building, amp building is addictive.
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I did mention EL34 world, it's where I learned how to build amps from scratch, no kit, including turret boards a long long time ago, in a universe far far away......
 
RetiredUnit1 said:
I did mention EL34 world, it's where I learned how to build amps from scratch, no kit, including turret boards a long long time ago, in a universe far far away......
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Yes, I did mention it. It's where I learned to build amps from scratch, a LONG LONG time ago, in a universe FAR FAR away....... :cool:

amp boards.jpeg
 
RetiredUnit1 said:
Yes, I did mention it. It's where I learned to build amps from scratch, a LONG LONG time ago, in a universe FAR FAR away....... :cool:

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I am also retired. Ten years and five months tomorrow!! Built my last amp in '10. I re-created the Harmony H415 (in a head version) that was my first amp. New in '66. I changed the tremolo to a Fender design. Built it with the 6AU6 circuit, but didn't like it. Hand-axed the Leo circuit afterwards. Shoe-horned a three control reverb circuit into it also. Mix, dwell, and tone. Sorry I missed your El 34 World comment. I perused the thread fairly quickly!
 
oldtone said:
I am also retired. Ten years and five months tomorrow!! Built my last amp in '10. I re-created the Harmony H415 (in a head version) that was my first amp. New in '66. I changed the tremolo to a Fender design. Built it with the 6AU6 circuit, but didn't like it. Hand-axed the Leo circuit afterwards. Shoe-horned a three control reverb circuit into it also. Mix, dwell, and tone. Sorry I missed your El 34 World comment. I perused the thread fairly quickly!
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I've been retired about the same time, but due to arthritis I had to call it quits at the end of 2010. A programmer has to be able to type 65wpm for 6 to 10 hours a day and I was down to about 15wpm. Doc said I had to quit before my fingers began to deform. Yeah... not good.

As of yesterday, I'm re-laying-out the Hiwatt DR504 in Fender/Marshall style. I built quite a few of these, but wiring them SUCKS because instead of putting components next to each other and sharing a turret/eyelet, interconnecting wires are used. Not a problem if you're using printed circuit boards, but with turrets and wire it's a major time sucker.

Previously I laid out a Fender 5e3 Hiwatt style, just to see which was better. Fender style wins, hands down!!! I'm already making good progress and can't wait to see how it looks, lol....

You can see I've done positions 1-6, and used resistors with color codes instead of square boxes. 7-30 to go!!!

1684261907496.png

1684261991340.png
 
oldtone said:
Love the Hoffman layout method. Minimal rats nest of wires. Never tried anything Hiwatt. I'd take turrets over eyelets any day.
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Hiwatt: All the turret positions are numbered for a reason! 30 positions x 2 just for the preamp tag-board, and you have to put all the wires on before you start with the caps and resistors. It's the only way to manage such a nebulous build. I had it down that I could go from cutting epoxy board, to testing in three days. Since I was working at the time I would take a three day weekend and work my butt off all three days. Got neck spasms/cramps from looking down for so long.....

It's nice to be retired...... :ROFLMAO:
 
Phil hodson said:
Thoughts?? I have been looking at the AH Deluxe 50.............
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It's a sweet amp! I have a 100 watt here that I had them build. This is a pretty busy amp inside I didn't really want to tackle it as my first kit. Plus there is NO WAY I'm going to replicate how neat it is inside, it's nearly flawless. I haven't decided on a plexi kit to build, but I'm leaning Valvestorm w/ included Metro instructions and US sourced iron. Mainly because I might go NOS and they have the goods.

ah1.jpg ah2.jpg
 
mjh36 said:
It's a sweet amp! I have a 100 watt here that I had them build. This is a pretty busy amp inside I didn't really want to tackle it as my first kit. Plus there is NO WAY I'm going to replicate how neat it is inside, it's nearly flawless. I haven't decided on a plexi kit to build, but I'm leaning Valvestorm w/ included Metro instructions and US sourced iron. Mainly because I might go NOS and they have the goods.

View attachment 48774View attachment 48775
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Wow that looks amazing. I would be happy if mine finishes up half as neat as that. Will be taking my time with this one thats for sure.
 
Feral Feline said:
After building a 5F2-A for someone else out of their abandoned kit (one that was fraught with errors/problems and inconsistencies — ex: ever had a mirrored chassis layout anyone?), I went with the sourcing-everything-myself route for my own build, a 5E3.

I used Mojotone's assembly-instructions as a rough guide, but used my Amp-Sifu's wiring tweaks which made for a quieter noise floor.




I don't agree with the "don't build something you'll immediately outgrow" philosophy — did Brian May outgrow the little Deacy and switch to AC30s? Did Page outgrow the Supro [Coronado 1690T] and go to Marshall stacks? Has Clapton outgrown the 10-watt 57 Super Champ?

No, these musicians used different amps and methods, some even recording direct through a console, to achieve a sound — there's nothing to outgrow, there's only
DIFFERENT FLAVOURS!
I can heartily recommend the 5F2-A, it's a Champ with a tone control, and I see nothing wrong with making it (or a Champ) a first amp build.


Having said that, @BuddytheReow, I have to say based on your pedal-build-guides, breadboarding tutorials, builds and conversations here — I think that...
...you'll be able to build whatever the bloody-hell you set your mind to building. Whether that's a Champ or a Deluxe Reverb, or something in-between, it all depends on what path you want to take to get to your destination.
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We agree on the last part- anyone with a knack for building pedals should be able to transfer those skills easily to amp building. My contention with your May / Page / Clapton analogy is that amp building requires more significant time and financial investments. It's not like building a fuzz pedal just to experience it, then throwing it on the shelf.

Unless someone is building a Champ because they want a Champ, it seems wasteful to go through the time and effort and end up with an amp that costs $5-600 to build (conservatively speaking) that's going to collect dust in a corner. That's why I recommended leap frogging to something more useful..

I will say, though.. Champs are pretty badass for what they are! I just wouldn't use one as a pedal platform or bring one to a gig.
 
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