Time to Blow: My First Tube Amp Project...

[Coda]

I want to build a 5F1 Tweed Champ. I want to do it as a replica, essentially. This will be my first tube build. I am not worried. I know how it is, building electronics, I know its high voltage, I get that. I am taking it 110% serious. I have been watching Lyle on Youtube for a while now and have learned enough that I think I am ready. Now, I know that there are quite a few amp builders around these parts, so I have a few starter questions.
1) kit vs part-it-out?
2) if no kit, where cab from?
3) 8 or 10 inch speaker?

Thank you. And now, for your appreciation, I now present Mr. Tobias Hoffman...

 

[jimilee]

First amp? Kit, in my opinion. Mojotone has great cabinets.

 

[Asdrael]

I would definitely start with a kit (including chassis) but build my own enclosure really.

Also, 12"

 

[ThatDude]

Howdy. I recently completed my first tube amp a few months ago. I didn't go with a kit because there isn't a kit for the amp I wanted to build. I noticed while pricing out the cost of the build that you might save some money not going with it kit, but the money you'll save by not getting a kit you'll spend in time equity shopping around for the best price parts or hard to find parts. Not to mention, it is kind of nice to know there is some form of support from most places you'd buy a kit. If you have questions or need troubleshooting help most vendors know their own kits inside and out. There are lots of 5F1 kits available from different vendors and with Black Friday coming up, maybe some will go on sale.

I built the head and speaker cabs for my amp build because cabs are pretty expensive and I was already down the rabbit hole. What was one more side mission?

 

[jcpst]

If you don’t mind finishing the cab, rawcabs are pretty great

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[owlexifry]

1) kit vs part-it-out?

do you enjoy scouring the internet for parts?
do you know exactly what parts you need?
are you a mad thrifty demon at saving on shipping charges? (although probably a moot point if you're in the US)

if no to any of the above, a kit is the way to go for a beginner.
+1 mojotone is excellent.

not that sourcing your own parts is a bad idea, it's just a lot more futzing around and usually more expensive (if that even matters - sometimes you just want certain resistors, caps, etc. and you grab what exactly what you want for the build - mouser is the bomb for this - they have all the hammond iron the world)

3) 8 or 10 inch speaker?

10" (12" will be even better)

 

[PunchySunshine]

+1 ALL OF THIS!

 

[Coda]

Does anyone know if the StewMac kit is any good? I imagine it’s just the Mojotone kit. That may be a good option, combined with BF sales…

 

[jimilee]

Does anyone know if the StewMac kit is any good? I imagine it’s just the Mojotone kit. That may be a good option, combined with BF sales…

I’ve seen one assembled on you tube. Looks like good stuff. You’re probably right, they probably are mojotone kits.

 

[owlexifry]

Does anyone know if the StewMac kit is any good? I imagine it’s just the Mojotone kit. That may be a good option, combined with BF sales…

yep, StewMac kits are mojotone kits.
just as good.
my first amp build was from them (2204 JCM800 - unfortunately they don't offer this one anymore))

 

[HamishR]

My first amp was a 5E3 built with a kit sold by a now non-existent supplier in Australia. I think I have built a Deluxe Reverb from a Mojo kit too. Otherwise I just buy all the parts because I usually change bits around and like to use some non-stock transformers.

If I'm building a Marshall style amp I get almost everything from Valvestorm. For Fender style amps, which for me are usually tweed or brown, I use Mojotone for chassis and tag boards and usually Antique Electronics for everything else. AES have good prices and usually have everything in stock. I guess it's easier if you've already built a few amps to do it this way because there are a number of things which are easy to forget to order. Things like the various nuts and bolts, grommets, tooth washers, etc.

Transformers are the things that I don't get from Mojotone or AES as a rule. I'm not that impressed with Mojo's spec Heyboer transformers. Heyboer can make some fantastic transformers, but it all depends on who specs them. The Mojotone transformers sound a bit bland to me - they work perfectly well, and seemingly well built, but when I compare amps I've built with Mercury Magnetics transformers and Mojotones the Mercurys just sound better. I have absolutely no idea why that would be the case! So I usually end up using Mercury Magnetics. They're not necessarily better but they are excellent and make a great range of options which I haven't seen anywhere else. The best 5E3 I have ever built used a MM slightly lower B+ PT which allows the amp to bias better with the stock value bias resistor and sound amazing. Most current 5E3 PTs have the B+ too high.

I also recently fixed up an old 5F6-A Bassman for a friend and used a MM PT with a lower B+ and it still sounds like a Bassman but gives it up at lower volumes which he loves.

As a first build? I'd probably suggest kit because at least you know it will have all the bits you need and hopefully some instructions. I just wish kit suppliers wouldn't use Orange drops as coupling caps because they're ugly, can be huge, and can obscure other parts in the amp you would rather be able to see.

Oh, and for cabs just buy a table saw and make your own.