Tube Amp builds/kits?

I've built many tube amps, but never with a PCB. Tubedepot does make amp kits of classic amps and they use PCB: https://tubedepot.com/products/tweed-5e3-vacuum-tube-amp-kit

If you're building an amplifier the use of a PCB is less advantageous than if you're building a pedal. In fact a PCB can present problems you wouldn't have if you built using tagboard. One of the beauties of building an amp is tweaking it to suit your own likes/needs, and using a PCB makes changing components quite a PITA. You need to remove so much stuff to get to the solder pads. Using a tagboard you don't need to remove anything except the part you want to change.

If you want to build a good quality amp then you really want to have the pots, jacks and tube sockets off-board and wired to the board. That means that the number of under-board connections are fairly minimal. It kinda negates a lot of the reasons for using PCB in the first place. For mass production of amplifiers PCB makes sense, but for one-at-a-time builders tagboard or turrets are not significantly more difficult and make for a much sturdier, easily serviceable amp.
 
I've done a few, and have a 18w TMB on order.
What wattage are you looking at? Is there a particular sound you are chasing?
If you haven't already, take a look at Mojotone.
 
Not to steal the thread away from @duffy_lane 's intended purpose - but I'm in the market for a 5w tube amp. I'd love to build one that's smaller for home use and pedal tinkering, and crank it loud with my other MusicMan 210 when the muse strikes. I've checked out MojoTone, Weber, and Tube Depot. Any recommendations? Better off sourcing parts myself?
 
I can speak quite a bit about the subject, my first amp kit was way back in 2009 from Metro Amps and was a JTM 45, since then I have done an Allen Accomplice, JMP 50 using the metro guide and parts from Valvestorm, a Trinity Amps 18 watt SIII and I just finished a Trinity Amps Tweed Deluxe and filmed the whole thing and am editing the videos right now.

Depending on your knowledge of how amps work is how you should look at buying a kit, I feel like the kits I have built were all very detailed and lead to a successful build. I know the mojotone and weber kits are a little less detailed, they are pretty much a schematic and layout which is still super helpful.

I would look at Trinity amps, I absolutely love what you get for the price and the service and instructions are outstanding. They have a number of good kits from Marshall style to vox to tweed fenders.

If you are looking blackface fenders then Allen Amps is the place to go.
Cucurbitam0schata said:
Not to steal the thread away from @duffy_lane 's intended purpose - but I'm in the market for a 5w tube amp. I'd love to build one that's smaller for home use and pedal tinkering, and crank it loud with my other MusicMan 210 when the muse strikes. I've checked out MojoTone, Weber, and Tube Depot. Any recommendations? Better off sourcing parts myself?
Click to expand...
I feel like sourcing your own parts for any beginner is a pain in the ass, that is why I love buying a kit. SAves me a ton of money paying shipping costs to 5 different places and you have a transformer designed for the amp you are looking for.
 
jjjimi84 said:
I can speak quite a bit about the subject, my first amp kit was way back in 2009 from Metro Amps and was a JTM 45, since then I have done an Allen Accomplice, JMP 50 using the metro guide and parts from Valvestorm, a Trinity Amps 18 watt SIII and I just finished a Trinity Amps Tweed Deluxe and filmed the whole thing and am editing the videos right now.

Depending on your knowledge of how amps work is how you should look at buying a kit, I feel like the kits I have built were all very detailed and lead to a successful build. I know the mojotone and weber kits are a little less detailed, they are pretty much a schematic and layout which is still super helpful.

I would look at Trinity amps, I absolutely love what you get for the price and the service and instructions are outstanding. They have a number of good kits from Marshall style to vox to tweed fenders.

If you are looking blackface fenders then Allen Amps is the place to go.

I feel like sourcing your own parts for any beginner is a pain in the ass, that is why I love buying a kit. SAves me a ton of money paying shipping costs to 5 different places and you have a transformer designed for the amp you are looking for.
Click to expand...

Holy hell, Trinity has a B-15 kit!

I can't remember where I read it on this forum a while back, but someone said that they couldn't afford to hang out with you all any more and I am really feeling that sentiment right now.
 
peccary said:
Holy hell, Trinity has a B-15 kit!

I can't remember where I read it on this forum a while back, but someone said that they couldn't afford to hang out with you all any more and I am really feeling that sentiment right now.
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I'm not sure how you CAN'T afford to hang here . . . . I've been here less than 3 months and this crew has saved my bacon half a dozen times on my first build alone.

o.0
 
knucklehead said:
I'm not sure how you CAN'T afford to hang here . . . . I've been here less than 3 months and this crew has saved my bacon half a dozen times on my first build alone.

o.0
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Yeah, but the best part of building pedals is that they are nickel and dime projects. The cognitive dissonance required to drop $700 up front for an amp kit that I in no way need is just much higher :ROFLMAO:
 
I hadn't planned on building the brit but I gave my Blues JR to my son. Never had a real need for anymore power. At 60, I'm trying to preserve as many of my senses as possible (y)
 
fig said:
I hadn't planned on building the brit but I gave my Blues JR to my son. Never had a real need for anymore power. At 60, I'm trying to preserve as many of my senses as possible (y)
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I've got a Mesa 400+ that I haven't used in a couple of years since I stopped gigging. Another tube amp would be kind of nutty, especially since I always told myself that whenever I started playing out again I'd get myself one of those 1000 watt solid state bass amps that weigh like half a pound as a backup/option for when I don't want to haul a boat anchor around.

I could say I'm building it for my daughter, but she's 18 months old right now so I don't think my wife would buy it 😄
 
knucklehead said:
* drool *

BIG fan of these and the Strategy variants.
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I love that amp. I bought it in the early 2000's as an undergrad scrounging my pennies and I don't think I'll ever get rid of it. Paired it with an SWR Goliath III 4x10. It's a loud and mean setup. The amp needs a re-tube, which I am not looking forward to considering I could buy myself a backup amp for what the tubes will cost me. I'm going to wait till gigging is on the menu to do that.

What kind of rig do you use? Also, it's good to run in to other bass players here.

dozens.jpg
 
peccary said:
What kind of rig do you use?
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I was on a tube quest for a time - owned a Fender Bassman first, then a 400PS (RIDICULOUS power there). Went with McIntosh for a little while.

I bi-amp now - I have a DSP crossover/processor front end. I am using my subs driven by a Jule Amps 2500 that crosses over at either 50 or 100Hz, and either a Greenboy Fearless 112 or my top box driven by a Jule Amps 700.

I'm a codger - born in the 50's - so I've had time to own different stuff over a LONG time. I am WAY into gear I can lift alone these days. Methinks I'll never see a Strategy in my rack.

o.0
 
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knucklehead said:
I was on a tube quest for a time - owned a Fender Bassman first, then a 400PS (RIDICULOUS power there). Went with McIntosh for a little while.

I bi-amp now - I have a DSP crossover/processor front end. I am using my subs driven by a Jule Amps 2500 that crosses over at either 50 or 100Hz, and either a Greenboy Fearless 112 or my top box driven by a Jule Amps 700.

I'm a codger - born in the 50's - so I've had time to own different stuff over a LONG time. I am WAY into gear I can lift alone these days. Methinks I'll never see a Strategy in my rack.

o.0
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That's a smart way to get exactly what you want, nice. My entire strategy was "bigger and heavier = better." I'm 39 now and didn't realize at the time how quickly things get heavy when you're older... or how much older I feel than I assumed I would... something like that!

Did you build the Fearless yourself or have it made by one of their builders?
 
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