Tube Depot "Bud" Amp

[RetiredUnit1]

Okay - so I broke down and ordered a Mojotone 5F2-A... unfortunately the cabinet is backordered - it was showing in stock when I ordered...

Well they have their own wood and tolex shop, so they'll get it done soon!

 

[RetiredUnit1]

I may decide to upgrade bits once I get the kit - they money for the kit isn't in the capacitors or resistors...

If it comes with carbon comp resistors I highly suggest carbon film. CC's drift with time and crack with age. They hiss, hum and buzz. Carbon film has the same vintage sound without all of the above problems.

 

[owlexifry]

Ship in a bottle. The hardest part of building a 5e3 is the lack of space. There are much fewer connections to make in a champ, and there's more space between components, and therefore a bit easier.

I've built over 30 5e3's, I know that. I sort of lost count at how many over 30 tho, and it was a VERY long time ago. One of the ones I kept for myself has original Yellow astron capacitors. Fantastic tones.....

true, 5F1 is definitely a lot less parts.

But i think i meant to refer to the 5F2a as being more spacious (not the 5E3 - got the model codes mixed up).

5F1


5F2a


5E3



if i was a beginner, I reckon I'd go for the the 5F2a.

it's basically a 5F1 with more chassis space and a tone control.

 

[owlexifry]

The Mojo kits are pretty good. The main thing I don't like about them is orange drop caps! I can't stand them, mainly because they're huge and ugly. In an amp like that there are relatively few of them so it wouldn't cost much to use Mallory 150s instead - or even Sozo if you wanted to go all fancy.

agree mojo kits are great.

there is nothing wrong with orange drop caps.

 

[RetiredUnit1]

true, 5F1 is definitely a lot less parts.

But i think i meant to refer to the 5F2a as being more spacious (not the 5E3 - got the model codes mixed up).

5F1
View attachment 37401

5F2a
View attachment 37402

5E3
View attachment 37403


if i was a beginner, I reckon I'd go for the the 5F2a.

it's basically a 5F1 with more chassis space and a tone control.

View attachment 37404 View attachment 37406

Now I'm thinking I'll make a champ, lol, never made one before AND I have 10 .022 600v yellow bluepoint astrons I scored for a steal off of eBay. Tested at 600v for 5 minutes, zero leakage!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Synchrony Pedalworks]

Okay - so I broke down and ordered a Mojotone 5F2-A... unfortunately the cabinet is backordered - it was showing in stock when I ordered...

I know this is pedal forum, but do a build report. If you amp build is anything like your pedals, it is going to be fantastic.

 

[Fingolfen]

I know this is pedal forum, but do a build report. If you amp build is anything like your pedals, it is going to be fantastic.

Thanks!! Planning on it!

 

[HamishR]

agree mojo kits are great.

there is nothing wrong with orange drop caps.

Oh you are absolutely right. I just think they're huge and ugly.

I love building Marshall plexi style amps the most for some reason - maybe it's because I like the way they are laid out and there is generally enough room. But I've rarely found tweeds to be too fiddly. I'll generally populate the board before putting it into the chassis - it's kind of a no-brainer. And this is where using Mallory or Sozo caps is handy because orange drops can make it difficult to access all of the resistors.

For electrolytics I prefer F+Ts for the filters because they are smaller than the older blue Spragues and I have never had a problem with an F+T. I've had very few problems with Sprague either except for the size. I watch a fair bit of Mr Psionic on youtube and he is scathing about IC caps.

Fingolfen I think you will have a blast.

 

[RetiredUnit1]

agree mojo kits are great.

there is nothing wrong with orange drop caps.

There are several types, the film and foil ones are pretty good. I forget the numbers, but I made an amp with some of the cheap ones and it was muted compared to some of the other caps I've used. Reminded me of someone singing with their hand over their mouth. NOS mustard caps are insanely bright in comparison.

 

[RetiredUnit1]

Oh you are absolutely right. I just think they're huge and ugly.

I love building Marshall plexi style amps the most for some reason - maybe it's because I like the way they are laid out and there is generally enough room. But I've rarely found tweeds to be too fiddly. I'll generally populate the board before putting it into the chassis - it's kind of a no-brainer. And this is where using Mallory or Sozo caps is handy because orange drops can make it difficult to access all of the resistors.

For electrolytics I prefer F+Ts for the filters because they are smaller than the older blue Spragues and I have never had a problem with an F+T. I've had very few problems with Sprague either except for the size. I watch a fair bit of Mr Psionic on youtube and he is scathing about IC caps.

Fingolfen I think you will have a blast.

For the Hiwatts I built I used the 'inny' tube sockets, and made exact size jigs for the sockets, pots and jacks. This allowed me to make the entire amp on a board. I had a line drawn where I would lay down a board, so I could flip up both sides bending the wires at a 90 before dropping in. It was a three piece jig, so after flipping up a side I would ever so gently remove the components. Solid core wire kept them in place.

Worked great. I still have a complete DR504 in a box, made with 'tested at full voltage' nos mustard caps that I never finished after my associates, who I am prohibited from naming due to a non-disclosure agreement, said they were broke. The NDA says I have to pay back every penny if I ever name names, so...... shhhhh

And right after that I lost my contract programmer gig at $85 an hour, so I just boxed that sucker up and hunkered down till I got another job and sort of forgot about it. A few weeks ago I was digging around looking for some components on the loft in my shop and saw "MUSTARD DR504" on a box and thought OUUUUuUUUUUuUuUUUuu!

 

[Fingolfen]

Oh you are absolutely right. I just think they're huge and ugly.

I love building Marshall plexi style amps the most for some reason - maybe it's because I like the way they are laid out and there is generally enough room. But I've rarely found tweeds to be too fiddly. I'll generally populate the board before putting it into the chassis - it's kind of a no-brainer. And this is where using Mallory or Sozo caps is handy because orange drops can make it difficult to access all of the resistors.

For electrolytics I prefer F+Ts for the filters because they are smaller than the older blue Spragues and I have never had a problem with an F+T. I've had very few problems with Sprague either except for the size. I watch a fair bit of Mr Psionic on youtube and he is scathing about IC caps.

Fingolfen I think you will have a blast.

Oh, I know I'm going to have fun - plus this amp will go great with this particular guitar:



This is technically going to be the second amp project I've started, but the first I'm likely to finish... The other one is... more challenging... and I sort of want to finish the process with something a bit simpler before I finish the other one.

 

[Feral Feline]

I know you've got the Mojotone on order, but FWIW another kit source I forgot to mention:

Mable Audio



I thought Ceriatone offered kits, but don't see any. Maybe I'm thinking of some other company.

 

[Fingolfen]

I know you've got the Mojotone on order, but FWIW another kit source I forgot to mention:

Mable Audio



I thought Ceriatone offered kits, but don't see any. Maybe I'm thinking of some other company.

Ceriatone does offer kits - you have to pick your favorite amp, and then click on the "kit" button.

Shipping can be a bear, though...

 

[HamishR]

I like the Mojo kits better than the Ceriatone ones. Mojo kits have fewer parts I'd change.

 

[iamjackslackof]

@Feral Feline Do you have any experience or know of reviews of the Marble Audio stuff? Seems like they have built amps for surprisingly cheap. Made in China, but for the money it could be a good base for mods.

 

[Feral Feline]

@Feral Feline Do you have any experience or know of reviews of the Marble Audio stuff? Seems like they have built amps for surprisingly cheap. Made in China, but for the money it could be a good base for mods.

I've read some positive reviews, but didn't make note of them (who, where, when).
One of my friends has ordered some parts from them, I'll ask him what he thought and get back to you.

What I can tell you is that the Chinese website is much better with more varied parts and cheaper pricing than the English-language/sell-to-the-West site. My friend could find stuff on Mable that I couldn't track down; I may have even bought some parts from the Chinese site — info and parts sourced through my friend (same one as above) with his help, as I don't speak/read/write the language.

 

[iamjackslackof]

I've read some positive reviews, but didn't make note of them (who, where, when).
One of my friends has ordered some parts from them, I'll ask him what he thought and get back to you.

What I can tell you is that the Chinese website is much better with more varied parts and cheaper pricing than the English-language/sell-to-the-West site. My friend could find stuff on Mable that I couldn't track down; I may have even bought some parts from the Chinese site — info and parts sourced through my friend (same one as above) with his help, as I don't speak/read/write the language.

Thanks! I managed to find a few build threads of amp kits, but I'd like to take a chance on a pre-built amp. It's cheap enough there's not much lost if it's less than ideal, I guess.

 

[cdwillis]

I've been eyeing up the Mojotone British 50 Watt (JMP) kits for a few weeks now and it looks like they're shipping them with Mallory caps now instead of orange drop caps. The fine print says they can swap parts in the kits depending on availability though.