First t00b amp build

[Kinski]

Whoa! $600 just in transformers? Yikes! You building some Sunn amps? I know you are into those. I still gotta build that Sunn-In-A-Box you posted a while back.

Yeah, $600 was pretty good! But if you just buy a complete kit from mojotone, its just under $750. Saving a few bucks was a nice bonus, but I really did it so I could use the exact parts I wanted.

Although, now that I think about it, I already owned that cannabis rex speaker and it needed a home. That speaker price might need to be added to my total amp cost. Can't remember.

[rocket88]

You know me too well. Yep both amps I'm dying to build are Sunn Amps. The transformers are absolute tanks. I have to finish the layout for one, cause I'm just not happy with certain wire positions, I've never notice how anal about wiring I am. I've also got to work on a layout for a vintage matamp gt120, and a green mv120, which is basically the same with a different tonestack and a few other differences.

[Pedalhead]

You could always do them in Lego, like this Princeton Reverb.

http://www2.fender.com/experience/fender-tone/legoreg-princeton-reverbreg-amp/

[Travis]

Marbles wrote

To ask something superficial.. how much on average would I be looking at to build, say, a fender tweed combo?
Your story makes me enthousiastic, but after just having bought a sweet Les Paul, I'm kind of low on funds.. ;)

Hey mang. That really depends on a lot of things. First of course is what combo? You could probably do a Champ or Princeton for about $400 on average but a 4x10 Bassman for example might easily cost like twice as much.

It also really depends on the parts you get. Transformers and speakers can get pretty expensive. I spent a couple hundred bucks just on the capacitors alone because I wanted to be all geeky and use really nice NOS paper in oil caps, sprague atoms, even the NOS "domino" silver mica cap in the tone control. If I would have used like orange drops and f&t caps I could have saved $100 right off the bat, and who's to say which sounds better.. I also used all NOS tubes, and got a couple extra to swap around.

Let's say you do a 5e3 like me and you get the mojotone chassis and small parts kit. That's $180 maybe let's call it $200 shipped. That has everything you need for the amp itself except the tubes and transformers

With shipping a new set of tubes from tubes and more will cost you about $75. Prices for NOS tubes are all over the place but I recommend you at least get an NOS 5Y3 which can be found cheap on eBay

There are lots of options for transformers. The most common are Weber, Heyboer (mojotone), Hammond, Classic Tone, and Mercury Magnetics. After some research, I went with Classic Tone for this project. Classic Tone's tweed style transformers seem to be the most accurate reproductions around at really reasonable prices. So if you go with Classic Tone transformers for a 5e3 that will cost you a little over $100

Then we get to the speaker. This is where you could spend $50 or $300 easily just depending on what you want. I got a 12F150 (12" ceramic speaker) which ran me around $130 shipped

And of course this is all assuming you build the cab yourself. That would put you at around $450-600 on average IMO.

[Travis]

Pedalhead wrote

You could always do them in Lego, like this Princeton Reverb.

http://www2.fender.com/experience/fender-tone/legoreg-princeton-reverbreg-amp/

That is AWESOME!!

[Marbles]

Thanks man! That's reasonable. Especially when comparing it to what you would pay for the same handwired amp vintage or boutique. Cool!

[Marbles]

Thanks for your reply!

Yeah, those are some good arguments.. Why not go all out when you can.. Hm. I have an old transistor orange bass practice amp (35b) that started smoking a while ago.

I always thought about using that for a nice project. A Fender Harvard is something I always wanted, Or maybe a small gritty amp. Gibson, supro? I don't know. Would be cool to have a small dirty gritty blues amp.

But I have no idea how that would work out, if the cab would fit a chassis like that. It's a bit higher, so maybe it would give me a bit more room, I dunno. Strip the ugly orange off and add some nice tolex or tweed..

Or try to do something in the Harley Benton/Epi Valve combo I have lying around.

Those transformers are crazy :D wow.. Speakers and tubes I can easily upgrade later, so I'd probably stick to cheaper stuff for starters.

So many options though. I'm taking it all in :)

I'm someone that is very careful, but in no way as seasoned when it comes to electricity as you guys. Is it doable though? As in: What are the chances I will kill myself? :D

[rocket88]

If you're careful, take your time, and don't touch the death cap you're good.

[Travis]

You can tear everything out of an old amp and use the chassis and cab to build something new. I'm currently in the process of doing this with my AC30CC1. It will most likely require pretty extensive modification to the chassis


A tweed Harvard build would be really cool. You'd be really limited on options compared to a Princeton for example since you won't be able to find a chassis for the Harvard. The 5e3 chassis is similar but you need an octal preamp tube, among other things

With the transformers the cheapest option I mentioned is like $15 less than the Classic Tone transformers so not a big difference

Regarding the danger. Yeah, don't underestimate the danger. You're probably not going to install the "death cap" in any build but there are several other ways to shock yourself potentially fatally

Read this: https://robrobinette.com/Tube_Amp_Safety.htm

And be aware of the dangers in your amp and you'll be fine

[Travis]

Got some cabinet action underway. Getting super close to finishing this one

[Marbles]

Damn that looks great!!

[balazs.bencs]

I just noticed, that Tube Town also started selling a modded 5e3 kit:
https://www.tube-town.net/ttstore/Kits/Verstaerker/TT-Kit-5Ae3::7893.html

It might be a good thing to try it out, there's a couple interesting extras included (Triode/Pentode mode switch, Fixed bias/Cathode bias switch, etc..)

[Travis]

Thanks Marbles! I forgot to say that cab is actually for my Revibe not the 5e3. Figured I'd do the Revibe cab first since it was my first time doing dovetails and everything. If my new stain comes in the mail in time this should be getting finished this weekend, then it's on to the 5e3 cab

[Travis]

Sounds cool balazs bencs, you planning on building that? The link is giving me an error page right now though

[balazs.bencs]

Weird, it loads for me..

I am not planning this right know, the next for me will be a JTM45 head.
Right know I am building a 1x12 cab for my sweet 18w bluesbreaker clone (in that same sweet orange color), then I'll buy parts for the JTM45. Maybe after that's done I'll try with the 5e3 too.

[Marbles]

Sorry for breaking in again ;) (it does not load for me either btw!)

How is the 18w bluesbreaker clone? After buying a Les Paul last month, I have been on a diet of Peter Green, Clapton (and, well, High on Fire).
But really love Clapton's Les Paul tone. Is it possible to overdrive the 18 watt one? How's the sound?

[balazs.bencs]

Hm, that's really weird.

Try this one: https://tube-town.net/cms/?DIY/Amps/TT_5%C3%843

Although it's german, you can easily find the schem and layout and some quality photos of a build.

Yeah, so.. the bluesbreaker is simply great, it does not have a load of bottom end, but it's cuts through in a band context so easily. If you crank it up to about 6, it starts to break up, and after that it gets sweeter and sweeter. I use it on 5-6ish and use pedals (for example with a tubescreamer is heaven like in this video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBEViv9QAl4

(the crackling noise on the video comes from the rotating handle resonating on the Marshall cab - stupid thing)

[Marbles]

Man that sounds great! Like, really good. Damn..

How did you build it? Can I be rude enough to ask to share? :D

I have looked up some demo's of people building it 18watt marshall things, but it youtube quality probably made it sound really tinny and brittle. Yours however sounds exactly how I had hoped it would. Brilliant.

[mug]

balazs.bencs wrote

Although it's german, you can easily find the schem and layout and some quality photos of a build.

These are really great amps! I've no idea of amp building nor do I feel able to build something like that, but I follow those threads with interest. In case you need something translated from german PN me!

[balazs.bencs]

Easy thing, that is just a Tube-Town kit.

I thought that I should start with something that contains really everything for a complete amp.

The only thing is not included is the chassis, faceplate and knobs, but that is also available on tube-town pre-drilled, etc... (this way you can build a head or a combo, based on your chassis choice)

https://www.tube-town.net/ttstore/Kits/Verstaerker/TT-Kit-Marshall-Style-18-Watt::7360.html


description, layout, schem: https://www.tube-town.net/cms/?DIY/Amps/TT_18_Watt_%28engl%29