I'd like to hear if anyone had a good experience building a tube amp kit. Wich manufacturer model etc...
I'm looking for an easy submini or normal tube amp and I'm an absolute noob with tubes
I've been debating/researching this topic endlessly for a while too. I've narrowed it down to either an AX84 project or Trinity Amps kit. Provided I ever have enough money again. :'(
I can't figure out whether I will find building a tube amp easy or difficult. I've built around 20 pedals so far but, all that hard wiring looks scary to me--more because I'm afraid of a noisy build than anything.
Sub-mini is kind of a different category to me.
J
If I were to build a kit for an amp, I would first choose Trinity Amps out of Toronto. Have a friend who says building their amps is really easy because of their documentation and support. Great products too, and hands down his recommendation.
Next would be ceriatone for similar reasons, from the same guy, but because they're overseas it costs more to import to where I am in Canada. They have some really great products as well.
I'm interested in building that HiWatt inspired Trinity clone, and a Lightning clone from ceriatone. I think if I'm able to build one of those two, I might feel confident enough to assemble my own tweed/blackface deluxe clone and build a fender tube reverb unit (in stereo for that one).
But I too have to save up money for those. Hopefully I'll have a job by summer and my pedal building profits will no longer need to be diverted to other things... Perhaps by Christmas I'll have enough for a kit, and next summer I'll be building my own deluxe and reverb units. I could always sell my Fender Concert for the funds I guess...
Jacob
I've been eyeballing some Weber Kits as well... https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits.htm
I've always wanted an AC30 but I can't really dish out 1600 for that amp :( On the flip side, they have a kit for 865 and comes with your choice of 2 Alnico Blue Dogs, 2 Alnico Silver Bells or 1 Alnico Blue and 1 Silver Bell...plus you can customize it anyway you want! I think this would be an awesome project to work with, super interesting and great learning experience with the added bonus that I'll get to play at least something very similar to the original of one of my favorite amps!
Man, you got me all excited about this again haha :D
-Kaleb
I've been drooling over both the Trinity TRIWATT and their 18w Plexi for a while now. If only I didn't have any bills.
I've looked at those weber kits as well. I was interested in a 5E3 kit. I never pulled the trigger on one. I don't know how the support is for other kit sellers but weber does make it clear that they offer no support at all if you have problems. They also have no assembly instructions. This kept me away and I stuck to pedals...for now ;)
Josh
Yeah, the Weber kits have a more affordable price but until I build one or two from GOOD instructions, I don't think I would attempt a Weber build unless it was a Champ or 5E3. Not to mention that the AC30 is probably one of the more complex builds of any Weber kits, along with the Hiwatt, and Blackface stuff.
The Trinity kits look really great, plus they are all around 18 watts or so (more for the Triwatt), which is a nice power range for all around use. You can also build in VVR to do some power scaling, plus lots of great mods (cascading gain, crunch/munch, etc.).
The hardest part about Trinity kits is picking only one! The 18Watt (Plexi), Triwatt, and TC-15 all look fantastic to me.
J
I know what you mean. Just when I decide I want to do the TriWatt, I start thinking about the TC-15...
I think I'll build a lightning clone if I wanna go Matchless/Vox flavour though. I've always wanted a great hiwatt amp because of Gilmour. Plus, there's a video I posted that has tone for days, and it's Keith Urban playing a Tele through a HiWatt half stack. I'll never be able to afford a true Hiwatt 50 watt, but I could build one... For about the same price as I could maybe sell my amp for...
Anyone want a Rivera era Fender Concert? It's about 30 years old and in awesome shape...
Jacob
I just finished an 18 watt Baby Will (http://guitaramplifierpcbs.com/liteiib.aspx) and I couldn't be happier with it. The documentation is great, and there's lots of help on the PPWatt forums if you need it.
The whole build cost me about $200 including the donor Valve Jr.
Here's how it sounds with the Yellow Shark (http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs12/f/2006/330/9/f/_thumbsup__by_Saknika.gif)
http://soundcloud.com/slimtriggers/ampdemo
The mic was clipping a bit, I think. It's not quite as dirty as that clip sounds.
I actually had been looking at the Guitaramplifierpcb.com stuff and went to order a board but then shortly thereafter the man passed away so the ordering system was down. Looks like it's back up now?
That's a good intermediate option since you do have the PCB--nice transition from pedals to amp.
J
http://www.ironsounds.com/
Ironsounds also makes one. This kit is a little more complete. With the Baby Will you'll have to source all your components.
I think the PPwatt forums have a 5E3 board available for around $20, also.
Tubedepot has some kits and boards, as well.
With the PCB board, it was a pretty easy step up to building an amp. It's pretty much the same skill set as building a pedal. It's just that the stakes are a bit higher if you screw it up due to the high voltage. :o
The JTM45/100 kit from ceriatone looks like gold. But I think I would rather build something like a champ to start with.
I've built some amps so far, first was a Weber kit, I went straight for a Blackface AB 763 circuit Vibroverb (Picture), a bit daring, I know, .......but I survived and the amp turned out great.
As soon as I had it going I sold my Fender Hot Rod which really sucked in comparison....
My experience with Weber kits is that I found some parts a bit low in quality (like the jacks), so I replaced them with better ones. I think they might have addressed some of those issues, now apparently including Neutrik jacks rather than no name China made. Their transformers are sort of ok, also chinese made I believe. Their communication and service was good; some resistors were missing in kit first and they sent them straight away no hassle no charge, also advice by Ted Weber was good (I asked him about speaker recommendations). Ted has since sadly passed away and I don't know if the company "culture" has changed.
I did another kit from Ceriatone (Dumble HRM overdrive special 50 watt) which I found all around a bit better in standard of parts and presentation of kit. Service and communication (email) was good with them as well.
So in a nutshell: Weber kit seemed ok for me, but Ceriatone was a bit better in overall value for what you get.
However: I think Weber speakers really rock!!! I've built a 2x12 cab with a Silver Bell and Blue Dog speaker combo as well as a 2x12 with two 12F150 and they are both fantastic I think. Love 'em!
The other amps (5F2 circuit modded as harp amp and JTM 45/Bassman crossover) I sourced parts individually and made the lot up myself. Worked even better but takes a lot of time and some hardware skills.
Important in my opinion is to go trough all the safety stuff thoroughly (bleeding caps!!! etc), check everything quadruple and then come back another day and check it again. Take time, never rush stuff with this.
There some goods 'safe' first power up tips and Weber have a "Safe Start" power up device which you can easily build yourself, helps to prevent the worst accidents like blowing PT or so.
Amp building forums like AX 84 and what google turns up for you (depending what amp you're aiming for) are certainly a great source of help and advice.
And another warning: it's about as addictive good fun as building stompboxes.... ::) ;D ;).
You usually only need one amp / a bunch of stompboxes at a time, but you can never have too many of either and a few guitars to boot....
That's my two cents to this...
Cheers
Andy
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... and here's the Ceriatone HRM OD special 50 watt I talked about, cab is loaded with those Weber speakers; they are fab.
Cheers
Andy
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Gobstopper, I am drooling SO hard right now. Great looking amps and cabinets.
Thanks for sharing!
I'm waiting for a great madbean pcb for a submini and I've been looking for months on a great kit from the biggest tube dealer of germany : the princeton reverb kit from tube amp doctor
http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/en/shop_Amp_Kits_Parts_Cabine_AMP_Kit_Blackface/AMP_Kit_Blackface_PRINCETON_Reverb_KIT_1084
All the parts are high quality, they sell jensen and celestion speakers but I'm afraid of the building doc.
They say it's not a beginner project so there might be a lack of informations in the building doc for a noob like me ???
I dont' want to ruin a 1300$ project by doing stupid mistakes
Good on ya, I'm sure the Tubeampdoctor kit will be top notch componentry! I haven't dealt service / emailing for advice with them but I do hope that that will be equally top in that way too.
They are certainly pricey though...
Anyway, my advice is to take your time and cross, double, triple check everything and do that all over another day.
Check out the 'Safe Start' from Weber, easy to wire up yourself:
https://taweber.powweb.com/store/safestart_layout.jpg
and:
http://www.paulrubyamps.com/info.html#FirstPowerUp
I think a mini tube amp would be cool too, I've built a "Murder One" project (photo of guts attached) from Mr. genius 'Frequency Central' and that's good fun.
0.6 watt power consumption, so after heat loss of tubes etc. I would reckon it puts out a 'smocking' 0.2 watt of 'full blast', maybe 'even' some bonecrushing 0.3 watt with some tail wind... ;D
It's good, but there's not a lot of clean to be had... it's all on 10 a grinding in a 'noise control officer's best friend' sorta way. ::)
Another modell, probably slightly higher powered than this, by Bean would be fab.
I'm in.
I don't think building a mini amp gives you the same sweat on the face when you power it up like a tubeamp that has 450 volts on plates. It feels more like a tubepowered stompbox to do I think.
So if you wanna build a full blown tube amp you've gotta jump into the deep end somehow.
Andy
Quote from: sgmezei on April 27, 2011, 06:08:10 AM
Gobstopper, I am drooling SO hard right now. Great looking amps and cabinets.
Cheers mate. It's addictive good clean fun.
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Also: let me add that I don't think building your own tubeamp is really cheaper than other options; by the time you've spent all getting it, shipping cost, possibly import taxes (yep, I had to pay some of that too....) etc. you're often not cheaper off than finding a decent second hand amp or so (same applies to stompbox building I think but what you get for doing it yourself is the reason why we're here... I guess.)
However, making them myself beats it still easily and soundwise I find it so much better than much of the average range stuff from the local music shop.
I'm hooked.
Andy
mmm...a 5e3 or JTM45/Bassman would be nice ;D
and how cool is it to play through an awesome sounding box, shrug, and go "yeah, I made that"?
Quote from: jtn191 on April 27, 2011, 08:22:48 AM
mmm...a 5e3 or JTM45/Bassman would be nice ;D
and how cool is it to play through an awesome sounding box, shrug, and go "yeah, I made that"?
That's so right... and also applies to the smaller stompboxes we build here, totally...
Yeah, I want to build one purely for the experience and satisfaction, just like with building all these pedals. I know it's not really saving much unless you consider that the new Fender Champ is $999 and you can certainly build one much cheaper than that!
But you can certainly get a Princeton, Deluxe Reverb, or Twin for cheaper new or used than building one.
That's another reason I like the concept of the Trinity kits though, since they are more unique, and if they sound like I think they will they would actually be a good value in addition to the experience.
J
I just got around to looking at the Trinity Amps page. Uh oh, bad idea. I'm just finishing up a tele "relic" build and I'm loosing the will power to resist the TC15... I left the page before I spent money I don't have. I think DIY gassing is just as bad as the gear page level.
just say no..repeat..just say no..repeat..
Quote from: gtr2 on April 27, 2011, 03:20:29 PM
I just got around to looking at the Trinity Amps page. Uh oh, bad idea. I'm just finishing up a tele "relic" build and I'm loosing the will power to resist the TC15... I left the page before I spent money I don't have. I think DIY gassing is just as bad as the gear page level.
just say no..repeat..just say no..repeat..
I know how you feel. I have to keep myself off craigslist cause I drive myself crazy.
Quote from: gtr2 on April 27, 2011, 03:20:29 PM
I just got around to looking at the Trinity Amps page. Uh oh, bad idea. I'm just finishing up a tele "relic" build and I'm loosing the will power to resist the TC15... I left the page before I spent money I don't have. I think DIY gassing is just as bad as the gear page level.
just say no..repeat..just say no..repeat..
over at BYOC until it's GONE. TC15 kit for $300 + shipping. I hate uncle sam right now...
http://www.buildyourownclone.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=30425 (http://www.buildyourownclone.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=30425)
Been looking through the Weber and Trinity sites. I think I'd really dig the Trinity TC-15 which is basically a 15W DC30 with EF86 channel and AC30-like Top Boost Channel.
Another thing I'm liking would be a 59 Bassman build with added effects loop for an echo/reverb thingy. Weber has this as a MOD option.
Quote from: maysink on April 28, 2011, 05:08:38 AM
over at BYOC until it's GONE. TC15 kit for $300 + shipping. I hate uncle sam right now...
http://www.buildyourownclone.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=30425 (http://www.buildyourownclone.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=30425)
uggh. i saw that. That would be great to have and its at such a great price!
I'm new to madbean, pedal building and amp building. I completed an OD2 from BYOC after having sold chromesphere my Bat Cat on ebay. He has since befriended me and shown me the light of DIY pedals. I'm amazed by everyone's knowledge and pedals that are displayed, I'd pay money for a lot of what I've seen...but won't cuz I'm going to build it.
Anyway, I purchased an Allen Encore kit (BF Vibrolux type) from David Allen at www.allenamps.com (http://www.allenamps.com). He has kits that come with full instruction and others that come with a layout and schematic. Not really knowing much about electronics, but able to solder well enough, I decided to jump into the fire and build an amp. David's kit has 40 pages of instruction, a great color layout and full email support. He uses high quality components, hardware, switches, pots, etc, all top notch stuff from what I've learned thus far. The chassis is very nice and the faceplates look sweet. I spent 9-10 months researching which amp to build and who to buy from. I needed good instructions so it came down to Allen and www.missionamps.com. Bruce Collins and David Allen have an immense amount of positive feedback online. I tried to find negative reviews and only found one. Already, I have found David to be incredibly knowledgable, helpful and beyond friendly, just a good all-round human being. Anyway, build an amp, it's a blast and I'm sure it'll be a huge payday when it's done.
I have been taking pictures of the build and am uploading them online http://s1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/keysandguitars/Allen%20Encore%20Kit/ (http://s1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/keysandguitars/Allen%20Encore%20Kit/)
I'm behind in posting, but I'm now wiring up the power tubes, I'll post more pics later tonight if I have time.
If you have electronics experience, you could easily work from a drawing and schematic. Check out his website and read the topology paragraph for each amp to see if it's of interest. I'm loving pedal building, but the amp build has been a lot of fun and a good challenge. We'll see if it fires up without smoking me out.
Quote from: maysink on April 28, 2011, 05:08:38 AM
over at BYOC until it's GONE. TC15 kit for $300 + shipping. I hate uncle sam right now...
http://www.buildyourownclone.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=30425 (http://www.buildyourownclone.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=30425)
i joined the byoc board and was about to pm him about, but i talked my self out it, and am currently patting myself on the back for being responsible. :D
I did the same thing but my login had some problems and it took 3 days till they were able to fix it. That gave me enough time to cool down for now. :)
mission amps is really good stuff with alot of support from the owner, highly recommend. If you can go without instruction and just looking for a parts kit checkout "triode electronics"
I built a Weber tweed deluxe 5E3 and love it. Best price I found, and the parts are decent. I would recommend replacing the jacks but apparently they are changing over to all switchcraft or neutrik, I'm not sure. The Weber forum/AmpsNmore is good for knowledge and they helped me out.
There are lots of kits out there, but make sure you factor in shipping. I have been drooling over the Ceriatone site for a long time but cant get over paying so much for shipment.
Anyways, my Weber is awesome and the cabinet is well made/finished. The fender tweed stuff is on the simple side of things so that is where I started.
And it sounds good ;D
I've been going back and forth between a 5e3 Weber kit or a Frenzel already-made w/ line out :-\
Quote from: jkokura on April 26, 2011, 11:59:11 PM
I know what you mean. Just when I decide I want to do the TriWatt, I start thinking about the TC-15...
I think I'll build a lightning clone if I wanna go Matchless/Vox flavour though. I've always wanted a great hiwatt amp because of Gilmour. Plus, there's a video I posted that has tone for days, and it's Keith Urban playing a Tele through a HiWatt half stack. I'll never be able to afford a true Hiwatt 50 watt, but I could build one... For about the same price as I could maybe sell my amp for...
Anyone want a Rivera era Fender Concert? It's about 30 years old and in awesome shape...
Jacob
If you are interested in building a HIWATT inspired amp you should check out the Vintage Hiwatt Restorations (VHR) kits at http://www.vintagehiwattrestorations.com/shop/ (http://www.vintagehiwattrestorations.com/shop/). From what i've read in a Gilmour forum they are pretty accurate, with suberb quality. According to their web site those kits can "recreate the classic Dave Reeves Hylight Hiwatt DR103 or DR504 amplifier".
A VHR Custom 50 Amp kit - WITH case costs $1,089.00 (tubes/valves not included). They also offer the HI-TONE Amplification Hylight era style 4x12 and 2x12 cabs fitted with their HI-TONE DR-F™ 12" Speaker which according to them replicates the old HIWATT Fane loudspeaker.
I don't know if they come with good building instructions but everybody in that Gilmour forum seems to prefer them over the actual HIWATT models. Their overall preference is HIWATT amps (vintage ones from the Dave Reeves era) -> REEVES amps -> VHR amps -> HIWATT amps (actual models) -> CERIATONE.
You can also check their youtube chanel at http://www.youtube.com/user/HITONE2011 (http://www.youtube.com/user/HITONE2011)
I also like to thank to all of you who share your knowledge about building pedals in this forum. I still didn't dare to build a pedal because I'm trying to acquire knowledge of how to do it and i'm trying to improve my ability to solder. But I hope to build my first pedal soon and then i will share the process with you all.
Quote from: jtn191 on May 06, 2011, 12:31:13 AM
I've been going back and forth between a 5e3 Weber kit or a Frenzel already-made w/ line out :-\
I just took a look at those frenzel's and they look great. I have to say that I really enjoyed building mine and that for the price I did get a really nice tweed cab and Weber speaker. So it's up to you which one you want to do. Also I just took a quick look and I didn't see a deluxe model with 6v6's. The weber is vintage accurate if that is at all important to you. Its also only 12 watts!! which breaks up real nice.
Well I owe a big 'Thank You' to maysink 'cause if it weren't for him - and the rest of you who passed this up... I wouldn't be the new owner of a TC-15 kit I picked up from the BYOC forum! Now I gotta sell some stuff to buy the trans set and a good speaker! Vicious cycle.
-Josh
If I may...
Get some Warehouse speakers. I've been looking into them, and I think they're my first choice for a new speaker if I were to get some right now. I also think going with the trannies that Trinity supply would be good too.
Jacob
Here are some pics of my firefly kit. I am posting to show you how "pedal-like" an amp build can be. This probably would have been easier for me to do first but I did it after my Weber 5e3.
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Quote from: sgmezei on May 06, 2011, 12:19:11 AM
I built a Weber tweed deluxe 5E3 and love it. Best price I found, and the parts are decent. I would recommend replacing the jacks but apparently they are changing over to all switchcraft or neutrik, I'm not sure. The Weber forum/AmpsNmore is good for knowledge and they helped me out.
There are lots of kits out there, but make sure you factor in shipping. I have been drooling over the Ceriatone site for a long time but cant get over paying so much for shipment.
Anyways, my Weber is awesome and the cabinet is well made/finished. The fender tweed stuff is on the simple side of things so that is where I started.
And it sounds good ;D
Man I want to build A Weber 5E3 so badly. Its kind of a deal breaker now though that they aren't offering the cabinets anymore. How was the stock speaker? Did you do any parts upgrades?
I built mine totally stock and it sounds great. I might replace the jacks because they seem a bit flimsy and I could see them possibly giving me trouble down the line. I got the standard weber blue speaker in the cab and it sounds great. I am SUPER bummed they are not offering cabs anymore. They were so inexpensive with a kit.
I'm just starting to put together a 5E3 circuit with two 6L6in output section and a Trainwreck Express, both not from kit but sourcing parts where it seems best for me.
Got some from tubesandmore (which worked great for me, good speedy service; got turrets and boards, resistors, some caps there).
Here's a pic of 5E3 board so far.
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Here's the head style cabinet in the making: wood is Macrocarpa (love it!), biscuit jointed, glued with tuff as nails epoxy...
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Quote from: JeffdaMaori on May 21, 2011, 09:35:50 PM
Here's the head style cabinet in the making: wood is Macrocarpa (love it!), biscuit jointed, glued with tuff as nails epoxy...
Damn that biscuit joined edge looks so much better than the standard box joint. I have a biscuit joiner too that I never use, time to start making some cabinets.
That amp is going to be epic by the way.
... and the boards (Ceriatone layout) made with turrets for the Trainwreck Express.
If you haven't heard of Trainwreck amps and Ken Fischer (who designed those and passed away way too early.....) check out this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2_12Ler9B8
The trannies for this I got from Marstran, that guy makes fab trannies for Marshall style amps, great to deal with as well!
Boards are by now populated. Chassis will be alu from a local sheet metal place.
Cabinet similar as to pic above.
I'm itching to get it together and at the same time I'm really taking my time here... no use in whacking things together in a hurry.
Cheers
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Quote from: sgmezei on May 21, 2011, 07:53:52 PM
Here are some pics of my firefly kit. I am posting to show you how "pedal-like" an amp build can be. This probably would have been easier for me to do first but I did it after my Weber 5e3.
Where did you get that board? The Firefly PCB site says they're no longer selling them :(
Quote from: JeffdaMaori on May 21, 2011, 09:44:20 PM
... and the boards (Ceriatone layout) made with turrets for the Trainwreck Express.
If you haven't heard of Trainwreck amps and Ken Fischer (who designed those and passed away way too early.....) check out this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2_12Ler9B8
The trannies for this I got from Marstran, that guy makes fab trannies for Marshall style amps, great to deal with as well!
Boards are by now populated. Chassis will be alu from a local sheet metal place.
Cabinet similar as to pic above.
I'm itching to get it together and at the same time I'm really taking my time here... no use in whacking things together in a hurry.
Cheers
Hey man those builds look great. I would love to hear them when your done. Amp building is terrible because its addictive as pedal making but costs 10x as much haha. instead of $40 its $400.
I got the firefly PCB from EHman on the DIYstomp page. It says he is out right now but might be doing another batch. I would PM him as there have been a few folks asking him about getting them.
Just contacted EHMan about the firefly pcbs. I'll let you guys know what he says :)
Quote from: bigmufffuzzwizz on June 05, 2011, 06:35:13 PM
Just contacted EHMan about the firefly pcbs. I'll let you guys know what he says :)
Fantastic. I'd love to build two in the same enclosure for stereo. Also considering Rick's Murder One, but I'd like at least a bit of clean headroom. Any idea if two Fireflies could be run from one power transformer?
Is it possible to get boards made of FC's amp design/s?
Quote from: bigmufffuzzwizz on June 06, 2011, 04:18:18 AM
Is it possible to get boards made of FC's amp design/s?
I've read through the thread and I know that at least at one point someone was doing them for others, but the last mention of that came last year, so I don't know if he'd still be doing it.
I was thinking it might be a good one to practice with for my first etching attempt.
EHMan said to keep checking back on his site, they will go up when he recieves them.
Quote from: bigmufffuzzwizz on June 06, 2011, 04:24:19 PM
EHMan said to keep checking back on his site, they will go up when he recieves them.
Nice. Can you give me a link to his site? I don't think I've ever been there.
Now that I think of it, I love the Rump Roast I got from Brian - Leave it on all the time. I wonder how hard it would be to convert it into a tube-powered preamp stage ...
http://ronsound.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=34&zenid=35123192b969715e540438988d1c9aed
Thanks a bunch for the link.
I've been going around the interwebs comparing tiny amps and so far my favorite is DIYguitarFreaks' miniAmp 2.0 found here: http://bit.ly/k1SbA1
Three tubes and about 1.5 to 2 watts of power. A friend of his was working on a PCB, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen any time soon, but he's posted the schematic. He says it's inspired my the Night Train.
He's got a couple demo videos on his blog sound fantastic.
+1 for the 45/100 I really want one, however I need a tweed twin first.
Cool thread. I have had this site bookmarked for a while.
http://www.ironsounds.com/
Quote from: masterlk on June 30, 2011, 08:12:49 PM
Cool thread. I have had this site bookmarked for a while.
http://www.ironsounds.com/
Noooooo!!!! Now I have even more DIY tube amp GAS :o
Quote from: nzCdog on June 30, 2011, 09:19:13 PM
Noooooo!!!! Now I have even more DIY tube amp GAS :o
I know how you feel. Makes it really hard to decide where to start. A little research shows some others. :)
http://www.allenamps.com/
http://www.missionamps.com/ their deluxe kit is supposed to be the best
http://store.marshamps.com/index.php?cPath=21
I want to build a tube amp SO FREAKING BAD! :'(
Cash flow is the problem, and I change my mind almost daily what I want to build.
Right now I'm thinking about starting with a Trinity Amps Tramp (http://www.trinityamps.com/Product_Tramp.htm), since it's a souped up Champ/Valve Jr. with a bunch of options. At about $380 for the kit (not including cabinet), it seems like a better option from the AX84 at about the same price.
J
Another good way to get your feet wet is to get a turret board from Ken Watts to turn a valve junior into something great. He has good layouts and docs on a vox, fender, marshall, and supro interpretations of a SE amp and the turret boards and components kits are cheap. Look under VJR stuff on his page: http://www.turretboards.com/
The first kit I built was from GDS Amps, the 18 watt tremolo. Their new S/C Lite is a pretty good deal because the transformers are top notch and you get good build docs, but their kits come with orange drop caps, and for an 18 watt Marshall clone it is better to use Mallory 150's or Sozo's. Also 18 watt marshalls usually make me want to put my pedals in the closet and forget about them, you can use a rangemaster clone in front of one for a little more volume for leads, but they sound best without a big pedalboard in front of them.
Steve from Trinity is awesome, and this is probably the best place to get a full blown kit from. The Triwatt looks to be the most pedal-friendly amp of the bunch.
After you get a simpler low power amp like these under your belt, then try something bigger from Ceriatone or Metroamp`, Allen amps are also super nice if you wanna go the fender clean route. I wouldn't endorse Mojotone's kits or Webers as being the best choice for a beginner, and the component quality is what keeps the price low. Since Ted Weber passed (RIP) the company is different, I ordered a Blue Pup 10 Alnico speaker from them and the voicecoil was rubbing from being glued onto the cone at a weird angle. Something I had never seen in the other 5 speakers I had bought from them before Ted's demise. They fixed it for free, but that speaker still doesn't sound right, kind of a bummer for a $95 investment.
I only have one speaker from Weber and it sounds great. Good to hear someone else's experience. I just recieved two ceriatone kits and they are incredible. Weber stuff comes with medium quality components but the Ceriatones I got have top notch parts. Holy grail caps and orange drops and transformers that weigh a ton! I am super impressed with what I received from them.
Quote from: sgmezei on July 01, 2011, 09:04:13 PM
I only have one speaker from Weber and it sounds great. Good to hear someone else's experience. I just recieved two ceriatone kits and they are incredible. Weber stuff comes with medium quality components but the Ceriatones I got have top notch parts. Holy grail caps and orange drops and transformers that weigh a ton! I am super impressed with what I received from them.
Does ceriatone offer kits to build the boards or only pre assembled circuits boards?
Im not sure. I ordered package two and was expecting all the parts and was surprised that the components were already mounted. Thats the fun part :(
But, I ordered the overtone series so there is still a ton of work in the wiring. ;)
I built an AA764 Blackface Vibro Champ Kit from triode electronics. I had an old crate amp chassis and built it inside there. I'm sorry I have no clue how to put a pic on here since I'm new, haha. I love the way it sounds, and the guys at triode were super cool and helpful.
http://store.triodestore.com/vibrochamprebuild.html (http://store.triodestore.com/vibrochamprebuild.html)
Two more good tube amp kit sites I didn't see in this thread:
www.ampmaker.com (http://www.ampmaker.com)
UK Based, good prices AND he takes off the VAT for shipping outside EU = win
www.brownnote.net/ (http://www.brownnote.net/)
USA Based... has a few kits, with a nice small-chassis plexi giving me GAS
Here is another great "starter" amp kit site offering 1/2, 2, and 8 watt kits. I built one of the 1/2 watt kits before tackling a Mission 5e3.
Excellant docs, gret sounding amps ( mods also available )
http://www.guytronix.com/ (http://www.guytronix.com/)
Here is my build, which I named Bubba's Head and Bubba's Belly since I built the cabs from Bubinga. The custom tags where ordered from the Ted Weber site for only a few bucks.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/LookingforLarri/Bubba/BubbaHead1crop.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/LookingforLarri/Bubba/BubbaAll7.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/LookingforLarri/Bubba/BubbaAll5.jpg)
Quote from: nzCdog on July 13, 2011, 07:41:41 PM
Two more good tube amp kit sites I didn't see in this thread:
www.ampmaker.com (http://www.ampmaker.com)
UK Based, good prices AND he takes off the VAT for shipping outside EU = win
www.brownnote.net/ (http://www.brownnote.net/)
USA Based... has a few kits, with a nice small-chassis plexi giving me GAS
I've heard bad stuff about Brown Note. Like
long,
long lead times. No communication etc. High quality product, but may take
forever to actually receive your kit, Not personal experience, just what I've heard on other forums. Just a heads up. ;)
Here is mine:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v640/sdanand77/JMP%2050/
It has parts from numerous suplyers, not an entire kit.
If I were you I'll start with a Valve Jr there are several resources on the web that supplies "kit" for this model, turretboards or guitaramplifierspcbs (god blesss Stingray).
An ampmaker kit is a cheap alternative too for first time builders, http://www.ampmaker.com/
Cheers to all of you punk rockers!
Quote from: bigmufffuzzwizz on July 02, 2011, 01:13:32 AM
Quote from: sgmezei on July 01, 2011, 09:04:13 PM
I only have one speaker from Weber and it sounds great. Good to hear someone else's experience. I just recieved two ceriatone kits and they are incredible. Weber stuff comes with medium quality components but the Ceriatones I got have top notch parts. Holy grail caps and orange drops and transformers that weigh a ton! I am super impressed with what I received from them.
Does ceriatone offer kits to build the boards or only pre assembled circuits boards?
Ask directly to Nick at ceriatone, in the past he sold me even separate parts not listed in his website, from long time to now he only offers hole kits but the best way to know it is asking him directly.
Cheers.