Can you make your own tube amp?

C.Thep · #1 10-14-2006, 10:38 PM

Well, I know it is possible, but is it do-able for an average Joe? There are so many schematics online, Engls, Mesas, Bogners, but I was thinking about dipping my toes into a Soldano SLO100 clone.

I do have a little knowledgde of electrical stuff, but my buddy is a real whiz at it. He repairs Xboxs and does all sorts of geeky stuff.

I learned how to make a printed circuit board, so that should take some burden off. It is pretty easy.

I have a budget of about 600 bucks. My carpenter friend will provide me will a sweet exotic wood head box for free.

Is this really practical? I really don't have the patience or the money to start out small with a low wattage amp or kit. (go big or go home, right?)

Give me some advice!

Should I do it? Should I not do it? Should I learn Spanish?

ibanezcollector · #2 10-14-2006, 10:45 PM

two words and a example

HIGH VOLTAGE

High Voltage + Inexperience = Death

If you do be extremely careful of what your doing, there is some serious voltage inside a tube amp..

Can it be done? yes 1000s do it each and every year.. But playing with Xbox's and circuit boards is more on the par of modding pedals not making amps.

C.Thep · #3 10-14-2006, 10:58 PM

I am immortal, so I am not worried about high voltages. But seriously, I'm not too worried about that. just plug it in after everything is assembled right? Thick rubber gloves will work wont they?

C.Thep · #4 10-14-2006, 11:01 PM

here is a link where alot of schematics are. www.blueguitar.org

**Ayrton** · #5 10-14-2006, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibanezcollector

t
High Voltage + Inexperience = Death

I think you have come up with the name of your next band. lol

PortCityMusic · #6 10-14-2006, 11:51 PM

As someone who builds tube amps I will say it would be best if you start with something simple like a tweed champ kit. Several companies offer them. You can check one of them out at mojotone.com. Once you have completed that you can move on to another one that is more complex. Also I would begin reading books on tube amps and general electric principals. I hope that helps.

Lefty Robb · #7 10-14-2006, 11:57 PM

Start with kits because unless you really know what your doing and have a lot of electronics exprience, I wouldn't even try.

http://www.tubetoneamps.com/
http://www.tubedepot.com/tubeampkits.html
http://www.torresengineering.com/tubampkitmor.html

C.Thep · #8 10-14-2006, 11:58 PM

I've made and modded effect pedals before, and I don't have the money to spend on an amp kit and still build my Soldano.

I'm going crazy deciding if I should or should not do it!

Lefty Robb · #9 10-15-2006, 12:44 AM

theres BIG differences between effects pedals and all tube amps.

jemplayer55 · #10 10-15-2006, 01:18 AM

Here's a couple of site you may want to check out.....

(for kits)
http://www.ceriatone.com/

(before you build or fire up your first creation)
http://paulrubyamps.com/info.html

My brother is in the process of building one now (tube amp kit). My father used to build those old Heathkit DIY stereo kits and my brother has done amp repairs for years. I will say this.... if you've never been "bit" by a capacitor you're in for a real "SHOCK". I arc'd one accidently in an old Ampeg V4 with a screwdriver..... it (the screwdriver) ended up across the room and me on my a.s.s!

Not something to mess with unless you are very cautious and knowledgeable about tube amps and initial fire up procedures. Keep us posted on what you decide.

C.Thep · #11 10-15-2006, 02:24 AM

Hmm, thanks for the ceriatone link. I think you might have just changed my mind. I was looking at the Matchless DC30 kit, very nice and inexpensive for a clone of a VERY expensive amp. Effect loop is cool.

OKAY!!!! I think I might just get the Matchless kit! It is the first kit that I've seen that really appeals to me.

Now, if I do get it, is it possible to make it a higher gain amp? isn't it all about the diodes?

jemplayer55 · #12 10-15-2006, 03:06 AM

I think it's based on several things.... like taps into the preamp gain stage, diodes in that rectifier circuit and voltages across the tubes and caps, etc.! Basically all the components. Go check out the Paul Ruby Site....... there's a ton of good links there explaining stuff, plus others on the web. Some of it I don't understand either!

Lefty Robb · #13 10-15-2006, 03:50 AM

Gain mostly comes from the tube preamp stage with the amount of power going to the grids, the more power, the more gain usually, as well as the amount of preamp tubes, because they can cascade into one another, the more you have, the more gain. In an all tube amp there really shouldn't be any solid state diodes unless there used in the power supply, the diodes (dual-triodes really) are actually the preamp tubes, and the main power tubes are what you would call a beam power tube, or 'power pentodes', such as the 6l6, el84 and the less used, but still very interesting, tetrode KT66.

phantoms · #14 10-15-2006, 01:24 PM

More links to kits

http://www.allenamps.com/
http://www.guytronix.com/
http://www.ax84.com/

The last one also has a forum dedicated to building the amps (several models) with discussions of modifications, how things work, etc.

Demiurge · #15 10-15-2006, 02:31 PM

Dammit, now I'm totally GAS-ing for one of those low-wattage amp kits from guytronix. Living in an apartment and playing through headphones sucks... this might make aleviate that.