Building Tube Amp

  • Thread starter Thread starter ibanezrocks
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ibanezrocks

ibanezrocks

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I'm planning on building my own tube amp, I was thinking of a Marshall Plexi... might be a challenge, but oh well I have the next 5 months of working an hour a day, 5 days a week to build something. I have a couple of pages on how to build one like this and that.

Has anyone else here took on a project like this or does anyone have any advice, things I should look out for to avoid it breaking or killing me, etc?

Also, are the tube sockets (where the tubes plug into, whatever theyre called) easy to buy? how about the transformers?

If this works, I'm gonna get back on this thread in a couple months, and brag my ass off.
 
Talk with Thatupstateguy who is building small recording amps. Check them out in the Cave jamfest thread. Sweet - military tubes and all that stuff.
 
The Marshall dual volume circuits, esp the 1987/1959, are the sound of rock IMO. Stick a post PI master volume on them a la Orange and you'll wonder why you ever liked a Crate. :D

ax84.com for info re building, the November project is a modded 1987 circuit. Sockets and trannys from metroamp.com, tubesandmore.com, angela.com, hoffmanamps.com, and others. DNK if you have to do some fancy stuff d/t being in Canada but there are some Canadian builders on ax84. And of course the Pete Traynor of today, James Peters, at petersamps.com may know where you can get stuff inside Canada.

Go for it! And live to tell about it!
 
ibanezrocks said:
I'm planning on building my own tube amp, I was thinking of a Marshall Plexi... might be a challenge, but oh well I have the next 5 months of working an hour a day, 5 days a week to build something. I have a couple of pages on how to build one like this and that.

Has anyone else here took on a project like this or does anyone have any advice, things I should look out for to avoid it breaking or killing me, etc?

Also, are the tube sockets (where the tubes plug into, whatever theyre called) easy to buy? how about the transformers?

If this works, I'm gonna get back on this thread in a couple months, and brag my ass off.
Click to expand...

I have been looking at building myself JCM800 2203 but I am gonna hold off until I get a bit more proficient with my skills. I still don't know exactly why some things do what they do in the circuits. I really want to be able to add and subract what I like and don't like about amps.
 
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http://www.18watt.com/

go there, im a member there, theres a lot of people buiding them, expermenting etc. should get a lot of help and schematics there. good luck
 
Here is a man in his 80's, Gar Gilles, who still builds amps and other things. He's a legend in Canada and he has a book for sale you can buy online here

http://www.garnetamps.com/


I'm waiting for my Garnet Herzog the arrive from Winnepeg. It's paid for and should get it soon.

Snoop around that web site. It's a fascinating story of the guy who built Canadian Fender Twins better than Fender in the 60's.

Dave
 
dude!!

I am going to start this project also within the next few weeks. Mine will be a bit more complicated but it all falling into place now. I found that the markhuss.com site was pretty inspiring. He's got a pretty good thing going there.... his plexi even had a tube rectifier.

I've also found that Angela instruments has some pretty good prices Hammond transformers. I guess if money is not a problem for you you could go all out and get the marshall spec replacement tranformers. I am poor and so I need to save everywhere I can!!

I just finshed reading Dan Torres's "Inside tube amps" and its was really helful for learning what kind of components to put in an amp.

Are going to but a kit and throw it all together or will you be choosing your components one by one?

Good luck with your project... maybe we'll have to compare sound clips in a few weeks....
 
Are going to but a kit and throw it all together or will you be choosing your components one by one?
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I'll be choosing my components one by one, I have plenty of time for that, and I might be able to get the parts fairly cheap as I'm building this at school and they usually cover about 50% of the costs of extra parts (anything they dont already have, like the transformers and tubes) and although I'm not completely sure as to what each part of the circuits will do to the sound, I'll be learning about it as I go, and I have built a lot of other non-guitar projects so I should be able to build it really fast once I get all the parts.
 
gusfinley said:
I've also found that Angela instruments has some pretty good prices Hammond transformers. I guess if money is not a problem for you you could go all out and get the marshall spec replacement tranformers. I am poor and so I need to save everywhere I can!!
Click to expand...

Hammond trannys sound good but Heyboers sound better and are still a lot less expensive than the MM trannys. OEI are also a good choice. I'd get the Heyboers from metroamp.com if you can.

C
 
Triad Electronics also has lots of stuff, as does Torres engineering,.... he has kits as well,... and I buy stuff from Mojotone too,....

I also buy from some venders on Ebay that are regular sellers, and have lots of bargains if you know what to look for,... got some good deals on Grill Cloth, and Tolex that way....

Mojotone also has a surplus bargain bin area,.. and another good source is Antique Electronic Supply,....


Good luck,... and be sure to post some photos when you are done....


Steve
 
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The Herzog has landed!! I picked it up an hour ago.

http://www.garnetamps.com/photos/other/H3_01.jpg

This is the exact same one. Built by Gar himself in 2004. It's signed by Gar on the inside.

She will be with me at JamFest!

This thing will blow you away with tone and power.

I'm in love again!

I would have loved to get a homebuilt amp from you Steve but this was a chance I could not pass up. It cost me 415.00 all together with shipping from Winnepeg.

Dave
 
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