I did it. My new amp lives!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Milnoque
  • Start date Start date
Milnoque

Milnoque

Resident Curmudgeon
So I just finished building a TC-15 Amplifier kit. IT LIVES!!!

It was something I had wanted do do since forever. I've got some tweaking to do, but the cleans are very tasty. You can dial up an amazing variety rich harmonic voices. Something is sounding harsh when I crank it up. I'll have to figure that out. Please have a cold one for me tonight and help me celebrate.
 
Awesome. Bet it sounds that much better knowing you built it yourself, too. Is this your first amp build or just the first one in this category? Building an amp is on my long-term list of things to do, but it'll be a long time before I get there. Pics? Recordings?
 
Thanks DanW, I was beginning to think no-one cared.

It's my first build. It's a 15 watter with a pair of EL84s It has two channels one's based on the Vox AC-30 top boost. The other is Matchless DC-30 based. Channel 1 with the EF86 preamp tube has some issues, but channel 2 sounds amazing. The cleans are warm, organic and expressive with excellent interactive tone controls that sound good wherever you put them.

The design is by Trinity Amplifiers. The instructions that came with the kit weren't exactly paint-by-numbers, but they were plenty clear enough that if you pay attention and take your time you don't have to have any prior experience.

Go for it when you can.

Now I need to build a cabinet for it.

I'll see if I can get some pix in the next couple of days. I still haven't mastered getting sound clips that sound like what's coming out of the amp.
 
thats excellent...congrats...have two beers for yourself and i'll have 3 for you...thats about a 6 pack....maybe someone else can have a beer for you too.

yeah pics... where's the pics? :D
 
We'll see if this works
 

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AWESOME!!!

That's very cool ...... I've long wanted to do one.
How much was it?

I almost decided to build several amps instead of spending the money on my Mark V. I'm not sorry I got the V 'cause it's a killer amp but I still would like to build one.
When you build the cab for that head make sure you put lots of colored leds and shit in it.
:)
 
Lt. Bob said:
AWESOME!!!

That's very cool ...... I've long wanted to do one.
How much was it?

I almost decided to build several amps instead of spending the money on my Mark V. I'm not sorry I got the V 'cause it's a killer amp but I still would like to build one.
When you build the cab for that head make sure you put lots of colored leds and shit in it.
:)
Click to expand...

The kit from Trinity was $550 shipped. That included everything necessary to build the amp but the tubes. They have a variety of models available. All include SOZO and mallory caps and other very high quality components. The trannies are by Heyboer (they are sold separately but the $550 includes them. The company is great to work with.

There arre several companies out there selling amp kits. I've heard good things about Ceriatone, but their kits come with pre-assembled tag boards. I wanted to do my own.

Do this Lt. It was very satisfying.
 
Seriously cool, man. How much prior soldering experience did you have? I've always sort of wanted to try this, but I'm incompetent with a soldering iron. :D
 
Congrats man! Looks awesome. Can't wait to hear the clips.

I'm in the middle of building my first one too - a Marshall 18-watt clone. I took a break after our first child was born, but now that he's much easier to handle, I'm getting ready to get it back on the bench and finish it.

By the way, I'm building my cabinets by myself too from scratch, and that's what took me forever. The electronics stuff is simple by comparison (IMO).

However, that could be because I'm still a bit of a novice when it comes to woodworking, and, because of a lack of tools, I had to do the finger joints in the cabinet the old school method --- with a jigsaw and a chisel! Took me a loooooong time. :)
 
DrewPeterson7 said:
Seriously cool, man. How much prior soldering experience did you have? I've always sort of wanted to try this, but I'm incompetent with a soldering iron. :D
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You probably just need a better iron and some practice. If I can do it anybody can.
 
famous beagle said:
Congrats man! Looks awesome. Can't wait to hear the clips.

I'm in the middle of building my first one too - a Marshall 18-watt clone. I took a break after our first child was born, but now that he's much easier to handle, I'm getting ready to get it back on the bench and finish it.

By the way, I'm building my cabinets by myself too from scratch, and that's what took me forever. The electronics stuff is simple by comparison (IMO).

However, that could be because I'm still a bit of a novice when it comes to woodworking, and, because of a lack of tools, I had to do the finger joints in the cabinet the old school method --- with a jigsaw and a chisel! Took me a loooooong time. :)
Click to expand...

Have you got a table saw?
 
I've got the problem with channel 2 sorted out. Sucker knows how to SCREAM!!!. I'm gonna have to learn how to play the guitar now.:D
 
Milnoque said:
I've got the problem with channel 2 sorted out. Sucker knows how to SCREAM!!!. I'm gonna have to learn how to play the guitar now.:D
Click to expand...

Haha, why start now? :D

Clips! We want clips!
 
Very nice. Building an amp is on my list of projects so that I can have all my DIY pedals going into a DIY amp :) I'd really like to build a Mesa clone, but I hear they are very strict about that sort of thing, so I might do a Marshall instead. I already have a Fender amp, so I don't have much need for another one of those. I want something METAL :D
 
thebigcheese said:
Very nice. Building an amp is on my list of projects so that I can have all my DIY pedals going into a DIY amp :) I'd really like to build a Mesa clone, but I hear they are very strict about that sort of thing, so I might do a Marshall instead. I already have a Fender amp, so I don't have much need for another one of those. I want something METAL :D
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Be advised that the 18 watt clones, while they have a great marshall sound, don't have "that" marshall sound. Try looking at Ceriatone. They have a variety of models. One of them might be the ticket. At least it might get you started.

Be also advised that I have no clue how to get a good metal tone. I've never tried.

I shred very very slowly.
 
Well, I'm not very good at shredding, either, I just like the sound. All things considered, I could just buy a Marshall 15w amp for about $600, so I'm not sure why I would bother building one. I wish I could find some schematics for a Mesa 5:25, which might be more the tone I want.
 
I've never tried a trainwreck but Cieratone has a clone. Maybe someone has an opinion about the suitability for metal tones. I know they had a bunch of gain stages.
 
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