Amp build discussion

[gtr2]

To all the DIY amp heads out there.

I've been really tempted to buy the TC-15 kit from Trinity.  My problem is that by the time you buy the kit, transformers, tubes, and premade cab + speaker for the thing you're about up to 1k.  You can buy a pretty nice finished amp for that kind of money.  I've been looking at the morgan 10PM, but they are pretty much non-existent on the used market.  I've got my heart set on the voxy brit sound and have the DIY itch.

Any ways to save money?  Obviously building a DIY cab would save money.  But I'm not sure I can tolex the thing to be presentable.  I'm horrible at wrapping Christmas presents for example....  I've also never built a cab.  I've got some skills with woodworking but nothing to write home about.    Trinity also recommends the tone tubby speakers with there stuff which is obviously an expensive choice as well.

Thoughts?

Josh

[sam_c]

I made an ampmaker kit, it looks like Barry isnt stocking them on his website at the moment but its a great amp with a nice crunch to it. I got an old laney 1x12 cab and recovered it.  Was much easier and less expensive than building my own cab.  I will upgrade the driver eventually but that is low down on my priority list ath the moment.

Heres sort of a build thread I did...
http://simnettguitars.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2345.msg16575#msg16575

and a youtube demo I did before I boxed it all up and debadged the cab....

[raulduke]

I'm currently building an Se5a.

I have already built the Ampmaker Champ clone and its a fine amp; my go to in fact.

I would highly recommend them... when they start selling kits again that is.

I am also highly tempted by one of these with a matching cab though: http://magazine.dv247.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/orange-or15.jpg

[timbo_93631]

The first amp I built from scratch was a GDS 18 watt kit ($770) with a Mojotone 18 watt cab ($325) and a Weber C1230 ($120).  That was just over $1200, and I sold it for $900 plus shipping on ebay, not the best deal but I did learn alot in the process.  Some of the key points:

1.  Don't buy a kit, especially one that is overpriced because it contains "instructions".  If you can read a pedal schematic you can read an amp schematic.  By sourcing your own parts you can save a ton of dough.

2.  Don't build an 18 watt derivative two channel combo.  All the tone you are looking for can be found in a single channel/18 watt Lite.

3.  If you are looking for a more "Voxy" chimey tone replace the 470k resistors between the phase inverter and power tubes with 220k's.

If I were to build another 18 wattish amp I'd build from the schematic below.
I'd use this iron:
http://triodeelectronics.com/trbufor18wma.html
The 12.5"x8"x2.5" blank chassis with outward lip:
http://turretboards.com/
I'd build my own turret board, head cab, and do my own faceplate the way we do pedal graphics/labels.  I'd source all my own components, Mallory 150's and F&T Electrolytics.  I'd buy a nice pre built 2x12 cab from Mojotone and get some WGS 12's.
Something like that would cost more like:
Homeade head cab:  $75
Chassis:                   $40
Transformers:         $130
Components:           $75
Tubes:                    $70
Speaker Cab:         $350
Speakers:              $150
Total:                    $865
It is obvious that you could really get a great savings by scoring a nice 2x12 with some decent speakers off of ebay or craigslist.

[slimtriggers]

If you haven't already, sign up over here:

http://www.wattkins.com/

There is a TON of info there.  I built an 18 watt "Baby Will" Valve Jr. conversion for maybe $250.  I had an old solid state combo amp with a Celestion in it that I now use for the speaker cab.  Maybe it doesn't look as posh as the pro stuff, but it sounds great and I got the experience of building my own amp

[jubal81]

I was in the exact same spot a couple months ago.
I ended up buying a Winfield Cyclone (EF86, 15-18watts) for $900.
http://www.rainbowguitars.com/guitar/winnfield/pcyclone-amplifier-head-blonde-p/cycloneblonde/wf

Another DIY option to look at is the Ceriatone Creme Brûlée (18 watt version of DC-30).
http://www.ceriatone.com/productSubPages/CremeBrulee/CremeBrulee.htm

[oldhousescott]

The least expensive kits are from Weber. At one time, their switches and jacks were substandard, but they've upgraded to Carlings and Neutriks. Where they cheap out is in the iron. They source their own from Asian mfgs, but you have the option to upgrade to either Heyboer or Mercury Magnetics, so that's not necessarily an issue either, but it does raise the prices a good bit, making the kits not so much of a bargain anymore. I can't speak to the quality of the cabinetry, but their speakers are top notch.

You don't really save money building amps unless you can do a lot of the fabrication yourself. I built about 7 or 8 of them and then realized pedals are much cheaper to build.