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Oskar
Joined: Jul 29, 2004 Posts: 1751 Location: Norway
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Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 4:54 am Post subject:
Build yer own Guitar Amp? Pros and cons, please! |
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An avid reader of guitar porn, I've noticed there's been an increase in self build amp kits out there, especially Torres Amps and Ceriatone. There are surely others too. SO, anyone have experience assembling one of these? Pros? Cons? Dos? Don'ts? _________________ Where there are too many policemen, there is no liberty. Where there are too many soldiers, there is no peace. Where there are too many lawyers, there is no justice.
Lin Yutang (1895-1976) |
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Stream Operator
Joined: Oct 13, 2007 Posts: 6221 Location: near Austin, Tx, USA
Audio files: 267
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Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:04 am Post subject:
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I say make your own tubes, like in that "extreme DIY" thread that went around a few months ago. but don't just make any tubes, make giant three-foot diameter tubes that heat up your house and blast your speakers to smithereens!
Haha, am I crazy? Oh yeah, I'm a certified loon. I forgot. _________________ "Let's make noise for peace." - Kijjaz |
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Oskar
Joined: Jul 29, 2004 Posts: 1751 Location: Norway
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andrewF
Joined: Dec 29, 2006 Posts: 1176 Location: australia
Audio files: 4
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Oskar
Joined: Jul 29, 2004 Posts: 1751 Location: Norway
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:02 am Post subject:
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Thanks, Andrew! I was thinking mostly about kits where the parts have been selected and tested for you, so you only need to worry about making a nice cabinet and suchlike. _________________ Where there are too many policemen, there is no liberty. Where there are too many soldiers, there is no peace. Where there are too many lawyers, there is no justice.
Lin Yutang (1895-1976) |
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andrewF
Joined: Dec 29, 2006 Posts: 1176 Location: australia
Audio files: 4
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:06 am Post subject:
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Good idea - the cabinet and such can be the hardest job!
just a suggestion, but have a look at this one -
bass amp
i scored the carcass of an old radio at a junk sale, bit of sanding and some oil, it came up ok. The speaker cloth is an old shirt from my rag pile
Its actually just a tube pre-amp and a SS power amp, but am planning to build this cct into it -
economical tube amp
the beauty of this amp is the transformer is just $12 from Altronics and 6CM5 tubes are not so pouplar = cheap.
Have already built a stereo version and it works very well.
anyway, hope it all turns out loud and sweet. |
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Oskar
Joined: Jul 29, 2004 Posts: 1751 Location: Norway
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:39 am Post subject:
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Andrew, that's KEWL! _________________ Where there are too many policemen, there is no liberty. Where there are too many soldiers, there is no peace. Where there are too many lawyers, there is no justice.
Lin Yutang (1895-1976) |
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seraph
Editor
Joined: Jun 21, 2003 Posts: 12398 Location: Firenze, Italy
Audio files: 33
G2 patch files: 2
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:47 am Post subject:
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andrewF wrote: | trannies are the biggest expense |
please, elaborate _________________ homepage - blog - forum - youtube
Quote: | Don't die with your music still in you - Wayne Dyer |
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Oskar
Joined: Jul 29, 2004 Posts: 1751 Location: Norway
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 5:19 am Post subject:
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seraph wrote: | andrewF wrote: | trannies are the biggest expense |
please, elaborate |
Isuppose he's not talking about Eddie Izzard, us plank spankers call transistorised guitar amplifiers "trannies!" _________________ Where there are too many policemen, there is no liberty. Where there are too many soldiers, there is no peace. Where there are too many lawyers, there is no justice.
Lin Yutang (1895-1976) |
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andrewF
Joined: Dec 29, 2006 Posts: 1176 Location: australia
Audio files: 4
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 5:31 am Post subject:
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ah
sorry, i shouldn't lapse into slang so easily, might give people the wrong idea.
when talking about tube amps
trannies=transformers
when talking about synths
trannies=transistors
otherwise...
try again-
output transformers are often the most expensive component on a tube amp. |
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seraph
Editor
Joined: Jun 21, 2003 Posts: 12398 Location: Firenze, Italy
Audio files: 33
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:11 am Post subject:
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andrewF wrote: |
try again-
output transformers are often the most expensive component on a tube amp. |
now it sounds better _________________ homepage - blog - forum - youtube
Quote: | Don't die with your music still in you - Wayne Dyer |
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DrJustice
Joined: Sep 13, 2004 Posts: 2114 Location: Morokulien
Audio files: 4
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:22 am Post subject:
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More tube amp kits here.
DJ
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seraph
Editor
Joined: Jun 21, 2003 Posts: 12398 Location: Firenze, Italy
Audio files: 33
G2 patch files: 2
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:25 am Post subject:
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...I had always wondered about a signature file of someone here saying something like "it took me a long time before finding a tranny I liked".
Was it a transformer or a transistor he was talking about
_________________ homepage - blog - forum - youtube
Quote: | Don't die with your music still in you - Wayne Dyer |
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BobTheDog
Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 4044 Location: England
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DrJustice
Joined: Sep 13, 2004 Posts: 2114 Location: Morokulien
Audio files: 4
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 11:32 am Post subject:
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That's plainly indecent Andy
I want one now... Too bad it costs as much as a classical sports car.
As for who's the softies - well, certainly not those who build their own amps
DJ
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DrJustice
Joined: Sep 13, 2004 Posts: 2114 Location: Morokulien
Audio files: 4
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 11:48 am Post subject:
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Right, back the OT so as to encourage Oskar to just get on with it. I haven't assembled a guitar amp kit, but I've burnt my fingers enough times on soldering irons (heck, I've even had an iron through my hand...) to have opinions on electronics kits
It'll be fun! You'll be very, very proud! You'll dig that amp more than any other! It may be a bit cheaper than a similar ready built one.
It may not work in the end...
Nah, just kidding, of course it'll work. You're a smart guy, and building an amp will be peanuts.
Do use proper tools, i.e. a good soldering station. If you're not somewhat experienced in soldering, get a mate who is to show you the ropes.
Don't build a solid state amp - it's gotta be tubes! Of course, you wouldn't consider anything else, eh?
DJ
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Boogdish
Joined: Sep 21, 2009 Posts: 122 Location: Bloomington, IN
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject:
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I work for a company that sells amp kits. My advice to you is to not lose the little tiny screws and then call back next week complaining about how you didn't receive any .
Seriously though, tube amps are a joy to build and work on. Working with high voltages WILL make you feel like a tough guy. Go build a kit. |
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DrJustice
Joined: Sep 13, 2004 Posts: 2114 Location: Morokulien
Audio files: 4
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 2:04 pm Post subject:
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Just adding a link to one more amp kit supplier: Amp Maker
DJ
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