Hey guys! I'm new to the forum. I've been building small solid state circuits for a while now. I.e. preamps, overdrive, fuzz, etc. Recently I got to use a 5 watt tube amp that belongs to friend. I absolutely love the sound of that thing when its turned up to 11. Currently I have a 15watt tube amp and it sounds great turned up but in my small studio it will make your ears bleed. After pricing some good small amps and some high end ones and then recovering from the sticker shock. I started researching some schematics and pricing quality parts. In the process I found this forum. There seems seems to be a lot of very knowledgeable people on here. I would like some suggestions for a first time tube build. I don't want to use tubes or transformers that aren't available new. I don't have the kind of free time that allows for hunting discontinued parts. I've looked at a bunch of kits and don't really care for them either. Most of them are PCB and the ones that aren't are very expensive. I know there are probably threads on here already but I can't get the search feature to work so.... Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Keep in mind that I am new to tube builds. I am trying to learn as much as I can before I attempt to build anything. I was thinking about something with maybe a 12ax7 pre and an el84 power tube. I've found a couple that are fairly simple but have to many knobs. I want something that has very simple controls. No pre gain and I'm not concerned with a complex Tone circuit. I would like something that is very open and lets the natural Tone of the guitar shine through. Also take into consideration that I will most likely run fx pedals through the amp. Nothing crazy just delay, chorus and a wah. Possibly a booster to push the amp a little. I guess I have rambles on enough. Sorry for the length of this post. Thanks again for any help you can provide.
This one is a popular "first time build" another option is to clone a Fender Champ. There is a thread currently running here on the Champ.
AX84.com - The Cooperative Tube Guitar Amp Project
AX84.com - The Cooperative Tube Guitar Amp Project
The (Gibson) Kalamazoo Model 1 was a simple 12AX7 EL84 amp, so you could add that to your list.
If the budget is a concern, getting your hands on a newer amp like a ValveJr or Champion600 or Blackheart might be a direction to consider. They are all PCB amps, of course, but you could use something like that as the basis for experiments or a rebuild.
If the budget is a concern, getting your hands on a newer amp like a ValveJr or Champion600 or Blackheart might be a direction to consider. They are all PCB amps, of course, but you could use something like that as the basis for experiments or a rebuild.
Which 5-watt amp did you play that you liked?
Which small amp kits did you check out? If you are buying all new parts (and paying shipping from different suppliers) I think it will be tough to beat the price for some of the kits which use eyelet or turret boards (vs PCBs). It sounds like your time is valuable as well, so that could be a contributor.
It depends on how much you like chassis work as well as how 'professional' you want the result to look, I guess. One strategy I've used for a couple of projects is to gut a cheap ss practice amp combo and build a tube amp, but it helps to pick a 'victim' that has a decent chassis (i.e. not a Fender Frontman! 🙂 ).
BTW, for a first tube amp project, I wouldn't spend money on 'boutique' parts.
Thanks for the tips guys. I've been looking at the AX84 projects. I think that might be the one I do. I will also check out the Gibson. I've had the pleasure of playing a couple old Gibson amps years ago. They were pretty good. The 5 watt amp I used was an Ampeg... I think. Wouldn't swear to it under oath!! LOL. I order bits like caps and resistors all the time. About the only things I will have to go out of my way to order will be the turret board and the transformers. I've been looking at the Classic Tone transformers. They seem to be the best bang for the buck. I have tubes laying around for the build. They won't do for the finished product but they will do for making sure it works. Not sure what they are. I took them out of my AC15C1 the brand name is China. Yuck.. But they are expendable so perfect for experimentation. Thanks again for the help. I will take any advice or lessons you guys are willing to give. References to learning material would be cool too. Books, videos, etc.
Also sorry for reposting this. I thought I messed up when it never showed up where I tried to put it.
I haven't used ClassicTone transformers but they look like good value.
I have used transformers from MusicalPowerSupplies and have been pleased with the results- Matt is a good honest guy to deal with.
I have used transformers from MusicalPowerSupplies and have been pleased with the results- Matt is a good honest guy to deal with.
Ditto, although I haven't tried any of his new stuff since we both left Florida. I believe the ones I got were made in one of the Caribbean islands, Haiti or Dominican Republic maybe, but I could be wrong. They were not marked and those amps are long gone. Transformers were very good for the price, which has gone up over the years, but what hasn't?
I have used classictone and was very happy with the product, quality seems good they are quiet and don't get too hot.
I am in the process of retrograding a Univox U65RN into a tube amp. If you can find an older SS amp you have a good chance that there will be a decent chassis to work with. Mine was acquired curbside for free, and although I got the SS amp working (change AC cord , resoldered some jack connections etc..the amp did not sound great to my ears.One strategy I've used for a couple of projects is to gut a cheap ss practice amp combo and build a tube amp, but it helps to pick a 'victim' that has a decent chassis (i.e. not a Fender Frontman!)
The enclosure is fairly solid and it's sized for a 12" speaker. That was a great bonus.
I'm probably going to do something similar. I have an old peavey 12" combo amp. Has a good chassis. Seems like a good candidate to be a donor. Those amps sounded bad new so I won't miss it when it's gone.
Thinking of it as giving the amp a new life, I think they refer to it as up-cycling. The speaker I've got for mine is an old reconed Jensen (US made) that I got for 50 bucks from a local guy I know. .
Those Peaveys are pretty solid, so good choice there. Once you start dry fitting out the transformers and drilling out the tube socket holes..well it's beginning of a new life.
There is a thread on this forum where someone converted a Fender Frontman to a Micro-Bassman..and my hat goes off for that one. Too cool.
Those Peaveys are pretty solid, so good choice there. Once you start dry fitting out the transformers and drilling out the tube socket holes..well it's beginning of a new life.
There is a thread on this forum where someone converted a Fender Frontman to a Micro-Bassman..and my hat goes off for that one. Too cool.
Perhaps we can start a new fashion trend! EDIT: And I should have started a new thread instead of derailing this one! Sorry!
That would be me- I think - thanks for the kind words!🙂
(I don't enjoy building cabs very much...😀)
I've done three of those conversions this fall:
Frontman to micro-Bassman
Traynor GM15 ss practice amp to ADA Rocket
Fender Champion 110 to Cornford Hurricane
Of the three, the Traynor had the best chassis - a nice solid chassis with a flat bottom. The Frontman chassis was useless; had to bend a new one.
The Champion 110 had a deep back/shallow front chassis with a sloping bottom, so I needed to add a fan to keep the hot air from collecting underneath. It's still a 'work in progress' so no faceplate till I decide to stop adding gizmos and switches.
Sorry to digress...back to the main topic of conversation!
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Well VictoriaGuy, you have certainly been busy in the shop!! Kudos!
Agree that this whole topic of conversion could be a really interesting one.
I hope Keith811 can post some pictures as this progresses. I have some photos that I will get up on another thread once I have a little more progress to show.
Agree that this whole topic of conversion could be a really interesting one.
I hope Keith811 can post some pictures as this progresses. I have some photos that I will get up on another thread once I have a little more progress to show.
I will post pictures. If I ever get to start on it! LoL. All my free time is going into studio work at the moment. To make everything worse. I had to cancel a studio session this week because my nurse wife brought the plague home to me! So now I'm sick as heck and still have to work 6 days a week. Peace guys. Thanks for all the help and advice
Keith-
Get well soon!
Projects are more fun when there's not a lot of pressure or deadlines...so come back in 2016 to chat about your progress!
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