I'd like to offer up my best version of the Thomas Mayer design 6CB5A tube amplifier. Below you'll see some finished pics and some from the construction.
This is his final (best) version as he started out just designing a cost effective alternative to a 300B amplifier, to prove a point. This he feels is better than most 300B amplifiers and he is not alone 🙂 Point proven!
I invite you to visit Thomas Mayer's web site: Vinyl Savor. Thomas is a long-time, acknowledged, master builder, active on forums and has a business where he sells his finest builds, seemingly most of them custom per customer. This design he generously gave to we who are learning 🙂. My take on this is not a two box design like most of his commercial builds but a three box, power and two channel chassis. I also like a vertical format that allows one to work on the amp while operational to make sure voltages are correct during construction. Three boxes make for better lifting too. I am getting tired of my former all-in-one builds that weigh enough to challenge a man of 60+ years. I even use handles! I went a little over-the-top in using a bridge of all mercury vapor diodes instead of Thomas' more modest blended approach but under testing I liked the sound of all MV and they are SO darn pretty. I have, of course, added switches to warm up the tubes before turning on the B+.
This amp has strength and finesse like no 300B I have been able to get MY hands on (I built two and bought two, sold them all). AND, I have five sets of output tubes for this honey. No breaking the bank when the time comes for more tubes. Others have courted the strengths of this unique tube. Me, I'd love it for the top cap alone! I have FIVE strong tube amps to listen to and that means FOUR of them must go. I am looking at leaving the country in 25 months.
Good news, bad news: the good news is that I know the market is small and I will probably sell it for less than parts cost - that's the good news to the buyer - the bad news is that I really don't want to ship this and I live at the top end of a peninsula (Traverse City, Michigan).
I WILL in fact ship it and I know how to pack it for shipping, but... I predict it will cost $150 and I will NOT be responsible for what the gorillas and fork lifts do. I would really like someone to come up for a nice visit to a beautiful, wonderful, foody, artsy lake city, take in the sights, hear this amp and take it home with them.
AND of course, I have more where that came from.
Parts price on this amp is $800. Come on up and haggle, or not - I always have a good bottle of wine or scotch that needs opening 🙂
Cheers!
This is his final (best) version as he started out just designing a cost effective alternative to a 300B amplifier, to prove a point. This he feels is better than most 300B amplifiers and he is not alone 🙂 Point proven!
I invite you to visit Thomas Mayer's web site: Vinyl Savor. Thomas is a long-time, acknowledged, master builder, active on forums and has a business where he sells his finest builds, seemingly most of them custom per customer. This design he generously gave to we who are learning 🙂. My take on this is not a two box design like most of his commercial builds but a three box, power and two channel chassis. I also like a vertical format that allows one to work on the amp while operational to make sure voltages are correct during construction. Three boxes make for better lifting too. I am getting tired of my former all-in-one builds that weigh enough to challenge a man of 60+ years. I even use handles! I went a little over-the-top in using a bridge of all mercury vapor diodes instead of Thomas' more modest blended approach but under testing I liked the sound of all MV and they are SO darn pretty. I have, of course, added switches to warm up the tubes before turning on the B+.
This amp has strength and finesse like no 300B I have been able to get MY hands on (I built two and bought two, sold them all). AND, I have five sets of output tubes for this honey. No breaking the bank when the time comes for more tubes. Others have courted the strengths of this unique tube. Me, I'd love it for the top cap alone! I have FIVE strong tube amps to listen to and that means FOUR of them must go. I am looking at leaving the country in 25 months.
Good news, bad news: the good news is that I know the market is small and I will probably sell it for less than parts cost - that's the good news to the buyer - the bad news is that I really don't want to ship this and I live at the top end of a peninsula (Traverse City, Michigan).
I WILL in fact ship it and I know how to pack it for shipping, but... I predict it will cost $150 and I will NOT be responsible for what the gorillas and fork lifts do. I would really like someone to come up for a nice visit to a beautiful, wonderful, foody, artsy lake city, take in the sights, hear this amp and take it home with them.
AND of course, I have more where that came from.
Parts price on this amp is $800. Come on up and haggle, or not - I always have a good bottle of wine or scotch that needs opening 🙂
Cheers!
Beautiful amps! I’m in south central Indiana, but my we’ve considered taking the family to vacation in Michigan. If it happens, I’ll make sure to look you up. I know Traverse City was was on the short list 🙂
Fabulous build. If only you weren’t a large ocean and a few thousand miles away !
Thank you all for the compliments! It means much coming from my fellow builders 🙂
My wife and I hope to retire to Portugal, we’ve got a reconnaissance mission scheduled for May. Ireland and France are also on the short list, but Portugal is the most welcoming 🥰
My wife and I hope to retire to Portugal, we’ve got a reconnaissance mission scheduled for May. Ireland and France are also on the short list, but Portugal is the most welcoming 🥰
Beautiful build! I am very familiar Thomas Mayer's site and draw inspiration from his builds for my own. Definitely check out what each country offers in retirement benefits / health care (which you've probably already done). France is our favorite, followed by Spain. Both have options for us. Next month we are heading to Paris, then down to Lyon to check things out.
Thanks for sharing and offering this amp! I've always enjoyed your builds!
Cheers,
Greg
Thanks for sharing and offering this amp! I've always enjoyed your builds!
Cheers,
Greg
Love the layout. Very smart. Let me know if you are willing to ship it to California. ppease forgive any breaches of netiquette as I am new to DIY.
Hello, I sent a PM about early this morning but I don't think members are notified of PMs so I am posting here.
