I know this is a broad question...

[pinkphiloyd]

...but, what are the things you look for, or, what do you think of when you think of a really well built amp. If you were going to build the ultimate, absolute highest quality amp you could possibly build, how would you go about it? Stuff like, you know, grid stoppers directly on tube sockets; over spec'd, tight tolerance resistors, etc. etc.

[labb]

This is a good question. I think it will have to do with how you define "Well Built'. Take a look inside an old Rickenbacker M11 or Fender 5B3. Looks like a rats nest but those are great amps. The old CC resistors were probably +/- what ever according to how long they has been on the shelf.

[Markusv]

I am like a kid among giants here (given my non- technical background) but FWIW

- Get really great transformers first
-Use a great platform to build In , and On.- Meaning that the chassis has to be well constructed, and have enough room to work in. And use a nice and sturdy board for your components
-DO NOT skimp or save on Switches, jacks and plugs Get high quality
-Plan your layout so you use the shortest possible wire runs
-Buy great coupling capacitors
-Buy Good 2 watt MF resistors for your Plate resistors
-Place variable resistors in critical places and tweak values if you want until happy with your sound. Then replace with the proper values
- Work neatly, methodically and keep your wire runs tidy. It just looks better and you love it very time you look at it

Budget for a great set of tubes

Budget for a great enclosure and get your faceplates done professionally unless you are one of those lucky bastards who can do it themselves

My 2 cents (Canadian)

Markus

[diagrammatiks]

are we talking about no budget?

i think there's a distinction between what could be a no budget ultimate amp and what would be considered a well built amp.

are you referring specifically to mechanical stability?

[David Root]

MarkusV, pretty solid advice! I would only quibble about the 2W MF plate resistors, I think that depends on the circuit, both wattage and type.

[Markusv]

MarkusV, pretty solid advice! I would only quibble about the 2W MF plate resistors, I think that depends on the circuit, both wattage and type.

True David

I have had success with them in some noisier builds but then amps have been built throughout the years with other ratings and types

Wish to expand on your preferences?
What/ Where?

Markus V

[selloutrr]

wouldn't the ultimate amp just be anything that captures the artist or the creators master vision? The means of how it's achived don't really matter. Think about Dumble and TW for a second both highly regarded amp names but rather shotty craftsmanship when put along side a Hiwatt.
Naturally we are going to say over spec it build it like a tank only use the best .. but sonically for certain things the best is not always the best.
Keep in mind we are a very select few who actually look inside these boxes of noise and pass judgement on the builder. So if the amp works and makes the client happy - grinning ear to ear it's the Ultimate build

[dreric]

...but, what are the things you look for, or, what do you think of when you think of a really well built amp. If you were going to build the ultimate, absolute highest quality amp you could possibly build, how would you go about it? Stuff like, you know, grid stoppers directly on tube sockets; over spec'd, tight tolerance resistors, etc. etc.

In my mind we are building amps based on a known entity. How would you make the highest quality Fender, Marshall, Dumble trainwreck etc. ect. Every change in component selection is a deviation away from the standard. Some deviation may only be the quality of the components but other derivations have sonic consequences; some good some not good. The sum of the sum parts makes the whole.

A 63" Strat was either swamp ash (the lower 10' of trees used to make telephone poles) or alder (noted for its use in handles of kitchen tools). One could say that a mahogany body, maple cap, ash or tropicals are of higher quality................ but they don't sound like a Strat.

Eric

[Gibsonman63]

Tubes are vastly underrated by most. I know a couple of guys who wouldn't think twice about dropping a couple of grand on another amp, but balk at the idea of spending $400 on tubes.

Another feature of quality missed on a lot of mass produced amplifiers is properly mounting filter caps. Hot glue does not survive the rigors of gigging for long.

[Structo]

Simply buy the best parts you can find.
Take your time to source them and try to source them from as few places as possible to save on shipping costs.

As far as technique goes that is something that is learned but you can certainly use pictures of other builds as guides.

Take a look at member Ultrahookedonphonix's Overdrive Special clone to see some of the best construction on this forum.

[M Fowler]

To me the less knobs and switches I use in an amp the better I seem to enjoy the tone

Sometimes less is best.

Mark

[Phil_S]

Great tone does not necessarily come from a well built amp. Yes, I think a good build is important. Just don't lose focus on the thing that counts most.

[C Moore]

It is all over the map.
Steve Carr builds a real nice amp, but PTP is/can be a PITA to deal with.
Doug Roccaforte amps (the three I have been inside of) look like he follows the Harry Joyce school of building.
Mike Soldano (and I would imagine Andy Fuchs) make PCB a thing of sturdy beauty.
Leo Fender built amps that were in use for decades. Hard to argue about the "quality" of a well built Tweed or BF Fender.
In the end, I think it is hard to beat single turrets on a good piece of fiber glass that is secured to a heavy gage steel or aluminum chassis, and that secured to a well made "Birch Ply" cabinet.
If they are available in all the "right" values, I think I would consider those (correct me if I have this wrong) Two Watt potentiometers made with conductive plastic.
I have always had a hard time choosing between those "mil-spec" Switchcraft Jacks and the "real" Cliff Jacks.
But I am pretty new to all this stuff........probably a lot I have not even considered perhaps.....
Best

[rp]

In my experiments I've found over-built over-spec'd amps don't sound that great, but I'm an idiot-savant and not an engineer and have a long way to go. Still, an amp can be too tight too clear too punchy, or do everything right and just sound wrong. Reliability is an other matter, it should always be rock solid and easy to repair but that's true of anything people make. Life is short, you're only as good as your work and then you're gone. And, we are smothering the life out of the planet with disposable crap. I appreciate the work of pros building extremely over engineered over spec'd amps but I think they are just looking for a tony marketing niche. Nobody needs an amp that will survive WW3.

Building for yourself parts costs aren't a big deal, caps, resistors are mostly a matter of flavors, whether cheap or expensive anything modern will be equally good sounding and reliable. I intentionally shy away from MM tranies as hype (you think they know something Edcor or Heyboer doesn't?) I'll try Sozos only because I like the warm dirty sound of old caps and my stash of old caps is fading, I wish I could afford all PECs over Alphas but if an Alpha fails in 5 years I'll just swap it out.

NOS tubes are real important. Getting the voltages right is real important. The right OT is real important (fancy can be good fancy can be bad you just got to try it and see). A solid chassis that doesn't need wood sticks and cleats to hold it up is real important, glad there are now alternatives to Bud and Hammond alu boxes. The rest is all seasoning on the steak.

[diagrammatiks]

historically, guitar amps never really used any real high end components anyway.

most of the circuits that made it to schematic form simply sounded good after trial and error.

if you look at catalogs from the time periods of most of the famous amps...the things they used were never higher then the top of the lower or middle of the middle tier of supplier selection.