OK guys, where to start?

[Edoardo]

I would say pick an amp you actually like and buy a kit for it. You will make more mistakes with a bigger amp than you will with a Champ, but if you don't want a Champ, that's not much comfort. Why build something you don't want? You'll be stuck with an amp you never play, and you'll be out $500. As long as you start with a kit and ask plenty of questions, you'll eventually get it built, even if you screw up a lot.

I built a couple of little amps I never use, and then I built my bizarre version of a Bassman, which sounds wonderful. It would have been better to start with a Bassman kit or JTM45 kit.

That being said, a friend of mine built a Champ on his first try, and it's a great amp. For people who like that sound.

Funny, I've always dreamt a bassman with some extras. That'd have been my ultimate goal.

[martin manning]

Yeah, I guess Champs are pretty much worthless...
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/lifestyle/p ... orded-521/

[rdjones]

SAFETY FIRST

I guessed an unplugged amp cannot electrocute you but really, if there will be the need of checking anything while the amp is working, I have less than one error at my disposal. "learn over time" is not an option, LOL. Thanks a lot.

This is a very dangerous guess !!!
Once a high voltage electrolytic is formed and charged it can and will hold a charge for a number of hours, even a day or more.
Even in the presence of bleeder resistor(s) specifically designed to discharge the high voltage supply after power off (as per modern electrical safety codes) there may be a residual charge for up to 5 minutes.

reddog

[wyatt]

I think a Champ is a great first amp if you want to experiment and learn how the amp works and not jut how to assemble one. Its relatively few parts make it real easy to learn how to read a schematic and see which component does what.

Amp prices skyrocket if you worry about building clones with period-correct aesthetics. But if you make a head with a blank chassis (with a cage top) like the Hammonds, and skip the Fender chassis, faceplate, cabinet, speaker, etc. you save a ton a cash (and you don't have to deal with the small knuckle-biting tweed chassis). Oh, and avoid the promises (lies) of better tone through more expensive magic parts.

[Structo]

Yes those big electrolytic capacitors can hold a charge for hours to days.

You have your work cut out for you if you have never worked on electronics.

Tube devices are inherently more dangerous that solid state gear because generally SS gear runs down in the 12v range.

But a vacuum tube needs high DC (Direct Current) to operate so that alone makes them dangerous to your heart if you happen to touch something.

The Biggest Rule for working on a live amp is to only use one hand when going in.
Put you other hand in your pocket.
That way if you get shocked, the current won't travel from hand to hand across your chest and heart.

I always recommend Dave Hunter's book for beginners.
He explains things in a way that are easily understood.

And he actually has an amp design you can build in the book.

http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Amplifier- ... eat+Sounds

[Ken Moon]

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to think you're going to save money by building your own tube amp.

You should figure on spending at least $300 for a simple 5-watt amp, and that is without an amp head enclosure or a speaker cabinet and speaker.

A kit is a great way to go for a beginner.

Here is a Champ kit from Triode that would only require that you have a soldering iron ($40 or so) and basic hand tools to build. It is $300 with tubes and a chassis:

http://store.triodestore.com/5f1kit.html

[Phil_S]

Yeah, I guess Champs are pretty much worthless...
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/lifestyle/p ... orded-521/

Oh, just loved the pictures of the boys when they were in their prime! Thanks, Martin.

[sliberty]

In addition to the soldering iron, I recommend the following additional tools:

Solder sucker - a device for removing solder when you decide to redo a solder connection for some reason (comes up often either due to mistakes or just trying to be more neat).

Digital Multimeter - this meter will allow you to read voltage and resistance, and depending upon the model, capacitance, among other things (current, temp, etc.) Comes in handy when you want to measure the value of a resistor or capacitor since you are not that familiar with the codes yet. Also once the amp is running, you will need it to see what sort of voltages your tubes are getting. This will be a key step determining if your amp is working correctly, and also in checking / adjusting the bias of the power tubes. Get a simple one at first. You can go for a higher end meter later on if you decide to. I use a nice Fluke these days, but have used Radio Shack meters in the past, and they were useful.

Angled wire cutters for trimming in tight spaces

Wire strippers

A ratchet screw driver handle with nut driver heads as well as the common slot and philips tips. (A regular handle will do, but the ratchet type will save some wrist energy - my wrist loves me for it).

A cordless hand drill with a good assortment of drill bits. You might not need to do much drilling if you buy a kit since the chassis will already be drilled out, but I would be surprised if you ended up drilling NO holes at all.

There is probably more, but I am sure others will chime in.


BTW - don't be surprised if your initial tools purchase costs half as much as the amp does. But you will use these tools for many amps, so it is worth it.

[The New Steve H]

Yeah, I guess Champs are pretty much worthless...

Yes they are. If you don't want a Champ.

[martin manning]

Yeah, I guess Champs are pretty much worthless...

Yes they are. If you don't want a Champ.

In that case, sell it. I bet you get more than $0. ;^)

[The New Steve H]

In that case, sell it. I bet you get more than $0. ;^)

It's fair to say that while you're building it and trying to find someone who will pay for an amp an unknown person built on his first try, you could have been playing the amp you actually want.

I played the crap out of my 5F6A. When I heard it I put my Fenders and Vox away. They sucked compared to it. Then I played the crap out of the 6BM8 job I built after the 5F6A. My latest amp suits me so well the other two sit and collect dust. It's wonderful to end up with something that's useful for more than learning how to build amps.

The other day I was thinking about it, and I realized that every time I cough up $500 for parts, I end up with an amp the equal of which I could not buy for less than $1500. I wasn't trying to save money, but it does work out well. I am way too cheap to buy a $2000 Marshall head, and I have amps which are as good or better, just like everyone else here.

If the OP can build a Champ, he can build a whole lot of other amps.

[Edoardo]

In addition to the soldering iron, I recommend the following additional tools:

Solder sucker - a device for removing solder when you decide to redo a solder connection for some reason (comes up often either due to mistakes or just trying to be more neat).

Digital Multimeter - this meter will allow you to read voltage and resistance, and depending upon the model, capacitance, among other things (current, temp, etc.) Comes in handy when you want to measure the value of a resistor or capacitor since you are not that familiar with the codes yet. Also once the amp is running, you will need it to see what sort of voltages your tubes are getting. This will be a key step determining if your amp is working correctly, and also in checking / adjusting the bias of the power tubes. Get a simple one at first. You can go for a higher end meter later on if you decide to. I use a nice Fluke these days, but have used Radio Shack meters in the past, and they were useful.

Angled wire cutters for trimming in tight spaces

Wire strippers

A ratchet screw driver handle with nut driver heads as well as the common slot and philips tips. (A regular handle will do, but the ratchet type will save some wrist energy - my wrist loves me for it).

A cordless hand drill with a good assortment of drill bits. You might not need to do much drilling if you buy a kit since the chassis will already be drilled out, but I would be surprised if you ended up drilling NO holes at all.

There is probably more, but I am sure others will chime in.


BTW - don't be surprised if your initial tools purchase costs half as much as the amp does. But you will use these tools for many amps, so it is worth it.

Extremely useful, thanks a lot