Well guys, I got this amp a few months ago, its a great combo, I realy love its digital distortion (maybe) with sounds to spare and its very-very loud if you let go, but I have suffered a couple of bad backs, its a heavy old amp, partly due to the 3/4" MDF cabinette construction, I could put it on wheels but wheels dont work on stairs (most of my gigs).
I have decided to break it into a seperate head and speaker, building in 3/4" plywood, making it lighter and more managable and usable "for me", I have an old 50 watt head and speaker for the meantime.
I will post a few photos later today of the taredown and seperated rebuild if anyone is interested.
Sorry if its boring.
Valvetronics 100.
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Valvetronics 100.
Wheres the fire extinguisher John?
Photos
Heres the stripdown of the Vox 100.
The amp part is pretty small , I measured its outside dimensions (including the preamp tube space) and came up with the inside dimensions of a box that it will fit into.
5-1/4" top to bottom (including space for preamp tube).
19" from side to side - - 7-3/4" front to rear.
The mains transformer is the heaviest part of the amp, at around the same weight as a speaker.
The amp part is pretty small , I measured its outside dimensions (including the preamp tube space) and came up with the inside dimensions of a box that it will fit into.
5-1/4" top to bottom (including space for preamp tube).
19" from side to side - - 7-3/4" front to rear.
The mains transformer is the heaviest part of the amp, at around the same weight as a speaker.
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Wheres the fire extinguisher John?
dimensions of speaker part.
There is a dead 3/4" MDF baffle between the amp section and the speaker partition, it almost airtight.
I measured the speaker area inside in inches (what else is there).
25" from side to side inside. 14-1/2" top to bottom inside. 8-1/2" front to back inside.
Both the speaker centre lines are 1/4" lower than the centreline of the speaker compartment. The 12" speaker holes have a 1-7/8" land between them in the middle.
The whole box is made fro0m 3/4" MDF.
I'll measure the rear openings etc next time I'm in there.
Heres the cut 3/4" ply and the weight is looking good already.
I measured the speaker area inside in inches (what else is there).
25" from side to side inside. 14-1/2" top to bottom inside. 8-1/2" front to back inside.
Both the speaker centre lines are 1/4" lower than the centreline of the speaker compartment. The 12" speaker holes have a 1-7/8" land between them in the middle.
The whole box is made fro0m 3/4" MDF.
I'll measure the rear openings etc next time I'm in there.
Heres the cut 3/4" ply and the weight is looking good already.
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Wheres the fire extinguisher John?
My 18 watter ........
I intend to use this speaker box in conjunction with my home built 18 watter, but at the moment I have a epiphone seperste speaker from the valve junior which is rated (I think) at around 75 watts. I really like the sound of that little speakerbox. The weight is also great for the stairs in out club.
I am butt gluing all my 3/4" ply speaker box pieces together, I will then trim and route all the sides corners etc for a neat looking box, before I glue and screw the internal strengthening pieces.
I am butt gluing all my 3/4" ply speaker box pieces together, I will then trim and route all the sides corners etc for a neat looking box, before I glue and screw the internal strengthening pieces.
Wheres the fire extinguisher John?
The box
Heres some more shots. I always seem to bevel the speaker outside rims, makes the speakers look bigger and maybe spreads the sound wider. and I always fasten the speakers to the front baffle before assembling the box.
ballance all the pieces together to see where it needs more work to make pretty airtight,
Then glue and clamp.
ballance all the pieces together to see where it needs more work to make pretty airtight,
Then glue and clamp.
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Wheres the fire extinguisher John?
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Lonely Raven
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Re: Valvetronics 100.
Looks like a fun project. What roundover are you using on those speaker ports?
Jack of all Trades,
Master of None
Master of None
!/2".
I'm using 1/2" roundover for now, its all gotta be sanded lots still, then I may go for 3/4" roundover. I think the roundover does change the sound a little Raven. I usually "front load" speakers but maybe then I'd lose that "Vox" sorta sound, also I woldn't be able to use the Vox chrome grille on the front.
I will be able to reassemble the whole Vox combo afterwards in case I dont like the seperated outcome.
Thanks for the interest Raven, I know its a strange project but any more tips or interest from anyone, even if you think I'm going crazy??, its all welcome.
I sprained my hand yesterday, so It may be a couple of days before any more instalments arive. I've a gig tomorrow too (ouch).
I will be able to reassemble the whole Vox combo afterwards in case I dont like the seperated outcome.
Thanks for the interest Raven, I know its a strange project but any more tips or interest from anyone, even if you think I'm going crazy??, its all welcome.
I sprained my hand yesterday, so It may be a couple of days before any more instalments arive. I've a gig tomorrow too (ouch).
Wheres the fire extinguisher John?
Bracing.
Hers a shot of the bracing strips going in.
Was gonna screw as well as glue, but decided to just glue, some of the newer glues are so good (it says on the container) that theyre stronger than the wood itself, seeing I'm trying to lower the weight of the thing, I can leave out the screws to save weight, be it only a few ounces.
Was gonna screw as well as glue, but decided to just glue, some of the newer glues are so good (it says on the container) that theyre stronger than the wood itself, seeing I'm trying to lower the weight of the thing, I can leave out the screws to save weight, be it only a few ounces.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Wheres the fire extinguisher John?
Looking good so far.
I have to mention that I used building site exterior ply, which has a few cavities in there, I used a top quality flexible filler where I cut into the odd cavities.
The bracing may take a few days because I use a lot of clamps on every brace, hope the glue works good!
Any recomendations on a finish and I'm not into tolex. Looking at "two pot" resin spray, s'gotta be black though, to match the Vox grille on the front.
I always seem to mess up on the finish, for instance, heres a shot and a closeup of my 18 watter finished box, sorta looks like its "been around" for a while.
The bracing may take a few days because I use a lot of clamps on every brace, hope the glue works good!
Any recomendations on a finish and I'm not into tolex. Looking at "two pot" resin spray, s'gotta be black though, to match the Vox grille on the front.
I always seem to mess up on the finish, for instance, heres a shot and a closeup of my 18 watter finished box, sorta looks like its "been around" for a while.
Wheres the fire extinguisher John?
Looking good so far.
I have to mention that I used building site exterior ply, which has a few cavities in there, I used a top quality flexible filler where I cut into the odd cavities.
The bracing may take a few days because I use a lot of clamps on every brace, hope the glue works good!
Any recomendations on a finish and I'm not into tolex. Looking at "two pot" resin spray, s'gotta be black though, to match the Vox grille on the front.
I always seem to mess up on the finish, for instance, heres a shot of my 18 watter finished box, sorta looks like its "been around" for a while.
The bracing may take a few days because I use a lot of clamps on every brace, hope the glue works good!
Any recomendations on a finish and I'm not into tolex. Looking at "two pot" resin spray, s'gotta be black though, to match the Vox grille on the front.
I always seem to mess up on the finish, for instance, heres a shot of my 18 watter finished box, sorta looks like its "been around" for a while.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Wheres the fire extinguisher John?
Re: Valvetronics 100.
well I suppose you could use a hardwood veneer but the outside corners are usually the hard part.
What I would do and a buddy of mine use on his custom amps was a pickup truck type bed liner paint.
As I recall the stuff was near bullet proof and didn't tear or gouge like tolex but looked similar.
What I would do and a buddy of mine use on his custom amps was a pickup truck type bed liner paint.
As I recall the stuff was near bullet proof and didn't tear or gouge like tolex but looked similar.
Tom
Don't let that smoke out!
Don't let that smoke out!
The business.
That truck bed stuff sounds the business Structo, amps do get a pounding, almost as much as a truck bed. I wonder if I can get the stuff here in Ireland.
Thanks for that!
Thanks for that!
Wheres the fire extinguisher John?
Getting there.
I couldn't get that paint here, maybe didn't look too hard, so I ended up with black board paint, which will match the finish on my 18 watter, which, when I first saw AC/DC live, their beaten but tidy looking Marshalls amps/speakers had that same "outlook" or finish and sounded great back then (highway to Hell).
Tomorrow I will sand the blackboard paint finish to get that look and then pop in the speakers/parrallell jack plugs, also the chrome grille, handles and rubber feet from the doner Vox valvetronic 100 (photos soon). I can do a "real" finish on the box when I have used the speaker/box for a few gigs and decided to "keep" it like this, or not.
I can always re'assemble the amp as it was before I had this god sent idea.
Tomorrow I will sand the blackboard paint finish to get that look and then pop in the speakers/parrallell jack plugs, also the chrome grille, handles and rubber feet from the doner Vox valvetronic 100 (photos soon). I can do a "real" finish on the box when I have used the speaker/box for a few gigs and decided to "keep" it like this, or not.
I can always re'assemble the amp as it was before I had this god sent idea.
Wheres the fire extinguisher John?
Pictures.
Speakers in their new (could be temporary) home.
Chrome corner pieces to match the origional Vox grille.
Chrome corner pieces to match the origional Vox grille.
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Wheres the fire extinguisher John?
front view.
And luckily enough, the Vox grille fitted "almost" perfectly.
The WD 40 is to give some idea of size znd scale.
The WD 40 is to give some idea of size znd scale.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Wheres the fire extinguisher John?