Building tube amp

[Jürgen Kraise]

Hi all

I'm new here.

and I’m sorry, if this is a wrong place for this thread.

***

I've decided that i need an amp. But the really good ones are unaffordable. My father, who has really good experience in this, suggested to build an amp for me, by ourselves.

The only thing he asked me to provide - is the schematics.

That's why i'm here!

So, all i need is a schematics for all-valve ~ 50 watt electric guitar amp.

But, what i really want is something like new Fender Ramparte - minimum control and good tone.

I don’t really need something complicated like four channel Marshall with built-in reverb, chorus and delay stuff. I simply will not use all this stuff. Besides, that would me much more difficult for my father to built.

If you can suggest me the model name of any existing "minimalist" models like Fender Ramparte or Epiphone valve junior, but around 50 watts that would be awesome !!! I would look asap for the schematics then. Or just share with me the schematics, that would be even more cool.

Ok, amp must consist of

- Input
- Volume

basically that's all what i need; well, i don’t mind if there are EQ with Phones out as well. But that's not necessary.

Also, it would be nice if you will recommend specific valves and speakers (1×12'') as well.

--- Thanks ---

[labb]

Take a look at the Fender 1959 Bassman 5F6-a schematic. The Godfather of all modern day amps. http://schems.com/manu/fender/bassman_5f6a_schem.pdf

May be a little more than what you are looking for.

[Jürgen Kraise]

Thanks for quick response!

I really like both the look and tone of Bassman, but as you said - that's too much for me.

Maybe the model/(schematics-of) i'm looking for simply doesn’t exist!? Because, if you buy a big amp, i guess, it has to carry all available options built-in.

Honestly, the amp i'm looking for, sounds to me like a big muscle car (dodge charger) with 4 cyl. 1,6 liters engine.

But still i'm hoping that you guys will help me to find suitable one.

[ampgeek]

Welcome!
Let us know what type of music/style/guitar/pick-ups that you favor and I am sure you will get plenty of solid advice.
Cheers,
Dave O.

[xtian]

If you like the sound of Fender amps, the tone stack (controls) is an important part of the amp--without it, the amplifier sounds WAY different...much more mid heavy and distorted.

Fender's amps can appear complex because they have two "channels", reverb, tremolo, and such. But you can build a simplified version. Just volume, tone controls. One channel, no effects.

[Long Distance Call]

I think he said he's looking for something like the new Fender Ramparte, which is part of the Fender Pawn Shop Series

http://www.musicradar.com/us/reviews/gu ... 1542#null

"The Ramparte is a single-ended pure class A design producing about nine watts of power from a single 6L6, driven by a pair of 12AX7 preamp valves. The preamp design is about as simple as you can get: a pair of input sockets labelled Hot and Cool linking to a pair of similarly-named volume controls. That's it.

Wind the volume controls up to around halfway and you'll get a useful, slightly overdriven rhythm sound from the Cool channel that cuts pretty well with single coils, while average output humbuckers are slightly too warm to our ears.

The Hot channel's higher gain is more of the same, with an aggressive distortion voicing that works best with similar guitars, such as the bridge pickup of a Tele, perhaps. It's throatier than a tweed Champ, but not as warm, with none of the glassy transparency of a Deluxe and too bassy for some humbuckers.

Turning up the volume controls beyond halfway thickens everything up even more, without adding much in the way of extra volume.

Noise could be an issue for some potential customers; the Ramparte's best sounds happen at volume levels that are still quite anti-social, despite the modest nine-watt power rating, at which the amp's mains hum and hiss goes unnoticed. However, if you turn the volume down to conversation levels the mains hum becomes pretty intrusive, possibly preventing it from being the well-mannered lounge lizard its styling suggests, and making a noise gate essential for studio use."

[labb]

He said about 50 watts. That will not happen with a SE amp. Closest thing I can think of would be to take the pre amp stage of a Marshall 18 watt Lite IIB (Volume and Tone) and marry it to one of the 50 watt power amps. Maybe the 50 watt power amp module over on the AX 84 site. Can't imagine what that would sound like.

[statorvane]

Honestly, it doesn't get much simpler than a 5F6-A. There's no reverb or tremolo - just a TMB tonestack, independent gains for the bright and normal channels and a presence control on the NFB.

[Synchu]

I concur.
Any of the 2x6L6 tweed designs (Bassman, Pro, Super, Twin) should fit the bill nicely.
It will not be quite 50 Watts, but close to and as indistinguishable in terms of loudness with headroom comparable to Ramparte.

Niki

[darefugee]

+1 on the Tweed Fenders. Fifty watts is a LOT of amp. I love my 5E3 Deluxe and although it's only pushing about 20 watts, it's plenty loud. And the tone is pure, man. I encourage you to play one before making your choice.

Kudos to your dad for hooking you up. Watch carefully and get him to teach you and let you do some of the work.

[torben3000]

Since you are from Germany, I would recommend getting a kit from Tube Amp Doctor. Makes it easier for your father and you will get high quality components all in one package.

[Jürgen Kraise]

Hi guys,
thanks for all these comments

Ok, my answers

My guitar Fender American Special Stratocaster, three single coils

Difficult to say what I do.. But I do play mostly old hard 70s style music like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix stuff. So i dont really need any ultra gain sounds.

Besides, I have Marshall Jackhammer JH-1, which i used to play with my old solid state amp, i guess i can use it with valve amp as well, in case if the gain will not be sufficient.

***

I used Native Instrument's Guitar Rig for a long time now. My favorite sounds was AC Box (Vox AC30) and Plexi (Marshall Major), both set either for a clean sound, or a bit crunch; either crunked-up to get classic overdrive, Like Blackmore/Hendrix tone.

I know, I'm contradicting myself, but it's what it's. Difficult to choose only one sound, or genre.

***

But one thing for sure, I need it to be loud one. Because I’m planning to get rid of my old 20 watt solid state, and turn to valve amp 100%, and use it everywhere - at home, at stage, in clubs. So i need a kind of reliable work horse.

p.s. I think, Fender Twin amp is good for a start. Do you think we can simplify it? Or guys, really, you can suggest any other existing ones, this will make life much easier.

[gui_tarzan]

Check out the early Fender Princeton. Clean, simple, easy to build. That's what I'm building for myself right now.

By the way, if you need more than that 20-30w you should be miking the amp through the PA (in my opinion).

[Jürgen Kraise]

Sorry, i didnt get it

PA - what's that?

[Jürgen Kraise]

Fender Princeton looks ok to me

What do you think guys?

UPD. wow, only 15 watts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1aiHbDhhMc

But i do like how it sounds, though