Building an Amp

DiamondJQuimby

Anyone ever built an amp here??

Are there any good books out there or Sites which you would recommend...

Would it be cheaper in the Long run..

I am fairly handy with a Soldering Iron and Electronics fundamentals..
Case construction would probably suit me also..

Any Advice appreciated.

Cost versus effort etc...

Cheers

D

feylya

I've always wanted to do this. A nice simple one channel tube amp would be nice. There's a site in England that sells kits. I think the link is in the Resources sticky.

DiamondJQuimby

Yeah that's what I was thinking dsomething simple to start with to learn the basics and then leaev enough room on the chassis to maybe add a second channel at a later stage or something..

I'll check the sticky..

Cheers

HusseinSarhan

It won't be cheaper for sure. But it would be a good skill and probably satisfying.

68 lost souls

Id say it would be like making your own guitar. It would be more expensive but you would enjoy playing it so much more and you can customise it exactly to suit you.

DiamondJQuimby

Making your own guitar is not more expensive (Quality vs Cost)

For example if you were to buy all of the components of a Gibson or Fender American models and assemble them yourself it would work out cheaper than buying the finished product, in some case you will get better components if you shop around, you have to be able to assemble them though, and if you don't have the tools at hand then the cost could become an issue,

This is why I am looking at building my own amp. I just need something simple with one Clean Channel with a really Warm Clean tone that can be overdriven nicely..

Had a look at them Kits on the Sticky.
Not bad... Wonder how good the parts are and the valves..

D

Paladin

Ya I built a solid state amp. Well, I designed and built it to be precise

The building part is very easy if you can make yourself a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). I have access to CIT facilities to do this at the time.
There are loads of designs you can download from the internet and copy.

The most tricky part is actually the box into which you will put your amp and connect it to pots. I guess the kits of which you speak supply this?

sean_0

I built a small valve amp, it's the champ head kit from www.stf-electronics.com. It wasn't very difficult and the instructions were pretty detailed. As long as you can solder it's pretty easy really.

It's not cheap though, valve amp parts are always going to be pretty expensive due to the small quantities they are produced in.

red_ice

pfft Solder

Real men use electrical tape.

Thats right, my amp is made from electrical tape, so is my tv!