Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: TubeGeek on November 18, 2014, 08:47:04 pm

Title: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: TubeGeek on November 18, 2014, 08:47:04 pm

I have been working on my own personal vox ac30 variant this year. The amp was initially built in 2008 without a finished cabinet. I used the amp over the years with whatever speaker cabinet I had around. I always thought someday I'll get around to having it mounted in a nice cabinet. That day has finally arrived!

3 kinds of mahogany were used to make the cabinet: African, Sapele and Bolivian. My buddy did the wood working.

Speakers: Weber Blue Dog Alnico and Weber 1225 Ceramic wired in series for 16 ohms impedance.

The chicken head knobs are milled aluminum, nice and heavy compared to the plastic ones.

I can share more details if asked.

Doug, thanks for designing this circuit. It's very cool. :worthy1:
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: sluckey on November 18, 2014, 09:38:51 pm
Very good lookin'!
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: Willabe on November 18, 2014, 09:53:16 pm
Yeah man!!!!!  Love it!!!!!!


           Brad    :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: TubeGeek on November 18, 2014, 10:32:29 pm
Thanks, I just had to share this one :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: sluckey on November 18, 2014, 11:02:31 pm
Grasshopper, your journey has been long and you have traveled far since we first met. Your work is excellent but your enthusiasm shines even brighter. I hope you can love this stuff as long as I have.
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: eleventeen on November 18, 2014, 11:09:38 pm
Beautiful!
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: kagliostro on November 19, 2014, 12:42:01 am
TubeGeek

 :bravo1:

Franco
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: AZJimC on November 19, 2014, 01:26:35 am
Beautiful work! Tell me, how does that trem sound? I've browsed the schematic, and it looks very cool. I can just imagine all the happy electrons cruising main, turn around at the cap, winding their way through the resistors, and back to the cap.... etc. I tried to relate all that to the trem schematic on this one, and I fear my phase has been shifted as well.
 :worthy1:
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: Ritchie200 on November 19, 2014, 02:39:00 am
Wow, fantastic job!  I also like how you kept the Vox "flavor" in the speaker cab!  When do we get to hear the Brian May soundclips?!?!  Well done!

Jim
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: TIMBO on November 19, 2014, 02:43:35 am
 :bravo1:
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: tubenit on November 19, 2014, 05:19:20 am
Absolutely beautiful cabinet work!  Thank you for sharing the pictures.  It looks amazing.

With respect, Tubenit
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: John on November 19, 2014, 06:18:45 am
Good stuff!
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: TubeGeek on November 19, 2014, 09:09:41 am
Grasshopper, your journey has been long and you have traveled far since we first met. Your work is excellent but your enthusiasm shines even brighter. I hope you can love this stuff as long as I have.


Thanks Steve.  2014 marks my 10 year anniversary of building amps.  I have made progress over the years and I have this forum to thank for assisting me when I get stuck or have questions.  I am 36 years old and hopefully will have many more years to work on this kind of gear. I cannot see myself ever stopping this hyper-hobby.
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: TubeGeek on November 19, 2014, 09:11:54 am
Beautiful work! Tell me, how does that trem sound? I've browsed the schematic, and it looks very cool. I can just imagine all the happy electrons cruising main, turn around at the cap, winding their way through the resistors, and back to the cap.... etc. I tried to relate all that to the trem schematic on this one, and I fear my phase has been shifted as well.
 :worthy1:


Well thanks for the compliment but the Hoffman ac30 doesn't include the vibrato/tremolo that is originally in the vox circuit.  That is the main reason I chose to build this circuit, because I don't use or like the vox vib/trem very much.


http://el34world.com/Hoffman/files/Hoffman_AC30.pdf (http://el34world.com/Hoffman/files/Hoffman_AC30.pdf)
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: TubeGeek on November 19, 2014, 11:11:23 am
Wow, fantastic job!  I also like how you kept the Vox "flavor" in the speaker cab!  When do we get to hear the Brian May soundclips?!?!  Well done!

Jim


I'll work on getting some sound clips recorded soon.  Gotta finish up my current top-secret ultra cool project first :grin:


The vox grill cloth matched very nicely with the mahogany eh!?  I love it.  The gold faceplate/gold chicken head knobs were icing on the cake too.
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: HommeMarrBuckley on November 19, 2014, 02:12:14 pm
Well done.  Looks pretty ferocious.  2?s
Whats the white thing on the inside of the head cab?  Circuit notation?
For the large feet on the head cab, did you have the wood screws just bite or are the screws the whole way through held with a nut?
Again, hellanice.
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: HommeMarrBuckley on November 19, 2014, 02:18:46 pm
Sorry, using my phone and blown up the feet screws just bite and other looks like a remote.
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: TubeGeek on November 19, 2014, 03:06:12 pm
The white thing is a remote to control the led strip for the nameplate.  You can select between different colours depending on your mood.

The feet are secured using wood screws.
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: SILVERGUN on November 19, 2014, 03:15:16 pm
Well,,,these guys have said it all, but I would be remiss if I didn't give my thumbs up.

 :thumbsup:

I am 36 years old and hopefully will have many more years to work on this kind of gear. I cannot see myself ever stopping this hyper-hobby.
That's great to hear, cause we gotta keep this stuff alive!
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: Willabe on November 19, 2014, 03:21:45 pm
Gotta finish up my current top-secret ultra cool project first :grin:

Top-secret.  :undecided:   Humm.......  I wonder........


              Brad     :think1:
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: lego4040 on November 19, 2014, 04:03:28 pm
 :worthy1: that is gorgious
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: topbrent on November 20, 2014, 03:07:41 am
Looks great!  I have played through a combo variety of one of James's  AC30's and they are great amps.  I am sure this one is great as well.
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: jeff on November 20, 2014, 08:32:49 am
Absolutely beautiful!
Nice job, the dove tails look great and the inset nameplate looks great, good idea.

It's great that you can call this one complete. I never seem to be able to do that. I'm always going back under the hood to tweak this or that. For me, nothing is ever complete.

Excellent job!
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: SILVERGUN on November 20, 2014, 12:58:01 pm
Gotta finish up my current top-secret ultra cool project first :grin:

Top-secret.  :undecided:   Humm.......  I wonder........


              Brad     :think1:
Here's my guess....

First word---- Rhymes with bumble?  :dontknow:
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: TubeGeek on November 20, 2014, 01:07:03 pm
Gotta finish up my current top-secret ultra cool project first :grin:

Top-secret.  :undecided:   Humm.......  I wonder........


              Brad     :think1:
Here's my guess....

First word---- Rhymes with bumble?  :dontknow:


 :laugh:  Yep.  It's been sitting around on the back burner for months but I am finally finishing up on the Canada Amp I started in early summer. I've decided that most my amp building will happen during winter.  Not much else to do when it is -40 outside.
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: SILVERGUN on November 20, 2014, 01:31:13 pm
Nice!!
(...mark that one down Willabe,,,I win the secret prize of the day!)

Shhhh....don't tell anyone...top secret
I'm finally doing mine too  :wink:
I got a good deal on a donor chassis and iron so it's officially ON!


 

Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: TubeGeek on November 20, 2014, 01:38:02 pm
Nice!!
(...mark that one down Willabe,,,I win the secret prize of the day!)

Shhhh....don't tell anyone...top secret
I'm finally doing mine too  :wink:
I got a good deal on a donor chassis and iron so it's officially ON!


So much for keeping this project on the down low.  I figured you guys would have forgotten about it.   :laugh:


SG, the race is on, who will finish first? haha
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: Willabe on November 20, 2014, 01:42:23 pm
Not much else to do when it is -40 outside.

Yes there is! Ice fishing for 20lb+ Northern Pike!!!!!!!!
                                                                                           

                Brad     :laugh:

           Now THAT'S a fish!
Title: Re: Finally I can call my Hoffman AC30 project complete!
Post by: SILVERGUN on November 20, 2014, 02:12:17 pm
SG, the race is on, who will finish first? haha
Well,,,I gotta warn ya, I got a mean head start...

...my faceplate is DONE!  :l2: