Vox AC15 build log (Update: Finished! Finally with cabs)

[TNblueshawk]

Well, no time like the present and let the fun begin. I may be only able to hit this on the weekends for the next few weeks but we'll see how my weekdays shake out coming up. Can I just say, good night there are a lot of jumpers!
 
With the 15 pg thead out there I'm sure most/all are aware of this one but if not I'll link just in case someone new pops in.
http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=16874.0;topicseen
http://home.comcast.net/~seluckey/amps/VAC15/ac15.htm
 


 

[sluckey]

Take your time with those board jumpers. And make sure those under-board jumpers are securely attached to the correct lug. A highlighter is essential for this board.

I see you have bags full of Xicon chicklets. That's good. There are a couple places on that board where only a Xicon will fit nicely. I did use some Mallory 150s down in the power section, but it was only because I was trying to use up my bench stock of those caps.

Good luck. I'll be watching this project with lots of interest.

[TNblueshawk]

Thanks Steve. I am going to fight my normal urge of going gangbusters on builds (usually pedals) and just enjoy the ride and take my time. I did get the underboard ones done and brought them up and over and hooked them on the turrets. Worked on the top side jumpers too this morning since I couldn't sleep for some reason. Been highlighting as I go and triple checking the turret holes.
 
I read all the suggestions on the caps and thus the Xicon's. I will have a bunch of different resistor types though as I was trying to use up some stock I had for a while. We'll just call it mojo and leave it at that 

[lego4040]

  glad you finally got rolling Hawk. As Steve said, take your time on this one. LOTS of soldering to do and I did the black board too. Keep pics coming

[TNblueshawk]

Well I've been banging away so I thought I'd post up some pics. As I go if someone sees something that doesn't look right by all means call it out. I'm not too proud here and want it to work so I'm all ears for suggestions and or pointing out my errors. There are a lot of moving parts here so to speak and I could easily screw something up.

The jumpers of course




Population. You will notice some turrets empty. I've got the caps coming to me as I thought I had some and didn't have any axial's only radial's which looked ugly.
 

 
Chassis punched out with a too large screw hole for the choke. I choked and my mind wandered and thought I was drilling out the wire hole briefly. No matter though. Nothing a washer can't help correct.
 





 

[sluckey]

Lookin' good!

[TNblueshawk]

I'm making a little headway. Note to self: Don't use too thick heater wire or a tedious task becomes more of one.
 
The amp face plates were made by a guy over at Madbean's forum. Shout out to him as I'm more than pleased. It is rullywowr over there if anyone wants to know.
 
On the order of first world problems I'm not sure what knob I want to use for the brilliance switch. I was off a tad on my hand drilling there which keeps a large chick rather tight on the right.





 
If anyone thinks or even smells something that doesn't look right please point it out and I'll investigate it.
 
 
 
 
 
 

[g-man]

Deleted

[TNblueshawk]

Thanks G.
 
The stand off attached to the bus line is insulated from the chassis there. Of course the bus line is attached to the chassis via a lug between the inputs. The other turret lugs by V1 and 2 are attached to the chassis at that point but coming back to each input they are only attached to the jacks, tip and sleeve.
 
Does that make sense? I tried to follow Sluckey's build along those lines so unless I screwed something up (and let's not completely rule that one out shall we  ) I think it's good.

[g-man]

Deleted

[sluckey]

I was just wondering if your signal would be grounded (at the junction of your input signal and resistor that connects to the tube socket) which would kill your signal.

He's got it right. All those blue standoff turrets are insulated from chassis. The ones near the tube socket are simply a tie point for the grid stopper resistors. I don't like flying leads. All my components are supported on each lead. The blue turret at the end of the ground buss is just for support. The buss is actually connected to chassis very near the input jacks.

[lego4040]

Looks great TN, you have a cabinet for it yet? SilverGun made a poplar head for mine and its sweet. You are gonna be floored with this amp

[TNblueshawk]

Thanks Lego. I'm building my own cabs out of either zebra or lacewood. I hope to pick the wood up in a few weeks.

[lego4040]

Well ain't we fancy we will all be waiting to see the finished cab. Zebra wood I've seen , lacewood I haven't

[sluckey]

Zebrawood is very showy. I built a bowl using Zebra, Walnut, and Maple back in the '80s. I'd love to see a zebra cab.

[VMS]

I think this has more of that 80s vibe:

[TNblueshawk]

 

Not the kind of zebra I was going for. Oh the 80's. What we have done without them

Steve that bowl is gorgeous. That is the most beautiful bowl of rocks I've ever seen

[Ed_Chambley]

Got a great looking build going there.  Love the look, very modern.

I had mine back apart a couple of weekends ago as I changed my power tubes back to some bugle boys so I needed to check dissipation.  Also, I think you are going to really like this amp.  The honeymoon period is way over for me and I am still playing it as my number one small amp.

I have been going back and fourth on the EF86.  I have 2 different mullards which I like as they are smooth sounding, but I have to give the winner to a new in box tesla I got from Triode.  It is a little more edgy.

[TNblueshawk]

A little more progress. I've got the board in but haven't soldered up everything yet. If anyone sees anything a little floppy jawed by all means post a question and then I'll ask Sluckey    Steve has been beyond helpful as I've gone along.

[TIMBO]

Lookin goooood.

[lego4040]

Way to go,  can't wait to see your finished product. I need to get a cab asap for the 5G9 so I can annoy the family

[TNblueshawk]

Ok, so I'm 99% done here. I've got Sluckey helping me with a few minor issues mainly my stupidity with the jump switch which brings me to this.
 
I want to say that I've been doing the DIY electronics thing for about 4 1/2 years, mostly pedals. I've had a lot of people help me along the way. Sometimes it's a question or two here and there and other times such as a flanger or delay build where I sort of screwed the pooch and someone has spent a lot of time helping me get it fired up. Some great people in our DIY world have helped me out and spent what I figure is their valuable time to help me troubleshoot a build. I am always grateful and have tried to give back where I can.
 
I'd like to give a large thanks and appreciation to Sluckey for this build. Without his time spent in first coming up with this build then it simply never happens. Beyond that my questions about the power supply hookup, why I made some magic smoke, and currently jump switch issues and a few other things inbetween my build simply doesn't fire and or I fry an OT or PT or whatever. Since this amp will be with me until I take a dirt nap and will give me lots of joy I truly appreciate the time spent. Thanks Steve. And thanks to Ed and Lego as well as it was the long thread where I gleaned a lot of info from.
 
Ok, onward. I didn't post my dumb mistakes and questions in this thread as I didn't want to junk it up. I'd be happy to comment on any of them however if anyone wants me to. For example, don't wire up the rectifier and jump pins 4&5. It doesn't work out well    No really, you make a the magic smoke 
 
So my plan is to build the head cab and speaker cab in the next month or so with Zebra wood. I've started cutting and gluing boards. Then I'll take out a loan and locate me a Celestion Blue and rock out. I'll do a final post when done.
 



 
 

[sluckey]

That looks very familiar! Good job.

[markmalin]

Wow!  That turned out nice!
Nice work.

[Willabe]

Very Nice!   

[lego4040]

  time to rock. This is a heavy head and once it's in a cab and has a separate cabinet it's gonna become a classy piece of art.

[Ed_Chambley]

Nice work!

[archaos]

+1

Beautiful, congrats !

[Fresh_Start]

Nice!  I really like the neat wiring, zip ties, and the ground buses.

Can't wait to see the striped cab.  Soundclips?

Cheers,

Chip

[TNblueshawk]

Geez, forgot how much time flew. I noticed the other thread got bumped so I figured I'd comment on mine.

Not that anyone is waiting in anticipation or anything but I actually finished the head and speaker cab, or at least 90% of it, and got a Celestian Blue and then life took a dump in September. I think life is pulling its pants up again and might be done so I'm getting the itch to finish it but for the high's in the 20's and snow for the next week I probably would get back after it.

Anyway, I still plan to post the final product hopefully sooner rather than later.

[sluckey]

Glad to hear things are looking up. There's another member drilling a chassis for one right now. I'm sure he'd like to hear about your project. Actually, we all would.

[Willabe]

I'm sure he'd like to hear about your project. Actually, we all would.

Yes! 

[sluckey]

I have my AC-15 on the bench so if you need me to look at anything, now is a good time.

[TNblueshawk]

Just so you guys don't think I'm sand baggin' 



It's looked like this since Sept. The plan is to do a TV front with a TV back meaning it will be both a closed back and open back with a round 'port' if you will. For the amp cab I'm just not really sure but I was thinking of a wood front, a la Trainwreck look, or I may go see through with some kind of metal front. I'm undecided. Finishing wise I'm really leaning toward tung oil. I don't want to change the color of the wood too much with a stain etc..

And yes, I wanted that worm hole streak or whatever caused that on top. Love it. My wife said I need to put it on the bottom. I think knot.

[Willabe]

And yes, I wanted that worm hole streak or whatever caused that on top. Love it. My wife said I need to put it on the bottom. I think knot.

Yeah, I'd leave it on top too. 

What kind of wood is that?

[sluckey]

I used some cheap expanded metal from Lowe's on my last project. Might have some possibilities with that nice cab.

[TNblueshawk]

Willabe, it's quarter sewn Zebra wood.

I used some metal like that and spray painted it black for my Marshall Sluckey. That is for sure what I was thinking about if I go that route. I think I got mine at Lowe's as well. Heck I believe that is the exact same stuff.

[Willabe]

Willabe, it's quarter sewn Zebra wood.

Well it looks beautiful. 

[sluckey]

I made a bowl 30 years ago that would look nice sitting beside that cab.

[TNblueshawk]

I believe a beer would fit nicely in that bowl 

[sluckey]

You could fit a six-pack plus enough ice to keep it cool. That bowl is 12" diameter and about 4" high.

[TNblueshawk]

You could fit a six-pack plus enough ice to keep it cool. That bowl is 12" diameter and about 4" high.

   Count me in!

[TNblueshawk]

I would have never guessed it would have taken me over a year to complete the cabs but such is life. The amount of mistakes I made while constructing these cabs was depressing along the way. I had to fix things and or cover them up in some way. I'm pleased as I'm no carpenter but I still could have done better and not run into these road blocks. The Tung oil I messed up a bit that caused some issues. I'm not 100% sure what I did wrong. I finished with 6 coats of lacquer. I messed that up a bit going too light the first few coats. It was drying to quick causing brush strokes.

I guess you learn more from mistakes but that doesn't mean you want to make them! Now I need to learn how to play this amp 

As you can see I made it open back with an option for closed. I was going to screw down the round plate in the back when I needed to but after putting one hole in it    I decided I didn't want to do that so I've used the sticky stuff you put in window sashes. It is a bitch to get off but I won't be taking it off and on all the time anyway.

My wife asked why I left a crack in the wood on top. I told her it's cool that way  I love 'flaws' in wood.

[sluckey]

Nice! Looks very zebraish.

[TNblueshawk]

A final thanks to you Steve for this would not exist in my room without your efforts.

[lego4040]

Holy Shite that's beautiful, I love mine as well. A dollar late but I have an extra faceplate that I got from Sluckey, not sure if mentioned that way back. If anyone is planning on building this beast pm me. You'll have to drill out the plate but it is a really nice job done by friends of Steves if I'm correct. I just played the amp through a new WGS 12" green beret and it sounds sonics nicer then the WGS 12" Veteran. Of one is British style and later is American. This Amp will hold its own anywhere, I'm trying to get a friend of mine to Gig with it to really break it in but he is afraid of something happening to it

[TNblueshawk]

What's up Lionel. Thanks for the compliment. I can't wait to fiddle with it and get to know her.

[lego4040]

   My favorite for this amp deep tremolo and cranked . I did the cascade mod also, I've been swamped with other BS (Audiophile stereo stuff)and haven't been near my amp in a while. I have to finish getting Hoffman's stout working for my son.

[NO_H2O]

Very nice build. Love the wood work.

[TNblueshawk]

Very nice build. Love the wood work.

Thanks NO.