What Low Wattage Tube Amp should I build?

[Papa Jim]

I would like some suggestions on what low wattage bedroom amp I should build. Many years ago I built an AX84 P1 successfully from scratch but it got sold. I'm presently playing a Blackstar HT1R. Looking to build for anything from older style Freddie King style Blues to SRV and AC/DC type Rock. Might not be possible but I myself don't know thus need some help. I have a Celestion G12M Greenback Speaker and several other nice ones I can use. I'm able to scratch build from schematic c but not totally against a kit if what is suggested is available in kit form. Thanks ahead of time for responses.

[John]

The basic Champ circuit will be a good place to start. IMO you can set it up to stay pretty clean, or with a few tweaks in the preamp get it to break up early.


I cobbled together a little 5'ish watter using a 12AB5 for the power tube (since it went along with the PT pull I had) and at lower volumes it's very bluesy and smooth, crank it up and it's all "I wanna be like Angus!"

[eleventeen]

The kits I have seen are generally good values, you pay a little more for the pile of parts, not much, but they are all there, you get instructions, and no doubt a better chance of a successful outcome. You save some money sourcing parts from various suppliers and the hassle. If you build a Champ or a Princeton, for example, you could later on pop for a cabinet complete with Tolex cover and handle and all instead of having a naked repurposed chassis. Or you could make a cabinet if you have the woodworking chops and a shop.


Again, different people have different definitions of a "bedroom amp". Some want a Champ or Princeton; some want a headphone amp to practice scales where you don't want to bother other people and a little 'verb in the 'phones really helps.


A Champ does not fulfill the headphone style very well. A $50 used Craigslist amp from a kid giving up guitar might be better for that type of amp. It will already have a cabinet and be ready to go and can play out loud in a small venue. I'm not reco'ing one over the other. Just sayin'.

[Willabe]

Our host Doug, in his Tube Amp Library of information, link below, has several small amps that he has built and others here have built and are proven to work.

List in library;

A Champ ~5w, Princeton ~ 5w (just like a Champ but has a tone control), or tweed Deluxe ~15w, Princeton Reverb - ~15w, 3 different Hoffman Stout amps ~15w (Like a Marshall 15w)

They are well documented with layout drawing, schematic drawing and build pictures. He has a parts list (BOM) for each and makes an eyelet or turret board for each. It's not a kit, but with the BOM you can order everything you need to build 1 from his online store, except for the cabinet. There's a number of places to get a cab.

And you can always get help here if you need any.     

http://el34world.com/schematics.htm

[Papa Jim]

Our host Doug, in his Tube Amp Library of information, link below, has several small amps that he has built and others here have built and are proven to work.

List in library;

A Champ ~5w, Princeton ~ 5w (just like a Champ but has a tone control), or tweed Deluxe ~15w, Princeton Reverb - ~15w, 3 different Hoffman Stout amps ~15w (Like a Marshall 15w)

They are well documented with layout drawing, schematic drawing and build pictures. He has a parts list (BOM) for each and makes an eyelet or turret board for each. It's not a kit, but with the BOM you can order everything you need to build 1 from his online store, except for the cabinet. There's a number of places to get a cab.

And you can always get help here if you need any.     

http://el34world.com/schematics.htm

Wow. I did not know this much detail was available. A lot of work has been done on these to help others. Thanks so much to all.  Gonna take a look and make a decision.

[Willabe]

There's lots of amp builds here from a number of guys. 

Sluckey had a web site with a bunch of amp builds on it, but he can still post info from it here. He did a great Vox AC15 ~15w not long ago.

Tubenit and Geezer have a bunch of amp schematics with layouts in the schemo section.

DL has a bunch of builds posted here somewhere.

Many others too.   

[Papa Jim]

I'll check them all out. Decisions, decisions.

[tubenit]

So-Low Watt with ECL84's was a pretty decent low watt push pull amp of maybe 4 watts?

The HoSo56  with 6BM8's is a great sounding amp for 7-9 watts and is push pull also. My version of the HoSo56 was called the 56T and had a one tube reverb.  One of my favorite amps.

DummyLoad (Pete) worked together to piece a thread with lots of low watt push/pull options here:
http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=12526.0

Much of this was Pete's contribution and he was very generous with his help and knowledge!

Some have been built and some are simply DRAFT designs but there is some excellent ideas that are worth considering, IMO.  "Low Watt push/pull gallery"

With respect, Tubenit