Newbie Questions - Planning an AC-15 Build

[Brink]

Hi all,
I've been researching an AC15 style amp build and decided on Sluckey's AC-15 layout and design that has been talked about here before.
I'm new to building amps, and I have a few questions:
1. When going through the PDF files included in the post, I cannot find any details of how to wire in the Power Transformer, Output transformer or Choke. Is this more standard knowledge that I've missed or is it explained in the PDF and I'm missing it or something else?
2. I would like to make this a show piece and flip the board orientation so that the tubes are in front and the transformers are along the back. are there any issues besides wiring being in different places I should be concerned about here?

Any other building advice would be greatly appreciated as I am very new to this.

Thanks guys. :D
(Links for his PDF are at the bottom of this page: http://sluckeyamps.com/VAC15/ac15.htm

[sluckey]

The power transformer, output transformer, and choke wiring are clearly shown on the main schematic. You must be able to read and understand a schematic to build my AC-15. My board layout is not a complete amplifier layout. It shows details of how to build the board and also how every wire that attaches to the board will connect to the front panel or tubes, but it does not show stuff that does not connect to the board. The schematic is the only drawing that shows the complete amp wiring.

My board layout, front panel controls, and tube lineup have been painstakingly designed to work well together. And it does. Notice how short and neat all the wiring between the board, front panel, and tube sockets is? That's on purpose. If you flip, or rotate this board just so you can "showplace" the tubes up front with all the knobs, you will end up with a rats nest of wiring. This is a complicated amp. It can be built using several different layouts. But I highly recommend if you want to follow my layout, stick to it pretty closely, especially since you are new to amp building.

[66Strat]

Sluckey's amp is a well tested and documented circuit/layout. If you are going to rearrange the tubes and circuit layout, I recommend this book for reference. You are not likely to get the circuit on one board as Sluckey has.http://www.thevoxac30guide.com/

[Ed_Chambley]

I built mine to look like a baby version of another amp I have.  I do not think you want to get to far from the layout as suggested since it is proven, and if you have never scratch built an amp, this one will be extra fun.  If you are very handy, give it a go.  Mine just simply does that glassy breakup exactly as it should.


It is not a showpiece, but Dick Dale would like it.

[Ritchie200]

Who's Dick Dale?

Jim

[66Strat]

Who's Dick Dale?

Jim

Seriously?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQC-dWEptus

[purpletele]

Brink,

I would consider building the Princeton Reverb prior to tackling the AC-15.

The Princeton Reverb is a great amp and the tremolo and reverb are lush.

There is a lot going on with the AC-15 and a lot of opportunity to make simple mistakes.

You would learn a great deal from building a more simple circuit, such as wire sizes that work best for different situations and such.

There is a steep learning curve on building these amplifiers regardless of electrical engineering background or similar, I speak from experience.

I have built a few amps, and I can't imagine trying to put the AC-15 together as my first project.

So my advice would be to work on a much more simple Hoffman Project first so you can understand the drawings and all of the info that is provided.

BV

It's a lot of fun and very intriguing, just

[jojokeo]

+1 on Brian’s comment. We here at this forum (and others) see all too often people biting off WAY more than they can chew - especially early on. And it’s usually from educated cerebral types because they’re maybe not too accustomed to failure and/or trust in their abilities to escape from them? BUT, this is not the case here. Their hubris and ego gets in the way over and over until a healthy dose of reality sets in and they become much more humbled by the experience. Some persevere and overcome but many give up and fade away. There are no shortcuts in this business or hobby no matter the education level going in. And no Masters or Doctorates degrees can supersede the SHK University.

[jojokeo]

Who's Dick Dale?

Jim

Isn’t he that other crazy flamboyant lefty?! 

[Ritchie200]

Just thought I would cast that out there to see if I got any bites.  Ed must be too busy polishing those Suhr wood planks in his humidity and temperature controlled hyperbaric chamber to talk to us mere mortals.  Then again he might be having a hard time finding the door, what with the Farrah Fawcett and Justin Bieber posters covering the walls.

Jim

[Ritchie200]

To the OP, sorry! 

Not to pile on, but we have had many an accomplished and experienced builder have problems with a particular build - as you may have noticed looking at the posts.  Many times they have had to take a more complex build back to it's root function to troubleshoot a problem and then rebuild from there.  Understanding the basics will make this a much more enjoyable experience - especially if you run into a few bumps in the road.  That knowledge will go a long long way in also helping you tweak a build to your particular guitar and style.  The other thing to think about is this - you wanted it to be a showpiece. Build a Champ, make the mistakes that we ALL have made - because I guarantee you will make them too.  That way when you do get around to building that AC15, it WILL be a showpiece.  Plus you got a Champ as well!  Tell your wife it was a necessary part of the process.  Of course then you have to build an A/B switch to go between the two amps (I'm trying to help you out here...)  That pic Ed posted was a beautiful build using years of experience to create.  It's a beautiful piece, but not his first rodeo.  If you choose to dive into the AC15 anyway as your first amp, we will help you.  However, we now have official license to make fun of you, your guitars, your influences, your hyperbaric chamber, etc. etc...

Jim

[jojokeo]

Now they have those cool ones where you can adjust how much you want ot hear.  Crank it up and I will be front and center I do not care how loud it is, it will be exactly the volume I want.

Being a tone purist hound don't you want to move the amp's speaker cones and not your hearing aide's? 

[Ritchie200]

psssst!  Notice he didn't deny the Farrah and Biebs posters.....


Jim

[66Strat]

Then again he might be having a hard time finding the door, what with the Farrah Fawcett and Justin Bieber posters covering the walls.

Jim

What's wrong with Farrah Fawcett posters? I've had a few. And the Bieber, in the right wig, would sorta, kinda look like Farrah, if you squinted real hard.

[airguitarist]

I suppose you could always use link couplers etc. on the pots and use relay switching to have the controls on the opposite side while retaining the main layout of the amp?