Blank chassis

[British1011]

Looking for blank 5f1 chassis.  I know this question has been asked a lot but after searching the forum I can only find older posts and it seems most of the company's suggested no longer supplying them, are out of business completely, or are way over priced.  It looks like Doug doesn't have them here either.  The hammond chassis are a good price but the aluminum ones seem a bit thin.  I'm a machinist and had one of our suppliers quote one but they wanted $200 for one!!! Seems most of the shops around here only want to do large orders.  Hope you guys have some better options otherwise I'll just go with the hammond. Thanks

[sluckey]

eBay has them...

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2060353.m570.l1313&_nkw=fender+5f1+chassis&_sacat=0

[Latole]

Hammond boxes for amp chassis do the job very well. I use it for some amp


Google ; Fender 5F1 chassis; Ok they are not a blank ......

https://www.amplifiedparts.com/products/chassis-fender-style-5f1-tweed-champ

https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/chassis-fender-style-5f1-tweed-champ

[British1011]

Thanks guys.  I did see both of those options.  For the price + shipping for the ones on eBay I'd be better off spending a little more and get one already machined from Doug or tubes and more and save myself the extra work.  I was just trying to keep my overall costs down since I can use the cnc machines at work for free. and also wanted to do a different finish to make my amps look unique.

[mresistor]

If you're willing to wait for delivery there is one for $50 on ebay  https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pc-Guitar-50S-5F1-Tweed-Champ-Chrome-Plated-Chassis-DIY-Tube-Amplifier/333160458769?hash=item4d91e92a11:g:he0AAOSwVtZZ--3Z


I purchased a Hammond aluminum chassis a while back and was very disappointed with how thin and cheap it is. Don't know what I'll do with it.


This one is kind of cool  https://www.ebay.com/itm/5F1-Chassis-For-TWEED-CHAMP-OXBLOOD-POWDERCOAT-USA-made/324285815866?_trkparms=aid%3D1110009%26algo%3DSPLICE.COMPLISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D228187%26meid%3Deec54ac08dd54c4e8a8b17b14f715d0b%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D333160458769%26itm%3D324285815866%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3Ddefault&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219

[shooter]

Don't know what I'll do with it.

 
I used one on my last build, while it is thin, I try hard not to drop them
you can do what I did to thicken it up - lots of paint 

[acheld]

Now that is art in its most fundamental!

Oil or acrylic?

[acheld]

I've been using this guy in Canada for several years:

https://seasidechassisdesign.com

Very high quality, reasonable pricing, fast (but not instant) turnaround. 

I have not bought one since the Covid, so shipping may be an issue now.  But this guy listens to what you are saying, checks to make sure he gets it right, and delivers on the product -- all things I used to take for granted, but no more (of course).

[shooter]

Oil or acrylic?

Acrylic, oil that thick would still be wet 


I did over-spray a couple coats of high-gloss clear to give an "oil look"

[Latole]

I purchased a Hammond aluminum chassis a while back and was very disappointed with how thin and cheap it is. Don't know what I'll do with it.

They are thick enough and very popular for building small amp maybe not a 100 watt twin reverb. Or use steel chassis.

[Ed_Chambley]

Had a friend build basically an AB-763 in a hammond and installed it into a tweed style head.  First gig he played was opening so they had to get their gear out from in front.  Someone put it on the cart and must have set it down hard.  The bolts pn the Power Trans pulled through.  A grommet and good soldering skills kept the wires from pulling out.  It was just handing, but no one knew until he loaded it again.


He could feel the transformer swinging.  Needless to say a real chassis is hard to beat.

[sluckey]

Haha! Sounds like my TDR. I built it on a Hammond 17 x 4 x 3 aluminum chassis. I could literally twist that chassis like a pretzel bare handed. Then I put a 5E3 in the same chassis. Then I put an 18W Marshall in the same chassis. I was pretty stupid back then.

     http://sluckeyamps.com/5e3/sisters_rear.jpg
     
     http://sluckeyamps.com/18w/18w_02.jpg

[Ed_Chambley]

Stupid is harsh to say.  Let's say bedroom chassis or "Home Style"!


Builds look great and you saved $50 on each.

[British1011]

Thanks everyone I'm gonna check into sea side and see what they charge...not sure what extra fees ill have shipping from Canada but it's worth a shot. They look like nice thick chassis.

[bmccowan]

I have had good experience with these two.
https://www.ebay.com/usr/zachmdhunter
https://reverb.com/shop/synapticamps
Modify message

[darryl]

I've successfully used the smaller Hammond aluminum chassis for lower-powered amplifiers by attaching flanges to the ends of the chassis. These stiffen the chassis, and are also used to mount the chassis in a headshell. The ( usually toroidal ) power transformer has large diameter washers above and below the chassis to spread the weight across a wider expanse of the chassis.

[Bostom]

+1 on https://www.ebay.com/usr/zachmdhunter
I got a Princeton reverb chassis that was really nice and cheaper than anywhere else.

[Leevi]

https://www.tubeampdoctor.com/amp-chassis-tweed-champ-style-5f1


https://www.tube-town.net/ttstore/tt-chassis-039-fender-style-5f1-champ-long-version.html

/Leevi

[mresistor]

Don't know what I'll do with it.

I used one on my last build, while it is thin, I try hard not to drop them
you can do what I did to thicken it up - lots of paint 

So, you've been studying modern impressionism..   

I was thinkin' to add an extra layer of a little thicker aluminum to the top as a support for the weight of transformers.  Other times I think of taking it to the firing range.

[Ed_Chambley]

OK, I will do it.  I will give up a source on chassis.  Get you a sheet metal folder and find a welder who can run a bead on the corners.  Figure your size and add 20%.


or just buy hoses


https://www.ebay.com/sch/Musical-Instruments-Gear/619/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=&_ssn=gekkon78_2

[acheld]

How'd you do that?   All of those items are from Putin's boys . . . even the Chinese made items.  Go figure.

[sluckey]

He searched stuff by seller gekkon78_2 who is based in Russian Federation.

[Ed_Chambley]

Yes, I did know this.  I use the TOR Browser and a couple of different search engines who are not Google controlled.  Don't get me wrong, I love Google (shhh, they see everything, never publicly say you don't trust their search to be objective, let's say.)


No, I am not paranoid.  It is not paranoid when it is true!



Then I search simply by what I am looking for.  This type of search is called a Meta Search and will "see" eBay sellers as individual pages.  Be careful what you search for!

[shooter]

Be careful what you search for!

 
I'm betting even being careful, a TOR search on "blank chassis" would be interesting 

[chaswahl]

Haha! Sounds like my TDR. I built it on a Hammond 17 x 4 x 3 aluminum chassis. I could literally twist that chassis like a pretzel bare handed. Then I put a 5E3 in the same chassis. Then I put an 18W Marshall in the same chassis. I was pretty stupid back then.

     http://sluckeyamps.com/5e3/sisters_rear.jpg
     
     http://sluckeyamps.com/18w/18w_02.jpg

Apparently you had the sense to add 1/4" or 3/8" to the width of the 5E3 standard cabinet, so that the 17" chassis will fit between the vertical cleats to which the back panels are fastened. I bought a standard 5E3 chassis, thinking I'd use the Hammond 1444-20 chassis (which I also bought), but to do that, I'll have to chop the end off, or do a "section" job to shorten it. There are amps (I think even some original Fenders with large/heavy transformers) that have one or two angle brackets to fasten the PT bolts nearest the cab and farthest from the chassis to the cab itself. Helps to support the weight without unduly stressing the chassis itself. While steel is great, and vintage-correct, it's not nearly as good a conductor, so not as good at shielding amp internals as aluminum.

[sluckey]

Apparently you had the sense to add 1/4" or 3/8" to the width of the 5E3 standard cabinet, so that the 17" chassis will fit between the vertical cleats to which the back panels are fastened. I bought a standard 5E3 chassis, thinking I'd use the Hammond 1444-20 chassis (which I also bought), but to do that, I'll have to chop the end off, or do a "section" job to shorten it.

I didn't have to modify anything. My 5E3 cabs from mojo (I think) were exactly 17" between cleats so it was a perfect fit. My chassis is fastened to the cab using four screws through the ends of the chassis into the vertical cleats.

If the distance between your cleats is less than 17" you may consider chiseling out a bit of the cleat on each side to provide the needed 17". An oscillating multitool makes this an easy job. Just peel the tolex back out of the way and reglue once you have the needed clearance. If done carefully you'll even have a "shelf" to support the bottom of the chassis.

[Ed_Chambley]

Apparently you had the sense to add 1/4" or 3/8" to the width of the 5E3 standard cabinet, so that the 17" chassis will fit between the vertical cleats to which the back panels are fastened. I bought a standard 5E3 chassis, thinking I'd use the Hammond 1444-20 chassis (which I also bought), but to do that, I'll have to chop the end off, or do a "section" job to shorten it.

I didn't have to modify anything. My 5E3 cabs from mojo (I think) were exactly 17" between cleats so it was a perfect fit. My chassis is fastened to the cab using four screws through the ends of the chassis into the vertical cleats.

If the distance between your cleats is less than 17" you may consider chiseling out a bit of the cleat on each side to provide the needed 17". An oscillating multitool makes this an easy job. Just peel the tolex back out of the way and reglue once you have the needed clearance. If done carefully you'll even have a "shelf" to support the bottom of the chassis.

You got you cabs from Mike Marsh I believe I remember you telling.

[sluckey]

Yes and I believe Marsh was getting them from Mojo at the time.

[Diverted]

You could try Synaptic Amps in Maine. He can build a chassis for you for about $50 bucks.

I was buying them from Juicy Amps in Maryland, but he doesn't seem to be taking orders at the moment.

[joesatch]

I just received a Hammond chassis from Mouser a 1444-26. It is absurdly thin, lots of flex,flimsy.  i dont think I'll be using it. I shoulda known

[acheld]

The 12 gauge aluminum chassis from this fellow does not flex at all. 

https://seasidechassisdesign.com

I dropped my 40+ pound 5F6A last month, busted the cab, but the amp itself was untouched . . .

[echuta13]

I've worked with Hamilton Metalcraft in Pasadena a few times, and I've been pretty happy.  Been a spell since I worked with them, but they were pretty reasonable (plus I bought a fair amount of chassis).  https://hmetal.com/
I ran into them @ NAMM as well a few years back.  They were doing work for M-Audio and some effects pedal companies I think?