Recent retiree - new member

[stephenaug]

Hello,
I really enjoy retirement, but a man needs a hobby!  I worked in the Aerospace and Automotive industries for many years, as well as being a reservist in the U.S. Coast Guard. I was a PC technician and have always had an interest in Tube Amplifiers. 

Approx 15 years ago, I built a 5E3 Tweed Deluxe that sounded great but I struggled with the Tolex. I gave the amp to my son who loaned it to a friend, and now it's gone.  Probably needs new tubes by now...

Looking forward to finding a new kit to build and learning as much as I can so I can pretend to continue to be relevant.

[EL34]

Welcome to the Hoffman Amps forum

There are many different boards on this forum for different topics.

The Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs board is where you can post amp questions.

That board is listed here.
https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?board=13.0

Thanks,
Doug Hoffman

[mresistor]

Hi Stephan,.  glad to see you here.   Look at some of Doug Hoffmans turret boards, and Tubenit and Sluckey have some really cool designs too..     cheers !

[shooter]

a reservist in the U.S. Coast Guard.

I went to the Navy since I wasn't over 6' tall 
welcome aboard

[stephenaug]

Thanks!

It wouldn't have mattered which service, nowhere is safe when you're 6'4"!

[shooter]

got that permeant creased forehead! plate steel is not forgiving
we'd joke that when your ship sank you'd be able to walk to shore


enjoy the addiction

[acheld]

Look at some of Doug Hoffmans turret boards, and Tubenit and Sluckey have some really cool designs too..

Welcome aboard. 

Lots of good stuff here.   My (unsolicited) 2cents:   mresistor has got it right.  Hoffman's "Kits" are a great place to begin.   They are not really "complete kits" such as you might see at Mojo (etc), but provide the backbone for what you need to learn and become confident in your projects.   The designs are well thought out, and work great.   They DO require planning and some research involving the chassis and cabinet.  Forum members know these projects very well and will help.

Take a look at https://hoffmanamps.com/MyStore/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=enter&thispage=PartsListIndex.htm&ORDER_ID=!ORDERID! and scroll down.  On the right side of the page is a list of projects with supporting links.  These are gold plated, IMO. 

And LOL, I only spent a couple of years on a tender back in the day.  Even at just 6' I quickly learned to walk around with a stoop.   

[Lectroid]

There are certain places in life where it pays to be short. 

[stephenaug]

got that permeant creased forehead! plate steel is not forgiving
we'd joke that when your ship sank you'd be able to walk to shore

Ahh so that explains the receding hairline!!