First Project Considerations

[hpdonat]

I have been building and designing effects and other stuff for a while now. I've become pretty comfortable with that, but because I already have a couple descent amps and my budget, I haven't built an amp yet. Anyway, I want to at least start the planning process, but I thought it might be wise to reach out to some with more experience for a bit of guidance. As I stated, I have a limited budget, but I am hoping that won't exclude me. Besides the expensive stuff, ie the tubes, chassis, cabinet, transformers, and speaker, I pretty much have all the parts. I also have an adequate break press and access to some thin awg. scraps of steel that should be large enough for the chassis. As for the cabinet I also have a descent shop with the hardware to handle that as well. I can worry about the covering, corners, knobs, handle, feet, and hopefully anything else I might be forgetting till later. That leaves the tubes, sockets, transformers, lamp, a heavy duty switch and whatever method I use to mount components. I'll probably end up getting a few capacitors and maybe some resistors to match exact values. Anyway, I just want to go into this having covered all my bases. With that being said, and I apologize about the long winded prologue, I hope some of you have endured to this point, but my question is, despite my level of comfort with effects pedals and similar devices, will I be qualified to take this on? Considering this is my first amp, should I just wait to save up for a simple kit? Is tackling something like this with just a schematic unheard of as a first time project? Anyway, thanks for your time and consideration. Any insight will be appreciated, and please don't hold back, if you think I'm crazy to even consider this, let me know.

[Dave]

Not crazy. I have never built a kit. I'm sure many of the members here built their first amp from a schematic. Personally, I couldn't afford to by a nice amp and opted to build my own when I got started. Pay careful attention to safety practices and never underestimate a tube amp's ability to make your wife a widow and give it hell.


Dave

[shooter]

I've become pretty comfortable with that

I already have a couple descent amps

will I be qualified to take this on?

Only you can prevent house fires 


what's the "end-game"?  to say you did?, you make a killer amp unlike the ones you have?, you're ADD and need just 1 more thing....
day one of engineer school; KISS
since you do pedals n such, my suggestion a low watt, <20W clean amp that loves pedals, doesn't add any real special sauce, simply amplifies "your sound"

[Esquirefreak]

Read up on grounding - the smart ways to do it and what makes them smart. Valvewizard's site is a known good source.

Look at different power supplies and try to understand the basics of them.

And read this forum. Especially the threads where beginners have run into issues and problems.

Look at Uncledoug's videos on YT where he explains the basics of tube amps.

Do all this before starting your build and you will probably save yourself from headache.

/Max

[hpdonat]

Not crazy. I have never built a kit. I'm sure many of the members here built their first amp from a schematic. Personally, I couldn't afford to by a nice amp and opted to build my own when I got started. Pay careful attention to safety practices and never underestimate a tube amp's ability to make your wife a widow and give it hell.


Dave

Yeah, I need to remind myself more often about the hazards of electricity, but thanks for the vote of confidence.

[hpdonat]

 <20W clean amp that loves pedals, doesn't add any real special sauce, simply amplifies "your sound"


You got any ideas for a twin in that range?

[hpdonat]

Read up on grounding - the smart ways to do it and what makes them smart. Valvewizard's site is a known good source.

Look at different power supplies and try to understand the basics of them.

And read this forum. Especially the threads where beginners have run into issues and problems.

Look at Uncledoug's videos on YT where he explains the basics of tube amps.

Do all this before starting your build and you will probably save yourself from headache.

/Max

That's funny, I watch Uncledoug's channel all the time

[hpdonat]

I've become pretty comfortable with that

I already have a couple descent amps

will I be qualified to take this on?

Only you can prevent house fires 


what's the "end-game"?  to say you did?, you make a killer amp unlike the ones you have?, you're ADD and need just 1 more thing....
day one of engineer school; KISS
since you do pedals n such, my suggestion a low watt, <20W clean amp that loves pedals, doesn't add any real special sauce, simply amplifies "your sound"

I think that would be about the perfect size. I'm shooting for a blackface twin sound and feel, good with pedals, lot's of headroom, something your not afraid to take home to mom

[AlNewman]

On a limited budget, find an old radio or an old silvertone type amp that needs work.  Either rebuild or mod a working platform, or if you have the ability to build a chassis and cabinet, rob the parts and do something fresh.  I would recommend fixing and modding existing circuits to learn how it all works.  It's relatively inexpensive, and you will know what you would like to achieve without needing to follow a layout and parts list.  You'll also make a lot of mistakes, which nobody wants to do when they lay down $1000 in parts to build their dream amp.

Learn as you go, and you'll be able to pick and choose donor projects for what you someday would like to build.

[shooter]

I'm shooting for a blackface twin sound and feel

hunt up a broke one, a broke musician to take advantage of, local craigslist.  You  will be $$'s ahead, have a "proven" design that you can lean from
the "why's" they did that, the how's to fix that.

[hpdonat]

On a limited budget, find an old radio or an old silvertone type amp that needs work.  Either rebuild or mod a working platform, or if you have the ability to build a chassis and cabinet, rob the parts and do something fresh.  I would recommend fixing and modding existing circuits to learn how it all works.  It's relatively inexpensive, and you will know what you would like to achieve without needing to follow a layout and parts list.  You'll also make a lot of mistakes, which nobody wants to do when they lay down $1000 in parts to build their dream amp.

Learn as you go, and you'll be able to pick and choose donor projects for what y ou someday would like to build.

That reminds me that I have an old transformer, tubes and a chasis from an old juke box. I never considered that.

[glass54]

Hi HP
You could do Sluckey's AB763 Lite/LiteII with Passive effects loop> That would cover your <20W amp, proven reliable schematic/topology and well documented project. 
...and if you wanted to take it to the next step, consider an active loop addition as suggested by Valvewizard or as implements by Tubenit in some of his projects. https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=10208.msg93686#msg93686
My thoughts.
Regards
Mirek

[electrical]

edit: listen to the more seasoned hands here over anything I have to say. Good luck, have fun, learn how an amp can bite you, always have healthy respect for the energy in an amp.