i need help building my own amp

[the funk man]

hey i really need some help i want to build my own amp and i am completely stuck. to cut it short i would be really grateful if some one could point me in the direction of a good informative site were i can get to grips with the absolute basics. thank you very much for your time

the funk man

[lateralus462]

[url="http://www.torresamps.com/"]http://www.torresamps.com/[/url] do DIY kits

[chris_b]

[quote name='the funk man' post='336544' date='Nov 25 2008, 06:55 PM']....i really need some help i want to build my own amp and i am completely stuck....[/quote]
I guess that's God's way of telling you to go to the Bass Gallery and buy one!!

[Kiwi]

[quote name='lateralus462' post='336572' date='Nov 25 2008, 07:35 PM'][url="http://www.torresamps.com/"]http://www.torresamps.com/[/url] do DIY kits[/quote]
+1, also this bloke

[url="http://www.stevesamps.co.uk/services.html"]http://www.stevesamps.co.uk/services.html[/url]

I also have an amp tech, Jon Griffin, based in West London who I've used for the last 4 years. He gets the job done and I've never needed to go back to him to redo work.

Lots of details on amp techs here too:

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=198&hl=amp+tech"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...amp;hl=amp+tech[/url]

[Bigwan]

www.ax84.com

www.18watt.com

The theory's the same for guitar and bass so both these sites will suit you - ax84 has a bass project I believe.

[the funk man]

well 2 be quite honest i would rather put in the time money and effort to build my own coz it wold probaly make me feel better that going and payin a sh*t load of money to get a half desent amp that i figure i dnt like after a week

[the funk man]

but thanx to all you ppl that bothered to help im relay very grate full

[steve-soar]

Maybe you could pick up an amp that isn't working, say one of the cheapies off Ebay and rebuild it, that way you don't have to lay out for all the components for a complete amp and you will get the amp for next to nothing and gain valuable experience.

[umph]

i wouldn't build a valve amp if you have no prior experience in that field as you are working with very lethal voltages! better to buy an amp than kill yourself!

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='umph' post='337114' date='Nov 26 2008, 11:41 AM']i wouldn't build a valve amp if you have no prior experience in that field as you are working with very lethal voltages! better to buy an amp than kill yourself![/quote]


that's right... stick with transistor amps because they don't carry lethal voltages


Remember kids, it's the current that kills...

If you haven't got that fact down umph, you may want to rethink this idea - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=32494"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=32494[/url]

Edited November 26, 2008 by EBS_freak

[umph]

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='337360' date='Nov 26 2008, 03:20 PM']that's right... stick with transistor amps because they don't carry lethal voltages


Remember kids, it's the current that kills...

If you haven't got that fact down umph, you may want to rethink this idea - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=32494"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=32494[/url][/quote]
transistor amps are still connected to the mains also high voltages can give you some pretty nasty burns

Edited November 26, 2008 by umph

[Mottlefeeder]

[quote name='the funk man' post='337023' date='Nov 26 2008, 09:58 AM']well 2 be quite honest i would rather put in the time money and effort to build my own coz it wold probaly make me feel better that going and payin a sh*t load of money to get a half desent amp that i figure i dnt like after a week[/quote]
The chances are that you are more likely to dislike an amp you have built than to dislike an amp you auditioned in the shop before you bought it. Think about hum, hiss, distortion, crap front panels etc. Fixing those kinds of problems takes time. Also, an amp you bought can be sold on - an amp you built can only be sold with difficulty.

I used to built stuff until my wife pointed out that everything I built I was dissatisfied with, and usually ended up replacing with a commercial item, so only build stuff that -

a) you cannot live without, and cannot find to buy, or

b) is cheap and basic and you learn from the process.

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='umph' post='337541' date='Nov 26 2008, 06:19 PM']transistor amps are still connected to the mains also high voltages can give you some pretty nasty burns[/quote]

I take it that you completely missed the sarcasm in my previous post.

[bremen]

[quote name='the funk man' post='336544' date='Nov 25 2008, 06:55 PM']hey i really need some help i want to build my own amp and i am completely stuck. to cut it short i would be really grateful if some one could point me in the direction of a good informative site were i can get to grips with the absolute basics. thank you very much for your time

the funk man[/quote]

You say 'absolute basics' - does this mean you haven't built electronic gear before? If so then it's a bit over-ambitious to start with an amp. Why not try building some pedals first, build your skills that way then move on to preamps and eventually the whole amp?

If you're a beginner you'll make mistakes. Mistakes involving power amplifiers can be very expensive (and painful/hazardous as previously mentioned).

edit: Sorry if that sounded a bit negative. Have a look here: [url="http://sound.westhost.com/"]http://sound.westhost.com/[/url]

Edited November 27, 2008 by bremen

[the funk man]

[quote name='bremen' date='Nov 27 2008, 11:04 AM' post='338210']
You say 'absolute basics' - does this mean you haven't built electronic gear before? If so then it's a bit over-ambitious to start with an amp. Why not try building some pedals first, build your skills that way then move on to preamps and eventually the whole amp?

well i have a little expirence + im a tranee electrician (not to brag) but yes this is a verry good ideai infact i will do this thank you for rather good advice