umph Posted October 30, 2009 Posted October 30, 2009 (edited) right i've done a few amp builds now and recently redid two of them with new tone stacks / layouts etc. so first off this was the firts amp i built on a course a while ago now and is based on a bassman 5f6 it puts out around 50watts from 2 6l6s and does a lovely warm vintage sound on low volumes and sounds the absolute dogs cranked with guitar full picture full guts power section pre section Next i got a roost amp a while ago that was in quite a state of disrepair but the transformers where still good (i love partridge) so i rebuilt most of it and recently stuck a new preamp in which needs tidying up after a bit more testing. It has a low gain simple preamp with just gain, bass, treble, bass boost and volume controls and a single input, so it wont do you heavy overdriven front end sounds but it'll do nice power amp overdrive which is very nice with 6Xel34s. I havn't had it on the test gear yet since my dummy load exploded (always remember to turn your fans on) but it should be doing around 150watts! The head box definatly needs doing up and i'm going to be sourcing someone out to rebuild the box / make me a front plate at some point and have it done in racing green hopefully! If anyone knows anyone around the sheffield area whos good at this and isn't going to charge the earth i'd be greatful. front back whole of guts preamp - will be redone on a bigger board and tidied once i'm 100% sure i'm not going to be changing anything. my next project is going to be modding a harley benton GA5 (epiphone valve junior) into a more bass friendly recording amp that'll do big gain sounds! overall i'm quite pleased with my efforts so far in building amps although its turning into a very expensive hobby although i do recomend other people taking it up if you have the time. Edited October 31, 2009 by umph Quote
tayste_2000 Posted October 30, 2009 Posted October 30, 2009 Matamp will build/recover head enclosures, the more work you do the less they charge you so if you remove all the tolex and old glue which he will tell you how to do, then it will be quite cheap, but you'd have to call for a quote. Quote
umph Posted October 31, 2009 Author Posted October 31, 2009 bump for pictures of kt88 amp. i'd rather not go to matamp since its generally not going to be very cheap, i know jeff is the nads when it comes to covering and building cabs but, my tutor may know some people over in nottingham. The newest one which i havn't got pictures of at the minute is a 200 watter 4Xkt88 amp. This one does brutal low end, it has no problems getting out the low a sharp and then some more on my bass. Again i've gone for the lower gain approach for the preamp on this one also, but the preamps a bit different it has bright and dark gains, kind've like bridging two channels on a hiwatt/soundcity or similar amp it also has bass, treble and a master volume. It's also going to have a post power amp DI out so when i get around to getting the transformers inside - really messy but still dead silent! ran out of room so some proper PTP wiring on the input for least noise possible. the front front with all the valves glowing Quote
Pentode Posted October 31, 2009 Posted October 31, 2009 Some really cool stuff there! So did the 200 Watter start off as a SC 200? Cheers Grahame Quote
umph Posted October 31, 2009 Author Posted October 31, 2009 [quote name='Pentode' post='642104' date='Oct 31 2009, 07:21 PM']Some really cool stuff there! So did the 200 Watter start off as a SC 200? Cheers Grahame [/quote] aye it did it got completely gutted though. Can't say no to a set of 200w partridge transformers for 150squids! Quote
Kiwi Posted October 31, 2009 Posted October 31, 2009 Did you dip the transformers to protect the windings and laminations from corrosion? Have you considered doing a recreation of a Fender Super Champ at all? Quote
umph Posted November 1, 2009 Author Posted November 1, 2009 [quote name='Crazykiwi' post='642211' date='Oct 31 2009, 10:26 PM']Did you dip the transformers to protect the windings and laminations from corrosion? Have you considered doing a recreation of a Fender Super Champ at all?[/quote] nope partridge transformers are all dipped when there made, you don't really get better transformers than partridge. not a super champ but i'm going to turn the GA5 into a similar style head to one of the early champs. Quote
Rumple Posted November 1, 2009 Posted November 1, 2009 Good work! I like look forward to seeing/hearing how the GA5 turns out. R. Quote
Owen Posted November 1, 2009 Posted November 1, 2009 I do not have the skills, but can get my head around building basses. The thought of building my own amp is just too cool for words. I bet most "high end" valve preamps are a fairly small collection of good quality components. I could be wrong Quote
Finbar Posted November 2, 2009 Posted November 2, 2009 If Dean is EVER aroun nowadays, might be worth asking him about re-covering? Isn't that pretty much what he did at Matamp? That latest 200W one is looking dead smart too anyway Hadn't thought about post power amp DI before - sounds like a cool idea! Quote
ateyercheese Posted November 2, 2009 Posted November 2, 2009 That's some beautiful work pal, congrats, I love the Beige and the open-plan valve head. Quote
umph Posted December 23, 2009 Author Posted December 23, 2009 (edited) Latest one of two - a 200watter i've built for a mate. my lead dress is getting better! will have to redo the others at some point, think next amp i do i'm gonna use different tag boards and do all the connections underneath, will be much nicer this is the little 5 watter i've completely rebuilt, really needs a tidy up since its essentially just been a test bed, currently it has a 6SL7 for the pre valve and a 6v6 for the output, and volumes between each stage and a deep switch. It also has a post transformer DI so if you run it on a dummy load it can be ran straight into a power amp or another preamp which is great for recording or having more control of your distortion sound live. i'll have to do some pictures of them in their proper enclosures when they're built, i'm getting them down hiwatt style but in racing green with gold pin striping and massive logos - gonna look the absolute dogs dangleys i can't wait! Edited December 23, 2009 by umph Quote
Pentode Posted December 23, 2009 Posted December 23, 2009 Some fine, fine work there Sir! The lead dress in the 200 watter looks very sharp. - excellent! Hope my work will be as half as good as that Quote
EdwardHimself Posted December 23, 2009 Posted December 23, 2009 (edited) Very nice. A lot better than mine anyway lol XD sorry i really should shut the f*** up. Seriously though, you're an electronics genius mate and you've helped me out no end. I'm sure i'll get my stuff sorted out in no time anyway. Edited December 23, 2009 by EdwardHimself Quote
SS73 Posted December 24, 2009 Posted December 24, 2009 Superb stuff, leaving most of us wishing we could go that one step further than replacing a resistor. Quote
Wolverinebass Posted December 24, 2009 Posted December 24, 2009 This is utterly brilliant. If I could actually do more electronics than changing a plug or soldering wires on a scalextric car, this would be the sort of stuff that I'd want to do. Seriously good work there!! Quote
Prosebass Posted December 24, 2009 Posted December 24, 2009 [quote name='umph' post='692403' date='Dec 23 2009, 03:41 PM']this is the little 5 watter i've completely rebuilt, really needs a tidy up since its essentially just been a test bed, currently it has a 6SL7 for the pre valve and a 6v6 for the output, and volumes between each stage and a deep switch. It also has a post transformer DI so if you run it on a dummy load it can be ran straight into a power amp or another preamp which is great for recording or having more control of your distortion sound live. i'll have to do some pictures of them in their proper enclosures when they're built, i'm getting them down hiwatt style but in racing green with gold pin striping and massive logos - gonna look the absolute dogs dangleys i can't wait![/quote] The 5 watter is so good looking and simple , excellent work, I am sure you will get some intererested parties asking for one of these to be built for them, me included.... Have you tried cable lacing using waxed lacing twine ? When I installed telecom cables, MDF's and panels we laced them, in the good old days of British Rail when things were done slowly but properly. It is by far the most time consuming but nothing compares for looks... Merry Christmas Quote
Spoombung Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 Didn't know you made amps, Paul. Looks very impressive. Quote
umph Posted January 26, 2010 Author Posted January 26, 2010 redid the leaddress in my kt88 amp and i've done another one so heres some pictures! i'm picking up the enclosures for these very soon, really can't wait to have them done, going to look very cool! also thanks for the nice words i still need to work on my lead dress but i think it's getting better with every build. I'm still working on the smaller amp and my next big project is going to be a 600watter amp! Quote
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