Just built my first from-scratch amp and it works!

[gui_tarzan]

I've repaired a bunch of amps but this is the first one I've actually built from scratch (using schematics, of course) out of a pile of parts. It works and actually has a cool sounding break-up above 5 but it needs a lot of tweaking. It makes me feel pretty good about my 5F6 Fender clone that's under construction right now and gives me a boost of confidence that that one will actually sound like it should and work well.

[Mick Bailey]

Now you're hooked. Too bad - you can no longer look at anything without thinking "Wonder if I could build an amp out of that?" I went to Ikea the other week. My other half asked me why I was looking at stainless roasting tins - we don't need one. The answer? "I could get a decent amp chassis out of that".

"You don't need another amp" She said.
I replied "You don't need another pair of shoes"
Checkmate.

[The Dude]

I wish I'd thought of that when I was married, Mick- an amp for every pair of the x's shoes...... I could now start my own music store.

[gui_tarzan]

Hahaha! I got bit by the tube bug 35 years ago when I got my first tube guitar amp, an Alamo Paragon that I still have. I repair tube guitar amps (and an occasional solid-state) as a hobby but never thought about building one like this until I ran across the DuKane intercom amp chassis that I built this on. I've been keeping my eyes open for anything tube related and have six amps in various states of repair right now, just waiting for parts.

I have a big box of tubes from an old TV repair guy and there are some really nice ones that I understand audiophiles go nuts over. I also have a very old tube tester so I've been checking them as I go through them. Yeah, it's terribly addicting but there are much worse things to be addicted over.

[The Dude]

Yeah, it's terribly addicting but there are much worse things to be addicted over.

You mean like shoes?

[gui_tarzan]

Or purses. (rolling eyes)

[Mick Bailey]

I forgot purses! Maybe I'll save that one as a backup in case the shoe argument weakens (though I don't think it ever would).

[überfuzz]

Now you're hooked. Too bad - you can no longer look at anything without thinking "Wonder if I could build an amp out of that?" I went to Ikea the other week. My other half asked me why I was looking at stainless roasting tins - we don't need one. The answer? "I could get a decent amp chassis out of that".

"You don't need another amp" She said.
I replied "You don't need another pair of shoes"
Checkmate.

Sounds more like stalemate to me...

[paggerman]

Hi Mick, my very first build was in one of those. Just rebuilt it into a OTT (sort of). That stainless steel is a bugger to drill.