New 5W tube amp with Hi gain channel

[BOWMUSIC]

Hi,
everyone, I'm new here , I'm currently building a new tube head , 5W output with two channels, I post it here because I want someone interested can hear my test sound clips , can tell me what do you think about it so I can further improve it . It has three preamp tubes (12AX7), one output tube(6V6GT), has two channels (each has two voices),with buffered FX loop. If it get good result here maybe I will start a one-man company selling it . this thread is not for advertising, it's just a test circuit. I really want is some honest review.

here are some videos that my friends play , video and audio recorded with iPhone 12 Pro

Normal channel ,voice A
https://youtu.be/_dmU71Bijn8

Normal channel voice B
https://youtu.be/zsUmAnktPzg

Hi gain channel voice B
https://youtu.be/p5A-r3vQnZc

[J M Fahey]

Your amp sounds GOOD, your friend plays well.
Clean and crunch sounds excellent, what you call High Gain is not so, (by modern standards), listen around and check it by yourself.

Sound is about what would be expected from the very similar very popular AX84 project, maybe you got some ideas from there?

So far itīs a test/project, you still have a long path ahead designing a proper practical PCB, chassis, front and back panels, designing the proper layout, graphics, cabinet, making it "hot"/interesting from buyers, you do NOT want to make it a twin brother of 1000 other similar ones.

You will need to get affordable and reliable suppliers for PCBs, punched/mechanized/painted/silkscreened chassis, transformers, hardware (having unique recognizable harware is a bonus) plus cardboard boxes to deliver them,including foam or cardboard inserts, maybe some printed material (User manual, warranty, etc.).

Price: a complex issue: will you aim at the high end boutique market?
There you can charge good prices, but itīs better to be associated with a prestigious Guitar plyer; such customers buy half "the Amp", half the "Mojo"
As in:"this amplifier was used by ****** to record ******, WOW!!!"

If you aim at the "average" player, cost/price becomes a hard to match issue, thereīs Factories churning out similar amps in huge quantities and for a very low price.

Donīt know where you live, maybe you can have it used by a local celebrity or a respected Guitar player, that will certainly help.

Publicity: now thatīs a big expensive problem.

If you have to PAY for it, forget it, itīs a bottomless money sucking hole; again maybe you can associate your amp with a known act, even if known locally.

Does your friend have a band?

Do they have a local following?

Yes, I know, itīs Covid age, but maybe they (or others you can reach) were known and playing around before, IF everything gets back to normal would they draw significant people again?

Youīll have to do some kind of "Guerrilla Marketing" .

[BOWMUSIC]

Your amp sounds GOOD, your friend plays well.
Clean and crunch sounds excellent, what you call High Gain is not so, (by modern standards), listen around and check it by yourself.

Sound is about what would be expected from the very similar very popular AX84 project, maybe you got some ideas from there?

So far itīs a test/project, you still have a long path ahead designing a proper practical PCB, chassis, front and back panels, designing the proper layout, graphics, cabinet, making it "hot"/interesting from buyers, you do NOT want to make it a twin brother of 1000 other similar ones.

You will need to get affordable and reliable suppliers for PCBs, punched/mechanized/painted/silkscreened chassis, transformers, hardware (having unique recognizable harware is a bonus) plus cardboard boxes to deliver them,including foam or cardboard inserts, maybe some printed material (User manual, warranty, etc.).

Price: a complex issue: will you aim at the high end boutique market?
There you can charge good prices, but itīs better to be associated with a prestigious Guitar plyer; such customers buy half "the Amp", half the "Mojo"
As in:"this amplifier was used by ****** to record ******, WOW!!!"

If you aim at the "average" player, cost/price becomes a hard to match issue, thereīs Factories churning out similar amps in huge quantities and for a very low price.

Donīt know where you live, maybe you can have it used by a local celebrity or a respected Guitar player, that will certainly help.

Publicity: now thatīs a big expensive problem.

If you have to PAY for it, forget it, itīs a bottomless money sucking hole; again maybe you can associate your amp with a known act, even if known locally.

Does your friend have a band?

Do they have a local following?

Yes, I know, itīs Covid age, but maybe they (or others you can reach) were known and playing around before, IF everything gets back to normal would they draw significant people again?

Youīll have to do some kind of "Guerrilla Marketing" .

Thank you very much for your review, I'm living in China, PCBs and other stuff are not a problem , but I want to use hand wiring point to point. and this is a amp head, without the cabinet, so it's a litter easier to build. I don't know the AX84 project, but I will check it out, the schematic is designed by myself. Certainly I studied a lot of famous amp. Actually this amp is inspired by Marshall JCM800 , Fender blackface and Soldano super lead, and I use solid relays for multiple switchings.

The Hi gain channel is a problem now ,because with this test circuit ,I couldn't turn the gain all the way up, it will cause pretty bad screaming. I think it maybe the component layout which cause the problem.

I'm building a prototype now ,with chassis and screen painting ,transformer and all other hardwares.

marketing is a problem, as today almost everybody is looking the big company, not a one man builder or small workshop,. My friend who is playing the guitar in the video is a very good player, as a few my other friends but they and their bands are not that famous.

Finally , I want to thank you again. Your review is very helpful.

[J M Fahey]

Cool.
You will solve most of your screaming/feedback problem by building it inside a grounded metallic chassis, separating sensitive preamp and inputs from the rest, trying different layouts, maybe even little metal shields inside, etc.

Do not commit yet to silkscreening or ordering many chassis (metal workshops either have minimum orders or murder you with price), for now get a generic one and drill it yourself.
It will look "ugly" and end up full of unnecessary holes, but prototypes are like that, no problem.

Start humble, no need for nationally recognized Artists endorsing you yet, start *local*.
Your friend or others must be known locally, or approach a local band or Artist, even a somewhat well known Guitar Teacher, or a Music Academy, all help.

[BOWMUSIC]

Cool.
You will solve most of your screaming/feedback problem by building it inside a grounded metallic chassis, separating sensitive preamp and inputs from the rest, trying different layouts, maybe even little metal shields inside, etc.

Do not commit yet to silkscreening or ordering many chassis (metal workshops either have minimum orders or murder you with price), for now get a generic one and drill it yourself.
It will look "ugly" and end up full of unnecessary holes, but prototypes are like that, no problem.

Start humble, no need for nationally recognized Artists endorsing you yet, start *local*.
Your friend or others must be known locally, or approach a local band or Artist, even a somewhat well known Guitar Teacher, or a Music Academy, all help.

Thanks Juan Manuel Fahey, your advice is very helpful , I will post the prototype after it have finished.

[Tom Phillips]

Good job.
I like the approach you took in building your prototype rather than buying a chassis and being constrained by the size and layout.
Tom

[BOWMUSIC]

Good job.
I like the approach you took in building your prototype rather than buying a chassis and being constrained by the size and layout.
Tom

thank you ,It's just a test circuit. I want to test the design idea to make sure that it is work , and sound good. I'm now building a prototype with proper chassis, but the chassis is design by myself .It's a original design ,so the normal chassis on the market will not fit.