FrankenHead and FrankenCabinet build

[Paul P]

I installed the reverb tank. It's an Accutronics 9AB2D1D :

When I went to install the chassis I experience an "Oh xxxx !" moment when
I discovered that the output jack on the bottom of the reverb tank ended up
right over my reverb transformer and there was no way a plug was going to
fit in between. So I had to move the jack on the tank over a few inches.

From the front :

I'll be moving the footswitch jack back to its proper place and reinstalling
the intensity pot.

The speaker cabinet is now in my living room, though I still have to install
the speaker.

Paul P

[black_labb]

looks great. control panel looks great too.

[Steve Conner]

Looks great, the woodwork is beautiful

Shame to hear about the Oh xxxx moment, but I don't think you can avoid those. The last one I had was when I discovered the speaker magnet in my combo build stopped me from putting anything into the IEC mains socket on the chassis, and I couldn't relocate the socket.

I found that if I sunk it right into the chassis on spacers, I could just jam a particular brand of mains lead in. Eventually I blew the speaker, and the replacement had a smaller magnet that solved the problem

[Paul P]

Thanks guys. There is a "Part 2" to my "Oh xxxx" moment. I finished everything
yesterday (I'll post shortly with some pictures) and set the amp on top of
my cabinet in my living room and just left it there, figuring I'd try it out today
since it was late and I was exhausted, and I was kind of queasy about doing
it after all these months. Anyway I finally broke down and tried it out and
was disappointed to hear a buzz coming from the reverb circuit. Aaargh...

I was a bit concerned about how close the output coil of the tank was to my
reverb transformer and I guess it was too close. When I had the amp on the
bench I moved the tank real close and didn't hear any noise so I figured it was
going to be ok. I can move the tank up an inch or two which hopefully will be
enough (after I take everything apart again, which involves removing a pile of
screws and 13 knobs with two set screws each).

Oh well...

Paul P

[tubeswell]

Nice one Paul P!

I've had a heap of those moments in my recent build too. Seems I habitually take two steps forward and three steps backward at times. So if you've only made one small boo-boo, you're ahead of me mate ;-)

[Paul P]

I've actually played guitar the last couple of days, something I hadn't done
in months. Got to build those calouses back up...

With help from Casey4s for the idea I used some pieces of wood to attach
the chassis to the box. The strips are screwed to the chassis sides then
3" machine screws screw up from underneath into the strips :

The rear control panel and frame are made the same way as the front,
except for the screws having to be on the outside. I'll probably replace
them with something a bit nicer sometime. Again it's paper on formica,
followed by 1/8" plexiglass, held in place by the frame :

A close-up of the power tube control center :

Paul P

[Paul P]

At last, the final installment...

Here's the front panel with the knobs installed :

Here is everything together :

And the reason for all of this, my new guitar which has been hibernating in a
closet since last June. It, along with the amp, are to celebrate my fiftieth
birthday, which was last November.

Thanks to all of you that shared the experience with me. I couldn't have done
it alone, that's for sure.

Paul P

[tubeswell]

That last one especially is a very pretty picture.
Now you should get practicing and post some sounds

[black_labb]

that looks excellent. great job