Work Has Begun on TGP Bedroom Amp #1

[stvnscott]

All,

I have started building the Mini Wreck version of the TGP Bedroom Amp. I will document my progress in this thread and post pictures as I go along.

At this point, I have built the boards and machined the chassis to about 50% completion. Once I finish the chassis and get all the hardware mounted, things should fly along unless I hit a snag.

The chassis for this amp is **tiny** so it is going to be a very tight fit! If I build another one the I'll go up a size for the chassis. The other model (#2) will definitely need a much larger chassis for a dual channel switcher.

I have not perused the speaker choice any further as of yet.

[boogieplaya]

:drool

[stvnscott]

Here are the 1st pics! Full photo gallery is here (http://s2amps.phanfare.com/album/507875#imageID=33014725).

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/507875/710304/33014725/file.jpg

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/507875/710304/33014752/file.jpg

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/507875/710304/33014886/file.jpg

[Fineblend]

Looks really neat!

For speakers, maybe those Warehouse Speakers, one of the lower ratted ones, will keep costs down....

[dayn]

Drooling bigtime...I want it allready!

[phatster]

That IS a mini size rascal! How bout the name Rascal!:AOK

[the_Chris]

Nice!

[Shawn S.]

Whoa, you're really close.

Jazz Guitar Major at UNT in Denton.

[Realfi]

Sexy!

[Fineblend]

the next big question will be, when can we get in line, har har!

[changeling]

yeah man.
r
p.s.
if you build 2 models,1 wreck and 1 optimized for blackface cleans and slight grit,you won't need channel switching;)(or a larger chassis)....i'll use an axxess amp switcher,and use the same speaker cab.
looks real fine.nice job;and thanks for caring.

[dayn]

How about naming it "Little Engine" as in the Little Engine That Could.

[stvnscott]

Gotta tell ya...

I'm extremely spoiled by my custom metal shop. I haven't had to work with a blank chassis in a long time and had forgotten what a pain it is!

All hail the laser punch machine thingy!

[jaydawg76]

Cool, is there a schematic for this little guy?

[stvnscott]

Cool, is there a schematic for this little guy?

There **is** a schematic, but I'd rather not publish it until the circuit is finalized. I'm sure there will be some tone tweaking once I fire it up and try it with some different cabinets.

[rocketman223]

Glad to see something other than EL84s!

[lchyi]

Whoa nice... looking forward to seeing the cute little beast (a hardwood decorative head cab would be sweet...)

[ChmpgnSupernover]

Wow very cool.

[stvnscott]

Thanks for the compliments, guys!

I may have hit a snag, though. The chassis may turn out to be too small to actually pull it off. I may have to start over with the next size up :(

D'OH!

My GF has a thing tonight, so I'll have some time to mess with it some more. I may be able to nudge a board in a different direction and make it work. If not I'll be delayed a week while I wait for another chassis to arrive.

[phatster]

Take your sweet time for TONE!

[Andy J.]

Any chance of getting one that works on 230V?
:drool

[stvnscott]

Well, I took some giant leaps forward in building the 1st one of these this weekend. I finished it! It is so small that I literally built parts of it with tweezers. My partner's take on it is I managed to fit 100lbs of sh!t into a 50lb bag.

When I fired it up, flames actually shot from the power transformer. I've never had that happen before. I checked my wiring, which was correct, then removed and dissected the PT. It has an internal short. ARRRRRRRGH! I have another one coming next week.

I was really looking forward to test driving it this weekend :(

[dayn]

Once the new PT arrives and it is finished (and after you have tested it), are you still going to send it around for testing to some of us, or are you going to make clips and then make it available for sale?

What is the ultimate goal/end of the amp? Can we buy it (I hope so)?!

[stvnscott]

Once the new PT arrives and it is finished (and after you have tested it), are you still going to send it around for testing to some of us, or are you going to make clips and then make it available for sale?

What is the ultimate goal/end of the amp? Can we buy it (I hope so)?!

The plan is to send it out to TGP members. I'll ship it to the first volunteer, who will play it, maybe record it, generally check it out, then ship it to the next person in line. Each person just has to agree to pay the shipping to the next person and do it within a week of receiving the amp (and not to steal it). I'm not sure how that will work exactly--as in keeping the amp from disappearing after a few jumps. We'll work that out in a couple of days.

I currently have no plans to offer it for sale. The point of the exercise is to see if a tiny amp can be made to sound HUGE at very low levels. I suppose if I succeed and people threaten me enough, I could offer it for sale ;)

[stvnscott]

Any chance of getting one that works on 230V?
:drool

Maybe, but I haven't gotten that far yet!

[MBreinin]

Awesome! I will gladly volunteer to play it and fully review it, although I know nothing about recording. I need to learn how to do that....

Mike

[dayn]

I volunteer as well, although I have no recording equipment.

Consider yourself threatened (i.e., can you sell them please?)

[stvnscott]

The replacement PT should be here tomorrow. So with any luck, I'll have new pics to post here and FINALLY get to check it out for the 1st time. I will obviously keep you all posted!

In other news, Paul at Mercury Magnetics has agreed to hook me up with primo iron for this little endeavor :)

[eric-d]

I'd love to check it out - but I don't have a cab ... (damn combos - :D) My friend does have a 2x12 Orange cab though.... hmmmm....

[mcuguitar]

I have recording equipment and decent mics... I'd be honored to try your amp.

[jaydawg76]

There **is** a schematic, but I'd rather not publish it until the circuit is finalized. I'm sure there will be some tone tweaking once I fire it up and try it with some different cabinets.

Right On, I can't wait to see and hear how it turns out!!!

[giventofly]

This thing sounds awesome. I too would love to try it, but also only have combos at this time.

"If" (and hopefully when) you decide to sell, what kind of price point would you shoot for?

If it sounds as good as it does on paper sign me up!:drool

[stvnscott]

Sadly the new PT was to delivered to my office today, but my kiddo got sick and I had to leave before it arrived. He has strep so I'll be out tomorrow too. D'OH!

How is Thursday? Does Thursday work for you?

[phatster]

Got to keep the family Well.Hope your child is OK!I'll test drive...plenty of cabs but no recording stuff.

[esoteric pete]

steve,
nice to hear things are coming along! hope your kid feels better.


guys, if you havent played an s2 before, steve is the real deal...gold ears. he did a Pro jr. conversion for me a couple years ago and it was a smoker for sure! it still might be on his site, a little red marshall-looking combo...tone for days!!

so steve, am i going to need one of these "flame throwing tranny" amps?

me thinks yes =)

[stvnscott]

This thing sounds awesome. I too would love to try it, but also only have combos at this time.

"If" (and hopefully when) you decide to sell, what kind of price point would you shoot for?

If it sounds as good as it does on paper sign me up!:drool

I'm sure it will sit atop one of your combos very nicely :JAM

[stvnscott]

OK. We are back on track with this thing. The new PT came in today and I should be able to get it installed tonight and finally hear the little monster.

I've had people barraging me with email and PMs about selling them--especially about price. I guess I've had my rubber arm twisted.

I've done some cursory calculations and think the pricing structure could look like $1200 direct for a combo and $1000 for a head. I might be able to do better than that, but I haven't had time to really zero in on it. What is left depends on the speaker cost (could be as little as $40 or as much as $140), how the chassis are made, whether it is PCB or PTP, whether the face plates are plastic or metal, whether the transformers are Mercury or something else, how much the cabs cost, etc. You get the idea.

I'll keep working on it and let you know how it turns out.

[Scott Auld]

I'd like to see a pic with something in the pic for size reference - a baseball, or your hand, etc.

Very cool project, good luck with it. :)

[stvnscott]

The 1st one is 10x6x2". So it is quite a bit smaller than a sheet of paper. It is the only one that will be built with tweezers ;)

The next one will be 12x8x2", so it will be just larger than a sheet of paper.

I'm planning to take some pics this evening, so I'll update things.

[dayn]

What about a kit option for those who can't swing $1000?

Did you get the 10" greenback yet? Curious to hear how it sounds with this amp!

[stvnscott]

What about a kit option for those who can't swing $1000?

Did you get the 10" greenback yet? Curious to hear how it sounds with this amp!

Sadly my attorney won't let me do kits anymore because of a Darwin Award candidate. :jo

I'll see what I can do on the price as soon as I can. But the truth is there is a fairly high cost of admission for a hand-made tube amp no matter what the power.

[phatster]

I would recommend a middle-of-the-road speaker because if it can be tweaked we will do so.Easy change speaker design will be useful,our collective mouths are watering only augmented by the fear of mucho price!

[Scott Auld]

But the truth is there is a fairly high cost of admission for a hand-made tube amp no matter what the power.

That's the way it should be. There should be no price break on a 5W amp over a 50W amp -- you still had to do the same research, trial & error, and build work. Anyone who thinks a boutique amp should be cheaper because it's less powerful is a dummy-head. :D

Cool stuff, S2. Thanks for the dimensions, that is freaking small.

Scotty

[stvnscott]

I would recommend a middle-of-the-road speaker because if it can be tweaked we will do so.Easy change speaker design will be useful,our collective mouths are watering only augmented by the fear of mucho price!

Yeah. I know. But I think the choice of speaker will be dictated to me by how it sounds rather than price. And what if sounds best with a Celestion Blue in a Thiele or something? :eek:

But what is a middle of the road speaker? A Chinese Greenback costs $100 plus shipping even at "wholesale" for those of us who can't afford the ginormous investment it takes to become a real Celestion dealer. Is that middle of the road?

I'm an Emi dealer. A Private Jack would probably be too much speaker, but maybe the Legend GB clone at 50W? Why doesn't Emi make a 10-20W speaker when I need one?

Anywho. We'll see how it works out. I need to do more research. I'm sure there will be options at different price points for the speaker.

But we may be getting ahead of ourselves here. It may suck!

[JohnnyBeck]

Someone may have already said this. Sorry I didn't re-read all the posts again to see. But the "Flamethrower" would be a great name for this amp since the first one blew that way. It would give a story to the name right off the bat.

Later,
j

[Doug H]

What kind of output tubes?

And what is this "bedroom amp" thing?

[opdev]

I'd try it too. I'll compare it against the Carr Merc, my tweed Gibby, Vibrochamp and Regal II in 5 watt mode.

I love messing with small amps

[dayn]

+1 for the Flamethrower name!

[Scott Auld]

Flamethrower is a cool name, if the sound of the amp matches it.

[Jahn]

I kinda like "Spitfire" since it's a small amp with some moxie. "What a little Spitfire!"

[Jerrod]

I kinda like "Spitfire" since it's a small amp with some moxie. "What a little Spitfire!"

Yeah, except Matchless has been using it for over 10 years.

[dayn]

Just curious...

How can these amps sell for so cheap:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?p=3378905#post3378905

And yet we are talking $1k for this one? Just curious what makes such a huge difference.

[Scott Auld]

Popcorn time

[Jahn]

Yeah, except Matchless has been using it for over 10 years.

woooops. well at least you know you can count on me for good ideas! uh, ones that are taken that is.

[r9player]

I'm excited to see how this will turn out.
As for names.
since Spitfire is taken .. maybe go with with some famous counterparts.
the Zero
the Mustang
the P-51
or the Messerschmitt

or more modern.
Harrier

[stvnscott]

Hey, I like the WWII fighter names!

[stvnscott]

Popcorn time indeed!

OK. Let's explore the cost issue here.

To answer your very direct question, I have no idea how those amps can be sold so inexpensively. Looks like they might be prototypes.

Let's ignore fixed costs for a while. Those include things like electricity to my workshop, my equipment (soldering station, o-scope, tone generator, drill press, mitre saw, multimeters, work benches, shelving, etc.), consummables, safety equipment, rent, fees, taxes, subscriptions and so on (the list literally goes on forever). Let's just focus on unit cost or the cost to make one amplifier.

Without going nuts here since I've only just begun this process, let's look at what I do know and look at parts.

I need a chassis. If I use a blank Hammond chassis and machine it myself (2 hours labor, but more on that later), it costs about $20. These are all wholesale prices by the way. If I spend 10 hours with AutoCad, I can have a chassis made by my local CNC metal shop for about $45 each assuming I order 50 of them. I don't need 50 of them yet.

I need transformers. One option (the cheapest) is Hammond. They make great power transformers, but outputs are hit or miss. A power transformer for these specs costs $33. A choke costs $11. I have a couple of options for output transformers. If I want the best frequency response, I can go with the 16 series. They are Hi-Fi transformers, but they can sound really good for guitar if things are done correctly and you don't mind a more refined sound. These cost about $40. Or I could go with the 125 series, which are designed for guitar, but have a raspy tone and a limited response. They run about $32.

So far, we are up to $96 in parts if we take all the cheapest options and we haven't actually done anything yet.

Let's talk about tubes. For the amp in question, we need 3 12AX7s. My cost on average new production tubes is about $6 each, so add $18 more. Then we need power tubes. This amp uses EL91s, which run about $10 each. So add $38 to the total for tubes.

We are up to $134 and we have a blank chassis, a set of inexpensive transformers, and a set of tubes. We are nowhere near making music yet. Oh, and I haven't actually paid for shipping on any of this stuff yet either.

We can't sell an amp without face plates. Short of silkscreening a chassis (which isn't really possible since we are looking at more than one model), the cheapest way to do things is with stick-on labels. Noone on TGP will accept that so let's go to cheapest option 2, which is engraved plastic. Those cost 50 cents per square inch plus charges for standard holes. Using a 12x8x2 chassis, that costs $43 for the amp in question.

We are up to $177 in parts alone and are still nowhere near producing sound.

A head cabinet costs $175 for 11 ply baltic birch with basic tolex.

We are up to $357.

If we want to save a little money on the cabinet, we can use 9 ply or pine. But the savings will be minimal since the fixed costs and labor will remain the same.

We are still nowhere near producing sound. We haven't looked at the cost of a hand-made board, tube sockets, stand-offs, diodes, resistors, capacitors, potentiometers, knobs, jacks, hookup wire, shielded wire, power scaling components, retainers, shields, handles, feet, speaker cables, misc. hardware, FOB shipping, upcharges for a combo cabinet, speaker...

Then there is labor. Lots and lots of labor. It doesn't matter if I am making a 50W amp or a 5W amp. The labor is the same. The same number of parts, same number of tubes, same number of wires, etc. are involved. I seem to be worth $265/hr at my day job. I'm sorry if you find that offensive, but I make my company millions of dollars every year by designing eyeglass lenses and software for their manufacture. As an amp builder, I try to get $10/hr.

I think I can wrap this up now. I am up to more than the same price as the amp in question without even finishing the parts required to build this amp. We haven't even looked at labor or fixed costs yet.

In closing, if the less expensive amp is more appealing to you, buy that one. I can't come anywhere near that price and won't even think about trying.

We also have the value proposition. I offer a standard lifetime warranty with my amps. To date, only 2 people have needed to exercise it and both had their amps fixed free of charge. How much is that worth?

[eric-d]

Kick ass...

[Jerrod]

s2amps,
Thanks for a gracious answer to a not-very-gracious question.

[fender23]

You cannot quantify "value", it will always be a subjective thing in the mind of the buyer. If Ford, Mercedes Benz and Porsche don't worry about it, you shouldn't either. Just keep making good amps and quality and value will have a way of taking care of themseves. Your explanation was above and beyond.

[Doug H]

So I guess no one wants to explain what the "bedroom amp" thing is...?

[dayn]

s2amps,
Thanks for a gracious answer to a not-very-gracious question.

I asked the question and meant it quite literally, and VERY graciously! Thanks for the honest and detailed answer. I have no interest in the other amp I linked to...just for comparison and to ask a question that I know was on numerous people's minds (if you read their comments in the thread, numerous people had price concerns).

The goal of the amp for me as a buyer would be to have a similar tone and feel to a Trainwreck, without having to pay $20-50K and in a smaller package that has reasonable volume. WELL worth the prices s2amps is quoting and I LOVE the project.

I hope it turns out so wonderful that many people want to buy it, my self included!

[Scott Auld]

s2amps,
Thanks for a gracious answer to a not-very-gracious question.

+1, s2amps is a man of class.

[stvnscott]

So the little monster is up and running. But nowhere near being ready for prime time.

The good news is it definitely sounds like a Wreck. Those little EL91s pull off EL34 sounds pretty well and have a good, full frequency response.

The bad news is it is really freaking loud. I'm measuring about 6W. I was shooting for 3.5W, so I went a little over the top. An inefficient speaker is going to be a must or I'll have to look at different power tubes.

And I have a lot of tweaking to do. The PI is overpowering the power tube grids, so I need to either adjust the PI for less gain or attenuate the signal a bit before it enters the PI. The negative feedback isn't quite right. I need to adjust that as well.

Then I need to do some tone shaping.

I'm off for 3 weeks starting Friday, so I'll have plenty of time to tinker with it in the near future...

[Scott Auld]

Vacation is good stuff, ain't it? :)

[phatster]

You were sooo articulate in responding to the price question...have you thought about politics!? l'm anxiously awaiting your masterpiece.

[r9player]

Um this may sound stupid but what about adding a Master Volume?

[garyrogue]

This is interesting, thanks for the updates.

[stvnscott]

So I guess no one wants to explain what the "bedroom amp" thing is...?

The bedroom amp concept is to build a very low power amplifier that sounds huge at bedroom levels--like maybe as loud as a moderate television. There are several threads in this area on the board.

[stvnscott]

You were sooo articulate in responding to the price question...have you thought about politics!? l'm anxiously awaiting your masterpiece.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Sorry, but I'm not a very good liar. I'm also not very good at waiting for polling data before I answer a question :jo

[stvnscott]

Here are some updated pics:

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/507875/710304/33993959/file.jpg

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/507875/710304/33993963/file.jpg

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/507875/710304/33993980/file.jpg

More pics are here:

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/album/507875#imageID=33014725

[stvnscott]

Um this may sound stupid but what about adding a Master Volume?

It's hard to put a MV in a Wreck when at least half the OD comes from the power tubes. A MV would really upset the balance of things.

Besides, that's what the power scaling is for...

[MBreinin]

Damn, that looks great!

I want to try it!!

Mike

[dayn]

Looks amazing! Fun to see tone dreams coming true before my eyes!

[98FlySupreme]

Possibly the best thread in the history of TGP. Is there any chance that members here could design or vote on a design for the final look (i.e. tolex, knobs, grill, faceplate)? To do the amp justice, I think it should be equally sexy in appearance.

[lchyi]

YES I love those knobs, please keep em. Ever since I saw those on the old school Bassmans I wanted to put them on everything... I have no idea why they're so appealing.

[JZG]

I'm off for 3 weeks starting Friday, so I'll have plenty of time to tinker with it in the near future...

3 weeks off? I need to go into the amp business.

Seriously though, I'm anxiously awaiting the completion of these amps (along with the Category 5 I just ordered).

[Londoncalling]

Popcorn time indeed!

OK. Let's explore the cost issue here.
...



S2amps, That was a very informative answer! As this thread continues I get more and more interested in this amp (and its follow on)...

[stvnscott]

3 weeks off? I need to go into the amp business.

Seriously though, I'm anxiously awaiting the completion of these amps (along with the Category 5 I just ordered).

Not 3 weeks off from building amps! Three weeks off from the day job! I have about 10 amps to build over the holidays, so I'll be busy!

In all seriousness, though, my amp business is just a cover for my meth lab and weed farm :D

[r9player]

uhm the FBI and the NSA read the TGP!!!

[stvnscott]

Possibly the best thread in the history of TGP. Is there any chance that members here could design or vote on a design for the final look (i.e. tolex, knobs, grill, faceplate)? To do the amp justice, I think it should be equally sexy in appearance.

Anyone who has some cosmetic ideas, feel free to post them. I'm wide open as to the final look and feel!

[BluesForDan]

The bad news is it is really freaking loud. I'm measuring about 6W. I was shooting for 3.5W, so I went a little over the top.

I don't get it, what was the bad news again? :D

[dayn]

You could go with a solid wood cabinet like the original TW's with a wood faceplate that has woodburned words, but that might get pricey.

I would love to see a red tolex 1x10" combo with Marshall S&P grillcloth with a Celestion G10 greenback.

[phatster]

I like the solid wood cabinet as well..naturally elegant!

[Jerrod]

I'll cast a dissenting vote. The wood cabinet has been done... I vote for something sort of 60s space-age.

[will132]

I would love to see a red tolex 1x10" combo with Marshall S&P grillcloth with a Celestion G10 greenback.


That sounds nice.

[r9player]

Well if it is going to be a bedroom amp. Shouldn't it be something that the SO would appreciate having in the bedroom?

[phatster]

To appease the SO we could make it look like a shoe box!:BEER

[Category 5]

Shoebox!

that's too funny! Maybe a hinged top jewelry box, dual function!

DonR

[stvnscott]

I like the solid wood cabinet as well..naturally elegant!

Like this?

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/55997/55997/4176902/file.jpg

Yeah, but you don't want to know what I paid for those cabinets :eek:

[stvnscott]

Just floating an idea here, but what if I could squeeze it into a tweed Blues Jr type cabinet? I think I could convince Mojo to build me a version of these that would house my chassis for a pretty reasonable cost. These could also be done with different tolex colors and grill cloth options...

Small, compact, 12" speaker, grab-n-go combo anyone? Dames like tweed!

http://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/images/4000099.jpg

Maybe?

[dayn]

The mojo cab is a good idea...not tweed for me, but red tolex and 1x10. I think whatever can be done to make a quality looking/feeling/playing/sounding amp that is affordable for us but still worth it for you. Whatever that balance is.

Those wood cabinets were beautiful but I can imagine they were a pretty penny!

[phatster]

Yeah those cabs are the bees knees....the mojo example works for me,I do like a 12".

[stvnscott]

Well, I've had some time to work on this thing and am pleased to report some very good progress.

The power scaling is now tuned to the right range to get some pretty sweet tones at almost any volume (still doesn't sound perfect below 0.5W, but still sounds pretty good). I have tweaked the circuit to yield a little more clean headroom, but still put out some crazy good lead tones. I've also tuned the circuit for the proper frequency response curve at lower volumes.

So far, the amp sounds very good through my closed back 2x12 with G12-65s. It obviously doesn't push them like the real thing, but it does surprisingly well with this cabinet--epecially for heavier distortion and singing lead tones.

It also sounds pretty good with my open back 2x12 with Tone Tubbies. These speakers really need to be pushed to sound their best (they need about 1/2 their total power), so I'm not surprised that something is missing in this configuration. 30 to 50W amps make these speakers really shine.

What is weird, is the amp sounds its best through a 1x12 with a Jensen P12Q. In this scenario, I had all the controls set to 12:00 (except for the post gain, which was set to 9:00) and played an HSS Strat Deluxe with WCR pickups and RS pots through it for about an hour yesterday. It was giving me some of the best blues tones I've heard in a long time and could go from crystal clean to some really awesome grit using the volume and tone controls. It would really scream on the HB with the volume on about 6, then clean up on the SCs for stellar clean and dirty rhythm tones. I was a very happy camper.

I still need to try it with a single Greenback. Unfortunately, the ones I have here are 16 Ohms and the transformer I used on this 1st unit only has an 8 Ohm tap.

I don't have the 10" GB yet. Apparantly, they are still not quite available.

More to come (but heck, it's Christmas Day and the family is going to find me soon :)

[Category 5]

Steve,

I have a 8 ohm ten inch neo,did you try it through the 12" neo yet?


DonR

[mojocaster.com]

Very cool thread. This sounds like an exciting project!

[Metalhead Mike]

This is a juicy thread. I'll be watching with more-than-some interest - keep up the awesome work!

I think the Blues Jr. combo-cab idea with tolex/grill options would be fantastic.

[P90Nut]

I have enjoyed following this thread. The tweed is a nice option.

Good luck,

Mark

[kwk13]

This is VERY cool!
:drool

Not that I know much about this stuff but why have I never heard of those power tubes before??

[stvnscott]

I've had some time to mess with this a little more and built a Black Face type bedroom amp on a whim. This one sounds a bit like a cross between a Deluxe Reverb and a Super Reverb. I'm still waffling on the output tubes. I can't decide between 6AK6s and the EL91s I used on the Wrecktified one. The 6AK6s sound closer to a 6V6 or 5881. The EL91s sound more like a cross between an EL34 and a 6L6. Both sound great, but different. Unfortunately the socket wiring is not the same, so they can't be swapped in and out without rewiring.

Anywho, here are some pics:

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/536384/751955/34959188/file.jpg

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/536384/751955/34958552/file.jpg

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/536384/751955/34959186/file.jpg

And a more complete photo gallery is here:

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/album/536384#imageID=34958552

I plan to get face plates and cabinets ordered today or tomorrow.

I'm also in the middle of building a modern lead type bedroom amp.

[trumpus]

Any possibility of selling a blackface model?

Brian

[stvnscott]

Any possibility of selling a blackface model?

Brian

I can have my arm twisted into just about anything. Would you like to be the first to try the prototype?

[trumpus]

I can have my arm twisted into just about anything. Would you like to be the first to try the prototype?

I just might! PM me with the details?

Brian

[v-verb]

Like this?

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/55997/55997/4176902/file.jpg

Yeah, but you don't want to know what I paid for those cabinets :eek:

Love those cabs! Make that an option IMO.

[rocketman223]

Put all three amps in one head and call it "the triple Lindy" use the "trucker girl" for a logo, or something cheesecakish ala a WWII plane.

[stvnscott]

Here is the 1st draft of the face plate design for the black face amp (the Wreck plates will follow as soon as I have the easier one down):

http://www.s2amps.com/docs/tgp_plates_rev_1.0.pdf

If you happen to have Corel Draw or something that will open the file and want to try your hand at it, the original file is here:

http://www.s2amps.com/docs/tgp_plates_rev_1.0.cdr

I also have the cabinet more or less designed and ordered. Here is a very rough idea of what I've been thinking about:

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/536384/751955/35141122/file.jpg


Right now the cabinet price is a little higher than I would like for this project, but they are being made by Reason, which is the same uber great cabinet maker we use for all our Category 5 cabs.

So what do you guys think?

[r9player]

I guess what is the final pricing going to be on the amps?

[dayn]

Will the wreck have a line out with level control? Would be great to be able to slave it into a larger amp for more volume at gigs!

[stvnscott]

Will the wreck have a line out with level control? Would be great to be able to slave it into a larger amp for more volume at gigs!


That's the plan at least for now. The prototype does indeed have one.

[Category 5]

Full Disclosure-I'm Steve's partner in Category 5 and do the QA for those amps. Just got the Blackface Bedroom S2 model in for QA testing-first impression is that my wife will love it! It gets beautiful cleans and a great overdriven tone down to conversation level. At the volume on 5 and power scaling on 5, it is a perfect on the verge of breakup blackface tone with lots of sustain. I'll beat on it this weekend some more, then send it back to Steve for a cab and let it start making the rounds. The tone is like tight bottomed princeton reverb, but with a really smooth transition from clean to overdriven. This is a tone monster and sounds so much bigger than 4.8 watts. It kills any era champ. You could spend hours on this amp and feel like its got 40 watt tone, but your ears won't hurt! Haven't got to the miniwreck yet, but this one is going to be built at least one more time for sure:)

DonR

[trumpus]

I can't wait - I think I am on first in line for the Blackface!

Brian

[trucks]

:worried GAS!

[STLBlues]

My 2 cents.... the Blues Jr type cabinet (as shown) with a 12" blue and Mercury Magnetics transformers would be ideal. Especially interested in the T'Wreck inspired version.

Just floating an idea here, but what if I could squeeze it into a tweed Blues Jr type cabinet? I think I could convince Mojo to build me a version of these that would house my chassis for a pretty reasonable cost. These could also be done with different tolex colors and grill cloth options...

Small, compact, 12" speaker, grab-n-go combo anyone? Dames like tweed!

http://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/images/4000099.jpg

Maybe?

[phatster]

Thats a very good basic offering,we will trick it out from there.Keep up the good work,you certainly are prolific!:JAM

[stvnscott]

OK. Face plates have been ordered as have 2 head cabinets in black and cream. All should be here in about 2 weeks.

I think the next iteration is going to use a slightly larger chassis to give me some elbow room and help keep things a little tidier in the build.

I'm also actively working on pricing for you guys. It still isn't final yet, but I expect to be able to hit an introductory price of $999 for a head for GPers. The combo will be about $200 more. I won't be able to keep this price for long, but I will certainly give you guys a deep discount.

There is a Plexi version and a Modern (think Soldano) version in the near future. There might also be a Vox type thing too if there is demand for it.

[STLBlues]

OK. Face plates have been ordered as have 2 head cabinets in black and cream. All should be here in about 2 weeks.

I think the next iteration is going to use a slightly larger chassis to give me some elbow room and help keep things a little tidier in the build.

I'm also actively working on pricing for you guys. It still isn't final yet, but I expect to be able to hit an introductory price of $999 for a head for GPers. The combo will be about $200 more. I won't be able to keep this price for long, but I will certainly give you guys a deep discount.

There is a Plexi version and a Modern (think Soldano) version in the near future. There might also be a Vox type thing too if there is demand for it.

With the Plexi version coming down the pike, I've got a decision to make! How "gainy" do you plan on making your "T'Wreck bedroom amp"? How about the "plexi" version?
Thanks!

[stvnscott]

The Plexi version will be as close as possible to the 1968 transitional amp. I am trying to match the gain as closely as possible.

The Wreck version is a little lower gain than the real thing. I did that for 2 reasons. One is to give it a little clean headroom at such low power. The other is to make it more stable. Everyone who has tried it prefers the lower gain version. Don't get me wrong--it still does the Wreck thing. You just have to turn it up 1 more number to match the original.

[voojo]

The Plexi version will be as close as possible to the 1968 transitional amp. I am trying to match the gain as closely as possible.

The Wreck version is a little lower gain than the real thing. I did that for 2 reasons. One is to give it a little clean headroom at such low power. The other is to make it more stable. Everyone who has tried it prefers the lower gain version. Don't get me wrong--it still does the Wreck thing. You just have to turn it up 1 more number to match the original.

Does it go to 11? :droolBut seriously I haven't followed this thread, I read it all today and what a great concept. Love the fact that you take suggestions. Since I haven't followed this project for awhile, what is your wattage limit? If you do a Vox style amp what are you looking at for wattage? Keep up the great work!!

Seth

[stvnscott]

Hey Seth,

The power is 5.8W for EL91 power tubes (which sound kind of like a cross between EL84s and EL34s) and 4.6W for 6AK6 power tubes (which sound like something in the 6V6/6L6 camp).

It is possible to increase the power by using different power tubes, but these little 7 pin pentodes vary in pinout, so you have to rewire the sockets to change tube types. They also vary wildly in primary impedance, so the OT may need to be rewired or changed, so swapping tubes on the fly isn't really practical.

[BAN]

There is a Plexi version and a Modern (think Soldano) version in the near future. There might also be a Vox type thing too if there is demand for it.

Honestly, this is just not fair. I'm trying to reduce my gear buying in '08. Now I have to collect all 4.

Damn.

[stvnscott]

Here are a couple of early pics of the head cabinet:

http://www.s2amps.com/pics/s2_bedroom_IMG_0857.JPG

http://www.s2amps.com/pics/s2_bedroom_IMG_0858.JPG

[farlowhigh]

I just read this whole thread tonight and this mini-wreck sounds really great!!! I am very tempted by this and the price seems entirely reasonable to me especially given all the work the builder has done in researching and trying out stuff for this project...very cool that he is taking suggestions from potential buyers...

I really don't need another amp but this may prove irresistible! I can't wait to hear some clips of this thing in action!

[Crikey]

+1!


Crikey

Honestly, this is just not fair. I'm trying to reduce my gear buying in '08. Now I have to collect all 4.

Damn.

[stvnscott]

Pics of the head cabs after tolexing:

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/536384/751955/35848035/file.jpg

http://s2amps.phanfare.com/show/external/536384/751955/35848041/file.jpg

[arfalax]

That's looking awefully tasty....

[dayn]

Downright beautiful!

[pfflam]

georgeous!!

I wan't one . . no, make that all three flavors! and the fourth(coming) too . . .

Just need to get some steadier work than adjuncting and then I'll be in line fer sure!