Building my first amp.....suggestions please

[toneman335]

I want to tackle a new adventure.....building my first amp. Never done anything like it but I am confident of my abilities given the correct knowledge. Plus, I am very motivated!

. what books and/or DVD's must I get and study?
. what would be a good first amp to build?
. is a D'Lite OD kit a doable venture?
. good source of tools and various parts I will need?

Please share anything else you think is important to know.

Thanks

[hasserl]

My advice is to start by working on amps first. Replace filter caps, install three prong cord. Learn how amps are typically put together by working and playing with them. One of the best excersizes is to take an amp that you do not have a schematic for and draw out your own schematic, following the power supply first then the signal chain. Identify each of the components along the way and study up on what they are and how they work, and what they do. There is plenty of information available on the net, google is your friend. This may seem daunting at first, but by the time you've got your first schematic drawn you'll have a very good foundation for building your amp knowledge on. Plus you'll know how to read a schematic!!! I don't know how many people attempt to build amps without knowing how to read a schematic, they just follow a layout. This is a poor way to go, and I advise against it, LEARN HOW TO READ A SCHEMATIC!!!! The next step would be tweaking the existing circuits to learn how changes to the circuit effect the performance.

Then start hanging out at boards like AX84.com, which is probably the best for newbies to learn from. A great first build project is the AX84 P1, or one of their other projects. Study the P1 theory document, it's got great information. And it's free! You'll get full support from that community too, it's a great way to start. Another way to go is with a 5F1 kit from Weber or somebody, but there is not as much support. And if you just start building amps, assembling from a layout, you won't learn what you should. After that first build you'll be ready to tackle bigger projects, like the D'LIte kit you mention (I wouldn't advise starting there).

Also, search for and download the Neets manual, look for an online version of the RCA Receiving Tube Manual, these are the two best books you can get to learn about amps, and along with the AX84 theory doc you have a wealth of information, and it's all free. If you want to buy some books and increae your knowledge go to London Power and purchase Kevin's books.

[sliberty]

A D-Lite might be too ambitious for a first build, but the idea of getting a kit is a good one. I would suggest building a Mission Amps 5e3 clone or a Doberman Amps P1 as your first build. They will give you an opportunity to make some of the typical mistakles that fifrst time builders make without anything really difficult to solve happening.

[Jon K.]

+1 on the AX84 theory docs. These are a really good place to start for information - pretty accessible.

Also, I think tweed circuits make for good first builds, plus there is a lot of info on the internet for building these circuits. Sliberty's recommendation sound like good advice.

[Jason Carter]

Toneman335,

I built a D'lite for my first amp. If you take your time and pay attention to detail you should be able to complete a D'lite with no problem. I would just spend some time reading the NEETS Manuals.

http://www.zianet.com/nmamars/downloads/neets.htm

You can find a list of must have books on Randall Aikens web page.

http://www.aikenamps.com/Bibliography.html

The most important thing you must learn is where the high voltage exist inside of a valve amplifier.

The theory document on the ax84 web site is a must read for first time builders.

http://ax84.com/?pg=legacyprojects&project_id=p1

Good luck with your first build, keep us posted.

[JJGross]

I'm also at the point of starting my first complete build and I can't stress enough the value of working on amps before building them from my own point of view. Had I never fixed a few broken amps first, I would only be a solder jockey with no clue what to do if my first build has issues (which I almost expect). I taught myself to do this stuff only by reading and posting on boards like this and others, no 'real school'. In addition to knowing far more than I would have by just starting with a visual layout, I've now got a couple amps that work perfectly that I've paid next to nothing for because they were 'no good'.

One is a 70s Fender Twin Reverb with JBLs that made all kinds of ugly noise when powered up. I paid $250 for it and put $12 in parts into it and about 3 or 4 hours of carefully 'learning my way through' the repairs. Now I have an amp worth ... well a lot more than $262. I also found several mods I could do to this amp during my board surfing and messaging experienced builders. If I ever want to use these mods I also now what they'll do and more importantly why they do what they do. I've already done some simple tweaks to it for a much warmer tone than you'd ever expect from a Twin, much less a 70 Silverface with JBLs. It's also about 100% more reliable from one of those mods and it idles dead quiet, even cranked up pretty loud. Until you hit a chord you might never know it's on if not for the jewel light, especially in a club.

After reading and studying literally hundreds of schematics and layouts, I've picked my first scratch build to be a 5C1 Tweed Champ since I already have salvaged parts for one from an old junk radio (plus they're all super high quality parts for free). I picked the 5C1 for it's absolute minimal parts list, simple layout and ease of adding things after it's built like tone controls or anything else I want to try out. Along the way I've also learned to bias my own amps for different sounds and the trade-offs involved in that and troubleshooting skills like finding and verifying voltage test points. Another plus is that when I ask questions about amps, I don't (usually) sound like a complete idiot and I actually understand what the replies are to my questions if they're more involved than 'you might have a bad tube'. :AOK

No way I'd start with any overdrive amp. Start with something clean and simple that you can listen to and learn what you're listening for. Another thing I've learned is that you shouldn't build your first amp for a raging gig machine, but as a strictly learning experience that you could use or sell once you know it's working right. Then you can apply what you know from that first simple amp to more complex builds. I really wanted to start with a 2 channel amp with reverb and possibly channel switching. I'm doing the Champ so I get it 100% right with minimal 'WTF' type troubleshooting. I'll worry about all the extra goodies once I actually understand what every single component in the thing is there for. Repairing broken & neglected amps has put me miles ahead in that respect already.

Guessing your way through an amp build could kill you. All it takes is one accidental solder bridge or a wire going to the wrong place and you could have high voltage (500v range or higher) going right to your guitar stings. The more complex your first build is while you're still fumbling through it, the higher the odds are that your first mistake could be a really bad one. :worried

Start simple and ramp it up from there. The first aircraft you pilot shouldn't be a DC10 any more than your first amp should be a Dumble.

Cheers

* My opinions are worth exactly 1/2 of what you paid for them since they can no longer be sold as new. :)

[mooreamps]

Toneman335,

I built a D'lite for my first amp. If you take your time and pay attention to detail you should be able to complete a D'lite with no problem. I would just spend some time reading the NEETS Manuals.

http://www.zianet.com/nmamars/downloads/neets.htm

You can find a list of must have books on Randall Aikens web page.

http://www.aikenamps.com/Bibliography.html

The most important thing you must learn is where the high voltage exist inside of a valve amplifier.

The theory document on the ax84 web site is a must read for first time builders.

http://ax84.com/?pg=legacyprojects&project_id=p1

Good luck with your first build, keep us posted.


I concer. Read the NEETs. Also, the are other links on the web to look at.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070516211101/www.schematicheaven.com/index_HTML.htm

http://www.tone-lizard.com/Table_Of_Contents.htm


This should keep busy for awhile.

-g

[HipKitty]

I concer. Read the NEETs. Also, the are other links on the web to look at.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070516211101/www.schematicheaven.com/index_HTML.htm

http://www.tone-lizard.com/Table_Of_Contents.htm


This should keep busy for awhile.

-g



If that's not enough, I strongly suggest the Jack Darr collection. If I remember correctly, it's available free on the internet in a Adobe PDF file.

I also agree that repairing first before building...after the reading, of course. Maybe a little tutoring from a good soul willing to share the knowledge....

[CitizenCain]

I want to tackle a new adventure.....building my first amp. Never done anything like it but I am confident of my abilities given the correct knowledge. Plus, I am very motivated!

I'm in the same boat. Never did any big amp project before. First thing I did was a couple months ago when I installed a PPIMV in my JTM45 clone. That went really well. I cruised a lot of builder forums looking for the types of issues people had building amps. Read the Aiken and Paul Ruby tech info on their websites.

This is what I did for my first amp build. I'll do more. It's addicting :D

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=331938

[d l x r e v e r b]

Seeing someone working on and explaining an open amp is helpful and not something a book provides. Most people do not have access to anyone.

Gerald Weber's video series.

Just figuring out how to remove the chasis tray from the wooden cabinent is an accomplishment for most newbies. (1) Remove the screws from the external top of the cabinet while reaching into the amp and holding onto the corresponding nut (2) After pulling the screws vertically completely away from the amp, slowly slide the entire chasis tray out of the rear .

[amp boy]

i'm new to amps, building, assembling, guitars, and all.......a great first build, and bang for the buck with quality components is the Champ model 5F1 from Marsh amps. i just might have to get one of these someday.

[BBQLS1]

5F1, 5E3, or 18 watt lite would be a good starter amp. Lots or resources for them too.

[V846]

If that's not enough, I strongly suggest the Jack Darr collection. If I remember correctly, it's available free on the internet in a Adobe PDF file.

I also agree that repairing first before building...after the reading, of course. Maybe a little tutoring from a good soul willing to share the knowledge....


http://www.pacificrecone.com/JackDarrBook.html

[TheAmpNerd]

I want to tackle a new adventure.....building my first amp. Never done anything like it but I am confident of my abilities given the correct knowledge. Plus, I am very motivated!


For a first build, I'd go with a simple Guytronix amp.

http://www.guytronix.com/

Very simple, great support, and you'll have a nice
little successful first project in a day.

Then go for one of the Axe.com amps and go from there.

You won't just stop with one amp though...

Good luck and have fun.