I want to build an Allen Accomplice...

[jcv]

... but I've never built an amp before and I'm not much of an electronics guy. I've done a bunch of electronics work being a machine tool technician for several years working on CNC controls. That was mostly R&R (Remove and Replace) work and the trouble shooting I did was based on my knowledge of the machinery I worked on - I do not a have a good working knowledge of electroics in general.

I am a pretty good solderer. I am good with my hands.

Do you think I could build an Accomplice kit? Does a person need more expertise in electronics before attempting such a task?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I really want an Accomplice and I'm not considering the build to save money. I think I would thoroughly enjoy the work and I would get a lot of satisfaction out of playing the amp when it's done - assuming it works LOL

[topbrent]

His instructions will make it easy work for you. Very thorough.

Read the instructions all the way through before you start.

Identify all parts in the kit.

Check and double check your resistor/component values before soldering.

Take your time, Be careful and it will work out great. :)

[GearHeadFred]

I would encourage you to do it.... It's really special to play through an amp that you have built yourself!

I don't have experience with Allen kits directly, but I understand that the directions are excellent, and that David will support you by taking the amp and debugging it for you if you get stuck and it won't work. Go slow... study a lot... Try to make a new friend who has experience with bringing up an amp for the first time...

Usual caveat: It is possible to kill yourself doing this.. So always keep that in mind!

[jcv]

Thank you very much for the replies.

It sounds like I need to be able to pay attention and know how NOT to die! LOL

The things I do know about electronics are how not to kill myself. I have worked around capacitors bigger than a beer can - man killers! LOL

Thanks again. I am on the verge of deciding to do this.I welcome any further encouragemet... or the opposite if need be.

[Blue Strat]

From what I've been told, Allen's instructions are the best, bar none, and you'll have a very good chance of success.

The only thing I might recommend would be to do a VERY simple kit like a Tweed Champ first.

[TweeDLX]

Thanks again. I am on the verge of deciding to do this.I welcome any further encouragemet... or the opposite if need be.
I just finished (tonight!) restoring an Allen Accomplice that I picked up on eBay. Tha amp had been totally butchered/modded into something else. David was very helpful in sending me parts and photos, layouts & schematics to work from. All I can say is...wow! Nice sounding amp! Worth having in your arsenal. Build it!http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon14.gif

Mike

[jcv]

I just finished (tonight!) restoring an Allen Accomplice that I picked up on eBay. Tha amp had been totally butchered/modded into something else. David was very helpful in sending me parts and photos, layouts & schematics to work from. All I can say is...wow! Nice sounding amp! Worth having in your arsenal. Build it!http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon14.gif

Mike

Thanks for the nudge! I did hear a guy play an Epi LP through an Accomplice last week at a jam and it sounded GREAT. I will have one ;)

The only thing I might recommend would be to do a VERY simple kit like a Tweed Champ first.

That might be a good idea. Can you recommend a good one?

[Blue Strat]

I just finished (tonight!) restoring an Allen Accomplice that I picked up on eBay. Tha amp had been totally butchered/modded into something else. David was very helpful in sending me parts and photos, layouts & schematics to work from. All I can say is...wow! Nice sounding amp! Worth having in your arsenal. Build it!http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon14.gif

Mike


David's customer service for a used amp can't be stressed stongly enough. He certainly didn't "owe you" his time for this project. Time is money and it should be recognized when a merchant goes above and beyond.

[cap'n rory]

I love my Accomplice build, suggest you consider a Legend 15" if you order a kit from David as that is the route I went, and that amp is really good. I had no problems with his clear instruction manual, and other than one self made problem with a one poor solder joint, which a buddy and me found with the "plastic chop sticks" probe method, that amp went together well and has been a joy for two years now. The real trick is to keep amp building from becoming addictive!

[jbever]

I have built a Mission 5E3 and an Allen Brown Sugar. In a perfect world, a 5E3 or champ is a great way to start. That being said, David Allen is a great person to buy a kit from. His parts are top notch, his instructions are well documented and his support is second to none. Plus, as with some other builders, if something happens and you can't get it to work, David will have you send it to him and he will bail you out.

Building your own amp is a great thing to gain knowledge about what is happening on the amp side. Beware it is a disease! Once you get a little bit of knowledge, your little thirst for knowledge can become a consuming hunger.

My advice is do it, enjoy it, you will be very proud of your accomplishment!

[jgm]

I get entirely where you're coming from - I have two Allens and didn't build either one despite years of working with my hands. But I would bet you could build one without difficulty given your background.

You'll dig the Accomplice - excellent no nonsense gig amp, very versatile. Mine has the 40 watt transformers which might be worth considering since the amp powers down nicely (decent master combined with the raw control) even with 6L6's, and the extra headroom adds more versatility. The component quality is great on these amps and for my money they are a great value.

The best resource you have with these amps is David Allen himself. You could not ask for better customer service. I would suggest you call David, tell him your background and concerns and I have no doubt he will steer you straight.

[TweeDLX]

David's customer service for a used amp can't be stressed stongly enough. He certainly didn't "owe you" his time for this project. Time is money and it should be recognized when a merchant goes above and beyond.
Without a doubt, David is a "class act" (pun intended!).
This morning I received an email from him about a change I could make to reduce hum in the reverb. Something he just figured out. That is definitely above and beyond the call... By the way Mike, one of those Mullard CV4024's you sent me found a home in that Accomplice. Sounds great. Thanks!http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon7.gif

Mike

[pfrischmann]

The mission 5E3 is a great way to start. Bruce at mission is a great guy.
I'd bet with yout basic technical skills, you'll be fine and if not, you can always send it to Dave Allen to fix er up.

If you can follow a layout and are fairly methodical , you'll be fine.

[willhutch]

You don't need to understand the theory in order to assemble an Allen kit. You just need the right tools, a little soldering skill, and a conscientious attitude toward the project. The instructions will tell you what to do step-by-step.

[tlainhart]

I agree that David's kits and instructions are top-shelf. Just so that you don't make the same mistake that I did...

I built an Old Flame, and because it was my first build, trusted the instructions more than the layout. Because there were some subtle bugs in that version of the manual (it's a cookbook style), I introduced some build errors that I was ultimately able to fix prior to power-up.

So, always trust the layout over the instructions, and use the instructions to guide you through assembling the board/amp.

[Kingofdogs1950]

+1 for David's kits. I've built three Allens - Accomplice, Hot Fudge/w Nuts and 5F1+. The Accomplice was the first in 2001. The others did not come with instructions but after successfully building the Accomplice I found a layout was all I needed for the later builds.
My vote is to go ahead and build the Accomplice if that is the amp you want. Ideally you would start on a kit with a smaller parts count but I wouldn't build a Champ or 5E3 unless you actually want a champ or 5E3, not as practice for a more involved build.
It doesn't take a lot of tools. To me, the mindset of building the amp very carefully and checking everything (as you build and later with fresh eyes) will get you through lack of technical knowledge. When I build my Accomplice I knew nothing about building amps. I followed the directions and the amp worked on first power up.
My .02 worth.

Mark