How many only use homebrews?

[dangelico603]

So how many of you guys use your homebrew amps exclusively? I'm thinking about selling my beloved Ampeg Gemini I just to fund more amp building projects and I never gig it anymore. I use my homebrews way more but some little voice is telling me not to sell my only "real" amp. On the other hand it just sits there and wonders why nobody ever asks it to dance, sad really.
Jason

[smsuryan]

i would like to learn to make my own amp, but have no idea where to begin looking...im sure there is an instructional book out there!!!

[RomanS]

Originally Posted by smsuryan

i would like to learn to make my own amp, but have no idea where to begin looking...im sure there is an instructional book out there!!!

Here you go:
http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Amp-Han...2759913&sr=8-2

BTW, at gigs I use my homemade JTM45 clone amp exclusively - it's a Weber 6M45 kit with some tweaks and a homemade cab.

I do own a couple of factory-made amps (Carvin Vintage 16, Kustom Defender), but mainly use those for practicing at home, or for jamming with friends (as my homemade JTM45 usually stays at the band's rehearsal place).

[emu!]

That is a thing of beauty RomanS.

I too, started gigging last year with my DIY 5F2A head into a single 12" Celestion Gold. My store bought amps are gathering dust.

[Jack Knife]

Roman, that's a wicked looking speaker cab under your JTM45. What is it?

[smsuryan]

what kind of cost to make a decent amp? and by decent i mean something that sounds like a 59 bassman, with similar wattage? dont know any other way to put it, i love that sound...!!

[mojo2001]

I used to use mainly homebrews, but now I'm way into --you guessed it--VINTAGE AMPEGS... R12RB, GS-12R, AC-12...

Guess I'm going in the opposite direction from the op!

Love the blue tolex or something.

For decades I made all my own electronics for hi-fi, except my tuner and CD player. Found that much more fun than store bought.

Keep me in mind if you're selling the Gemini I. Got plenty of parts for partial trade!

[sjhusting]

I've been using homebrews exclusively for two years now. I still have one commercial amp (a Deville) but only turn it on once every six months to charge the caps. Should sell it.

I still wouldn't sell the Ampeg, though. A nice vintage amp ... dunno, I think you'll eventually regret it.

Regarding how much it costs to build a bassman - just look at the kit prices; Weber or Mojo. You probably can't source your own parts for less.

steven

[RomanS]

Originally Posted by Jack Knife

Roman, that's a wicked looking speaker cab under your JTM45. What is it?

It's an old German-made Hohner Box 60 cab (from the Hohner Orgaphon amp line) - I got it for next to nothing because the speakers were broken.
It was loaded with two 12" Pyle speakers, but strabgely the cut-out in the speaker baffle were only 10" - I enlarged one of the two holes, and mounted a 12" Eminence Legend 121 and a 10" Emi Legend 105 speaker in there, and I left the back open (it was a closed-back cab).

[jh45gun]

I made two amps a 5e3 clone and a 5F4 clone and I like both of them and both were really home brew as they were not kit made but from existing tube chassis and parts. The 5e3 started out life as a Zenith Hi Fi floor model record player from 1958 vintage and the 5f4 donor chassis was from a Hammond Organ Tone Cabinet. Now the 5e3 worked right off the bat with no issues. Wish I could say that about the 5F4 I did not look at the schematic carefully and after buying the chassis for it and other parts including a preloaded board I noticed that unlike the 5e3 it had a bias circuit which needed to be build as the PT did not have a bias tap. I built a circuit to over come this, but it did still not work right plus the PT was off putting out too much voltage so that had to be addressed things over my head so it went to the amp techs which of course really raised up the total cost. Still when it was all said and done still cheaper than buying a complete cloned head and I like it. It still has a couple of odd little quirks but only if the amp is dimed on one channel and I would never dime it anyway no need to. The high channel works perfectly only the normal channel is quirky and that like I say is only when dimed. Since even on stage it is set on about 3 maybe 4 if need be I never would need to dime it anyway and I use the high channel anyway.

[sjhusting]

jh45gun, I'm a bit confused by your problems; I've built a 5e5A (same circuit).
The NFB doesn't come from the PT, it comes from the secondary tap of the OT and it just a resistor + the presence circuit; no big deal. Or did you mean the bias circuit? That is usually done with a 50V tap from the PT. The standard Fender bias circuit is done 'on the cheap' by the way and really benefits from additional filtering.

By 'quirky' do you mean it oscillates or 'motorboats?' The two 'channels' are only the input stage, after they each go through the first triode they are mixed, so if you have a problem only in the normal channel, you don't have many places where it can be happening. Check your lead dress on the normal channel; it could be as simple as a low-V wire running parallel and too close to a plate supply.

As far as voltages being to high, remember the voltages in the Fender schematics are +- 20%; as long as you aren't exceeding any component ratings, don't worry about it too much.

steven

[jh45gun]

Thanks Steven your right I meant to say Bias or I guess I should have said that instead of NFB. Thanks for the correction. The PT did not have a bias tap so I had to build a circuit which did not work well enough which the tech fixed for me. As far as voltage goes the PT was putting out way too much and the tech had to tame it down. Now looking back It would have been cheaper in the long run to buy the right transformer instead of adapting to what I had. The amp voltages are now in line what they should be. Before they did exceed the voltage rateings of the filter caps. Yea if the Vol is dimed it motorboats and if the treble is dimed it has a cut then feed back type symtom. Like I said it only acts up if dimed. Probably is a wireing issue as using a non Super Chassis presented wireing issues as far as the layout goes. I can live with it as is and I am afraid that messing with the wireing may cause things to worsen instead of better that would be my luck. FWIW I gigged with the amp and the guys in the band love the sound of the amp so its not all bad.

[sjhusting]

Don't live with it, go after it, because it's probably oscillating even when it's not dimed - you could see it on a scope - though maybe not in the audible range, but it will still have an effect on the tone and response of the amp. Find and eliminate the oscillation.

steven

[4 Strings]

When playing bass I still use my Bassman 100 but for harp and guitar I play my homebrews exclusively. Once I get my 5E7 finished I hope to be able to use that one too for low volume bass playing. My 5E3 has the fattest, smoothest bass tone I ever heard, but as you all realise I do not play it very loud.

Hard to tell about that Gemini, but I think if you never use it and you like your homebrews then take the plunge and sell it. That way you'd fund another DIY amp and someone else gets to play your Ampeg.

[ce24]

I only gig with my homebrews...a 5E3 for guitar and a vibro Champ for harp and a weber tube reverb unit. the VC has been modded for harp but still kicks as a guitar amp when I want. I do have two Peaveys.. a C30 and a Bravo. but they get small action...

Cheers
ce24

[jh45gun]

It was put on a scope and at lower volumes it looked ok I know as I saw it when the tech gave it back to me. He was aware of it at the dimed volume too as I mentioned it to him but it got to a point of cost issues for him to look any further. As is and using the High channel with the normal shut off it sounds great and it sounds great even using the normal channel unless it is totally dimed. Even at 75% on the mormal channel it sounds good. I did move some wires from the preamp section when I got it back from the tech but it did not improve anything.

[celeste]

I do not even do clones. All my amps are at least partly my own design.

This is what is on chassis now
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...338reduced.jpg

There are usually at least tow new designs on the bench at any time.

I seem to have some issues finishing anything unless it is for a customer. Once it works like I want, I am on to the next challenge. Making them pretty seems like an anticlimax.

[GMAN715]

My Homebrews!

[JohnnyCrash]

I use homebrews 99.99% of the time.

Some my own design (especially most of my 5 watters), some clones, some clones heavily modded (like a 6V6 powered JCM800, a BF 40w with no Trem, etc).

Most of my pedals are homebrews as well. If not, they're still heavily modded by me usually :)

[kingofdogs1950]

The guitar is the Muddycaster. Muddy Waters body, Allparts neck, Lollar Special T pickups.
The amp is a 'mostly' 6G11 Vibrolux built into an Allen Encore cab/chassis I got used from David Allen. The main difference from stock is the use of a single tone knob as used on the Brown Deluxe, etc and NFB cut control borrowed from the Allen Hot Fudge/w Nuts.
Speaker is a Weber 12A125. I also have the stock baffle that has two tens, a Weber 10A125 and a Copperhead.
I plan on adding reverb later. Have to order the parts.
Grill cloth one of these days...
Heck of a nice sounding setup.

Mark

[dangelico603]

I guess I probably won't sell the Gemini because I know I'll regret it one day. I guess since we are now having "Homebrew Show and Tell" I'll show everybody my first one. It's a Stromberg Carlton PA turned into a 5C5 Pro with one channel having a Gibson GA-75 preamp and tone stack. It sits atop a homebuilt cabinet with an Eminence Legend 15".
Jason

[sjhusting]

Homebrews are imho the only way to go. How else can you get an amp that, for example, has an 6SJ7 preamp from an old Gibson, Fender harmonic vibrato, and KT66 output? Not that I've built that, but I could if I wanted to. And if you don't like it you can tear it apart and do something else. Or you can try crazy tubes (done a bit of that).

It's been ages since I've gone into a shop, tried an amp, and thought 'hmm, better start putting some cash aside.' No, now it's 'hmm, better start collecting parts.'

Right now I've got a bunch of 6AQ5s looking at me, mewing 'Steve, use me ... use me ... ten-watt Plexi, Steve ...'

steven

[jh45gun]

My Next project is not too tough mostly a cap job which is partly done I am buying caps as I can afford them. Amp is a Bogen 60 watt PA head. I added two quarter inch jacks to the back for the speakers on the 4 and 8 ohm taps and I made an adapter foir the input quarter inch female into a 3 prong male plug. replaced the bulbs that were burned out as it has two lights that light up a panel instead of one light or led like most amps have. This amp has more sections so it takes more filter caps and at different voltages so the cap job will cost me more then a standard cap job for the average amp. Still when done it will be an easy way to get 60 watts of tube power and it sounds pretty good with the caps I have installed already. It has lots of punch.

[dangelico603]

That's another thing I like about modifiyng my PA is the idea that I'm recycling something that might otherwise have ended up getting thrown away. Steven, you're right about the takin' some this and some of that and mixing it into your amp.
Jason

[smsuryan]

what companies make amp parts? we have warmoth and usacg for guitars, but what about amps? refer me to something, oh makers of amps...its totally new to me, and im stoked to make one!

[RomanS]

http://www.tedweber.com/
- great prices, good products, and a great, friendly, knowledgable user forum:
http://www.weberorders.com/forum/index.php

[smsuryan]

thanks buddy...youve helped me a few times now....youre ever in the states, ill buy you a shot!!! hope you like scotch!!!!

[sjhusting]

In the US, look also at Doug Hoffman http://www.hoffmanamps.com/ He doesn't sell kits, but chooses his parts carefully, and his amp forum is inhabited by (imho) some of the best people on the internet (PRR, HotBluePlates, bnwitt ...) I haven't seen anyone on any forum who can hold a candle to PRR.

steven

[marshman]

My first 'build' was installing an 18watt 'Lite IIB' into a donor Marshall SS amp that I'd gutted. Drilled out the holes in the chassis, mounted all the bits, etc. I bought all the parts piecemeal, and had a few troubles getting layouts to match up. I had a tech look it over to make sure it wouldn't explode when I turned it on and am trying to make all the final touches that'll make it look like a real amp, like faceplates. Still has a hum that gets prety ignernt as the vol/tone get up around 7-8, but I like it anyway.

My only advice is to think about what you want and talk to a parts supplier to get everything from one place...if you get your bits from a bunch of different places, it'll be aggrivating IF YOU'RE NEW TO IT.

Best selection of kits is probably Mojo http://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/products.asp?id=44991

If you have something particular in mind, there are plenty of specialists for that style. eg, vintage Marshall 18 watt clones, GDS is a good place to start http://gdsamps.com/

If you've a hankerin' for an accurate Plexi repro, try Metropoulos http://metroamp.com/

The possibilities are endless.

[mlove3]

gigged and rehearsed with my homebrews for about 16 years now.
works for me

[TelZilla]

I have two amps currently (a 5e3 and a 5F1). I made them both. I'm pulling together some scratch to make a 2 x el84 master vol somethingorother (probably a Matchless Spitfire with a Warehouse Greenback)

Mosly using Weber stuff, but I really like Hoffman and tubesandmore.com too.

[FiddlinJim]

I haven't been gigging much lately, but for the past few years I've built and gigged with a 5F2-A Princeton (from a Marsh kit), a 5F4 Super and a 5E3 Deluxe (both just part-gathered). I also own a SF Deluxe Reverb that's been neglected and I'm restoring an old Vega single-ended 6L6 (see thread in the new Shock Bros forum), but I won't gig with that; don't want to take that out of the house.

I like a clean sound mostly and the 5F4 Super delivers it clean and bright at all volume levels. It's my quietest by far (hiss and hum). I'm most proudest of that there one.

It may sound goofy, but learning about building amps has been one of the most interesting things I've done in my adult life.

[4 Strings]

Originally Posted by sjhusting

No, now it's 'hmm, better start collecting parts.'

Right now I've got a bunch of 6AQ5s looking at me, mewing 'Steve, use me ... use me ... ten-watt Plexi, Steve ...'

steven

Haha, I love that! I just ordered 2 sixpacks of Fender chicken head knobs. Since I only need 8 of them right now I'm gonna be left with stray 4 knobs. So what is a poor boy to do?

5F11...

[sjhusting]

Originally Posted by 4 Strings

So what is a poor boy to do?

5F11...

I did that - but used sub minis. 5902 pentodes, yeehah! It's my favorite amp.

still tweaking the trem oscillator, though ...

attached is an in-progress shot

steven