Do you think I can do it?

I have enough cash to buy a Weber kit, also considering a Boothill. I'm thinking about the 5E3, but I would really like to build a brown Deluxe. I've built effects in the past, so following directions and taking my time are concepts I can grasp.

The problem, I have nerve damage. It causes my hands to shake, bad. Not Michael J. Fox bad but bad enough that I can't build a pedal anymore. I can solder the electronics in a guitar without making a mess of it. So the question is how tight does it get in there? Is this hands steady enough for brain surgery work, or can I shake while I build?

Another question, does anyone sell a brown Deluxe (6G3 I think) kit? I appreciate any and all advise as I'd rather save my cash than burn up a perfectly good amp.

Take a look at the layouts
6G3 http://www.webphix.com/schematic%20heaven/www.schematicheaven.com/fenderamps/deluxe_6g3_schem.pdf
5E3 http://www.webphix.com/schematic%20heaven/www.schematicheaven.com/fenderamps/deluxe_5e3_schem.pdf

The 6G3 is a little tighter, but not terrible. If you can get the wire into guitar pot lugs, then I would thing you are steady enough to do a mildly complex amp like a 6G3 or especially a 5E3. I would suggest Teflon wire or a cloth wire that does not discolor or lthe inner plastic melt. Even with steady hands, I prefer wire that does not show my mistakes:lol:.

I don't know of a 6G3 kit off the top of my head, but a PR chassis and new face plate would be a good start.

I think you'll do the components on the board fine. Wiring the Tube sockets will probably be a b!tc#! But I think you can :)

It's an extra step but you can assemble most of the electronics in a jig. A jig can simply be a board with a piece of Masonite tacked to it. Punch some holes in your Masonite (or any thin sturdy material) punch some holes in it for your tube sockets. You can drill holes in the same jig for the front panel controls. Load the circuit board into the jig and solder all the connections at the sockets. Then flip the circuit board (tag board, turret board) and wire the controls. Once everything is assembled stuff the assembly in the chassis and install the hardware.

The asset of a jig is you can cut it away or use the minimum material required to support your parts. That way you're not tryin' to snake your soldering in at some screwy angle to avoid burnin' everything in sight.

Brown Deluxe: No one offers a kit. I've talked to several vendors and suggested they offer a kit, so far no takers.

A stripped down brown Deluxe circuit fits nicely in a Musicmaster Bass chassis.

I do not see why you can not build an amp as the components are usually wider spaced than an effects board. With eyelets or turrets, even with a good PCB board once you fix the part (eyelet might be the trickier of the bunch) you can arrange a block or something at the right distance to rest your hand on so the iron touches the part. Just shift your hand a bit touching the part and the block giving you the stability.

I was thinking the same as Muchx a jig.
The tube sockets are a bugger on amps like tweeds where the tubes are on the bottom of the chassis. With a jig you could lay the sockets flat.

I always use a jig for the controls and the input jacks so I can do that assembly outside the chassis.

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/1/5f6bd1.jpg
By boothillamps (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/boothillamps) at 2011-09-22

Here's a 5F6A.

I have some wooden jigs for the 5E3 also.

I have not made a jig for tube socket werk. I find it easy enough to solder the flying leads to the socket pins w/o a jig.

I could certainly make one for you if you required such a jig. Or you could make your own. Cardboard can serve as a jig.

I have on hand some extra 5E3 jigs for the input side. I would include one of them in your kit.

I certainly appreciate the votes of confidence. Sitting here right now I think my best course of action would be to build a 5E3. Then at a later date go for the 6G3. Who knows, by then there might be someone who offers a kit. Or maybe I'll feel confident enough to source the parts I would need. Either way I'll have two fine amps.

I like the Jig idea, I'm beginning to think I can make this work.

Hackworth, PM coming your way.

I'll think you'll be very happy building a 5E3 DF (love the handle) and building a jig is a great idea and maybe as printer mentioned to see if you could come up with some way as a block to help stabilize your hand or hands to minimize the shaking could possibly really help for a neater job..congrats on getting Hacks kit. !!

A jig that I needed to build one of my amps.

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp142/printer2_photo/guitar%20amp/MrEd-5.jpg

At one time I could solder anything, now with age I need glasses and am not against using a magnifying glass while using them. Whatever gets the job done.

Probably be easier to bulid than to do repairs, since you can use a jig.
My hands don't shake, but I can seldom replace a part without getting the iron into something I didn't mean to.

Probably be easier to bulid than to do repairs, since you can use a jig.
My hands don't shake, but I can seldom replace a part without getting the iron into something I didn't mean to.

Part of that is these rat's nest layouts we sometimes see. It's interesting to look inside Fenders, say the "same" amp from the '60s through late '70s production. The late '70s amps are just thrown together. Combine the messy wiring with that nifty plastic insulation Fender used... yeah, you gotta be extra careful.

I try to wire my stuff so each step is in logical order and everything is tucked away. It might take a little more time but it pays off 'cuz I only have to do it once.

Lot's of things to consider. I've been reading most of the recent 5E3 threads, just to see what I need to look out for. I'm trying to not over think this, easier said than done.

With that thought in mind, who has the clearest set of instructions for building? Links please? Anybody have pictures of neat wiring/grounding jobs they care to share? Every reply is greatly appreciated.

Here's a good one. It's a tweed Pro built on a budget. Didn't save a lot, maybe a couple bucks on those carbon films. But... it's ready to add tubes and go in the pic.

See how all the wire tucks in so you can barely see it in this view? Plenty of room to work in there as long as everything is tidy.

The filament string is all wired in the pic. It's tight to the chassis so it doesn't get in the way.

You can do it. If you do it wrong, we'll help.

Do it!

I should have moved faster. My wife paid off her son's current medical bills. I wouldn't mind too much, but she used my guitar/amp fund to do it. I'm glad she told me before I placed the order. On the bright side I don't have to worry about a collection agency busting my chops.

I haven't been stopped, only delayed.