Amp build...Pics included

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GuitarGuyLP

GuitarGuyLP

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I am on a bit of a budget lately since I am not working. I have a few things that I am looking for in an amp, but I am having a hard time finding it. So I made the decision to build my own amp. Here are the specs...

Preamp - made from London power preamp kits. D-Pre (dumble preamp) for clean, and mid gain. Z-Pre high gain.
http://www.londonpower.com/catalog/inde ... 2598c6c5e4 for kit specs.

Power amp - custom design. I am basically going to start from scratch. My plan is to have very little to no feedback, a master volume, and power scaling.

Transformers - Antek toroidal transformers.

Other - My plan is basically for a 3 channel foot switchable 50 watt amp that weighs under 25 lbs. The combination of toroidal transformers, and an aluminum chassis will cut a lot of weight. Also the head shell will be made out of 1/2" plywood with fiberglass re-enforcement, or possible a new material that I have access to through my parents sign shop which is basically aluminum re-enforced plastic. It bends in a standard sheet metal break, and it seems quite strong. The front panel is going to be a 3mm piece of flame, or quilt maple. I am hoping that the piece I have on order is big enough to cover the front of the aluminum chassis as well. I will see once it arrives.

I will post pics of the chassis with transformers, and tube sockets later today.
 
Sounds good man, looking forward to seeing/hearing the progress - good luck! :thumbsup:
 
I got wood!!!!!

My wood has arrived. I got out the camera, and took a couple pics. Here they are. I also took a quick pic of my Chassis with the transformers on top. I haven't mounted them yet. I want to do a layout of my power amp, and power supply eyelet boards first so that I can be sure it will line up.

I am thinking about using one of the three pieces on the left. Shipping, and tax in the wood cost me $50!!!!
 
I had some time to start working on the power supply board, and I got the transformers mounted. I am basically going to get all the boards made, then drill all the mounting holes in the chassis, then I will prime, and paint the chassis before assembling everything. Here are the latest pics.
 
Lots of progress made!!!!! I got my Preamp kits the other day so I was able to drill the holes in my chassis, and mount the pots. I have also assembled the preamp PCBs. I am still waiting on my choke so that I can finish mounting everything. Today I should have the preamps done, and wired up. I have to move the main decoupling cap to the back of the board because the mounting screws have to be 4-40, and the longest ones I could find were 3/4". With that cap around back it should not be a problem.


The front panel layout is

Input, channel select
High gain controls (first group) across bottom - low, mid, high. Across top - gain, volume

Clean/blues channel (second group) across bottom - low, mid, high, clean volume. Across top - clean/blues switch, early drive, late drive, blues volume, mid shift

The high gain channel is based off of a Soldano SLO, and the clean/blues is based off a Dumble. I should be firing up the preamp today!!!!!
 
I forgot to mention the final pot is going to be the power scaling control :rock:
 
that's pretty cool! :rock:


would love to hear some clips when you're done.
 
Thanks for all the comments!!!!

I got the SLO based channel up, and running yesterday, and I am in the process of hooking up the Dumble based channel. I looked a bit closer at the instructions, and I found that I will have to add yet another control!!! So the one that I have labeled as clean/blues is actually jazz/rock voicing, and I will be adding a switch for clean/distortion. That channel is going to have more switches then some Mesa channels!!!!!!! I also received a call that my choke has arrived so I am going to try to get that mounted, and my power supply hooked up. For testing I am borrowing power from my peters, and since the heaters are in series I am getting 12 volts from a wall wart. So far it sounds great. I am getting a bit of squealing, but I am sure that is from the big ground loops created by the way I have it hooked up.

I will post pics of my preamp wiring later today!!!
 
That's super cool man. Is this the first amp that you have put together?
 
Yes this is my first amp project. I have played around with a couple of other circuits, but this is the first build from scratch amp...or I guess build from kit, with some parts from scratch.

Here are the latest pics. I have both preamps hooked up, all the controls are working, but I still have to drill another hole for the mid shift switch on the D-pre side.

I have fired both preamps up, and I have to say I still have some noise on the high gain side, but the Dumble side is probably the best clean, jazz, and blues sounds that I have ever heard!!!! I might be getting another one of these for a small class A amp!!!! I fired it up just to test it out, and ended up playing for about 45 min!!!
 
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