Build or Buy

[LukeCurd]

With metro, mojotone, triode electronics, ceritone, c3 amps, etc having very reasonable prices and schematics it seems that building your own is a MUST for folks like me that don't happen to be RICH.

With a $100 for a hakko soldering station and $500 in parts you can build a 2203 that runs for $1200 and up on ebay.

So for about $600 investment and a $400 cost to mod from a reputable amp tech it seems $1000 for an amp that suits my needs seems like a pretty good deal.

What do you guys think?

PS this is not a bash on amp companies, I know many of whom have spent years perfecting their craft. I have just always been the guy that couldn't afford to take his car to a proper mechanic so I fixed it myself. I have done my own amp repairs for awhile now. I think I am ready to take the next step and build my own. Anyone else ready take the plunge?

Also there could be a rig-talk schematic amp. Since I feel information should be free to the public. The more I learn the more interested I become with amplifier design.

 

[scottosan]

As long as you plan on keeping it forever no problem. Dont expect to even recoupe you initial investment if you ever sell thouogh

 

[ratter]

I think building anything strictly to save money is a horrible idea. You can get any number of great used amps for ~$1k.

On the other hand, I think building something for the satisfaction of doing it yourself and to learn something is a great idea. If you save money along the way, bonus.

 

[Anonymous]

With metro, mojotone, triode electronics, ceritone, c3 amps, etc having very reasonable prices and schematics it seems that building your own is a MUST for folks like me that don't happen to be RICH.

With a $100 for a hakko soldering station and $500 in parts you can build a 2203 that runs for $1200 and up on ebay.

So for about $600 investment and a $400 cost to mod from a reputable amp tech it seems $1000 for an amp that suits my needs seems like a pretty good deal.

What do you guys think?

PS this is not a bash on amp companies, I know many of whom have spent years perfecting their craft. I have just always been the guy that couldn't afford to take his car to a proper mechanic so I fixed it myself. I have done my own amp repairs for awhile now. I think I am ready to take the next step and build my own. Anyone else ready take the plunge?

Also there could be a rig-talk schematic amp. Since I feel information should be free to the public. The more I learn the more interested I become with amplifier design.

I already provided a rig-talk schematic amp. You are way off on your prices as well. I'd like to see where you get $500 in parts to build a 2203.

Oh, here are the schematics. I've also provided a full layout diagram. There may be some minor errors either in the schem or layout at this point since when I tested the amp, I found some things I didn't correct, but hey, if you are gonna attempt this, you'll learn just like I did. Pretty fun and flexible amp. If you want to hear it, I put a link to a video of it below. If you search around here, you can even find step by step instructions for building the whole amp:

Here is a video of the amp:

Steve

 

[MrDan666]

You are way off on your prices as well. I'd like to see where you get $500 in parts to build a 2203.

I was thinking the same thing!

 

[Anonymous]

You are way off on your prices as well. I'd like to see where you get $500 in parts to build a 2203.

I was thinking the same thing!

Yeah man - I love when I see people saying that the Cameron CCV is $500 in parts and way overpriced and should be $1500. Just ridiculous. I know what quality amps cost to produce and it is more than the $1500 people think Brad should be charging. Unless you are a very large company and have economies of scale to reduce pricing when sourcing parts, amps are not cheap to make...

Steve

 

[racerevlon]

Steve,

In reviewing this design, this is never going to work. All those colored lines inside the amp are just going to muck things up. Get all that weird colored and numbered stuff out of there and it'll be much cleaner. Hell, some of the stuff even looks like you wrote it in Greek or something. Jeez.
















Outstanding work bro! Extremely envious!!

 

[Anonymous]

Steve,

In reviewing this design, this is never going to work. All those colored lines inside the amp are just going to muck things up. Get all that weird colored and numbered stuff out of there and it'll be much cleaner. Hell, some of the stuff even looks like you wrote it in Greek or something. Jeez.
















Outstanding work bro! Extremely envious!!

Now go build one!

Steve

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

EVHIII is what 999$?? Tons of Peavy amps go in the 6-800 used range. Ceriatone sells completed kits in at your 1k range. I see a lot of JCM800 vertical combos come up at 850 thereabouts. Then you could spend your 20$ on parts and mod it for a bit more gain or just spend extra on a pedal that gooses it. Don't ever think you save time and money.. i did that years ago with two builds. You get frustrated by problems, takes wayyyyyyyy longer than you think it will, will not have same resale, and by the end when you have swapped in this or that, you will think hey, why didn't i just buy that JCM800 combo?

 

[FourT6and2]

Got my Chupa for $700.

 

[Anonymous]

Got my Chupa for $700.

How much ya pay for that VH4 though?

Steve

 

[Chubtone]

Got my Chupa for $700.

Since you are in Michigan, I am going to help you out. Chupacabra is a Spanish word. When you abbreviate it to "Chupa" it means Suck. Literally. And if you paid $700 for that.......

 

[midnightlaundry]

I spent about $1G on my Trainwreck build, but I have parts left over. For example, if the amp needed say 7-100k resistors, I bought 10. So, I have extra of almost everything. That also includes the cabinet and everything to finish the wood.

Ceriatone amps are a good deal, but you have to deal with an overseas buy, and you won't learn anything.

 

[chunktone]

You are way off on your prices as well. I'd like to see where you get $500 in parts to build a 2203.

I was thinking the same thing!

Ya, me too! You might get into a cheap kit minus tubes and a headshell for that.

 

[Anonymous]

You are way off on your prices as well. I'd like to see where you get $500 in parts to build a 2203.

I was thinking the same thing!

Ya, me too! You might get into a cheap kit minus tubes and a headshell for that.

I'd say minus transformers as well...

Steve

 

[ConcreteVampire]

I think building anything strictly to save money is a horrible idea. You can get any number of great used amps for ~$1k.

On the other hand, I think building something for the satisfaction of doing it yourself and to learn something is a great idea. If you save money along the way, bonus.

All this^
And no resale.
And yes, your guess at cost is off. That's got to be no trannies, or headshell.

My Soldano HR 50+, $999... I got a vintage modern 100 watter $900 NEW

There's a factory tricked out Mako in the classifieds for $1000...

 

[FourT6and2]

Got my Chupa for $700.

How much ya pay for that VH4 though?

Steve

$2800

 

[FourT6and2]

Got my Chupa for $700.

Since you are in Michigan, I am going to help you out. Chupacabra is a Spanish word. When you abbreviate it to "Chupa" it means Suck. Literally. And if you paid $700 for that.......

Yeah, the Goat Sucker is a great value. Make fun of it all you want. But for what you get, the price is awesome.

 

[LukeCurd]

Here is where I got the $500 figure. It includes iron but sans tubes. They charge around $125 or the PT.OT,Choke.
http://www.triodeelectronics.com/100wmarshkitv2.html

I have seen some other transformer sets in the $250 range. This is the most I would spend on Iron.
4 12ax7's and 4 EL34 price out around $100 shipped.
Ceritone sells complete wired boards for $100 shipped.
Figure on another $100 in Capacitors from ARS, F&T or Sprague
Lets call it another $100 for chassis,pots, wire, & switches

I don't plan to pay the extra $300 or so in a head shell and face plates. Sourcing parts from Mouser or Allied Electronics should be cheaper too.

Also its much cheaper using Hi-Fi,Fender style or project transformers vs the "Plexi" ones. They jack up the price for that.

on Resale value. The point of building these amps is so I don't have to throw the baby out with the bath water. If there is something about the circuit not "doing it for me" I change it up. Versus chasing tone in the Classified section I will chase tone from my home.

Cool thing is when you buy in bulk you save tons. A $150 transformer can go down to $60 if your buying 10 or more. This is where it would be cool to have a RigTalk group buy in with a manufacturer if anyone was so inclined.

 

[LukeCurd]

Got my Chupa for $700.

Since you are in Michigan, I am going to help you out. Chupacabra is a Spanish word. When you abbreviate it to "Chupa" it means Suck. Literally. And if you paid $700 for that.......

Yeah, the Goat Sucker is a great value. Make fun of it all you want. But for what you get, the price is awesome.

I really dig the Chupa vids you did. I just which ceritone would just sell the parts or schematic.

Luke