Build or Buy

  • Thread starter Thread starter LukeCurd
  • Start date Start date
FourT6and2":e74jhbtz said:
Yeah, the Goat Sucker is a great value. Make fun of it all you want. But for what you get, the price is awesome.
Click to expand...

Wasn't making fun of it. I'm sure it does sound good. You are the one calling it The Suck. :D
 
LukeCurd":28moorj9 said:
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.
Click to expand...


Cool info ! I would love to build one just for the fun of it ! :thumbsup:
 
LukeCurd":3swhypm3 said:
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.
Click to expand...
Most people don't want a bare chassis without a head case or faceplates. Kinda hard to gig with a bare chassis. You are also talking about bargain basement parts here. Bottom line, even that $499.95 kit (or the one you are creating from the $250 kit) is going to be ~ $1000 built including the tubes, head case and hardware needed to build it. You could get an old JMP for under a grand and send it to the same modder and it would cost you the same, would likely have far better parts and be more reliable. If you want to learn about amps the "from scratch" kit build could be a fun project. If you want the best modded amp for the money, you should buy the JMP and save yourself the trouble...

What kind of tubes are you buying that you can get 4 12AX7s and 4 EL34s for $100 shipped?

I'd also like to know where you are getting 60% discounts on just 10 transformers... wish I could convince Mercury Magnetics on that level of discount!

Oh, and you're welcome for the schematics and layout as well! :thumbsup:

Steve
 
Brian, you need to clone that Langner so you have a spare baddest amp of all time :yes: :yes:
Not that it would be easy, I've seen Todd's work :lol: :LOL:
 
Steve. Your layout looks cool ! looks alittle to involved for my skill level ! Or lack there of ! :lol: :LOL:
 
JTyson":s0lmu5th said:
Brian, you need to clone that Langner so you have a spare baddest amp of all time :yes: :yes:
Click to expand...

Dude, if I could do that I would save a shit load of cash ! :lol: :LOL:
 
screamindemon":3ctrh5ep said:
Steve. Your layout looks cool ! looks alittle to involved for my skill level ! Or lack there of ! :lol: :LOL:
Click to expand...
I'm going to put the exact instructions with pictures for building it on the Henning Amplification website over time. I already started with an article on how to punch a blank chassis...

Steve
 
sah5150":3q4awn0t said:
screamindemon":3q4awn0t said:
Steve. Your layout looks cool ! looks alittle to involved for my skill level ! Or lack there of ! :lol: :LOL:
Click to expand...
I'm going to put the exact instructions with pictures for building it on the Henning Amplification website over time. I already started with an article on how to punch a blank chassis...

Steve
Click to expand...

That's probably one of the coolest concepts ever. I might have to build one. :rock: Just hope you're ready for all these random people who turned on a soldering iron for the first time asking you for troubleshooting help. :lol: :LOL:
 
Most people don't want a bare chassis without a head case or faceplates. Kinda hard to gig with a bare chassis. You are also talking about bargain basement parts here. Bottom line, even that $499.95 kit (or the one you are creating from the $250 kit) is going to be ~ $1000 built including the tubes, head case and hardware needed to build it. You could get an old JMP for under a grand and send it to the same modder and it would cost you the same, would likely have far better parts and be more reliable. If you want to learn about amps the "from scratch" kit build could be a fun project. If you want the best modded amp for the money, you should buy the JMP and save yourself the trouble...

What kind of tubes are you buying that you can get 4 12AX7s and 4 EL34s for $100 shipped?

I'd also like to know where you are getting 60% discounts on just 10 transformers... wish I could convince Mercury Magnetics on that level of discount!

Steve

$8.95 per 12ax7 x 4 is $35.80 plus $27.95 per matched pair is 55.90 and that total is $91.70 from tube depot. They have free fedex shipping on orders over $99. This is using JJ el34's and Chinese pre's for example.

I will find you the links for the transformer companies I have been researching.

I hope you understand I am not trying to bash amplifier companies. I know there is a lot involved with overhead, etc. I don't wan't to start an amp company. I just wan't to build a few simple circuits for my pleasure. I wanted to see if there was a way to do it within a budget.
 
I am sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, I am very appreciative of your help and you taking the time to post and share information. I was going to get around to thanking you I was just busy trying to get the numbers correct and read everyone else posts.
 
LukeCurd":252os4da said:
I am sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, I am very appreciative of your help and you taking the time to post and share information. I was going to get around to thanking you I was just busy trying to get the numbers correct and read everyone else posts.
Click to expand...
No problem, man - thanks for the response... There's a lot of good info in those schematics and layout...

Steve
 
Chubtone":1hlc5d9c said:
FourT6and2":1hlc5d9c said:
Yeah, the Goat Sucker is a great value. Make fun of it all you want. But for what you get, the price is awesome.
Click to expand...

Wasn't making fun of it. I'm sure it does sound good. You are the one calling it The Suck. :D
Click to expand...

lol says the guy with "chub" in his user name... :lol: :LOL:
 
As an amp builder myself, I say, build it! You'll have lots of fun and learn something in the process. (You sound like you know what you're doing; I would not give the same advice to a complete novice who has never soldered anything.) You'll have a lot of fun and learn a lot in the process. And you'll be free to make the amp just what you want. You don't have to stick to a clone or derivative circuit, you know!
 
BC Audio":14l1do1q said:
As an amp builder myself, I say, build it! You'll have lots of fun and learn something in the process. (You sound like you know what you're doing; I would not give the same advice to a complete novice who has never soldered anything.) You'll have a lot of fun and learn a lot in the process. And you'll be free to make the amp just what you want. You don't have to stick to a clone or derivative circuit, you know!
Click to expand...

I have been looking at schematics and layouts for the last few months. I have a rudimentary knowledge of electronic theory.
With a collection of gut shots i have found I am pretty close to getting a handle of this thing. Designing a circuit on the other hand is new territory. Need to do some more reading on tone stacks, gain stages, cathode followers, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top