Cheap/easy amp kit

[moronmountain]

So what's the easiest/cheapest amp kit one can get, and what tools would I need? Any particualr type of soldering iron, etc? I kinda want to make a little 1x12 single channel thing or a tiny head and a separate 1x12 cab. Something in the 25w range maybe.

 

[Plexihacker]

What type of tone are you looking for?

Weber has a lot of good Fender clones in kit form that are affordable along with a great forum to help you out.

Metro mainly has large Marshall clones and are therefore more expensive.

Ceriatone has some Trainwreck clones and a couple of other medium-wattage amps that are mid-priced and have more gain than a Fender clone.

All three of these suppliers include good instructions.

For soldering irons, don't get a high wattage iron. Sure, they'll solder faster but you want to have a bit of finesse that a lower watt iron can provide. With a lower watt iron you won't melt the wire insulation as easy. Melted plastic on your wire ends will make your amp look terrible. In fact, perhaps spend a bit more money on an iron that has a built-in rheostat that can control temperature. This way you can dial it up for big stuff. A good iron will last a long time.

A good iron will last for many years. Just replace the tips when necessary. Also, keep your tip clean and tinned. Before you make a solder connection, clean the tip with a wet sponge and then tin your tip generously with solder and tap the iron over a can to get the extra off. This will keep the contaminants out of your solder joints and goes a long ways to prevent bad connections as well as keeping everything looking really good.

 

[Gainfreak]

Im thinking something from the AX84 site would be the way to go


http://shop.dobermanamps.com/product-p/kit-p1.htm

 

[Plexihacker]

The 18watt dot com site is great for building Marshall 18 watt clones and also has a lot of info on modding small amps such as the Epiphone ValveJr.

That may be a great way to start; get a Valve Jr and then experiment on the circuit. You can mod those things to your heart's content and they are cheap! You can buy a Valve Jr for less $ than it would cost to build one. You get the box, speaker, chassis, trannies, etc. all for $100.

 

[moronmountain]

The 18watt dot com site is great for building Marshall 18 watt clones and also has a lot of info on modding small amps such as the Epiphone ValveJr.

That may be a great way to start; get a Valve Jr and then experiment on the circuit. You can mod those things to your heart's content and they are cheap! You can buy a Valve Jr for less $ than it would cost to build one. You get the box, speaker, chassis, trannies, etc. all for $100.

Thanks man. Those are both good ideas. I just would like to build a ceriatone or 2 someday, and prolly a plexi, but I don't want to start on something expensive. I want it to be cheap enough that if I botched it, I wouldn't cry over it.

 

[Anonymous]

The 18watt dot com site is great for building Marshall 18 watt clones and also has a lot of info on modding small amps such as the Epiphone ValveJr.

That may be a great way to start; get a Valve Jr and then experiment on the circuit. You can mod those things to your heart's content and they are cheap! You can buy a Valve Jr for less $ than it would cost to build one. You get the box, speaker, chassis, trannies, etc. all for $100.

Thanks man. Those are both good ideas. I just would like to build a ceriatone or 2 someday, and prolly a plexi, but I don't want to start on something expensive. I want it to be cheap enough that if I botched it, I wouldn't cry over it.

Three words... Egnater Amp Seminar!

You can't fail, you get to build and keep a killer Marshally high gain 50 watter with loop and some other fun stuff and you are ready to build whatever you want (with some study...). Great deal for $1600... I can't wait until May 24/25 when I go...

Steve

 

[moronmountain]

The 18watt dot com site is great for building Marshall 18 watt clones and also has a lot of info on modding small amps such as the Epiphone ValveJr.

That may be a great way to start; get a Valve Jr and then experiment on the circuit. You can mod those things to your heart's content and they are cheap! You can buy a Valve Jr for less $ than it would cost to build one. You get the box, speaker, chassis, trannies, etc. all for $100.

Thanks man. Those are both good ideas. I just would like to build a ceriatone or 2 someday, and prolly a plexi, but I don't want to start on something expensive. I want it to be cheap enough that if I botched it, I wouldn't cry over it.

Three words... Egnater Amp Seminar!

You can't fail, you get to build and keep a killer Marshally high gain 50 watter with loop and some other fun stuff and you are ready to build whatever you want (with some study...). Great deal for $1600... I can't wait until May 24/25 when I go...

Steve

I live in Oregon.......... Plus for $1600 I could buy a pretty nice amp heh. I just want to learn how to do this cheap mostly, and see if I even dig it.

 

[moronmountain]

What type of tone are you looking for?

Weber has a lot of good Fender clones in kit form that are affordable along with a great forum to help you out.

Metro mainly has large Marshall clones and are therefore more expensive.

Ceriatone has some Trainwreck clones and a couple of other medium-wattage amps that are mid-priced and have more gain than a Fender clone.

All three of these suppliers include good instructions.

For soldering irons, don't get a high wattage iron. Sure, they'll solder faster but you want to have a bit of finesse that a lower watt iron can provide. With a lower watt iron you won't melt the wire insulation as easy. Melted plastic on your wire ends will make your amp look terrible. In fact, perhaps spend a bit more money on an iron that has a built-in rheostat that can control temperature. This way you can dial it up for big stuff. A good iron will last a long time.

A good iron will last for many years. Just replace the tips when necessary. Also, keep your tip clean and tinned. Before you make a solder connection, clean the tip with a wet sponge and then tin your tip generously with solder and tap the iron over a can to get the extra off. This will keep the contaminants out of your solder joints and goes a long ways to prevent bad connections as well as keeping everything looking really good.

Could you give me an example (brand/model) of iron? Thanks for the excellent response.

 

[Code001]

http://www.beavisaudio.com/Projects/Noi ... /index.htm

Will cost you less than 40 bucks shipped for everything, too.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks man. Those are both good ideas. I just would like to build a ceriatone or 2 someday, and prolly a plexi, but I don't want to start on something expensive. I want it to be cheap enough that if I botched it, I wouldn't cry over it.

Three words... Egnater Amp Seminar!

You can't fail, you get to build and keep a killer Marshally high gain 50 watter with loop and some other fun stuff and you are ready to build whatever you want (with some study...). Great deal for $1600... I can't wait until May 24/25 when I go...

Steve

I live in Oregon.......... Plus for $1600 I could buy a pretty nice amp heh. I just want to learn how to do this cheap mostly, and see if I even dig it.

Ok... but you GET a KILLER amp (search for the clips - great high gainer, nice clean, etc.) that you build yourself that Bruce makes sure you succeed, PLUS you learn how to build and mod amps for the $1600...

I'm from Southern California, but I travel for work so much, I got a free first class round trip ticket from my AA miles, got the hotel for free out of my Hilton rewards account and got the rental car for free out of my Hertz Gold account. The only thing I have to pay for (besides the class fee, of course) is my food and alcohol, which I gotta pay for here anyway...

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

What type of tone are you looking for?

Weber has a lot of good Fender clones in kit form that are affordable along with a great forum to help you out.

Metro mainly has large Marshall clones and are therefore more expensive.

Ceriatone has some Trainwreck clones and a couple of other medium-wattage amps that are mid-priced and have more gain than a Fender clone.

All three of these suppliers include good instructions.

For soldering irons, don't get a high wattage iron. Sure, they'll solder faster but you want to have a bit of finesse that a lower watt iron can provide. With a lower watt iron you won't melt the wire insulation as easy. Melted plastic on your wire ends will make your amp look terrible. In fact, perhaps spend a bit more money on an iron that has a built-in rheostat that can control temperature. This way you can dial it up for big stuff. A good iron will last a long time.

A good iron will last for many years. Just replace the tips when necessary. Also, keep your tip clean and tinned. Before you make a solder connection, clean the tip with a wet sponge and then tin your tip generously with solder and tap the iron over a can to get the extra off. This will keep the contaminants out of your solder joints and goes a long ways to prevent bad connections as well as keeping everything looking really good.

Could you give me an example (brand/model) of iron? Thanks for the excellent response.

Weller Analog Soldering Station WESD51 or WES51. One has an LED and would be better, but the other is fine...

Steve

 

[Marshall Law]

here is a easy point to point hand wired amp kit I built