Henning Bottle Rocket Amp... UPDATED 1/22!

[RustyMcTavish]

Very awesome, looks like things are getting close, exciting times

 

[spliffsperlunk]

Looking forward to hearing this beast when its finished.

 

[IndyWS6]

I like both colors - great looking either way. Your approach appeals to my OCD, attention to details nature. The use of CAD tools is a passion as well, although I scoff at your Solidworks and raise you with Creo/Parametric (long-time Pro/E user here)

You mentioned that the black one was flat black and slightly textured, and that approach may not make it into production. I've found that trying to wipe down a textured surface makes cleaning much more difficult. Even with a lint-free cloth, the texture tends to snag the cloth and leave pieces behind, making it look like the dust and dirt you're trying to wipe away. It's hard to tell from the picture how rough the texture is and whether that would be a problem. If it would stay clean, I love the textured look. Just not sure how that will look long-term. Just food for thought.

Regardless, nice job

 

[JTyson]

Looks awesome Steve!
I will say I must agree with IndyWS6 about the textured black, I had one for a few years and it did exactly what he stated. What about a matte black that was semi-flat, but not shiny like the white.
I love the white chassis, it just oozes class

 

[Anonymous]

It looks great, both colors. I can't decide which one is cooler as they both are.

Bummer about the silk screen and xformer hole too small. No one seems to care these days or take pride in their work....if you want it done right, you gotta do it yourself more times than not.

Thanks man! And you're correct - in many aspects of my life dealing with people who have their own businesses, I'm disappointed in how little they care about doing quality work. It sucks...

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

I like both colors - great looking either way. Your approach appeals to my OCD, attention to details nature. The use of CAD tools is a passion as well, although I scoff at your Solidworks and raise you with Creo/Parametric (long-time Pro/E user here)

You mentioned that the black one was flat black and slightly textured, and that approach may not make it into production. I've found that trying to wipe down a textured surface makes cleaning much more difficult. Even with a lint-free cloth, the texture tends to snag the cloth and leave pieces behind, making it look like the dust and dirt you're trying to wipe away. It's hard to tell from the picture how rough the texture is and whether that would be a problem. If it would stay clean, I love the textured look. Just not sure how that will look long-term. Just food for thought.

Regardless, nice job

Thanks for that input, man! It is a very slight, slight texturing, but I'll have to see how things go with it. I've been told that any matte color is hard to keep clean. This isn't actually a flat black, which I'm told is impossible to keep clear of finger prints, etc... This black chassis looks so cool, I'm hoping it works out! Perhaps I'll do it as a limited run...

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Looks awesome Steve!
I will say I must agree with IndyWS6 about the textured black, I had one for a few years and it did exactly what he stated. What about a matte black that was semi-flat, but not shiny like the white.
I love the white chassis, it just oozes class

Thanks man - yeah, the powder coater really pushed me away from non-textured matte/semi flat blacks - he says they just have constant issues with fingerprints, whereas the slightly textured do not...

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

I like both colors - great looking either way. Your approach appeals to my OCD, attention to details nature. The use of CAD tools is a passion as well, although I scoff at your Solidworks and raise you with Creo/Parametric (long-time Pro/E user here)

SolidWorks is such an industry standard, all my suppliers have it and that is the main reason I use it...

Steve

 

[IndyWS6]

I like both colors - great looking either way. Your approach appeals to my OCD, attention to details nature. The use of CAD tools is a passion as well, although I scoff at your Solidworks and raise you with Creo/Parametric (long-time Pro/E user here)

You mentioned that the black one was flat black and slightly textured, and that approach may not make it into production. I've found that trying to wipe down a textured surface makes cleaning much more difficult. Even with a lint-free cloth, the texture tends to snag the cloth and leave pieces behind, making it look like the dust and dirt you're trying to wipe away. It's hard to tell from the picture how rough the texture is and whether that would be a problem. If it would stay clean, I love the textured look. Just not sure how that will look long-term. Just food for thought.

Regardless, nice job

Thanks for that input, man! It is a very slight, slight texturing, but I'll have to see how things go with it. I've been told that any matte color is hard to keep clean. This isn't actually a flat black, which I'm told is impossible to keep clear of finger prints, etc... This black chassis looks so cool, I'm hoping it works out! Perhaps I'll do it as a limited run...

Steve

Agreed - it looks great and would be my choice. I'm just a crazy, OCD kind of person and not being able to keep something like that clean would drive me nuts

 

[IndyWS6]

I like both colors - great looking either way. Your approach appeals to my OCD, attention to details nature. The use of CAD tools is a passion as well, although I scoff at your Solidworks and raise you with Creo/Parametric (long-time Pro/E user here)

SolidWorks is such an industry standard, all my suppliers have it and that is the main reason I use it...

Steve

I hear you... Solidworks is a capable tool. It's also easier to own from a cost standpoint, which is why it's more readily available. I've been through most of them at one point or another, but really prefer the PTC tools. If I had to pay for it myself, I'd probably be using Solidworks

 

[jcj]

Looking great, Steve!

Can't wait to play one.

 

[ejecta]

I like both colors - great looking either way. Your approach appeals to my OCD, attention to details nature. The use of CAD tools is a passion as well, although I scoff at your Solidworks and raise you with Creo/Parametric (long-time Pro/E user here)

You mentioned that the black one was flat black and slightly textured, and that approach may not make it into production. I've found that trying to wipe down a textured surface makes cleaning much more difficult. Even with a lint-free cloth, the texture tends to snag the cloth and leave pieces behind, making it look like the dust and dirt you're trying to wipe away. It's hard to tell from the picture how rough the texture is and whether that would be a problem. If it would stay clean, I love the textured look. Just not sure how that will look long-term. Just food for thought.

Regardless, nice job

Thanks for that input, man! It is a very slight, slight texturing, but I'll have to see how things go with it. I've been told that any matte color is hard to keep clean. This isn't actually a flat black, which I'm told is impossible to keep clear of finger prints, etc... This black chassis looks so cool, I'm hoping it works out! Perhaps I'll do it as a limited run...

Steve

I'm pretty sure I've seen that finish on other things made from metal and it didn't finger print to the best of my memory. Looking great man!!

 

[Mailman1971]

Very nice Steve!
Love to see the amp build threads.

 

[jerrydyer]

aww bitchen

Finally... My chassis guy came through.

Screw ups have still happened. My silkscreen designer totally screwed me. Even though I TOLD HIM OVER AND OVER that no text could be on the chassis within 5/8" of the left and right side, sure enough, as you can see in the pics, the text goes to almost 1/4" from each side. THIS means that the head shells, which were almost finished, need changes or else some of the text on the left and right (front and back) of the chassis will be covered by the head shell. Going to the wood shop to get this addressed today. Why the F can't people just get shit right after I asked a MILLION times... Lesson learned. Get the chassis done first and then the head shell... DO NOT try to be efficient...

Also, there was a screwup on the PT leg holes as well, which required me to route the hole bigger to fit the chassis. This appears to have happened because one measurement is not in the design file and instead of asking me, the fabricator just made an incorrect assumption and proceeded. Pain in the ass, but I've dealt with it... Will fix this by adding the dimension for the production run.

Everything will work out fine, just need some tweaks to the headshell...

Anyway, here are some pics of my work assembling prototype one of the Bottle Rocket. This is a flat black, slightly textured chassis that may or may not be production.

Chassis AND PCB mounted power tube sockets fit perfectly!

Oh, and here is the white chassis. Looks great, I think:

And here's a pick of the prototype Bottle Rocket with it's big brother, the Cherry Bomb!

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

I like both colors - great looking either way. Your approach appeals to my OCD, attention to details nature. The use of CAD tools is a passion as well, although I scoff at your Solidworks and raise you with Creo/Parametric (long-time Pro/E user here)

You mentioned that the black one was flat black and slightly textured, and that approach may not make it into production. I've found that trying to wipe down a textured surface makes cleaning much more difficult. Even with a lint-free cloth, the texture tends to snag the cloth and leave pieces behind, making it look like the dust and dirt you're trying to wipe away. It's hard to tell from the picture how rough the texture is and whether that would be a problem. If it would stay clean, I love the textured look. Just not sure how that will look long-term. Just food for thought.

Regardless, nice job

Thanks for that input, man! It is a very slight, slight texturing, but I'll have to see how things go with it. I've been told that any matte color is hard to keep clean. This isn't actually a flat black, which I'm told is impossible to keep clear of finger prints, etc... This black chassis looks so cool, I'm hoping it works out! Perhaps I'll do it as a limited run...

Steve

I'm pretty sure I've seen that finish on other things made from metal and it didn't finger print to the best of my memory. Looking great man!!

Thanks! Yeah, the black one does not fingerprint for sure.

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Got everything done this weekend that I could. Still waiting for an impedance selector switch, the bias connectors and a nut for the Standby switch (that's why it looks wonky - there is just the one screw holding it in.). If I had those parts, this thing would be done.

Fired it up and voltages check out thus far and the switching works as far as I can tell right now... Good news!

Killing me that I don't have those two parts!!! :facepalm:

Pics:

Steve

 

[Glynchfan1]

This thread is awesome!!!! I'm anxious to hear what it sounds like and sounds like we're not far off. Thanks for providing this!!!! Very cool to see design process to actual amp. If I can ever afford another nice amp, it will prob be a Henning!!

 

[IndyWS6]

La Croix Mango Sparkling Water? That's not rock & roll

Looking good!

 

[gibson5413]

Looking great Steve! I love the knobs as well.

 

[Anonymous]

This thread is awesome!!!! I'm anxious to hear what it sounds like and sounds like we're not far off. Thanks for providing this!!!! Very cool to see design process to actual amp. If I can ever afford another nice amp, it will prob be a Henning!!

Thanks much for the kind words!

Steve