Show us your self built amps

[PonchoGreg]

Lots of really cool stuff in this thread! I'm definitely not worthy with my meager champ build...

I can see this becoming very addictive though. I'm already thinking of a next build and have my sights on Ampmaker's 18W Plexi clone... which is utterly ridiculous as I live in a very badly insulated London flat!

[John_A]

Lots of really cool stuff in this thread! I'm definitely not worthy with my meager champ build...

I can see this becoming very addictive though. I'm already thinking of a next build and have my sights on Ampmaker's 18W Plexi clone... which is utterly ridiculous as I live in a very badly insulated London flat!

A cheap L-Pad attenuator works well with the 18W (which isn't a plexi BTW) and you'll have loads of fun building it!

[jpfamps]

I thought a vibrolux was 6L6's, but not really a Fender amp expert (actually not any sort of expert)

The Vibrolux used 6L6s from early 60s (Brown Tolex era) onwards. The Tweed was 6V6.

[John_A]

Thanks, I'm an expert now

[PonchoGreg]

A cheap L-Pad attenuator works well with the 18W (which isn't a plexi BTW) and you'll have loads of fun building it!

Damn you John, making it all enticing!

Do tell though, what's Ampmaker's 18W circuit like? 1974X type of thing?

Apparently the 18W kit is easily modded for a full / half / 1/10th power option (which I'm incidentally going to do for the champ clone) so can go down to around 2W. I can imagine that'd still be pretty loud so will definitely look into the L-pad option.

[John_A]

Damn you John, making it all enticing!

Do tell though, what's Ampmaker's 18W circuit like? 1974X type of thing?

Apparently the 18W kit is easily modded for a full / half / 1/10th power option (which I'm incidentally going to do for the champ clone) so can go down to around 2W. I can imagine that'd still be pretty loud so will definitely look into the L-pad option.

Yes the Ampmaker is basically a 1974X with a full tone stack instead of just a tone control, great sounding crunchy Marshall type sounds, but not a Plexi, that's a totally different beast and quite a bit more complicated to build. I'm sure Barry also does VVR (variable voltage regulation) which can vary the output down to next to nothing. The beauty of the LPad option is you can put it in a box and use it with all your amps below about 20W or so, and they do sound pretty good.

Go on you know you want to

[Fusionista]

'...already thinking of a next build and have my sights on Ampmaker's 18W Plexi clone... which is utterly ridiculous as I live in a very badly insulated London flat!

Thoroughly recommended. I've got two: both combos; one standard with a G12M (1974x) and one detuned with a 5751 in V1 and an ECC82/12AU7 in V2 (PI) plus a Blue (AC15/30 and with a Wampler Black 65 in front Deluxe Reverb)

FYI: One of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s favorite tubes was the 5751 preamp tube. With 30% less amplification than a 12AX7, but 100% interchangeable, an amp using the 5751 preamp tube creates a creamier and smoother tone than with a 12AX7. If your amp has too much gain, the 5751 is the perfect choice to "calm" the amp down and get more break-up without all the volume.

[PonchoGreg]

Go on you know you want to

I do want to. My wallet (and incidentally my girlfriend) don't. Simples. Give it a few months though - in the meantime I'll read up on amps to actually get an idea of what I'm doing. Plus building the PP18 would likely mean the Class 5 would be free to go so that would potentially be more cash in the bank (buy said girlfriend nice dinner, buy the PP18 kit with the change ).

I've got VVR in my Class 5 and it's a beautiful thing. I just checked and Barry indeed sells it, looks cheap as chips as well. Mmmmhhh.

[guitargeek62]

Tweed Vibrolux uses 6V6s in fixed bias, cf the Tweed Deluxe in cathode bias.

The Vibrolux used a 10" speaker, The Deluxe a 12".

I slightly prefer the sound of the Vibrolux, and obviously you have the have the tremolo feature in the Vibrolux which I really like.

Building a Tweed Vibrolux pre-amp into a Tweed Deluxe would be relatively straight forward (essentially you would have a cathode biased Vibrolux). Adding the tremolo feature would require a little more though, but is feasible.

Both are great amps though.

Hang on, somehow I'm getting my amps mixed up - I meant a Tweed Super preamp, with a Tweed Deluxe poweramp, but I've only just seen the specs of the tweed vibrolux and that actually looks pretty sweet!

Basically, my ideal would be a Tweedy TMB amp at about the 12w level running 2x6v6s in cathode bias for the extra sag & compression. I'd be tempted to build it as a 2x10 diagonal format combo, but maybe as a head for portability. I'd also love to keep in a tremolo, but would settle for a decent fx loop and a nice pedal or two.

Feel free to point me in the right direction to make this happen! I keep meaning to drop by and try some amps out actually as I'm in Denmark St quite a bit

[John_A]

I do want to. My wallet (and incidentally my girlfriend) don't. Simples. Give it a few months though - in the meantime I'll read up on amps to actually get an idea of what I'm doing. Plus building the PP18 would likely mean the Class 5 would be free to go so that would potentially be more cash in the bank (buy said girlfriend nice dinner, buy the PP18 kit with the change ).

I've got VVR in my Class 5 and it's a beautiful thing. I just checked and Barry indeed sells it, looks cheap as chips as well. Mmmmhhh.

Buy 'said girlfriend' a soldering iron