Building a tube amp for bass!

**fuzzy beard** · #1 09-19-2011, 06:21 PM

Well i am still looking for a tube amp! Last of the parts are in the mail for my valve jr so i am itching to start another!

I really want a classic old school tone from this one! So i have been searching for kits for bass amps and have come up short! Searched for plans to build one from scratch and came up short!

The only thing i did find was a company called Ceriatone. They did offer a bassman but i can not find what it is a clone of! Bassman50, Bassman100, Or Bassman135.

So this is what i want low wattage tube amp 50 watts or less! Would love a b15 or sb12 clone. But mostly just looking for a low wattage bass head.

Ok just to get it out of the way. I understand this will not save me money over used gear! And tube amps are VERY DANGEROUS!!!!!!!

But even though i know very little about amps. I am a deisel tech for a bus company. I am also a ASE master tech. I understand how to work on electronics and with a good schmatic can do anything!

OneWayPunk · #2 09-19-2011, 06:29 PM

How about building a clone of a Sunn 200s?
It does have some of the best bass tone ever.

I know you can get the transformer sets from Triode, should be pretty basic building the circuit and finding a chassis for it from there.

TrevorOfDoom · #3 09-19-2011, 06:42 PM

try Weber amp kits.

**fuzzy beard** · #4 09-19-2011, 06:42 PM

That would be to much wattage!

beatsbears · #5 09-19-2011, 06:43 PM

I'd love a Sunn clone!

Would it be worth it at all to look into some lower wattage guitar amp kits and modify them for better bass response?

If you want to go big Weber makes a 200w bass head kit.

John D · #6 09-19-2011, 06:53 PM

Start Here: Official Ampeg Portaflex Club There are at least three or more of these threads and they are all packed with good information about B-15s and SB-12s, among other models. There are also numerous gut shots, and a few very knowledgeable members contribute regularly. Pay special attention to everything posted by Beans-On-Toast.

dhsierra1 · #7 09-19-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beatsbears

I'd love a Sunn clone!

Would it be worth it at all to look into some lower wattage guitar amp kits and modify them for better bass response?

If you want to go big Weber makes a 200w bass head kit.

you could mod the preamp section of one of the lower wattage Weber guitar amps to better accomodate bass in terms of gain and the EQ frequency values.

Best to start w/a kit than go headlong w/o experience into building an amp from scratch, lots of issues with wiring layout, grounding, and such, IMHO, IME, etc.

**fuzzy beard** · #8 09-19-2011, 07:00 PM

Problem with guitar amps is that the transformers are not big enough for bass!

Alex1984 · #9 09-19-2011, 07:01 PM

Try a B-15N or a Traynor YBA-3 clone.

**fuzzy beard** · #10 09-19-2011, 07:05 PM

Do you know where i could find clone plans or kits?

dhsierra1 · #11 09-19-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy beard

Problem with guitar amps is that the transformers are not big enough for bass!

true, this........

Perhaps swap the kit's output transformer for a larger version that has the correct specs?

**fuzzy beard** · #12 09-19-2011, 07:11 PM

See the problem!LOL i was able to find info on here for the proper transformer for the valve jr but to pick another kit and then try to find it sounds alittle dicey!

KramerBassFan · #13 09-19-2011, 07:52 PM

Look at Weber amp kits.

Get their transformers, and use caps and resistors from another source built to Weber Schematics. Worked well for me.

gerryjazzman · #14 09-19-2011, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy beard

Do you know where i could find clone plans or kits?

Tube Amp Books - - The Ultimate Tone Vol. 3

Lots of practical building info as well as clone projects for B-15, simplified SVT, Traynor Bassmasters, Fender Bassman, and even Marshall clones for your gu***r friends

. Projects based on easily obtainable Hammond iron.

bb5000 · #15 09-20-2011, 12:53 AM

I've built the Weber AB200 (300W) as a kit:

and the Weber 6S100 (80W) with Dynaco transformers and own chassis / cabinet construction / extra features:

Both work fine for bass, I added extra filtering to the 6S100 though.

Sartori · #16 09-20-2011, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy beard

That would be to much wattage!

Er... you're a bassist. There's no such thing as too much wattage.

There's only too little cab power handling.

**fuzzy beard** · #17 09-20-2011, 03:55 AM

Like the look of that 65100! Could you try to explain your tone from it? Do you know what it is a clone of?

Sartori I play in all acoustic settings!

**fuzzy beard** · #18 09-20-2011, 03:58 AM

Went to weber site and could not find 65100. Will have to look later when i have more time! Well i am off to work!

bb5000 · #19 09-20-2011, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy beard

Went to weber site and could not find 65100. Will have to look later when i have more time! Well i am off to work!

That's 6S100, not 65100

https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_60a.htm#6s100

bb5000 · #20 09-20-2011, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy beard

Like the look of that 65100! Could you try to explain your tone from it? Do you know what it is a clone of?

Sartori I play in all acoustic settings!

It has the tone stack from Sunn 100S, the power amp section has 2 KT88's (as the Sunn 100S), but instead of Ultralinear operation it's a more traditional power supply (more voltage to screen grids).

This is the kit design of the 6S100, so this is what you get when you buy the kit:

https://taweber.powweb.com/store/6s100_ad.htm