building your own tube amp?

easternbull · #1 11-09-2010, 07:10 AM

vintage tube amps like the sunn300 or ampeg svt are either rare or rely expensive. friends of mine ar electrians and engeneers, was toying with the idea of getting hold of quality parts and letting them have a go.

cant afford an svt and sunn300 are rely hard to come by. read somewere that the fender reissues of the 300 used cheaper parts than the original. using good quality parts and available schematics, I think you could come up with an relativly cheap and ok sounding amp.

No disrespect to ampdesigners and manufactures, but if your not conserned with the cosmetics, maybe it would be a fun project and worthwile?

anyone out there tried it before?

http://www.uraltone.com/blog/?language=en&lang=en

http://www.kbapps.com/audio/schemati...oweramp02.html

pablomigraine · #2 11-09-2010, 08:00 AM

After all is said and done, even with experienced technicians at your disposal... even presuming some of them have expereince in building audio equipment and know how certain parts and values affect tone... you will likely end up spending way more $$ trying to build one yourself than buying one off the shelf....

YMMV

agreatheight · #3 11-09-2010, 08:16 AM

Start with a kit.

Jhtjon · #4 11-09-2010, 08:19 AM

Generally, when building tube amps above 100watts the cost becomes overwhelming. If you were to try and build an SVT for instance, a set of proper transformers will run you in the relm of $900.00 for the transformers. Figure another $300.00 for chassis, face plates, capacitors and resistors. Now you have a bare chassis, add another $300.00 for tubes and $200.00 for a head cabinet. For a total investment $1700.00 I think you can buy an SVT or another comparable amp.

Please don't think that I am trying to discourage you from building, I have built over 100 amps and have met many fantastic people over the years because of it. It is a very rewarding hobby. I would look at amp designs like the Sunn 200s, the Ampeg B-15's. the Fender Bassman, Hiwatt, Marshall Super Bass... These are all great designs and can be built at a reasonable cost, In fact there are many kits available from vendors.

algernon · #5 11-09-2010, 08:41 AM

Cosmetics aside, building your own tube amp can definitely be fun. As for the financial aspects... there are a few things to consider, assuming you'll want to build at least a 100+ watts bass amp, with new, good quality components:

- transformers: output and power trannies, those can easily set you back 100+$ each.
- tubes: for preamp and power stage, you may end up spending close to 100$ on them
- passive components: resistors, high voltage caps, tube sockets, switches etc. will go around 50$ or more.
- sheet metal for the chassis, don't have a quote on this.
- if you build a combo, or a cabinet for the amp, you'll need a speaker + wood + some lining, can't quote on these either, but a good speaker will cost good $$.

So, I'd say that you'd need some 500$ to make a budget for building one, give or take. Of course, if you hunt hard enough for bargains could get out with less, but the transformers are usually expensive no matter what

OTOH, if instead of 100W you set for say, 25W, then it will be cheaper and more pockets-friendly a project

It would be even cheaper and equal fun to build yourself a tube preamp

I would secretly like to be proven wrong on the above, for I crave to build one myself, but the cost always shut me up

EDIT:
Reading jhtjon post, seems its even worse

Regards,
Adrian

Jonyak · #6 11-09-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pablomigraine

After all is said and done, even with experienced technicians at your disposal... even presuming some of them have expereince in building audio equipment and know how certain parts and values affect tone... you will likely end up spending way more $$ trying to build one yourself than buying one off the shelf....

YMMV

This.

Weber has/had a kit for around $800.

but doing it yourself is extremely expensive, and takes not just electronics knowhow, but metal working and wood working knowledge as well.

Jhtjon · #7 11-09-2010, 09:17 AM

No Comment on the Weber Kits

scotch · #8 11-09-2010, 09:21 AM

Building a powerful tube amp is going to be surprisingly expensive & you'll be dealing with literally lethal voltages. Not a great idea for a novice or even intermediate electronics hobbyist!

pbd · #9 11-09-2010, 09:22 AM

I have a buddy who built his own amp from a kit, he spent a lot of time researching what each component does and how it affects your tone and he built a pretty nice sounding amp that he was able to tweek to sound like he wanted, it wasn't real cheap though and its nothing he would be able to resell very easily but he is very happy with it.

my 2 cents,
Todd

Billy3000 · #10 11-09-2010, 09:49 AM

I would love to build my own bass amp one day, but it does indeed require a lot of know how to build something that high wattage, and it is most likely going to end up costing more than buying an SVT. I would also recommend trying one of those kits that have been recommended, I've actually been interested in those myself.

easternbull · #11 11-09-2010, 09:51 AM

man I love this forum! thanks for the feedback guys. watts is not an issue this thing would manly be used for home studio work, no gigs, so a 25w would shurely be enough. would also maye be used as for warming up a few guitar parts by my freind for our fusion/prog rock project we are trying to wrap up.

regarding the cost of parts, I'm not naive, just consider this. you get hold of a vintage amp or fork out for a new svt or bassman pro.vintage is still going to cost, at least need new tubes,recapping etc.lthe bassman pro 300 is ridicuolusly expensive and I don't need all those watts just the sunn tone.

everything is going to end up digital in the end, but we want to keep it is organic warm as possible befoe using cubase/protools etc. almost everthing being produced these days sounds so dead/sterile. this record is just for us realizing the sound in our heads we,ve had since we first started playing, finally we have the chops and hopefully the gear to do it.

I'm not going to try to build it myself, just trying to gather the best parts, and maybe give my certified and educated friends a shot.

Roadkill · #12 11-09-2010, 10:03 AM

This guy for $400 looks almost identical to my Pignose B100V which was designed by an ex-Ampeg engineer:
http://www.instrumentpro.com/P-NADBTA100.html
http://www.djshopping.com/bta-100.html
http://www.speechtechnology.com/voic...?URLID=BTA-100
Could be they bought or copied the design from Pignose?
Looks like this one is also discontinued as was the Pignose about 7 years ago. The Pignose was available as both a head (B100VH) and a combo but this one is only available as a combo - could be re-packaged though pretty easily.

bb5000 · #13 11-09-2010, 10:12 AM

I built the Weber AB200, the Weber kits come with a schematic and layout, no detailed step-by-step instructions. It went well thanks to the information found in several forums on the Internet. Read about basics, safety (!!!), and build threads with pictures etc
and get the proper equipment. Total cost for the AB200 was around 1100 €, then I spent an additional 400 € on equipment (oscilloscope, variac etc) ~the cost of a Marshall VBA400. It was a good learning experience though, and there will be more builds in the future..

A less complex kit from Weber could be the 6S100 (a Sunn inspired 100 Watt amp), 2 KT88's and pretty clean sounding..

Norre · #14 11-09-2010, 10:14 AM

Ive always wanted to build my own amp someday. In january I'm going to take a course in tube-amp building and get my first hands-on experience. Unfortunately the class is about building guitar amps. I'm going to start with a Fender Champ. I hope someday I can build a good replica of an Ampeg B15.
Btw, are there any B15 kits available online or directly from dealers? Or would it be wiser to buy the components seperately and it build it from scratch?

mcrracer · #15 11-09-2010, 10:15 AM

I am retired and build tube guitar amps . I have been in electronics since the late 1960s. I don't normally build bass amps but I do have a couple of designs drawn up and I started a bass amp build last year. I made the eyelet board and populated it. I just have to make a chassis,install the hardware , sockets etc and wire it. Two preamp tubes and two 6L6GC power tubes. Roughly 40 to 50 watts. Vol and tone. This is costing me less than $300 in parts. It can be done inexpensively if you know where to get parts and you have the required training and experience. As someone mentioned. In tube amps there are voltages present which can and will kill you if you don't know what you are doing. I offered tube amp classes for awhile but most guys who attended wanted to build amps far beyond their skill level. Start with something simple and work your way up as you learn and get experience. Tube amp classes are still being held in many cities.
Regarding the "best parts"...The early Fender amps which most people practically worship for tone, did not use the "best parts". Leo used what was cheap and available. In my opinion he got real lucky.
Certain parts of certain circuits respond better to a better grade or different type of component but generally you don't need to go crazy spending money on outrageously high priced parts.

gerryjazzman · #16 11-09-2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easternbull

man I love this forum! thanks for the feedback guys. watts is not an issue this thing would manly be used for home studio work, no gigs, so a 25w would shurely be enough. would also maye be used as for warming up a few guitar parts by my freind for our fusion/prog rock project we are trying to wrap up.

regarding the cost of parts, I'm not naive, just consider this. you get hold of a vintage amp or fork out for a new svt or bassman pro.vintage is still going to cost, at least need new tubes,recapping etc.lthe bassman pro 300 is ridicuolusly expensive and I don't need all those watts just the sunn tone.

everything is going to end up digital in the end, but we want to keep it is organic warm as possible befoe using cubase/protools etc. almost everthing being produced these days sounds so dead/sterile. this record is just for us realizing the sound in our heads we,ve had since we first started playing, finally we have the chops and hopefully the gear to do it.

I'm not going to try to build it myself, just trying to gather the best parts, and maybe give my certified and educated friends a shot.

Sounds like you could get by with a B-15 clone which is in the 25 - 35 watt range depending on the particular variant. Lots of schematics on line for that. Also, seriously consider this as well:

http://www.londonpower.com/catalog/p...&products_id=6

He's got circuits for a number of as he puts it "iconic amps" and gives you guidance on building in addition to Hammond transformers (off the shelf) that you can use. I know it's $72, but it's worth it for the educational value.

Passinwind · #17 11-09-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easternbull

I'm not going to try to build it myself, just trying to gather the best parts, and maybe give my certified and educated friends a shot.

Let them research and gather the parts too then, IMHO. Your thread title is a little misleading, since you apparently really want to commission a custom amp build, not build your own. Are your highly qualified friends going to work for free, by the way?

In my experience (see my profile), it's highly unlikely that you'll actually realize the tone of a high powered old Sunn amp via a 25 watt build. But that's not to say you can't come up with something useful or learn a lot, by any means.

Best of luck, and have fun!

easternbull · #18 11-09-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Let them research and gather the parts too then, IMHO. Your thread title is a little misleading, since you apparently really want to commission a custom amp build, not build your own. Are your highly qualified friends going to work for free, by the way?

In my experience (see my profile), it's highly unlikely that you'll actually realize the tone of a high powered old Sunn amp via a 25 watt build. But that's not to say you can't come up with something useful or learn a lot, by any means.

Best of luck, and have fun!

I cant find a used sunn, so I figured parts+labour(100-200€) would still be a lot cheaper than a new bassman pro 300.

I just have a thing for the sunn tone, IMHO the best ever basstone was a mix of svt/sunn amps and we both have a thing for scott wienrichs "modelt" guitar tone. we could both use the thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrWWB...eature=related

The repair guy at uraltone here in finland has seen a few amps in his day, will check with him what he might think would come close to a sunn, and if its doable.

Passinwind · #19 11-09-2010, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easternbull

I cant find a used sunn, so I figured parts+labour(100-200€) would still be a lot cheaper than a new bassman pro 300.

No offense (I love DIY builds), but this is roughly how I read that statement:

I can't afford an old gull-wing Mercedes, but I figure parts and labor to build a Miata copy from scratch will still be cheaper than buying a new Acura.

Quote:

The repair guy at uraltone here in finland has seen a few amps in his day, will check with him what he might think would come close to a sunn, and if its doable.

I'll be interested to hear what he tells you.

scotch · #20 11-09-2010, 12:20 PM

Peavey and Traynor both make decent all-tube heads that are relatively inexpensive.

Honestly, if you're headed in the studio, a high-powered tube amp is not ideal (at least not in most modern situations). A lower-wattage power section lets you turn up louder, thus achieving saturation easier - & without crazy mic leakage!

Keep an eye out for 100 to 200 watt used tube heads. Even an old Fender Bassman records great with a real bass cab!

One of the most satisfying rock tones I got recently was through a very old Traynor Bass-Mate head. Only had 2 power tubes (6L6's?), so wattage was definitely under 100w. Turned that master up & it rocked!