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DIY Power Amp?

Josh Kneisel

Josh Kneisel

Jun 17, 2016
1,402
1,214
Arizona
www.wtbiaz.net
#1
Hey guys I run a Sans Amp BDDI into my effects return on my GK head so I am bypassing the pre amp section and only using the power amp section. I was thinking about either trying to build a power amp or just buy a crown to use for power since I use the SansAmp as a pre. thoughts? Am I better off buying a power amp or trying to build one myself? I would like to be able to run as low as 2ohms since for bigger gigs I would like to chain my 6x10 to my 15'' cabinet or a sub. Am I totally off base with this idea?
 
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#2
I think you'll get more for your money just buying a mass produced amp, not to mention reliability. @Passinwind has built quite a few shown in threads here. If you can match his skills, there may be other benifits. Perhaps he will chime in on cost savings, if any.
 
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#5
BadExample said:
I think you'll get more for your money just buying a mass produced amp, not to mention reliability. @Passinwind has built quite a few shown in threads here. If you can match his skills, there may be other benefits. Perhaps he will chime in on cost savings, if any.
Click to expand...

Well...let's just say that cost savings and DIY amp building from scratch are typically rather at odds with each other.
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#11
You *might* be able to get away building a low-power design that's already tested and verified. Even then you'll need to build an appropriate power supply too, which you might have to design...

If you have to ask us, you definitely won't be designing your own amp and supply anytime soon.
 
#12
Well, Josh, the verdict is in, and the answer is don't. You can be playing next week. If you like the idea of learning and adventure, buy your amp, then take on the project. I think you are in for $1000 for a $300 amp, revision 0.1

Please don't take any responses as personal or harsh, as they are looking out for your best interest in their responses. Great decision to ask here before jumping in, a prime example of look before you leap.
 
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#13
I agree with Charlie - building is more expensive that buying something mass produced. Go price a decent rack box, an appropriate power transformer and all the hardware and in and out connectors. Then you'll appreciate the products being manufactured a bit more.

There is a time for diy. That's when you have an idea you want to try that's not commercially available, and can afford to scrap it if it ends up being less than a happy ending. I've built all sorts of things I couldn't buy, but refuse to go through the effort of design and refine for something I can buy.
 
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#14
f ...it I say build one, diy is fun and for the most part learning and doing research is practically free and just as fun. all else fails you can buy something used. but 2ohm stable amps are cool. nobody is gonna reinvent the wheel it's all been done before. sometimes diy is all about getting features not found in the market and rarly saves money. but there is amp kits to make it easy and designing your own case and power supply is the part you can do. there is forums with builds and work in progress posted those are fun to look at and read to hear about people's mistakes and success. then the guessing game or mistakes you make can be lowered by learning from others
 
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#15
I've never used this companies products so I don't know how good they are. They've got a pretty wide range of toys you can build like preamps & power amps (all the ones I've seen were tube). They also have some enclosures but you'd have to look into that more. Anyway, the prices aren't awful but you can buy the same kind of amp already built for less. You definitely could not buy the parts separately on your own to build these items. Also depends on how many goodies you want to add. The amps are modular so like a 50 W tube amp kit comes with the power amp section and a power supply (with tubes that you may or may not want to use). No chassis. That amp comes out to roughly $325 and that's without shipping and something to mount it in. You can buy them assembled but no fun in that plus pretty pointless considering other options.

You might want to look into one of their preamp kits to start with if you want something to toy with then see if you'd like to do again later with a bigger kit. Tone wise, there's a lot of little things you can change or adjust to get different sounds on a preamp. Don't get too alarmed if you look at their price list - it's in Canadian $. So - no bargain cost wise to build these but if you want to build something just for fun it's not a bad way to go.

Link: Tube Guitar & Hifi Amp Kits, Tube Amp Books - London Power
 
#19
Hey guys,
Not to hijack the thread, but my Toyota is getting kinda old and I was wondering if I should by a new or used car or try to build one from scratch?

I'm just kidding of course and I don't want you (OP) to think I'm poking fun at you (maybe a little) but that's kinda how the question sounds.

DIY pedals and even a full preamp can be a fun learning experience but a power amp is a different level altogether.
 
#20
The op asked about building his own amp, not designing it. The guys who put together amps ina production line (back when it was done by hand) were only required to know how to solder.


To the op: if you can populate a board and know a capacitor from a resistor, by all means go ahead and build your amp.
 

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