I might like to try my hand at building tube amps. What's the best way to get started? Books, courses, the internet? What about essential tools and suppliers?
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Those questions, especially regarding tools, cause me to ask if you have any experience with electronics, either building or repair work? They also suggest to me that you might want to start with something simple and work up to larger projects. A kit might be advisable if you have little experience in this area. You will want to take some basic electronics courses, if you have not already.
If you're new to electronics, picking "tube amp" as your initial project is a pretty dangerous undertaking IMHO.
There is a guy in Michigan, Bruce Egnater, who does courses on tube amp building. You build your amp in his class, and take it home when you're done. They're guitar amps, but I would think the main difference would just be the tone control.
Egnater Amp-building Class - August 15-17
Bruce Egnater Amp Building
Egnater Amp-building Class - August 15-17
Bruce Egnater Amp Building
Gotta start somewhere, Uncle Doug will get you inspired to find a book. There are a few out there if you look. I think its more straight foreword than solid state, and you'll pick it up from being inspired because you have a little understanding. Check out his youtube page.
Mr. Foxen
Commercial User
Do a couple of pedals, the figuring what you did wrong is the useful bit to learn at voltages you can't feel as pain. Do some amp fixes after that, buy bust ones on ebay, sort them out, although bunch of the time that might be dead preamp valves which won't teach you much.
There are some great "kit builder" sites around now, but some are just parts agglomerations, and some are very helpful. One guy, consistently praised over at one of the guitar sites is Dave at [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
If he cannot come up with a kit for you, he will likely point you in the right direction. Worth a call, IMHO.
Now, what Super_Freak said: There are some good books around on tube electronics building, as well as yootoobs on safety. The rails on these amps can carry as much as 475-500 volts, and will shut your lights off in less than a heartbeat. I can probably come up with a list of books and sites, but I encourage you to search on your own, and join one of the builder's forums. PM if you need some suggestions.
BTW, you might start with a fairly simple and low power guitar amp as a first step. It will always be useful.
If he cannot come up with a kit for you, he will likely point you in the right direction. Worth a call, IMHO.
Now, what Super_Freak said: There are some good books around on tube electronics building, as well as yootoobs on safety. The rails on these amps can carry as much as 475-500 volts, and will shut your lights off in less than a heartbeat. I can probably come up with a list of books and sites, but I encourage you to search on your own, and join one of the builder's forums. PM if you need some suggestions.
BTW, you might start with a fairly simple and low power guitar amp as a first step. It will always be useful.
Back when I had the bright idea to design and build a tube amp, I found this forum useful:
el34world.com/Forum/index.php
el34world.com/Forum/index.php
As others have suspected I'm new to electronics. I do computer programming for a living so I have an aptitude for technology. However, I'm totally willing to start small and progress to bigger projects. What are some suggestions for a first project? pedal, maybe a tube preamp?
I've noticed that most of the kits are for guitar amps. Not too many for bass. Besides different EQ points is the gain structure on a bass amp different than a guitar amp? Finding schematics and books are the easy part I think. What tools do I need? Quality tools vs crap tools too?
I've noticed that most of the kits are for guitar amps. Not too many for bass. Besides different EQ points is the gain structure on a bass amp different than a guitar amp? Finding schematics and books are the easy part I think. What tools do I need? Quality tools vs crap tools too?
Mr. Foxen
Commercial User
Stuffs bigger in bass amps to deal with the lower freqs.
If keen on computer stuff, mess about with LTspice or whatever the circuit simulation software is.
If keen on computer stuff, mess about with LTspice or whatever the circuit simulation software is.
That's why I bought a Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister for using with bass & guitar, because they have over-sized output transformers.
Hi. Even if you starting with Pedals,kits or otherwise. Your going to know how to read schematucs, there is a ton of great ,beginner electronic tutorials online,plenty of books too..I prefer books to online as I like to have a hard copy reference...you'll also need a nice adjustable temp soldering station and the accessories,a good multimeter is very helpful also, along with needle nose pliers,alligator clips,"helping hands" (alligator clips on a stand) wire strippers..I'm sure there's some essentials I'm overlooking. But those will help get you started....I bought a nice lot of over 1000 components on eBay,I also pirate non crucial parts from low voltage electronics,and dumpster dive...I've built myself up a nice little supply of resistors, caps,pots,jacks,and enclosures this way...good luck with your projects. Have fun too!!
Soldering Iron 25-35 watt range for general purpose use. Lower watts for soldering small or delicate things like transistors. Adjustable heat irons are nice but more expensive.
Solder... Acid core flux for electrics, not solid core. That's for plumbing.
Solder remover. Ether a vacuum solder puller or solder wick. This helps remove solder when making changes or if you globbed on too much, which happens a lot until you get the hang of it. I prefer the vacuum puller.
Small diagonal wire cutters, usually 4-5 inch
Fine needle nose pliers also usually around 4-5 inch, but may be longer. They just need to have small ends to handle delicate wiring and parts.
Set of screwdrivers. Phillips #2, #1, #0 & Flat blade 1/4" and 3/32" and one or two in between as needed.
You usually can find most in a set, you might have to get the smallest Philips and flat blade separately.
Damp sponge to wipe soldering iron to keep it clean.
That will be a good start.
Quality? You get what you pay for. Get what you can afford within reason. You're just starting out you don't need Snap-On. Avoid the bargin bin stuff. You will use these tools for other stuff around the house. Craftsman (at Sears, K-Mart, Ace Hardware) is always a safe bet. Cheap tools look and feel cheap when you compare to better quality. Maybe ask someone you know to help you shop? WARNING... Serious GAS alert comes with buying tools just as it does with bass stuff.
Solder... Acid core flux for electrics, not solid core. That's for plumbing.
Solder remover. Ether a vacuum solder puller or solder wick. This helps remove solder when making changes or if you globbed on too much, which happens a lot until you get the hang of it. I prefer the vacuum puller.
Small diagonal wire cutters, usually 4-5 inch
Fine needle nose pliers also usually around 4-5 inch, but may be longer. They just need to have small ends to handle delicate wiring and parts.
Set of screwdrivers. Phillips #2, #1, #0 & Flat blade 1/4" and 3/32" and one or two in between as needed.
You usually can find most in a set, you might have to get the smallest Philips and flat blade separately.
Damp sponge to wipe soldering iron to keep it clean.
That will be a good start.
Quality? You get what you pay for. Get what you can afford within reason. You're just starting out you don't need Snap-On. Avoid the bargin bin stuff. You will use these tools for other stuff around the house. Craftsman (at Sears, K-Mart, Ace Hardware) is always a safe bet. Cheap tools look and feel cheap when you compare to better quality. Maybe ask someone you know to help you shop? WARNING... Serious GAS alert comes with buying tools just as it does with bass stuff.
Yes all good info here. I forgot the multi-meter, maybe a digital one... easier to read/interpret. You can use the diagonal cutters to strip wire but a dedicated wire stripper is nice to have. Alligator clip helping hands reminded me that you will also want some Aligator leads... wire with 'gator clips on each end. Hookup wire can be bought in short rolls, 25-50 ft. There are different gauges depending on current use, different colors to help keep it from becoming a big blur of wires. Stranded and solid.
May I suggest you try your hand at a single ended amp to start with. I built my first when I was about 13. it has much lower voltages and is thus a little safer to work on. something like a 6SL7 pushing a 6V6GT with a 5Y3GT as rectifier. These use big octal sockets that are easier to get around than the B9A sockets.
I’ll repeat the warnings given above that tube amps of any kind are dangerous to anyone who doesn’t know exactly what they are doing.
I’ll repeat the warnings given above that tube amps of any kind are dangerous to anyone who doesn’t know exactly what they are doing.
Start your web learning at AX84.com - The Cooperative Tube Guitar Amp Project and especially How to design valve guitar amplifiers.
Buy parts from Invalid Link Removed , Angela Instruments LLC , Amp Parts, Cabinets, Guitar, Bass, Pickups, Pedals - Mojotone.com
Sell your products on talkbass.com
Buy parts from Invalid Link Removed , Angela Instruments LLC , Amp Parts, Cabinets, Guitar, Bass, Pickups, Pedals - Mojotone.com
Sell your products on talkbass.com
You can get the tools at Harbor Freight. They're like the Walmart of tools, including those for electronics.
They have the cheapest Helping Hands that I know.
Invalid Link Removed
They have the cheapest Helping Hands that I know.
Invalid Link Removed
