Custom Amps

BonoVox · Status: Offline

Custom Amps

fuzzcentral · Status: Offline

I've often thought about building my own amp, but when I figure up the cost of parts (especially the transformers!) I always decide to stick with stomp boxes instead. I own a '94 Fender "Evil Twin" amp, but I would really like to get a Vox AC30 to go with it. I think that the AC30 would lend a new and different sound to my tone, but it's definitely hard to beat the Fender 100W Twin!

You also have to use a lot more caution when building amps since they're fed by mains voltage...very dangerous stuff if you're not careful!

Phillip

BonoVox · Status: Offline

thats the main reason why i'm not even contemplating it yet (mains voltage), i might just ask him if he could build me one,

Mojah · Status: Offline

Phillip

Why don't you look for some old el84 (6bq5) based stereo amps. They were very common in the 60's usually 15 watts a side and cathode biased. I used one with an effect processor in the early 90's. Bought it for $20 did a little reverse engineering to rip out the tone stack. It sounded really good cranked up. The power supply finally crapped out a few years later but I had moved on anyway. Grab a stereo amp you'll have all the major pieces. I wouldn't recomend getting a monoblock or any higher wattage ie > 35 watts a side. The power suppllies are usally higher voltage than you would want for a guitar amp. Higher voltages will give it great headroom and fidelity, lower voltages will give you more compression and distortion.

Mojah

Just make sure your not grounded while your messin inside

Merlin · Status: Offline

Transformers aren't as big a problem as you might think at first. You can make all sorts of step up or step down power transformers by using two more common ones back to back or in parallel. Winding your own output transformer (if you're building valve amps) isn't that hard either. There's a lot of matierial on the web dedicated to this, such as http://galileo.spaceports.com/~fishbake/ot1/ot.htm

trevize · Status: Offline

fuzzcentral wrote:

I've often thought about building my own amp, but when I figure up the cost of parts (especially the transformers!) I always decide to stick with stomp boxes instead. I own a '94 Fender "Evil Twin" amp, but I would really like to get a Vox AC30 to go with it. I think that the AC30 would lend a new and different sound to my tone, but it's definitely hard to beat the Fender 100W Twin!
You also have to use a lot more caution when building amps since they're fed by mains voltage...very dangerous stuff if you're not careful!
Phillip

i have a twin amp too and lately i started using it with just two output el84 valves (usign the thd yellow jacket). the other guitarist of my band has an ac30 and the twin amp just shines now.