Tube amp build (s)

[Simon Barden]

It's not bad at all. I've seen far worse on some boutique amp pictures.

Unless you really understand how all the circuits interact, it's probably best not to simply dress all the wires so that they all look neat and run together in straight lines, as you can easily induce a lot more noise in the amp.

Getting the heater supply wires well twisted and away from the other cabling is probably the most important thing, and it looks like you've done that.

[JohnH]

Never mind a guts shot, I don't think we've seen the outside yet! (or haven't you got the cabinet for it yet?)

As for the soldering, I know what you mean. There are some out there that have taken soldering to an artform (I'm not one of them!).
I don't see anything that resembles wads of chewing gum in your work, so that gets points from me!

Still working on the box! The shell is made and I made a grill for the back, but haven't had a chance to wrap it in tolex yet. The only clean space I have to work in is the lounge room and the adhesive stinks, so I need to wait til no one else is home for a day lol

[JohnH]

Thanks Simon.

I did my best with the heaters but its fiddly. Next time I think I have a better idea of how to go a out it, but we will see! Going to order a chassis for the next build tomorrow

[McCreed]

Going to order a chassis for the next build tomorrow

So the "buy another one before the last one is finished thing" applies to amp building as well?

Good to know...

[JohnH]

So the "buy another one before the last one is finished thing" applies to amp building as well?

Good to know...

It appears so! Just ordered the 18w chassis lol

[Andy40]

A TMB???

Currently building the cabinet for mine....scheduled the build for my holidays in December this year!

[JohnH]

A TMB???

Currently building the cabinet for mine....scheduled the build for my holidays in December this year!

Yeah, TMB! How are you going with the cabinet for yours? I'd love to see the progress

[Andy40]

I get about an hour a week or fortnight to work on it. It's slowly coming together. I'll take some pics this weekend and post them. It seems rather big compared to a 5E3 Cab and the Cab design is soo different. Its been fun though!

[JohnH]

What layout/schematic are you using? I spent ages reading through the 18 watt forum and got a bit overwhelmed lol. Ended up settling on the valvestorm layout for reasons I've since forgotten.

[JohnH]

I spent a bit of time playing with the amp today and got to crank it more than I have previously. Its very loud, ha ha.

I thought I had a hum issue with the normal input but late in the day I swapped guitars to my pitbull LP and the hum disappeared. After a bit of playing around it seems like my Ibanez is introducing the hum, so that is a fun bit of troubleshooting for another day