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Posted: 12/10/2021 5:17:37 AM EDT
[#1]
A little more progress. I'm taking my sweet time because I'm enjoying it, and also I have other shit to do like everybody else. I use that cloth-covered wire in most amps, but like the eyelet board in this one, I soak it in wax to prevent moisture absorbtion.
 I have some tubes coming in a week or two, not sure what all I have on hand right now. Maybe a good 6V6 tucked away somewhere, but no 5Y3 for sure. Finding good 12AX7s is getting to be a real problem. |
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Posted: 12/10/2021 5:25:35 AM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You don’t see a lot of solid state vibrators these days. If you're faithful to the Pure Sound, you feed your 6L6's with a genuine Mallory mechanical vibrator - the way God intended.  Attached File |
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Posted: 12/10/2021 6:10:33 AM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Sheeeeeit. Crank a (properly biased w/ good tubes) 5F1 up to about 75%, and it is RAWK time baby! No dirt pedals needed! But crank it past 75%, and the little 8" speaker fizzes out, lol. A friend of mine who was in the Guitar Amp Design / Build business (his amp was written up in Guitar Player shootout and he had a (somewhat) celebrity endorser) met me at the guitar show where I bought my Champ and looked it over for me. He also got me a Weber speaker (he worked with Ted on amp designs) to use as a replacement to keep from blowing out my original. I have no idea what I ever did with the Weber. It's still in its box around here somewhere. |
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Posted: 12/10/2021 6:19:28 AM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted: That’s awesome! I’ve got the Gretsch version of that amp Are you thinking of the modern Champion 600? I forgot what they called the Gretsch version. Electromatic something, probably. Those aren't the same as a 5F1, different circuit, very different sound. |
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Posted: 12/10/2021 6:23:11 AM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted: A friend of mine who was in the Guitar Amp Design / Build business (his amp was written up in Guitar Player shootout and he had a (somewhat) celebrity endorser) met me at the guitar show where I bought my Champ and looked it over for me. He also got me a Weber speaker (he worked with Ted on amp designs) to use as a replacement to keep from blowing out my original. I have no idea what I ever did with the Weber. It's still in its box around here somewhere. Weber makes some good speakers. I'll be looking at their 8" offerings (giggity) if I don't like this Jensen MOD. I used to work for a fairly well-known, now-defunct "boutique" builder here in town. Still see his amps on Austin City Limits and such sometimes. |
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Posted: 12/10/2021 7:08:00 AM EDT
[#6]
Thanks for making my OST list, Thermionix.
I've always admired those who took the task of making guitar amps come to life. If you're anywhere near Fayette and want to try it out with the electric I built 20 years ago, you're welcome to. I haven't played out in many years but my BIL does jazz and I've given him permission to kick me in the tail and go do a gig somewhere next year. Reading about people here making pedals and such reminds me when I would scroll through thegearpage.net and see everyone's pedalboards in that giant thread. |
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Posted: 12/10/2021 7:16:13 AM EDT
[#7]
Tagged, I got a 64' champ I play harp thru
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Posted: 12/10/2021 4:38:39 PM EDT
[#8]
Looking good.
I'm working on my first build now. It's a Mojo Princeton Reverb kit. I got the amp built and I just powered it up w/out tubes. Nothing smoked, so I'm going through and testing the low voltage side now. |
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Posted: 12/10/2021 4:40:04 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It goes past 11? Must be extra loud. it's one more loud |
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Posted: 12/10/2021 5:18:08 PM EDT
[#10]
Yes my chassis was repurposed from an old piece of Boonton
test equipment and the power transformer was from a Johnson Messenger CB radio.  I have a couple of Eico 250 VTVM's I'm using the chassis/cabinet for my next amp project. Thinking of separate pre-amp and power amp in matching cabinets. |
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Posted: 12/10/2021 5:41:30 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Looking good. I'm working on my first build now. It's a Mojo Princeton Reverb kit. I got the amp built and I just powered it up w/out tubes. Nothing smoked, so I'm going through and testing the low voltage side now. Sweet! My first amp build was basically a Mojotone kit (long story) 5F6-A tweed Bassman, back in 1996. I had soldered before, working on guitars and such, but wasn't very good at it. By the time I got done building that amp, I had improved enough that I went and re-did the whole thing. There was also a motorboating issue. 
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Posted: 12/10/2021 5:44:19 PM EDT
[#12]
Installed the input jacks and power transformer. Finished with the chassis grounds (I think, lol). It takes a lot of heat, I use two irons (and three hands?) to get there.
 
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Posted: 12/10/2021 5:48:54 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Thanks for making my OST list, Thermionix. I've always admired those who took the task of making guitar amps come to life. If you're anywhere near Fayette and want to try it out with the electric I built 20 years ago, you're welcome to. I haven't played out in many years but my BIL does jazz and I've given him permission to kick me in the tail and go do a gig somewhere next year. Reading about people here making pedals and such reminds me when I would scroll through thegearpage.net and see everyone's pedalboards in that giant thread. Hey neighbor, I'm in southern Fayette Co. I don't know much about the jazz scene, but if you play guitar there's a good chance we've met at some point. Do you mind to post a picture of the guitar you built? |
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Posted: 12/10/2021 7:10:24 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Hey neighbor, I'm in southern Fayette Co. I don't know much about the jazz scene, but if you play guitar there's a good chance we've met at some point. Do you mind to post a picture of the guitar you built? I was helped by Mike Mankel who owns Bourbon Barrel Guitar company.   When I was playing most weekends (2004-2008) I usually played at Azure Restaurant, Wines on Vine, occasionally at weddings and Christmas parties. I had a few acquaintances who invited me to do some pre-Woodsongs "shows" too before people would enter the theater. It's been a while! |
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Posted: 12/10/2021 7:19:22 PM EDT
[#15]
OST
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Posted: 12/10/2021 7:22:23 PM EDT
[#16]
Tweed Faux Ten Stack
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Posted: 12/10/2021 7:25:41 PM EDT
[#17]
I've always wanted to build an amp. One day I'll do a tweed champ or deluxe.
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Posted: 12/10/2021 7:29:52 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Is thus something a total noob could build? I mean someone with no knowledge or experience. ETA- I've considered getting a Mojotone kit |
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Posted: 12/10/2021 7:57:17 PM EDT
[#19]
Super cool!
I built an amp a few years ago. Worked out really well. I prefer Marshall type amps though. My archived project |
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Posted: 12/11/2021 2:25:40 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I was helped by Mike Mankel who owns Bourbon Barrel Guitar company. https://live.staticflickr.com/8427/7720260874_593dcb0649_o.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/8430/7720260740_1681b5913b_o.jpg When I was playing most weekends (2004-2008) I usually played at Azure Restaurant, Wines on Vine, occasionally at weddings and Christmas parties. I had a few acquaintances who invited me to do some pre-Woodsongs "shows" too before people would enter the theater. It's been a while! Nice work! I wouldn't say I know Mike but I've met him a couple times. Michael from Woodsongs, though, I've never met that dude but he straight up creeps me out. I'll stop there in case he's a friend of yours, though. I've been in a few local rock bands, nothing you would have likely heard of, and mostly in the 1999-2005 time frame. Played a lot at the Dame, miss that place so bad. Played a few shows a couple years ago with a band that I was in briefly. Might get something together next year, but always on the roots rock to punk rock spectrum. I'm not skilled enough for anything else, lol. |
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Posted: 12/11/2021 2:39:21 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Super cool! I built an amp a few years ago. Worked out really well. I prefer Marshall type amps though. My archived project Damn that's clean work! I love turrets, until it's time to change a component, and since I do a fair amount of part swapping in some projects, I find eyelets much easier. My bigger amp is PTP with terminal strips though, it's a blackface circuit with reverb, but in a tweed style chassis, and a sorta Vox-looking cabinet. I like the early Marshalls, which are really tweed Bassman copies or very close. But I like Voxs, Supros, Hiwatts, all kinds of the "vintage" types, not big into high-gain amps with master volumes. With both amps and pedals, I find I tend to prefer the simpler circuits, I guess it's what I grew up on you know, but that works out well for me since I'm the guy building the stuff. |
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Posted: 12/11/2021 2:44:12 AM EDT
[#22]
hubba hubba hubba
been wanting to try something like this since stumbling across uncle doug's youtube channel |
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Posted: 12/11/2021 8:24:06 AM EDT
[#23]
I got the chassis wired up before the storms came in (not bad here). I don't think I have a 5Y3 but I dug up a 5U4, 6V6, and 12AX7, close enough for testing.
I always bring new builds up slowly on a variac with a lightbulb current limiter in series. I got up to about 60VAC and started to hear positive feedback, so I had to flip the primary wires. I'm gonna call a buddy that might have a 5Y3 later today. Then it's just a matter of drilling two holes in the cab for the chassis bolts, and wiring up the speaker to a 1/4" plug. 
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Posted: 12/11/2021 9:58:55 AM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Nice work! I wouldn't say I know Mike but I've met him a couple times. Michael from Woodsongs, though, I've never met that dude but he straight up creeps me out. I'll stop there in case he's a friend of yours, though. I've been in a few local rock bands, nothing you would have likely heard of, and mostly in the 1999-2005 time frame. Played a lot at the Dame, miss that place so bad. Played a few shows a couple years ago with a band that I was in briefly. Might get something together next year, but always on the roots rock to punk rock spectrum. I'm not skilled enough for anything else, lol. Thank you! My friends ran the photography for Woodsongs, and I never really knew MJ, just got the opportunity to play for others in a venue I wouldn't normally be invited to. I might've spoken to MJ 2-3 times in total. I was never on the show because I never had a formally recorded CD. I still don't I've seen some old acquaintances get back on the stage and it's helped me realize I can get into a jam again and go have fun with it. I just need to get my tail kicked into gear and do it. |
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Posted: 12/11/2021 9:59:42 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I got the chassis wired up before the storms came in (not bad here). I don't think I have a 5Y3 but I dug up a 5U4, 6V6, and 12AX7, close enough for testing. I always bring new builds up slowly on a variac with a lightbulb current limiter in series. I got up to about 60VAC and started to hear positive feedback, so I had to flip the primary wires. I'm gonna call a buddy that might have a 5Y3 later today. Then it's just a matter of drilling two holes in the cab for the chassis bolts, and wiring up the speaker to a 1/4" plug. https://i.postimg.cc/FR3t6ZYW/20.jpg nice work! |
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Posted: 12/11/2021 11:40:08 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted: nice work! Thanks man! As for getting back out there and bendin' some strangs for some folks, why the hell not? Some day you may (will) not be able to anymore, go have some fun. ------------ Champ's done! That's not to say nothing will ever be changed, speaker or caps or whatever. But it's complete, working, and sounding quite good. I have an idea for a name but that's a secret for now (DECLAS OADR). I scored a couple JAN 5Y3WGTs from my friend today. The voltages are higher than expected, but that's to be expected, you know. It runs pretty hot, but so do the old ones on today's wall juice. I had two Sylvania 6V6s, neither red-plated but one sounded "okay" and the other one is like butter. Nice thick clean tone on a my Tele bridge pickup. My germaium Fuzz Face sounds heavenly even down at bedroom volume. Very happy. The speaker isn't broken in, but it doesn't feel stiff like some others do brand new. Pure coincidence, but the guy that bought my last one called today, wants me to come by tomorrow to help with some recording. And the Fender original that inspired both of my 5F1 builds will be there too, because that guy is in town for that recording project. So I'll get a chance to crank this new one, and I guess we'll have a little 3-way tweed Champ orgy. Sorry for the sub-tater quality of my pics in this thread. I don't use cell phones, and my only camera is a 17 (!) year old Fuji battery eater POS. But we're on a mission from God...  
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Posted: 12/11/2021 11:44:18 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Looks like fun! Should have posted this in the ham radio forum and did a build-along. |
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Posted: 12/11/2021 11:51:59 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Thanks man! As for getting back out there and bendin' some strangs for some folks, why the hell not? Some day you may (will) not be able to anymore, go have some fun. ------------ Champ's done! That's not to say nothing will ever be changed, speaker or caps or whatever. But it's complete, working, and sounding quite good. I have an idea for a name but that's a secret for now (DECLAS OADR). I scored a couple JAN 5Y3WGTs from my friend today. The voltages are higher than expected, but that's to be expected, you know. It runs pretty hot, but so do the old ones on today's wall juice. I had two Sylvania 6V6s, neither red-plated but one sounded "okay" and the other one is like butter. Nice thick clean tone on a my Tele bridge pickup. My germaium Fuzz Face sounds heavenly even down at bedroom volume. Very happy. The speaker isn't broken in, but it doesn't feel stiff like some others do brand new. Pure coincidence, but the guy that bought my last one called today, wants me to come by tomorrow to help with some recording. And the Fender original that inspired both of my 5F1 builds will be there too, because that guy is in town for that recording project. So I'll get a chance to crank this new one, and I guess we'll have a little 3-way tweed Champ orgy. Sorry for the sub-tater quality of my pics in this thread. I don't use cell phones, and my only camera is a 17 (!) year old Fuji battery eater POS. But we're on a mission from God... https://i.postimg.cc/qRrbVDxF/22.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/C5LcdZtH/23.jpg So cool. So very very cool. |
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Posted: 12/12/2021 2:36:27 AM EDT
[#29]
Is there a back cover for that chassis?
That looks like it's only 7 beers in a dimly-lit room away from an electrocution...
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Posted: 12/12/2021 2:46:58 AM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Is there a back cover for that chassis? That looks like it's only 7 beers in a dimly-lit room away from an electrocution... That's what makes them fun! |
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Posted: 12/12/2021 3:32:14 AM EDT
[#31]
Nicely done. I've never seen someone make their own fiberboard. Did you just want the challenge/fun of it? Why that over something like garolite?
I'd like to build a 5F1 some day. I have the tranny's laying around... just don't have the time. I hate to be so cliche, but my favorite amp is a 5E3 build I did years ago with an alnico Blue Dog. I know a lot of people say they like them for their breakup, but for me it's the cleans. They are so nice and full. |
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Posted: 12/12/2021 1:43:22 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Is there a back cover for that chassis? That looks like it's only 7 beers in a dimly-lit room away from an electrocution... You can see the corner of it on the floor in the pic. |
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Posted: 12/12/2021 1:46:00 PM EDT
[#33]
Nice work Op, looks great!
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Posted: 12/12/2021 1:48:00 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Nicely done. I've never seen someone make their own fiberboard. Did you just want the challenge/fun of it? Why that over something like garolite? I'd like to build a 5F1 some day. I have the tranny's laying around... just don't have the time. I hate to be so cliche, but my favorite amp is a 5E3 build I did years ago with an alnico Blue Dog. I know a lot of people say they like them for their breakup, but for me it's the cleans. They are so nice and full. I got the fiberboard and eyelets from CE/Antique Electronic Supply, along with the chassis, PT, and other bits. https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/fiberboard-vulcanized-3-x-15-062-thick They say "vulcanized" but honestly I don't know what they mean by that. It's possible my wax treatment was a waste of time, but it didn't hurt anything. eta: Nothing cliche about good tone, ever man! I love 5E3s, have built one in head form long ago, will do another someday. Feel free to post pics! |
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Posted: 12/12/2021 1:48:34 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Nice work Op, looks great! Thanks man. I only take credit for the soldering on this one, cheated and bought a pre-made chassis and cab. |
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Posted: 12/12/2021 1:50:33 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Thanks man. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Nice work Op, looks great! Thanks man. Any plans of running it through a 2 12" cabinet on occasion? Always wondered what an 5f1 through a Bassman sized 4 10" cabinet would sound like. |
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Posted: 12/12/2021 1:56:31 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Any plans of running it through a 2 12" cabinet on occasion? Always wondered what an 5f1 through a Bassman sized 4 10" cabinet would sound like. It was run through a 2x12 first, that's my bench cab configuration. My big amp is a 2x12 combo too, plus I have yet to try this with my talk box so far. But now about to go crank up it at the "studio"...aka Brian's basement. |
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Posted: 12/13/2021 2:02:24 AM EDT
[#38]
Crank test complete. Overall it's very good. It's going to be better. I just ordered a Weber CVA8. I'm going to swap a few components too probably, but that's very minor stuff compared to a speaker change.
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Posted: 12/13/2021 4:53:09 AM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Crank test complete. Overall it's very good. It's going to be better. I just ordered a Weber CVA8. I'm going to swap a few components too probably, but that's very minor stuff compared to a speaker change. Weber has a break-in service if you ask for it. |
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Posted: 12/13/2021 3:11:30 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Weber has a break-in service if you ask for it. I've heard about that, but this one has no doping, so I don't think it will take much to break it in myself. Also I can use my variac if I get impatient, but that might be a little risky on a little 10W speaker. |
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Posted: 12/23/2021 3:25:53 PM EDT
[#41]
The 8" Weber speaker is built and on the way, but in the meantime I picked up another little accessory for the new amp.
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Posted: 12/23/2021 3:26:43 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The 8" Weber speaker is built and on the way, but in the meantime I picked up another little accessory for the new amp. https://i.postimg.cc/RCPfy3ys/DSCF0335.jpg Sounds like Funk #49 up in here! |
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Posted: 12/23/2021 3:29:29 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Sounds like Funk #49 up in here! I love me some James Gang man! "Closet Queen" FTW |
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Posted: 12/23/2021 3:32:27 PM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I love me some James Gang man! "Closet Queen" FTW Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Sounds like Funk #49 up in here! I love me some James Gang man! "Closet Queen" FTW Anything Joe Walsh!  Great looking Lester, enjoy! |
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Posted: 12/23/2021 6:12:36 PM EDT
[#45]
 Nice! |
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Posted: 12/24/2021 3:33:22 AM EDT
[#46]
Fender Champ amps are great little amps ! They were essentially unchanged post Tweed era.
The beauty of this, is that you can turn your post Tweed champ into a Tweed amp with a flick of a switch. Get Both!! For the most part, Fender tube amps from the 50's on into the 70's, the tone control circuit is passive and eats up gain to work. In fact, you can do this mod to just about any tube amp that has a passive tone stack. So let's have some fun, get out soldering irons and make our post Tweed Champs into gritty little monsters. First pic shows where the bass tone pot, left lug is now wired to one side of the switch that has replaced the number 2 input on the front panel. The 15K resistor is "lifted" from the pot and attached to the other lug of the switch. That's all there is to it, you now have more gain when you switch into Tweed mode. The switch I used in this example, I found a bunch of them in an electronics surplus store, 20 years ago. They had a 3/8" O.D. shaft, no drilling needed. And by all means, change the speaker to something better  Attached File Attached File |
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