Considerations For Your First DIY Guitar Tube Amplifier

If you accept absitively to yield the attempt and body your own guitar tube amp, amuse let me allotment my aboriginal projects/mistakes with you to advice get you traveling in the appropriate direction. But first, be abiding you absolutely wish to body your own:
You should be adequately accessible about electronics already, and acquainted of the dangers inherent in top voltage tube electronics and the precautions to yield if alive on tube amps
You shouldn't accept the apprehension that you will save money... unless your time is account annihilation at all you can apparently do bigger purchasing a completed amplifier, even from the kit vendors, but absolutely on the accessible bazaar as used
All said, though, there is a lot of achievement in commutual and arena an amplifier you congenital yourself and accepting the authorization to added modify/tweak/voice your conception to perfection... so let's get started:
Stumbling Through My aboriginal Few Projects
My aboriginal activity started as an AM radio, it had occurred to me that this anatomy and a lot of of the apparatus was absolutely acceptable for an octal-tube-based Fender Champ-like single-ended amplifier and I capital to apprehend the aberration in accent amid absolute tubes and the tube clay in my Roland Cube amp... After belief some acceptable tube amp books (see resources) I acclimatized aloft a plan and:
I fought with the old transformers (insulation axis to dust if you channelled the leads), acclimated tube-sockets, blatant potentiometers and poor concrete blueprint (working with the old radio anatomy didn't accommodate optimum adjustment of the aloft apparatus for a tube guitar amplifier)
Found out that accurate point-to-point base isn't the best best for experimenting
I couldn't acquisition a non-microphonic old-stock pentode tube
The accent sucked... with hindsight I accept it was due to the underwhelming, un-branded, tiny achievement transformer, but I'll apparently never go aback to check
Bottom-line, I abstruse a lot but it didn't acknowledgment my axiological questions about tube-tone because I didn't end up with an iconic amplifier as a advertence at the end of the project
I spent some arresting evenings redesigning and adjustment my aboriginal accomplishment and again for my added aloft activity I bankrupt down and bought a kit that promised a carbon of a best Champ amplifier. Aloft allegation included:
Saving a few pennies actuality and there on apparatus isn't acceptable if you end up advance a lot of time architecture the activity and aspects of the end aftereffect attending bargain (e.g. a artificial backup for a 'proper' metal architecture adorned pilot light) or worse... cede accent (e.g. bargain electrolytic capacitors)
I've developed a bit leary of un-branded chinese transformers that may not accept even been hi-pot activated let abandoned certified by a assurance agency; and who knows what laminations, etc. are acclimated in the audio transformer?
Tiny anatomy and cabinets aren't the best best for abacus added functionality to the banal ambit and actual arresting to plan with
8″ speakers and baby cabinets blot tone... this amplifier sounds abundant if you bung it into a able apostle & chiffonier combination
Your Aboriginal DIY Guitar Tube Amp Project
With the aloft adventures in apperception it is time to abridge some considerations for the aboriginal project:
Simple activity but not under-featured... something that will be acceptable and playable
Physically ample for simple access, simplified accumulation and allowance to modify
Able-bodied documented, able-bodied supported... not necessarily with user's manuals and step-by-step architecture guides, but rather by a association with alive forums, or all-encompassing web documentation, etc.
A complete kit of parts, no difficult sourcing of components
Acceptable superior locations with the abeyant to advancement them if desired... but balance rules... you may wish acceptable amount over absurd apparatus to abbreviate your downside if your activity doesn't appear out able-bodied or you lose interest.
Standard sized anatomy for simple sourcing of cabinets, or cabinets accessible from the kit supplier, or a desire, assurance and adeptness to body (and finish) your own cabinetry
With the aloft accustomed due application my third time was the charm!
I acclaim you seek out a acclaimed supplier of tube-amp kits, and aces a archetypal that apparel both your aftertaste in accent and a acceptable set of appearance for your aboriginal DIY Guitar Tube Amp!