It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:06 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 104 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Go to page Previous  1 ... 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Author Message
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 3:30 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
Here's the innards. So far the IC caps are hangin in. I'll probably change them out at some point.

Image

Image

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 3:35 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
Here's some pedals. The Orange one is a Tremolo, The Purple one is a Distortion pedal. It runs a preamp tube in starved plate mode. Right now it's a 12ax7.

Image

And for the guys who say they don't build them like they used to. Some of us do.
These pedals are true point to point. :mrgreen:

Image

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 4:27 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:17 pm
Posts: 1986
Very nice looking work Supro. I am looking at that kit you recommended on Tube Depot and as soon as I get enough money together I am going to get one. There is a shop near me that has had a Fender Custom Shop Deluxe for like 2k. They have had it for probably 5 years or better.They said they would come down 400 bucks. :roll: Needless to say , as far as I am concerned ,that amp will be there longer. The kit appeals to me because it will give me what I want at a very nice price and I love working with electronics. I do precision work for a living and a fair share of electronics , so this will be up my alley. Besides, there is something to be said about doing it yourself.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 5:53 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:30 pm
Posts: 792
Location: A Land Downunder
63supro wrote:
Here's the innards. So far the IC caps are hangin in. I'll probably change them out at some point.

Image

Image


Nice work Supro!

Don't sweat it on the caps, your amp is a solid build and unlike most store bought amps it will probably outlast it's Creator! :wink:

BTW, I think as well as the GZ34 Rectifier, I'm sure the OT is spec'd for a Deluxe Reverb (At least I know mine was) so that will give it extra legs as well. I have to say the way that particular Tube Depot kit is spec'd overall, when properly built, it builds into one of the nicest sounding, most toneful, quiet and reliable amps you can plug into, I think they really are that good.

Snowy


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 6:20 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Solid layout and execution, like Fender used to build them......

Leo Fender, that is.

:wink:

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:15 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:30 pm
Posts: 792
Location: A Land Downunder
63supro wrote:
And for the guys who say they don't build them like they used to. Some of us do.
These pedals are true point to point. :mrgreen:

Image



Nice work Supro, here's my own take on that angle, it's certainly an addiction once it get's it's hooks into you.

Step by Step....From Scratch:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=81758&hilit=snowy

But to the OP, once you take some steps to learn the basics and then expand on that it opens a lot of opportunities to build your own perfect Fender style amp.

Snowy


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 6:37 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
Snowy,
I remember that thread. Really, really nice! Once I etched my own boards for a couple projects from Craig Anderton's book. Didn't turn out too bad and sounded really good. I'm constantly either building pedals, cigar box guitars or amps. It is addicting, but for me it's like therapy. I had some serious family losses and it really helped to snap me out of a depressive funk. How's those two Tube Depot Tweeds been treating you. I've been gigging mine like crazy and so far so good.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:59 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:17 pm
Posts: 1986
63supro wrote:
Snowy,
I remember that thread. Really, really nice! Once I etched my own boards for a couple projects from Craig Anderton's book. Didn't turn out too bad and sounded really good. I'm constantly either building pedals, cigar box guitars or amps. It is addicting, but for me it's like therapy. I had some serious family losses and it really helped to snap me out of a depressive funk. How's those two Tube Depot Tweeds been treating you. I've been gigging mine like crazy and so far so good.
Supro , sorry to hear about your losses, and I agree , it is very theraputic. I enjoy spending time setting up my guitars as well as playing them. I have always been pretty curious about building a kit ,but wasnt sure it was worth it. You guys answered that for me . Never thought about building pedals.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:50 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
budglo,Thanks. It was a seriously rough and dark time for me.
With amps, I think you can save some serious cash building it yourself. I built something that can hang with the big boys for around $600, and IMO, is better sounding than a Blues Jr, Pro Jr, Blues Deluxe or HRDlx by a long shot and is lightweight to boot.
With pedals, sometimes. But I love having a bunch of pedals with no markings on them and have other musicians ask me what they are or even which jack is the input. I can mod them too and make them my own. I don't even mark the volume or tone for now. If I start forgetting as I get older I will. :lol: I built a A/B/Y box so I can have one amp (my Egnater) with effects and my clone run no pedals. I'm thinking about a Pedal Train 2 pedal board. I'm also pulling the trigger on the new Fulltone MDV3 Uni-Vibe clone. I always wanted a Uni-Vibe. I'll get 15% Black Friday and I have some rewards points I'm cashing in. :mrgreen:

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 10:07 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:17 pm
Posts: 1986
Yeah I love building pedal boards. The store bought ones never seem big enough. :lol: As far as amps go, I agree, you can save a ton of money and make just what you want. The Deluxe has always appealed to me because of its size and tone. One of the reasons I keep a blues jr around is because I am a charter member of the " bad back club" and the days a hauling around a big amp are long gone. Besides you dont need a big amp unless you are playing a stadium. I see guys show up at open jams with twins and Marshall stacks and just make me scratch my head in wonder.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 2:13 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:30 pm
Posts: 792
Location: A Land Downunder
63supro wrote:
Snowy,
I remember that thread. Really, really nice! Once I etched my own boards for a couple projects from Craig Anderton's book. Didn't turn out too bad and sounded really good. I'm constantly either building pedals, cigar box guitars or amps. It is addicting, but for me it's like therapy. I had some serious family losses and it really helped to snap me out of a depressive funk. How's those two Tube Depot Tweeds been treating you. I've been gigging mine like crazy and so far so good.


Supro, it is therapeutic indeed! Also sorry to hear you've had some dark times recently, My Dad was not long ago diagnosed with Alzheimer's and that has taken the wind from my sails somewhat.

The Tube Depot amps I built are going strong, I sold one about 18 months ago and kept the other. I didn't want to sell the amp but after hearing it, a friend offered to buy it and though I didn't want to sell it, I had put too much time effort into it, not to mention the obvious $$$. Anyway, we struck a deal and it was done. I am in constant regular contact with him and he loves the amp and in fact we have jammed many times together in a band context. Both amps have proven to be solidly reliable.

Budglo, if you are inclined to build a Deluxe, do check out the Tube Depot kit, the instructions are great, the kit is high quality and very we'll designed, even the cabinet is top notch. Rob Hull, the tech who designed/spec'd the layout for the kit has also done a step by step video to guide the builder through the assembly process and safety procedures. Yes, it uses PCB, but it is nothing like the PCB in A store bought amp, this is Military spec. I see time and again the negative comments on various forums whenever the subject of a 5e3 kit comes up invariably within a post or two someone will dismiss the kit because of the PCB. The fact is they don't know what they are talking about and are just regurgitating the internet amp lore they have read. Interestingly, I have seen pics of the rats nest wiring in amps built by some of the same commentators and would not risk my life plugging into one.

Snowy


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 2:52 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:17 pm
Posts: 1986
Snowy , thats good to hear. I know Supro recommended that kit as well and the PCB aspect of it doesnt really bother me. And knowing Supros experience with poorly designed amps , he wouldnt recommend junk. I looked at some others that were more expensive , but I am not really looking for a "custom shop " quality point to point, but a great serviceable amp that recreated the Deluxe circuit faithfully.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 3:35 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:30 pm
Posts: 792
Location: A Land Downunder
There are plenty out there, but another company I have experience with and might fly under your Radar is Trinity Amps, they also do a GREAT Deluxe kit, at a good price and also provide a thorough step by step instruction manual. The owner Stephen is a great guy to deal with and will help out if you need it.

Check out the kit here:
http://www.trinityamps.com/phpbb/viewto ... f=6&t=1036

They also run a very helpful forum here:
http://www.trinityamps.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=11

I haven't built their Deluxe but I have built the Tramp.

Snowy


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:00 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
Uh oh :shock:
Thanks Snowy, here we go again! :lol:

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 104 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Go to page Previous  1 ... 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: