Tube amp choices

rgrice

Like you @jehu seems hard to believe.

EmmettRay

I never said I was building a 5E3 for under 250, but even that can prob be done. You have to just do a little bit of research guy... and you'll find it very believable. How much do you think the mark up is on those amp kits? Why don't they list all of the parts in it?? Because then you could just order individual parts yourself. You can find anything you'd ever want to know about tube amp building and repair on youtube. Go check it out before the next time you comment. Good luck to you.

ronzo4600

OK, I just sourced a 5E3 at today's prices. If you have an enclosure and IF you want the printed chassis and IF you use JJ's you can build the amp for 221.00 which is indeed under 250.00. This is pretty much what you'd get in a kit. If you don't have test equipment, basic electronic hand tools and have never done this before you'll add about 150.00 for all the miscellaneous stuff you'd need to complete the amp.

I have a friend building amps from old Hammond and Wurlitzer organ chassis. You'd be very surprised at what he can do for about 50 bux.

Jehu

EmmettRay wrote: »

How much do you think the mark up is on those amp kits? Why don't they list all of the parts in it??

I assumed because they were getting things in quantity, at wholesale prices.

EmmettRay wrote: »

You can find anything you'd ever want to know about tube amp building and repair on youtube. Go check it out before the next time you comment. Good luck to you.

Wow, I've hit a nerve. Sorry, I didn't mean to come over as being combative. This thread started out by people saying "Hey, just build your own amp, it'll cost less than $250." Having recently looked into building my own amp, I wondered if some of you had resources that I haven't come across... because I am doubtful that someone can get the electronics, a chassis, a cabinet, and a speaker for that price.

Jehu

...

juanderer

EmmettRay wrote: »

Why don't they list all of the parts in it??

http://www.tedweber.com/media/kits/Weber-Kit-BOM.xls

Jazzaferri

Yes thanks @jonpowl. Got me thinking.

jonpowl

If one looks around, a good used tube amp can always be found. I have a Fender Blues Jr. I bought for $300 in perfect condition. I also picked up a used Epiphone Valve Jr (5 watts) for under $100. Both sound pretty good with my new Krivo pickup.
Here is a new one, The Mighty Flea, an amp that runs on batteries and I believe, plugs in as well. I read a bit about it before it started on Kickstarter, and was hoping it would be a bargain, but not quite. It looks reasonably priced, but more than I was hoping to pay. However, it doesn't look like it is a tube amp.

scot

If you use tools on a daily basis, have good soldering skills, can read a schematic, have basic electronics tools and test equipment, and enough knowledge to troubleshoot the things you might get wrong, assembling an amp from a kit isn't a big deal. Even if you lack some of this, you still might be able to build an amp from a kit, depends on the person. I was building Heathkit and Dynaco amps as a teenager, worked in electronics much of my life and still repair amps and pedals for my friends.
This kind of work is pretty routine for me, and probably for Emmett, too. We are both longtime pro A+P mechanics where you have to know how to do a lot of things. But if you are not used to using tools, a lot can go wrong

Fender and Stimer-type tube amps are class AB "push-pull" amps which have a high harmonic content in the output stages. They will give give you the best classic jazz tone, especially with a wide-bobbin single coil. The Vox and Epiphones are class A amps, at least at low input levels. They are better if you want crunch.

I use a late 60s silverface Princeton Reverb modded up to blackface specs and a Stimer, and it sounds about as good as you could ask for. But remember, when it comes to spending money on your stage rig, you are the only person who cares what it sounds like. If I was buying today, it would be a Blues Jr because for the sound I like, it give the best bang for the buck. Your mileage may vary...

EmmettRay

I rarely ever sign on here, too busy working/practicing I guess, but I only suggested if someone was ambitious enough they could build their own for very little money. (dirt cheap if you scavenge for parts) You of course have to know what you are doing and already have the tools. Seems to me like amp kits are a bit of a short cut, take some of the fun out of it, and still cost as much as a brand new amp. Building from scratch you can design all aspects to your exact needs.