My first tube amp design - World-Designs-Forum

kuroguy · #1 8th November 2007, 04:10 AM

A neighbor gave me an old reel to reel. I've managed to salvage enough to almost build an amp based on 6aq5 and 6au6 or 12at6 with 6ca4 rectifier. I've no idea how it will sound or even its potential, but I'm having a good time with it. I've got a concentric dual pot for separate volume controle for each channel and I salvaged a couple of nice panel meters that I plan to use.

First pic shows a rough layout of how the front panel will be layed out. I plan to use a piece of ebony and put the power switch on the left and headphone out on the right.

Second pic has the chassis painted grey/black hammered metal to match the original knobs. It has that industrial look to it.

kuroguy · #2 8th November 2007, 07:16 PM

a much better picture.

Audiognome · #3 9th November 2007, 12:05 AM

Hi Kuroguy,

I can't comment on the valves you're using (I don't know enough!), but it certainly looks smart, well done!!
Are you going to post the schematic?

Nigel

kuroguy · #4 9th November 2007, 02:34 AM

I'll post a schematic once I've worked it out completely. It will be single ended with crc filter on the power supply. Will likely use it with a computer and one of my friends at work plays guitar so I plan on 1/8" stereo phone input as well as 1/4" phone inputs for the guitars. I really like the look of the hammered metal finish. Much easier to achieve than the polished aluminum plate on my 832 amp.

Shian7 · #5 9th November 2007, 06:13 PM

Hi,

If it works well as a guitar amp I'd be most interested to hear about it!
Might spur me on to finish the 'axe' I'm building

Cheers,
Mike.

kuroguy · #6 10th November 2007, 04:20 AM

Finished up the chassis tonight. Need to machine the ebony panel and wire it. I'm thinking about a radiused Ebony panel.

kuroguy · #7 12th November 2007, 05:26 AM

Dammit. Here she is with the panel I just messed up. I drilled the left input hole 1/8" too high. All I had left to do after that was to chamfer the edges. Looks like I get to try again tomorrow night.

kuroguy · #8 13th November 2007, 05:18 AM

Got it done tonight. From left to right are power, speaker/headphone selector, left input, left VU meter, left volume inside right volume, right VU meter, right input, headphone output. On the back I have 1/8" stereo phone plug for main input, fuse, and speaker posts.

Comments, please.

Dave the bass · #9 13th November 2007, 12:32 PM

Very nice sir, thats too neat for a first time build

DTB

kuroguy · #10 15th November 2007, 05:25 AM

Got the chassis and front panel done. it is 11" wide and 8.5" front to back. A nice size for the bedroom. Now I can start wiring it. I really like the look of this amp. My wife says I don't need another amp and thinks I should sell it..Not that I plan to sell it; I have plans for a media player in the bedroom, but what might this be worth when complete?