Tube Amp Archive

Customer wanted Laney combo amp converted to a head. I asked him what wood he liked and he said white oak. I sent him to my favorite wood store with a list of wood species to look at in terms of beauty / work-ability and cost - hoping he would find something else. Nope, he brought me white oak. OK. I priced it out based on features - he decided a butt joint was fine. I thought that joint lacked pizzazz so I went with this corner blocked setup. I needed 4' more wood so I found some with a bit more figure for the edging and front plate. It reminds me of a parquet floor.

The other is a Satellite Barracuda with African mahogany and zebra trim to match a 4x10. As usual I fumbled a measurement and instead of the 3/8" clearance above the KT66's I had a real thin 1/8". A couple of 2-1/8" holes later the 66's are vented to the world. The wood grills are place holders until I think of something better to protect the tubes. I REALLY like African maghogany.

Russ

Beautiful work, but white oak? Looks like it wants to be a floor! No accounting for taste, is there?

... but white oak? Looks like it wants to be a floor!

Next time look at some ash. Beautiful wood. A bit heavier than oak, but much nicer grain IMO.

Thanks Phil!

It's what the customer wanted. Quarter or rift sawn oak can be very striking. I must admit it was fun to build.

Russ

One of my favorite things to do with oak is fume it.

Get some strong ammonia(used for bluprints) and put the project in a big plastic bag with some sticks to make a tent. Put the ammonia on a paper towel in a bowl inside.

The fumes react with the tannins and darken the oak.

This is what gives those old Stickley pieces a rich color.

John

Oak is not my favorite but that head looks very good.

In my haste to recommend ash I completely neglected to mention those are might fine looking cabinets. Very nice effort. Excellent actually.

BTW, what is rift sawn wood? A local hardwoods dealer here occasionally has a sing out front, "Rift Sawn Oak".

Flatsawn is lumber cut parallel to the growth rings, Quartersawn is cut perpendicular, Riftsawn is [approximately] 45° to the rings.

Russ

Good description here quarter vs.rift:
http://peterinneshardwoodfloors.com/Woo ... hotos.html

I learn about wood working on TAG too

I never knew oak could look so nice, cool tip about the Stickley thing.

Here is some riftsawn oak with Leopard wood trim.

Russ

I have a tele body that is solid Leopard wood.
Haven't built a guitar from it yet.

That thing weighs a ton!

I'd love to see pics of the Tele. I face lifted a Tele with curly maple and am contemplating the same for a Charvel - I haven't found wood that makes me go 'Oh My!" yet. My only bitch with leopard wood is it is a bit splintery in its raw form.

Russ

Love those tube cut outs!

Are those inserts in them?



EDIT: Just saw another thread where you said that was a mistake. lol! I like em

Hi Chris,

I originally thought stainless sink drainers - but haven't found anything I like. I drilled and turned down the inserts with a disk sander to fit.

Necessity is the mother of invention!

Russ