Why I built an amp ...

[doveman]

It's been two years now ... received my D'Lite 22/33 kit in January 2008. Made one adjustment ... the bass mod within a month. No other real tone adjustments. I did put in a loop and the switches a bit later ... both good moves.

But why do it? I thought it would be cool to be able to play an amp I built ... that simple. A challenge.

Why this amp? I kept the same amp ... a '78 Mesa/Boogie Mark 1 from 1978 to 2008 ... 30 years. I loved it. Simple and stable ... got the main sound out of the preamp. So I really wanted to get much of the sound out of the preamp. Turned out to be ... D-style ... who knew. Had no idea what a Dumble was frankly. I also wanted something with less power than the 50w/100w Boogie ... so I could record.

How'd it turn out? Way above my expectations. In fact, I gave my 30 year old Boogie to my 20 year old son on his birthday. See ... Randall Smith signed my boogie chassis exactly 10 years to the day before my son was born. I always thought that was cool. I never expected to really give up the Boogie ... but it was a great thing to do. My son still plays it live.

Any problems? Unexpectedly joined a band later that first year and struggled to keep up with the band with a 22w and even a 33w ... trying all sorts of things. Finally, solved by the return to my trusty EVM12L ... problem solved. If I would have known I was going to be in a band, I probably would have gone with the 44w.

Glad I did it? Absolutely! One of the coolest things I've ever done.

Will I do it again? Probably not ... I can't see needing anything different than this amp ... will probably keep it 30 years ... that's about how long I can stand an amp.

I'm still playing with speakers a bit ... but know that I can take one or two EVM12L speakers to the party and I'm good. I really want to get another band this year. Anyway ... thanks to the folks here and at Brown Note forum. Could not have done it without you guys. Amp is two years old ... and I still love it.

[M Fowler]

Doveman I don't know how you do it build one amp and stop

Thanks for your story I enjoyed the read.

[doveman]

I'm glad you enjoyed the read. The last couple of days the posts have been peppered with all that trolling crap. I just was remembering what I got out of this place ... it's not about Dumble ... wasn't for me. Anyway, maybe if we just stop feeding that sort of thing, it will get back to normal.

Even though I haven't built again after the first one ... I still come here to see what you guys are talking about. This is something pretty special in my estimation ... building you're own amp ... who'd a thunk it ... priceless.

BTW ... I don't care if anyone recreates a Dumble ... never did. Having an amp you are comfortable with is where it's at.

[nickt]

Doveman you're my hero - I must be the slowest builder in the universe but each amp is meant to be the very last amp I'll ever own

You did it - so it IS possible - congratulations - hope my Dlite (when it finally comes together) gives me as much inspiration.

Best
Nick

[doveman]

This got me thinking about how long it took. I remember ordering my kit Thanksgiving 2007 ... two week delivery right? NOT! Well I did not receive it until after Christmas 2007. But in hindsight ... I spent more than a month devouring everything here, at Brown Note ... and elsewhere. It was brutal waiting.

Started the build on 12/29 ... unpacking ... ran out of teflon wire on about the 3rd day ... took about a week to get another pack of teflon wire. Again ... brutal wait. Finished my kit and started amp up on 1/13 ... thrilled that it came up the first time.

When I reviewed the build, I posted the pics day-by-day. I left out the time it took to get the additional wire ... it took 7 days ... mostly in the evenings after work. When looking back at it two years later, it still amazes me. I was on a mission. I wanted to do it right and not cut any corners ... I wanted every solder joint as good as I could make it. I did make some mistakes but the guys here and at Brown Note spotted them ... I made adjustments.

Anyway 7 day build ... I've posted this before but I enjoyed paging through it again day-by-day ... still one of the most fulfilling things I've ever done.

http://www.brownnote.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=800

Frankly ... I think the two wait periods were times when I could do nothing else but educate myself. I'm betting it would not have come up the first day if the kit had been delivered in two weeks with plenty of wire. But suffering those waits was brutal.

[Structo]

Yes the D'Lite was my first experience in building an amp as well.
I thought it sounded pretty good as a stock build but it has transformed quite a bit with all the mods done to it to get it closer to a real Dumble amp.

It was a lot of fun building it and tweaking it.
That really helps me to understand it's operation and tube theory.
This forum was a godsend when I discovered it.
I was led here from the Brown Note forum because there is much more traffic here and some really knowledgable people as well.
There are quite a few guys here that really know there stuff and quite a few of them have helped me along the way.
So a big thanks to all of you that have shared your knowledge here.

I had quite a bit of electronics training and experience with mostly solid state electronics but had never really got into tube amps as far as working on them.

I have since built another amp and modified others that I have.

I think my next amp will most likely be a Metro Marshall clone as I have always wanted a vintage Marshall.
The guys at the Metro forum are very helpful as well and really know their Marshall's.

[Bob-I]

Great thread Doveman.

My story.

I built my first amp in the mid 60's with my Dad, a Dynakit dual 70 power amp. Built the preamp and tuner as well.

Started piddling with my guitar amps shortly after that, modding tone stacks, adding master volumes, adding channel switching (why would anyone need to SWITCH channels?).

Heard Lindly's Slide tone on Running on Empty and just had to find that magic tone. Modded the shit out of my Twin and never captured it.

Fast forward to late 90's, got the bug again and built a few small amps, ax84 p1 etc then found a Dumble schematic on schematic heaven. Sounded like ass but got lots of help and eventually got a great sounding Dumble amp from a Peavey Chassis that's been my main gigging amp for 4 years.

I also have a 4x6V6 Dumble, full out HRM 100 watt Dumble and a few others. I just can't stop.

[brewdude]

I'm glad you enjoyed the read. The last couple of days the posts have been peppered with all that trolling crap. I just was remembering what I got out of this place ... it's not about Dumble ... wasn't for me. Anyway, maybe if we just stop feeding that sort of thing, it will get back to normal.

Even though I haven't built again after the first one ... I still come here to see what you guys are talking about. This is something pretty special in my estimation ... building you're own amp ... who'd a thunk it ... priceless.

BTW ... I don't care if anyone recreates a Dumble ... never did. Having an amp you are comfortable with is where it's at.

I also could not care less if my amp nails the exact tone of any other amp, Dumble or otherwise. That is a foolish chase.

I simply want a dynamic and touch sensitive amp which can inspire me. One that I can intuitively find the tonal colors and textures I seek for a particular song or style. I am not there... yet.

[doveman]

Update to an old thread: I think about this every year about this time ... it's been 4 years (12/29/07) now since I received this amp kit. Finished building it the following 1/13. I still love the amp although I have acquired a Richter Supra-Luxe that I love, as well. Both amps histories are documented here.

4 years ... I'm well on my way to keeping this one 30 years ... as I did my original Boogie MK1. BTW, my son is still gigging with that amp too.

Still a really cool experience ... that I've only done once.

[dreric]

The last couple of days the posts have been peppered with all that trolling crap. I just was remembering what I got out of this place ... it's not about Dumble ... wasn't for me. Anyway, maybe if we just stop feeding that sort of thing, it will get back to normal.

Thank you for the sentiment and for reminding me why I come here.

When I first got out of college and made a little money I wanted to get a new turntable. CD's were just taking over and no one seemed to make a decent turntable, until I found the audiophile stores.......... and tube audio!

Those glowing heaters and the sound they make made me love tubes. Many expensive tube amps later I had started playing guitar. I wanted a Les Paul or a PRS but having grown up wood working I was offended by the 3-5K price tag associated with guitars made by a CNC router (I still am offended). So I decided to make my own.

Next thing, I'm doing cap jobs on old amps and practicing Uri Geller amp repair. (Uri is a psychic who bends spoons with his mind)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLXdLAzY ... re=related

In other words I would take an amp apart and like Uri, stare at it wishing for it to start working ............until it started working. I became lost in the world of Dan Torres which lead to O'Conner and Weber. Lots of reading and little understanding.

Then a AX84, then I contracted OCDS (Obsessive Compulsive Dumble Syndrome) and Trainwreckosis.

While searching for a cure I stumbled onto Amp Garage.

TAG, despite the occasional foray unto baiting, bickering, name calling and trolling remains one of the coolest, kindest, supportive and genuine places on the net.

Thankd you all!

Eric