First Build - should i do champ kit? what the best source?

[M Fowler]

Don't forget to look at triode stores deals as well.

I have built their Marshall JCM 800 2204 kit and it was a good value kit.

http://store.triodestore.com/ampsandgear.html

[rp]

The 5F1 isn't a student amp or a fun toy, it's one of history's great amps. At some point in your life you will build a 5F1, and, every time you plug into it you'll be delighted. Might as well just start off with it.

My tips: I used the husky allen OT with the 4/8 tap and it's just great sounding. The 8ohm tap is way useful. Build it with a 10", I've had a lot of trouble finding a nice bright loud 8 for it. I used a push-pull pot to put a 25mf cap on V1's cathode which is very useful. Keep the plate below 370V at all cost. Bias hot and keep the cathode R close to 470. You can really hear the tubes in this amp and it rewards tube rolling, use NOS tubes, you just need 3 - NOS rec is essential to keep the voltages right. To clean it up use a 5751 and 12AY7. That's as good as you'll get, after that you'll start ruining it.

Good luck.

[angelodp]

The Mission 5E3 Kit is nicely put together and has good support materials.

Good luck

[sixstringer]

Dave Hunter's book and the Two Stroke amp design are both great.
You are correct that you will learn a lot more by finding the parts and layout the circuit yourself, but the Weber "Maggie" kit available now. It is a Two Stroke clone with a couple of refinements to the original design. I built a 5E3 using Weber chassis, Mercury iron, etc, it works great but I learned more by building the Two Stroke. DH's book layouts out the operation of each component. There are photos and discussion of several Two Stroke amps at: http://www.tubeampnetwork.com/

[M Fowler]

Our discussions on http://www.tubeampnetwork.com/ are really sparse these days.

We moved from one site to another twice now. Hard to get the talk going.

Mark

[Noval_novice]

The champ is a great first amp build. You could buy the kit from Mojo, but TubeDepot offers a very helpful set of instructions with video. It can make it a little too easy, but it definitely helps you figure out some practical things that you can't easily discern from a schematic or layout.

http://www.tubedepot.com/kit-tweedchamp.html

[RJ Guitars]

How about if we build our own Champ kit? I do think we could put together a chassis, board, and trannies for less than $100 for the 5F1 schematic... or maybe put a Trainwreck Spin on the Champ package!

[mcrracer]

I agree with RJ.

[angelodp]

Sounds like a deal. When is it avail.

Ange

[mcrracer]

RJ, Should a "kit" chassis be ready to assemble or should we leave drilling and punching the chassis as part of the "learning" process?

[M Fowler]

rj, I was wondering what I was suppose to do with that Champ chassis I got from you now I know

Crap that means I have to build a cabinet too!

But I agree if the OP wants to build amps and learn this would be the a great way.

Mark

[RJ Guitars]

RJ, Should a "kit" chassis be ready to assemble or should we leave drilling and punching the chassis as part of the "learning" process?

MC How are you? I'm glad to see you adding to the wisdom of the builders here.

I posted up a thread on developing a "Champ Kit" on the "Technical Discussion Pages since it seems like we might be taking this thread beyond the "Trainwreck Discussion" status. https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=13407

Learning is usually good - I like the idea of building using something similar to a BUD box or Hammond chassis. I like this for simplicity reasons and it also is a part of the "Trainwreck" learning process as well.

rj

[RJ Guitars]

rj, I was wondering what I was suppose to do with that Champ chassis I got from you now I know

Crap that means I have to build a cabinet too!

But I agree if the OP wants to build amps and learn this would be the a great way.

Mark

Better build two of them. The Retro Rocket has a twin brother...

[M Fowler]

Yeah I knew you had that one too I bought a Champ and Princeton Chassis from you brother.

Never did anything with either chassis yet. Could use the faceplates too, I hate designing them and Colossal needs a brake from me asking him.

Mark

[Ken Moon]

Hi Taylor,

The AX84 site is also a great resource - the original "classic" amp project there is the P1, which is similar to a champ, but it uses a solid-state rectifier and has a full bass/mid/treble tone stack, and an EL84 for the power tube.

The P1-eXtreme is very similar, but uses an octal power tube - this is a very nice first amp, and the build I would recommend, as you can use a 6V6, EL34, 6L6, KT77 or other power tubes, and see what you like. I call mine my "tube tester"

Chris Hurley at Doberman Amps even sells nice pre-punched aluminum chassis for these amps (and complete kits too).

Both of these amps have been built hundreds of times, and there is lots of friendly help available if you have any problems.

There are also more exotic projects there that use innovative techniques like LED biasing, cap multipliers, DC coupling, unusual tone controls, etc. for the more adventurous, as well as an excellent small hi-gain amp (Randy Fay (Phaez)'s DaisyCutter).

All the other book and website recommendations are great (I especially like Randall Aiken's site), but I'm surprised nobody mentioned Merlins's books and website - I've read all the tube amp books out there, and these are by far the most useful for someone who wants to know how amps really work, and not just string together components, without being overly math-intensive.

http://www.freewebs.com/valvewizard/