The agony of choice

[Aurora]

About a year ago I decided to build an amp for my son. I joined here about two years ago, and found the ODS an interesting project, but ended with an unsolved choice between the Rocket and the Liverpool. Then I found Dana's 2-ch, and I've almost completed a layout that should be OK.....
Recently there was a rant about the Plexi being somewhat of an "universal solution".... Just when I was about the order a suitable transformer set from a national supplier, he was out of stock on the PT, and Toneslut is out of 240V PTs, - which mean I can delay the decision even further, just to totally screw up my brain in the agony of choice!

His main guitar these days is an ESP 1000, which I think he is quite fond of.
Music is mostly the medium/softer kind of rock, with the occational show-off metal off course!
A for myself , I'm the electronics geek with 30 yrs++ in all strange sorts of prototype electronics, power tubes included, and PA/HiFi/ High end audio. - which means I'm not afraid of the building process, even if Wrecks and ODSs seems to have some quirks on their own.

Anyone care to share their thoughts to set my mind straight????

[dobbhill]

I cannot set your mind straight. If you are like me, and you are (audiophile/tinkerer,ad infinitum), then you will end up building 2or3 amps before you're done. I have an original JTM45, so I didn't have to build a Marshall. I have 2 ODS's and an Express (clones). I rarely touch the Express. Next build for me is a Rocket or a tube preamp for the stereo. I would have to say that my JTM45 is the keeper because it is pretty valuable ('67 vintage), but the ODS head is the "player's keeper" as it's the go-to amp as far as versatilty.
Probably made things worse, didn't I???
D

[UR12]

It's funny you should bring this up. I am in the middle of building another 2 channel amp for a customer. The guy is local and I sent about 5 amps out for him to try out at his weekly rehersal. 3 of which were my Rocket, Liverpool and Express clones. He called me after his rehersal and said he had tried all 5 and really liked the Pool and the Rocket. He went on to say it was a shame that those two amps couldn't be combined. I hadn't even mentioned the 2 channel amp as I sold the only one I had built. I contacted the owner and borrowed the 2 channel for a week and I told him I had one more amp for him to try at his next rehersal and sent out the 2 channel amp for him to use. He called me back said "yep that's it" and ordered two. YMMV I don't do layouts per se' but I would be happy to take some build pics if that would help.

[Aurora]

I'd really appreciate that - very much ( - hat off- )
( I really had my mind made up - until all this Plexi talk showed up )

[UR12]

I'd really appreciate that - very much ( - hat off- )
( I really had my mind made up - until all this Plexi talk showed up )

I have the chassis already drilled out and all the parts mounted to the chassis. I have the power supply board and the Power tube/PI board populated. I am in the process of making the preamp board and don't have it finished yet. Are you able to make your own PCBs for the channel switching circuits? I will snap a few pics tonight. Is there anything you are looking for i general that you need a pic of?

[Aurora]

I have a full prototyping setup, PCBs included, at my disposal - part of my dayjob!

[UR12]

I have a full prototyping setup, PCBs included, at my disposal - part of my dayjob!

I'll see if I can dig out my PCB layouts for the Mosfet switching and send to you tonight. That way you can make up your own boards that will match the ones I am using instead of the relays. The mosfet switches you will need are PS7141 IIRC (8pin dual fet switch).