Latest addition to my amp collection.

[BlindLemonLars]

For the longest time, I've wanted a blackface Fender Deluxe Reverb. Sadly, collectors have gobbled up most of the nice ones out there and even the fully functional beaters command around 2-3K on the used market. Plus, they are old and crumbly and usually need constant maintenance just to keep them alive.

Sure, I could buy the modern reissue model, but they are built with printed circuit boards and ultra-cheap components. The few I've tried left me cold, and at around $1000 they aren't exactly inexpensive.

Solution: build my own for about $700, using parts from Weber/VST and other vendors of tube related electronics. It's built to the original 1965 schematic, with the only changes being safety and convenience oriented. (3 wire AC cord, no dangerous ground switch, external bias test points, etc.) Everything is wired point-to-point, with cloth covered wire and high quality caps and resistors. Last night I finally finished the wiring, so I buttoned up the cabinet today. Sounds amazing!

http://i.imgur.com/WTNyY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/HQTZQ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/G31Ep.jpg

[Lerxst]

Looks excellent! I'd love to hear how she sounds.

What did she cost you for the final tally?

I'm debating an amp build.....not sure what I'd like go for meebe a blackface vibro champ or spitfire clone.

[BlindLemonLars]

I believe it's right around $700...that will go up a bit, as I'm going to replace the god-awful Chinese knobs. I'm also going to replace at least some of the preamp tubes, as they are microphonic as hell...replacing V2 solved a nasty sympathetic vibration I was getting on certain notes. I've got quite a few NOS and older Sovtek tubes, so I'll be doing some more experimenting.

Check out the "kits" at www.tedweber.com, they have a 10% sale going on right now. I put kits in quotes, because it's really just a couple boxes full of parts...absolutely no instructions are provided (for liability reasons) and you have to do a lot of engineering on the fly to get everything to fit. They certainly aren't a "kit" in the Heathkit sense, far from it. Still, it's a good deal on most of what you need to build a good amp. Most people will want to replace at least some of the items with better quality parts, but all of the really critical stuff (cabinet, chassis, transformers, etc.) is very good. It's also nice that you can choose your own cosmetics, such as tolex, handle and faceplate.

The girlfriend is sick and sleeping upstairs (perfect timing for when I have a new amp!!) so I can't really put it through it's paces right now. I'll try to make a recording some time soon. It's incredibly tight and clean, at least at the lower volume I can test today. Bright and trebly as hell, but a smooth bright...it's definitely got that Fender spank!

[Ó Flannagáin]

Holy fucking shit, my jaw is on the floor. That is phenomenal BLL. How much training do you think I'd need in electronics to do a project like that?

[BlindLemonLars]

Not a lot of electronics training is required...after all, it's somebody elses design and it's not even imperative that you fully understand the circuit. Certainly you'd want to read a little about tube operation: learn about plates/grids/cathodes and the role each plays. Just enough to understand grounding schemes, and why some wires can't be close to certain other wires. Also you need to understand how to work around high voltages without killing yourself, that can't be stressed enough.

I wouldn't recommend such a project to anybody who wasn't extremely comfortable with soldering, cuz you'll be doing a whole lot of it! You also need to be pretty handy with mechanical stuff, as fitting everything "under the hood" in a manner that also makes sense electrically is a challenge. A well equipped shop is a must, I used about everything in mine during this build! (Drill press, air die-grinder, dremel, step bits, tapered reamer, center-punch, chassis punches, various pliers and cutters/strippers, soldering iron & solder sucker, multimeter, etc.)

Oh man, this things sounds good...even with the volume on 1.5 it sounds chimey, warm and wonderful!

[Lerxst]

Sweetness
RIP Ted :(

I've been eyeing up the ceriatone kits for a while:
http://www.ceriatone.com/

[gplutt]

I bet the work you put into it makes it sound at least 25 percent better. That looks awesome BLL, nice work!

[zoebisch01]

Very cool. I'd better not let my brother see this thread or he'll want me to build him one :D

[Ó Flannagáin]

Looked at the amp kits on that Weber guy's site. Might have to pick one up and make it a long-term, learning/pet project.

[salad 419]

I love it.

I'm also diggin' the Fulldrive. I have the Bass Fulldrive and use it for guitar. It still sounds good.

[BlindLemonLars]

I'm also diggin' the Fulldrive.

Yeah, the Fulldrive is pretty much top of the food chain when it comes to boutique tubescreamer pedals. I've got a homemade TS-808 that sounds about as good, but I like the additional boost channel and EQ/clipping options that the Fulldrive has.

I'd love to have one of their Deja'Vibe pedals as well, but $300 is a little steep.

[Lerxst]

The 18 brit kit with tremolo is mighty tempting......

[BlindLemonLars]

The 18 brit kit with tremolo is mighty tempting......

I've been eyeballing the 6A14HP...basically a Princeton on steroids, with a 12" speaker. With their current 10% discount, tempting is certainly the word.

It's actually already in my "shopping cart," all configured with the options I'd want. Just waiting for a moment of sufficient weakness/resolve to click the "Order" button. :rolleyes:

[Lerxst]

I'm just undecided on what I want from my next amp...BF vibro champ? AC15? 18W Marshall?

[JackHackett]

Friend of mine built the Weber Java...which is based on the Trainwreck Express circuit. Can you say "brown sound"?? hella nice amp!

Nice current limiter BLL!

[Beezy]

Collection hah. I still need an axe so I can shred on my stealth that I got 2 years ago. The amp is begging for some power chords.

[JackHackett]

Sold most of my collection...couldn't justify $10K worth of gear for jamming solo in the living room!!

[Beezy]

I hear you my equipment is very modest. I think my wife found my Stealth for like 200 bucks. 50 watt tube combo. I wanted it since the 90s. It's a crate but doesn't sound like a shitty crate. Very big and warm. Still to this day my Best guitar is a early 90s japanese jackson that I won in a drawing. I swear the owner of the club fixed the contest so I could win because my guitar was so shitty. Looking for a fixed bridge deal now though the Floyd Rose is a pain in the ass and I dont even really use a whammy.

[BlindLemonLars]

Nice current limiter BLL!

Thanks...just an in-line light bulb and a switch, but that's all it really takes. If that thing shines bright when you power up your amp, throw the switch and double-check your wiring! Transformers and tubes are too expensive not to use one.

[JackHackett]

http://i.imgur.com/W94Zs.jpg (http://imgur.com/W94Zs)http://

Boogie(originally a combo, built cabinet when I was 18 or so)


http://i.imgur.com/VgZnX.jpg

Les Paul 1984 Studio model with factory tremolo

Oh yeah, I'm not a hobo...we're in the process of flooring the house...so everything is in the living room

DOH...meant to post on new gear page!!

[salad 419]

I had a Carvin head that had a similar look and surprisingly a damn near identical sound as the early boogies.
I really miss that amp. The clean channel was warm, but clean. The Dirty channel was just fat over driven tube goodness. Not a Super High Gain, but a nice burn.

[JackHackett]

Yup! Mighty tasty...