new amp kit : anyone experienced buiding one?

JonHosker

Anyone tried a first time build? Who sells them? Looking at a v small home head or combo Thanks

p90fool

I've just built a WF-55 kit from Ampmaker. It sounds fabulous and Barry from Ampmaker is an incredibly helpful chap.

Other people had told me how supportive he is but he really goes above and beyond what you might expect.

The one I built is a Tweed Champ kit more or less except with a solid state rectifier, and the quality of the amp you end up with makes it an absolute bargain.

Fatfingers

I built one of his SE5s several years back. Excellent kit, superb instructions and unparalleled service from Barry.

If you're doing a first time build you can't beat Ampmaker. 

thermionic

Definitely agree. I had an intermittent oscillation with my N5X, with a bit of help from Barry I'd located  and corrected the fault within five minutes.

Chalky

Go to Ampmaker first. The kits are each rated for difficulty, all the instructions are online, and Barry is great.

hywelg

Chalky;920235" said:

Go to Ampmaker first. The kits are each rated for difficulty, all the instructions are online, and Barry is great.

And when you've built that one DO NOT go anywhere near the Ceriatone website. You have been warned.......

BigMonka

There's also Modulus Amp Kits as sold by Mr @Modulus_Amps ;

raulduke

Amp maker are great.

Start with the WF-55. It's a great amp and can be very easily modded.

jpfamps

I'd vouch for the Ampmaker kits too: the instructions are first rate.

I think you can download the instructions from the Ampmaker website, so you can have a look at what are letting yourself in for.

Many of the other available kits are simply a set of parts and a layout / schematic, which will require a greater degree of skill.

Modulus_Amps

Thanks for the plug BigMonka.  I produce replica kits mostly or custom kits to order, I don't provide the level of instruction that Barry does at this time so his kits are aimed very nicely at the beginner builder. if you have some soldering experience then my kits are easy to build and I am in the UK to back up support if needed.

I am working on a Hiwatt DR504 replica 50w kit and a 18w TMB master volume kit for two clients right now.

cheers

gubble

oh great, thanks to @Modulus_Amps I've now been on the website and working out if I've enough money to get a kit this month.

Well I need to loose weight so rather than spend money on food I'd prefer to have a new amp

dern

I just built a P1800 as a first build which wasn't the easiest thing in the world but the instructions are good and it worked out for me. Barry is very helpful to talk to and I found Michael at Modulus extremely helpful too and had some great advice.

mli3

I'm looking at this, and noticed the Modulus amp kit has 2 input jacks, whereas the Ampmaker wf-55 only has one ? 
Will this make a big difference to the sound I can achieve from either ?

JayGee

+1 for Ampmaker from me. As others have said Barry is extremely helpful (in my case helping with the design of a home made chassis to for my SE5a to fit nicely into a scavenged cabinet) but the instructions (complete with lovely big clear pictures) are so good that for a standard build you’re unlikely to need any additional help.

DJH83004

+1 for Mike at Modulus, always very helpful and quick to respond. 

mli3

those are the two i'm looking at tbh (modulus & ampmaker). I have a cr@ppy old fender solid state amp that came free with a squier. might try to use that cabinet/chassis, and replace the speaker...
Does anyone ever use the low gain input on a champ anyway ??

Vinylfan

Now I've spent ages looking at the Ampmaker site.... really tempted to try one and the beginner's versions are quite appealing.

I might even have some wood in the shed I can use for a cabinet.  Or, could go the head only route and plug it into the H&K cabinet I already have.

mli3

ok.. best you dont click on this link then.. ooops.. that's friday afternoon gone !

https://robrobinette.com/How_Amps_Work.htm

paulphoenix

After browsing the website I like the Ampmaker P1800 but I wouldn't trust myself to build it! It would be awesome in a lunchbox size/style head.

Has there been a  show us your amp build thread? (I did the adv search but couldn't find) I'd love to see pictures of everyone's finished amp please

Vinylfan

To get started on this kind of thing, is there a soldering kit that anyone could recommend? I'd like to see what else I would need to buy to actually stand a chance of building one.

mli3

I saw a kit for £14.99 on amazon.. will that be ok does anyone know ?