Members guitarcapo Posted July 9, 2008 Members Share Posted July 9, 2008 I have a Vibro Champ and a tweed Champ....I run them into bigger cabs at home for fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Procreatur Posted July 9, 2008 Members Share Posted July 9, 2008 Yeah, so far I have found a bunch of kits, schematics, PCB boards, etc. I really want to do it. I can solder alright. I have tons of tools. My dad built our first color TV in the 70's, and my brother-in-law is an electrician if I get in trouble. Not that they have built amps, but they know a bit about electronics. It seems like the most votes go to the old SF Champs based on posts. I think I am leaning toward a build, I just wanted to see if I was missing anything that people are using. Not as many votes for EP Vjr or Black Heart as I thought. People have been raving about them. I guess I should have said I want to spend under $300, preferably around $200. it's not cheaper to build them, but it sure is rewarding if you're into that sort of thing. i'd buy a used or abandoned valve jr and make it your own. if you mess it up, you can always gut it and rebuild it with a different circuit/board i'd recommend turret board or fiberboard for a first time build from the ground up, and the VJ is easy enough to mod if you get instructions from Indyguitarist, or you can sign up at SEwatt.com i believe, and there are a ton of people doing crazy stuff to them there. then there is also the upgrade kits for the BH5 from mojomusicalsupply.com that were designed for that amp. truth is good solder and a good iron will help immensely, as will using either cloth push back wire or teflon wire. the PVC insulated stuff melts too easily, and with a lack of soldering experience will look like {censored} and can corrupt your solder joints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members goodhonk Posted July 9, 2008 Members Share Posted July 9, 2008 Reverend Goblin. Switchable 5/15W. how does the goblin sound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members egelmett Posted July 9, 2008 Members Share Posted July 9, 2008 New to the 5watt Club:A rescued, original Skylark GA-5:When I found this amp it had three Zenith radio speakers in it. Someone cut holes into the side and mounted two 4" speakers, painted it black and sealed the back with panelling (the kind you put on the wall) I replaced the AC cord with a three-prong style, resolders some disconnected wires, replaced the caps, and installed a Jensen 8" Special Design.Sounds amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DavidMgT Posted July 9, 2008 Members Share Posted July 9, 2008 New to the 5watt Club: A rescued, original Skylark GA-5: When I found this amp it had three Zenith radio speakers in it. Someone cut holes into the side and mounted two 4" speakers, painted it black and sealed the back with panelling (the kind you put on the wall) I replaced the AC cord with a three-prong style, resolders some disconnected wires, replaced the caps, and installed a Jensen 8" Special Design. Sounds amazing! That is very cool! I'm a big fan of Gibson amps - very, very underrated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mymindsok Posted July 9, 2008 Members Share Posted July 9, 2008 I that a Guytronix?Nope!It's a gilmore Jr 1/2 watt amp that I built from a kit. It's a pretty amazing little amp and I built it my-own-self! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members samuraiBSD Posted July 9, 2008 Members Share Posted July 9, 2008 Nope! It's a gilmore Jr 1/2 watt amp that I built from a kit. It's a pretty amazing little amp and I built it my-own-self! Are those kits tough or are they alright? I really want to build one, but if I can't get it done in a weekend, I'm not sure I can have that happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted July 9, 2008 Moderators Share Posted July 9, 2008 Nope!It's a gilmore Jr 1/2 watt amp that I built from a kit. It's a pretty amazing little amp and I built it my-own-self! It is indeed a Guytronix.....a Guytronix Gilmore:poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted July 9, 2008 Moderators Share Posted July 9, 2008 Are those kits tough or are they alright? I really want to build one, but if I can't get it done in a weekend, I'm not sure I can have that happen From layout to plug in, and with a little help from Rich I had a total of about 3 hours, it's a very simple circuit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wrathfuldeity Posted July 9, 2008 Members Share Posted July 9, 2008 50's record player, SE 6l6 to a diy 1x12 detuned cab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted July 9, 2008 Members Share Posted July 9, 2008 Nope! It's a gilmore Jr 1/2 watt amp that I built from a kit. It's a pretty amazing little amp and I built it my-own-self! I have been meaning to get one of those kits for a long time. After I get back from New Mexico, I'm gonna order one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted July 9, 2008 Members Share Posted July 9, 2008 I have a Fender Champion 600. I am SHOCKED by how little love it has gotten in this thread. I haven't even retubed or changed the speaker in mine and it is pretty good. I run mine with EQ plus reverb pedals.Roger They are great little amps. I changed tubes but left the original speaker in mine. I haven't had any issues with it whatsoever. I did try another Eminence speaker and it sounded good, but it was a lot louder which sort of defeated the purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cliff Fiscal Posted July 9, 2008 Members Share Posted July 9, 2008 meh.....the chapion 600 was a/is a turd..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Procreatur Posted July 9, 2008 Members Share Posted July 9, 2008 50's record player, SE 6l6 to a diy 1x12 detuned cabi can't lie, that cabinet is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mymindsok Posted July 11, 2008 Members Share Posted July 11, 2008 Ratae Coritanorum obviously has greater skill than I, cause it took me several evenings to assemble my Gilmore JR but then again I'm a perfectionist and it was my first amp kit. Aside from being a nice amp, the support that you get from Guy is far beyond first rate. The man really cares about you success with the kit and will go far out of his way to assure that you end up happy. There are also several mods available for the Jr that'll give you Fender tones or Marshall tones or even double the output by adding an adaptor and a replacment tube. An added plus is that the amp is very rugged. The kit is a bit pricy but I think that it's well worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rob14 Posted July 11, 2008 Members Share Posted July 11, 2008 Legacy Junior 5 watt, it'a a copy of the Epi, (probably comes out of the same factory ??!) great class 'A' practice amp, I can have real valve tone at neighbour friendly volume and I can unplug it's speaker and run it strait into a bigger amp as a tube pre amp. Like the Epi a speaker upgrade is all it needs to give even better tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axegrinder Posted July 12, 2008 Members Share Posted July 12, 2008 The Lexicon three watt rack amp in my sig is to die for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ru with me drho Posted July 12, 2008 Members Share Posted July 12, 2008 how does the goblin sound?I love it. It's only a 1x10, but you can great some great sounds out of it. The "schizo" switch reminds me of Tech21 stuff...there's a US (Fender) setting, British, and "Lo-Fi", kind of like an old Supro. Small, portable, and sounds great. Looks like this:I just saw one on Ebay a few days ago, gone now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xStonr Posted July 12, 2008 Members Share Posted July 12, 2008 I have a Fender Champ recently modded to Tweed spec and a Alamo Embassy that was missing tubes and a speaker. The Alamo for what it is kicks major ass now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Yarbicus Posted July 12, 2008 Members Share Posted July 12, 2008 I have an Epiphone Valve Special which is combo version of the Valve Jr. with a 3 band EQ, Gain and Volume, standby switch, reverb and digital effects. I disabled the digital effects and replaced the 10" with a 12" Celestian. Sounds huge! I often play it next to an AC15 and almost everyone prefers the sound of my little Epi. And the whole thing was $175 on eBay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted July 12, 2008 Members Share Posted July 12, 2008 Been using one of those recent Gibson GA-5 amps more and more these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zatoichi Posted July 12, 2008 Members Share Posted July 12, 2008 I feel I should add that I have been heavily looking into building my own effects and amp. I would love to build a guitar, but don't feel I have the skills. But, chicks dig skills, so that sucks. Language skilz, puppy - that's the ticket... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jrockbridge Posted July 12, 2008 Members Share Posted July 12, 2008 I use a BH Little Giant mini stack in 3 watt mode most of the time. Sometimes, I use my Weber attenuator. Sometimes, I use my homemade isolation cabinet. With all these options, I can play and record at any time of the day or night. And, I know I'll be adding other low watt tube amps to my collection over time. I still use my modelers...mostly for practice. Modelers offer viable sound and sometimes I'm amazed how well a modeler track sits in the mix of a recording. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hanglow Posted July 12, 2008 Members Share Posted July 12, 2008 If you are interested in making your own, a tweed princeton build is pretty easy and great sounding there's a good layout here http://www.diycustomamps.com/princeton.htm . I used that one as a base for one of my builds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stormin1155 Posted July 12, 2008 Members Share Posted July 12, 2008 This is my low-watt amp that I built. I don't know the output, but I'm guessing about 5W running through a 12" Fender (Eminance).It started life as:Not too pretty on the inside, but it sounds good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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