Source
r/diypedals•
ElBeefcake

Not sure if this is the right subreddit, but I built an amp.

Here's an album with some pictures. I hope it's OK for me to post an amp build in here.

This was my first large build so the wiring is pretty shoddy overall. I had also not taken into account how short the leads on the small resistors were when i spaced the turret strips, so I had to jury rig those. I'm currently building an amp sleeve for it, putting in external bias measurement points, and trying to figure out how to get a working effects loop in.

The amp itself is based on the ElectricAmp MV120, an amp mostly known for it's sludgy tone. If you like Matt Pike's tone on Sleep's Dopesmoker, you'll probably like this. You could compare it with a vintage Orange/Matamp but with more gain and a different tone-stack.

Edit: forgot to add a sound sample. Here's an attempt at nailing the Dopesmoker tone.

Posted Nov 11, 2013, 10:23 PM UTC · edited

2622
theguffaw•

Not sure that sound sample is what you meant to post.

13
ElBeefcakeOP•

Awkward! Fixed it now :-p

2
kabzoer•

Now I want to know what it was.

5
ElBeefcakeOP•

Some weird rap someone linked to me that was open in the tab next to the tab I actually meant to copy paste.

2
lanopticx•

Mmmm hmmmmm. Side project eh?

2
FireFish74•

r/DIYGear is a better spot for this, but this is pretty cool!

6
ElBeefcakeOP•

I did not know that sub, subscribed :-)

3
tyburn_canon•

Check out r/diyaudio too.

3
gregorthebigmac•

.

1
explodedsun•

That looks great!! I wanted tube sounds so I cheated and converted an old radio...

4
ElBeefcakeOP•

I'm kinda interested how that sounds.

2
explodedsun•

A little tough to work with. There's a fine line between clean signal and over the top overdrive. I may have to rig a trimpot inside at some point. It's a solid, loud little thing otherwise. I run it with a fender 3x8 PA cab.

2
ArmchairAlcoholic•

Really interested in this sort of thing, a few questions if you don't mind.

How much experience do you have with electronics? How long did it take you to source parts/build this to where it is now?

In its current state how much did parts and everything end up costing you? Finally, do you happen to have the schematic that you used?

Many thanks for sharing this, I really like the tone in that sound clip. I have a strong desire to build something like this (you picked a killer amp to base yours off) but don't think I possess the skills just yet.

2
ElBeefcakeOP•

Glad to hear you're interested.

I studied Electronics in high school for 3 years, but that was mostly modern stuff and fixing TV's. Other than that, I've fixed tube amps for friends and built some simple stomp box effects. I don't think you really need all that deep knowledge of the actual circuit, though it does help because the schematic had a few errors in it.

It took me about a month to go from "I want to build this" to "now it's ready for rehearsal". This included translating the schematic to the wiring diagram, sourcing all the parts, drilling and painting the chassis, making the turret strips, assembling, soldering and troubleshooting. All in all it was like 4-5 days of actual work.

It's cost me around 550-600 Euros to build up till now. The price is gonna go up a bit now because I still have to make an amp sleeve with some nice purple tolex.

I found the schematic in this thread on the Music Electronics Forum. I'm not sure if you have to be registered to be able to see it, so here's the latest schematic.

I'm glad you like the tone, it was recorded with just an old Shure mic and no effects were used, so this is basically the dry amp.

Honestly, if you want to try building it, go for it. You just have to be prepared to do quite a bit of work yourself, but it's not that hard. If you need any help, I'd be glad to give it to you, but if you're still not sure about your skills, you could try building an amp-kit first.

2
ArmchairAlcoholic•

Yeah I didn't know a whole lot about electronics until about two years ago when I started to do a lot of research.

I have made a handful of pedals and had pretty good success with it all and have gained a great deal of knowledge.

I've done a bit of poking around on this topic and the cost you mention seems to be pretty standard for a DIY amp. I feel like I have a little more boning up to do before I feel confident building one but I see it happening, hopefully in the next couple years (also need to pony up the cash, ha.)

Whenever I do get around to it I will be making something very similar to this (maybe a Hiwatt clone) as I play a lot of the heavy doom shit (Electric Wizard and what have you.)

Anyways, thank you for the outstanding reply and information. I truly appreciate it from someone first hand like this. Also, be sure to share some pictures of the sleeve once you build and tolex it, the purple sounds very tasteful.

1
ElBeefcakeOP•

A Hiwatt is going to need pedals to sound doomy though, they're very clean amps. I think Electric Wizard use Boss FZ2 fuzz pedals for most of their heavy sound.

1
ArmchairAlcoholic•

Well, I'll definitely have plenty of time to figure out exactly what I want. I don't know exactly what type I'd like, I just know I'd like to have plenty of power on tap.

Ahh yes, the FZ2, often called Electric Wizard in a box.

1
Chiurazzik•

Dat sound sample..

1
HeroinForBreakfast•

Damn, I am jealous and inspired.

<3 sleep

1
ElBeefcakeOP•

Get to building :-p

1