Bit of market research I guess, I am currently designing a PCB for a JTM-45, which got me wondering whether there is a market to sell these boards. Anyone here who builds amps, would you buy a PCB to build on, or are you happy tag boarding them? (BTW this isn’t self promotion, any sort of sale would be a long way off)
Posted Dec 4, 2018, 1:38 AM UTC
For me, PCB is the way to go with any compact and/or channel switching amp. Once a certain density threshold is hit I start to look at PCBs.
But the JTM45 is in my opinion quite simple and I wouldn’t need a PCB for that myself.
Hello!
And no way in hell would I buy a PCB. Sorry!
There are cases where a PCB can be appropriate - for example designs like the Fender Vaporizer which use IC's and tubes together, a PCB makes sense for that. But for a pure valve amp? It would be silly - harder to build, less long-term viability and on a small scale, probably more cost than a turret or eyelet board.
Try making 'interesting' designs instead. The Musicman HD150 is a classic hybrid amp that isn't available any more. Other complex designs like that.
If someone wants a JTM45 with a PCB, the Origin 50 now provides that at a price that's tough to beat by home building. The advantages of DIY are:
Better build quality and serviceability than a PCB amp.
Original-spec for better prices than original and hard to find vintage amps, for example my 6G14 build is about £1000 all told, or £4000+ to buy an original if I ever found one.
DIY with a PCB doesn't meet those goals.
Honestly if anyone makes an HD-150 board I would be all over it
I see a lot of threads on forums with people building the PCB-based 5E3 Tweed Deluxe from Tube Depot, so there is some PCB-based market for simple amps. But I notice both Tube Depot and BYOC use turret-board for the JTM45, I'm betting they have the analytics that say it's not worth investing in PCB. Plus, to use a traditional chassis, it would require almost as many flying leads as turret-board.
PCB have a very high up-front cost — design, test, prototyping — everything that needs to be done to minimize noise. If you run off 1,000 PCBs and then find they have a lot of DC heater hum, you're screwed. PCBs pay for themselves over time and in quantity by allowing a consistent, reliable build if they were designed right and made reliably. They are best if you building amps in mass quantity.
That’s why I get them made in China. Over here itd cost over £100 to get 20 made, or about £20 in China
China isn't as competitive with higher quality boards. More x1.5-3 than x10. This small quantity levels for prototyping.
Just finished a metro 50 watt build. Personally as my first build I can’t see myself wanting to build anything with a pcb now. Although pretty much anything I’m gonna want to build will be a vintage circuit and nothing too complex. Maybe a high gain or channel switching amp kit with pcb would be cool but probably wouldn’t interest me. Putting the circuit board together was probably the most enjoyable part for me. Also it really helped me to understand the circuit and I enjoy a challenge.
I have built a few amps, and I've only used turret board. I like working with it, bit a PCB would probably make for a lot less mistakes. I'd consider buying a PCB.
I’ve always built point to point or turret boards. I’ve seen a few companies marketing pcbs for classic amps before, they’re less common than turret board kits though. Last I remember was hillbish with the GT120 kits, been a while since I’ve seen some Marshall based stuff though.
Hi,
First off, I'm an electrical engineer and have been making circuit boards since I was 14. If you stick with pre mid 90s PCB tech, it's easy to do and repair. Creating the traces can be as simple as drawing them with a marker. The marker will act as an etch resist. Or you can have a CNC doing isolation milling.
PCBs, in general, wouldn't interest me. I prefer to build on eyelet or turret boards. if the PCB was similar to the early Marshall Plexi PCBs (heavy traces, full size components, etc.), I am sure that they would be OK, but being able to mod and repair is key to me when I build, and so PCBs are not the best choice.