Any tube amp builders here?
 

I'm having a hard time deciding between two amps.

An ax84.com November (requires me to build it froms cratch) which has low volume. Rougly 12 watts on single ended design. 24 watts on dual ended design but requires more tweeking.

Or a jtm-45 clone ( http://www.ceriatone.com/productSubP...45Complete.htm ) that has full 45 watts of power but I need to crank the fuck out of it to drive the power tubes to saturation goodness.

i think Fletch does

faggotttttt

bumpmatic

Back in my radio days I knew how to put together linear RF tube amps. Not quite the same thing you're looking for though I suspect, since you want that warm, overdriven distortion that only an overdriven AF toob can provide. :winkwink:

Personally, I'd opt for the hand-built one but I'm a tinkerer. In your case it'd probably be a factor of how much time you have available to fiddle with it and what your temperment towards tweaking a home-build is.

FWIW - There's something special about keying up that amp (or in your case, hitting that power chord) the first time after plugging it in. :thumbsup

If you're wanting the BEST and willing to spend a little time building it yourself, you should check out http://www.torresengineering.com/

You'll end up with one sweet amp!!! :thumbsup

wow this guy has some prety crazy high prices but seems to have some pretty sweet components and has detailed instructions including layout diagrams though.

I found this other company that sells kits based on ax84.com's projects. Really good prices too. I wonder, I could build a few of the smaller kits, put them in cabinets etc and sell them once I have a few of them built to fund one of torresengineering's kits.

My only problem with all that is time. Building these things is not something you just do overnight. it takes careful planning, building and lots of testing and tweeking.

Yep, the prices are high, but so is the quality. They do a 100% screening and testing of all of the components in the kits. Everything is absolute top-notch and their support/tech advice is certainly the best around. Even if you need just a few components here and there they're awesome. :)

while these examples certainly aren't kits by any means, i can *highly* recommend a pair of Shanling SP-80 monoblocks, i drive a pair of Linn Katans w/ the SP-80's and the sound is luscious and warm, wonderful pair of amplifiers..

Shanling SP-80

those are for hi-fi use though. I'm talking about guitar amps