Guess what I'm building....

[duhvoodooman]

....finally:

 

[marnold]

I think I'm going to have a coronary! Forget the Mayans, this is a sure sign of the apocalypse! Repent, I tell you, repent!

 

[Tig]

About time!!!
ancake

 

[Spudman]

Resistor test board?

 

[bcdon]

Resistor test board?

Far more than that, it also test capacitors!

 

[Ch0jin]

Cool! I actually got started on my JTM45 project over the weekend too! I received my transformers recently and over the weekend I stripped the old amp out of the chassis and started marking out all the new cuts.

Nice job on the board. Very neat and tidy.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Here's the loaded chassis. Now the long, tedious wiring process begins....

 

[Katastrophe]

I think I'm going to have a coronary! Forget the Mayans, this is a sure sign of the apocalypse! Repent, I tell you, repent!

+1.

Glad you're getting to it! I'm gonna enjoy the pics on this thread.

 

[Ch0jin]

I really can't get enough of amp building threads /me grabs cyberpopcorn

I might be able to help you feel better about the impending tedium of wiring too. I'm not going to thread hijack, but have a gander at what I've got as a starting point now I've all but gutted it. (need to drill out those octal sockets)

EVERY hole on this chassis is in the wrong spot for a JTM45 layout. Even the chassis mounts in the cab upside down compared to a Marshall. I already butchered the chassis once in the 90's, so by the time I'm done she'll be like Swiss cheese!

At least yours is beautiful and clean and shiny and all the holes are in the right spot

 

[kiteman]

Let me guess... you're building an amp!

 

[Commodore 64]

I started drilling out a Hammond 16x8x2 box (for a 5E3 based on the PPwatt PCB) yesterday, too. Amp building is in the air! I'm using MPS Transformers, so I'll be able to give you guys a good review of a reasonably priced OT and PT.

My biggest question now is whether to use Orange Drops or Mallory 150s. I've got plenty of both.

 

[duhvoodooman]

I'm not going to thread hijack, but have a gander at what I've got as a starting point now I've all but gutted it.

Start a thread on your build, too! Will be interesting to compare my "brand new" build and your "old amp transformation".

My biggest question now is whether to use Orange Drops or Mallory 150s.

Conventional wisdom says OD's for Fender circuits, Mallory's for Marshalls. Then again, what the heck do those convention guys know, anyway?!?

 

[R_of_G]

It's amazing to me that you guys can build this stuff. I can barely play my guitar let alone build new gear for it. Keep the pics coming!

 

[tunghaichuan]

It's amazing to me that you guys can build this stuff. I can barely play my guitar let alone build new gear for it. Keep the pics coming!

I taught myself how to build this stuff to substitute for lack of musical ability. I never really got anywhere on the guitar when I practiced, so I went off into collecting stuff, and then building other stuff. It was easier than making myself sit down and practice on a regular basis.

 

[piebaldpython]

It's amazing to me that you guys can build this stuff. I can barely play my guitar let alone build new gear for it. Keep the pics coming!

+1........Oh yeah, I'm totally in awe. DVM built 4 or 5 pedals for me and I had occasion to look inside one of them and it was so nice and clean......and meticulous. Nothing but the utmost respect for you pedal/amp builder guys.

 

[Ch0jin]

Start a thread on your build, too! Will be interesting to compare my "brand new" build and your "old amp transformation".

Oh I absolutely will! All I have right now is chassis and iron. When the rest of my bits start arriving I'll get a build thread happening. Just wanted to make you feel better about the wiring job

Oh and re: C64's comment, That's exactly what I read around the place too.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Some more progress last night--mounted the board into the chassis and wired in the mains, fuse, PT connections, rectifier socket, and associated switches. More pics:

 

[cebreez]

WHAT??!!?? I hate getting to the last pic and then .... well ... NOTHING! What I can't believe is that you guys not only do some beautiful work but you take time to photograph it. I keep meaning to but get so focused on the build that I don't stop for pics.

Nice job duhvoodooman! Any mods or is this a straight build?

 

[duhvoodooman]

Any mods or is this a straight build?

Stock 18W TMB, at least to start.

 

[bcdon]

That is excellent looking solder work!

 

[duhvoodooman]

Thanks, Don. Lord knows I’ve had enough practice! :thwap

 

[Tig]

Looks great.
Remember, "failure is not an option"!

 

[Robert]

I only have one word.

Finally

 

[duhvoodooman]

Remember, "failure is not an option"!

Awright, Gene Kranz! :AOK Lemme go find my white vest for tonight's solder-fest!

I only have one word....

And I have TWO words for you....

 

[Robert]

Awright, Gene Kranz! :AOK Lemme go find my white vest for tonight's solder-fest!

And I have TWO words for you....

Funny Owls?

 

[duhvoodooman]

Funny Owls?

Close enough....

Next photo--completed wiring for tube sockets (except shielded cable for inputs), output impedance rotary switch (4/8/16), and speaker jacks:

 

[Commodore 64]

Man you are cruisin' along. I gotta wait until the weekend to get some work done...

 

[sunvalleylaw]

It's amazing to me that you guys can build this stuff. I can barely play my guitar let alone build new gear for it. Keep the pics coming!

+1! Love it!

 

[duhvoodooman]

Man you are cruisin' along. I gotta wait until the weekend to get some work done...

Yeah, it’s coming along pretty well. Been putting in an hour or two the past couple of evenings and getting a fair amount done, even at a slow & careful pace. At this point, I just have to wire the control pots and input jacks, and then run the shielded input cables down to make the preamp tube connections. After that, it’s just a thorough check of all the connections and then start plugging in tubes and applying power! I already tested the mains, PT and rectifier function, so it’s just the preamp and output stages that I’ll need to go through.

It's amazing to me that you guys can build this stuff.

I assure you, it’s really not as hard as it may look. You need good soldering skills, for sure, but if you get a good quality kit with detailed instructions, it’s just a matter of following them carefully. Many of these amp kit companies have forums or other technical support resources on their web sites. Trinity Amps, where I bought this kit, has a such a forum, with a bunch of good technical info and step-by-step build photos. And if you run into a problem that you can’t find the answer to, you can post and ask for assistance.

 

[Monkus]

Looking great DVM!