Tube Amp Project

[robforst1]

Does anyone have any experience building one of those Tube Amp Kits?

I have seen the Moondog one and another one called a bottlehead kit.

I am thinking about giving it a shot (or hiring someone with electronic/soldering experience).

Rob

[robforst1]

Here is one example...(picture attached).

[mobile homeless]

Two very different approaches to Single-Ended amplification. Also, notice the large price difference as well. You are talking about an entry-level SET kit with the 2A2 Bottlehead Paramours that offers great bang for the buck, is very easy to build with good instructions along with a top notch forum for aid. It is hard to beat for the price. The Bottlehead kits feature Parafeed transformers, solid state rectification with some additions that solve some problems. Is it the best there is? No. But for the price it's very, very good. The mods make it better. I dont like Solid state rectification too much but they have some solutions.

Their Parabee 300B Parafeed SET is actually pretty damn good according to a good friend who just heard a pair with all the mods. It is substantially more expensive than the Paramour however. Ditto with the 2A3 Paraglow. The lower Bottlehead kits, on the whole, do not have the parts quality nor chassis quality of the WL kits.

The Welborne Labs kits offer better transformers, parts, chassis etc and a more old world design approach - traditional but proven (tube rectification, cap coupled, 6SN7 drivers). Their long lived and hightly reviewed 2A3 and 300B kits are getting ready to be discontinued with only a FEW remaining at good prices. Buy them now and save. See the post about the NEW Welborne Labs kits taking the place. These new kits look to be very easy to build and excellent as well. Pricing is unknown at the moment but figure less for basic to much more for fully loaded versions.

So you have settled on single-ended kits?

[robforst1]

Cool pics! How did you embed them in the message text?

I have not decided on a Single Ended Kit yet. Thee antique sound lab amps look like very high quality (and already built). Did you have any recommendations?

Rob

[Clipped and Shorn]

http://www.aloha-audio.com/library/tinyhistory1.html

c7s

[prodj101]

you should build a scratch kit. Thats what I did. alot cheaper, and you can build better stuff.

[mobile homeless]

Well, why dont you ever mention this tube amp? I have wondered why:

1. It's not listed in your components signature

2. You have never mentioned the sound in any way

I just assumed you had not heard them. Building from scratch is way more difficult for the average newbie as you really need to depend on your schematic reading skills. I differ here in that I believe a good kit is preferable for the excellent instructions, detailed pics, and factory support as well as others who have built the same kit offering advice. It makes sound sense to make a quality kit as your first amp project.

kh

[leok]

I second Mobile's info above. I will add that the cost of a kit is not more than the cost of the parts, if you purchased them seperately (I mentioned this in another post yesterday and rechecked my notes and confirmed it). Kit producers purchase parts in volume which substantially reduces their material costs. You're getting good design, in a convenient form, for no more than the individual parts would cost you.

leok

[prodj101]

if it makes you happy, I will put it in my sig. Just isn't because it's not part of my main system. And it depends on cost. Some of the kits are way over priced.

[prodj101]

you can see pictures of the amp in earlier posts........

[NOSValves]

I would have to agree with Kelly on the Kits for Newbie's. I've been working on the Vintage units for a year and schematics can be very hard to deal with when you first start out. I still hate having to refer to them but its a neccesary evil

Craig