The project - a new amp!

I have decided to build myself a little guitar amp. I was looking primarily at kits from Torres and ampmaker. I got a few recommendations for Barry at Ampmaker, and on maing contact he was friendly and came across as a decent guy, so I ordered a WF-55 kit. http://www.ampmaker.com/ak00x.asp

This is a single ended amp based on the old Fender Champ. There are just two controls - power and volume. I like that simplicity! Im really tempted to labe the single knob "Tone".

The kit was ordered at the weekend, and arrived yesterday. I wasted no time in tearing open the package to get at the bits and lay them out on my work area:

All the bits appear to be present, though one of the valve socket retaining clamps was a little bent. The pliers soon sorted that though. Barry is right in the instructions - the mounting of the bigger socket is rather fiddly!


Having got the amp kit, I  thought it might be a good idea to sort out a speaker. Idecided that with the fender theme, an 8" Jensen P8R would be in order. One arrived this morning after placing an order with hotrox yesterday.


As you can see my work area is stunningly organised! it is a lot better than it was a week ago, though. A week ago there was no room to work on the workbench. I am quite prod of my work benc - I made it myself! offcuts from the top of the workbench are likely to be the source of wood for the cab. 18mm ply. Now I have the speaker and the chassis, I can plan the can better. It is likely to be about 16" tall, 14" wide and 10" deep. To help building the cab, or at least cutting the wood with a semblance of accuracy I am also making myself a sawboard.

As with any project, I could not resist getting started. Most of the hardware is mounted in the chassis - transformers, sockets etc. The turret board is populated with components, and I have given the front panel a coat of varnish. In line with building the cab from offuts lying around, I have used varnish from a nearly empty tin of Varnish I hapenned to have about. B&Q waterbased mahogany, Satin finish. I like waterbased - cleaning the brushes afterwards is easy.

The last bit to add is that I have ordered the tolex, and various other bits and pices from http://www.tube-town.net/index.html