So.....(Now NAD :o)

[Mark Wein]

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l230/markwein/IMG_0665-1.jpg

One of my students who lurks here but doesn't post (AFAIK) read that I was looking at these and brought his to try out...he left it with my until next week so I'm going to get to try it in some classes and through some of my other speaker cabs and whatnot.

:msm:

UPDATE: I just went ahead and ordered one from AMS...this thing sounds great with most of my guitars (not so much the Les Paul) but it will make a nice office amp...I'm going to see how it works for the classes but I might just buy a pair of the heads next month if they prove loud enough to get a clean sound over the drumset...would be nice to control the volume a little better. Even the 15 watt head they make would probably be loud enough for classes http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-BLA-BH15H-LIST

Then the students wouldn't have to play on my vintage Silvertone every night :)

[sunvalleylaw]

I liked Spud's when I visited his house. Nice warm articulate sounds at reasonable volumes.

[Mark Wein]

So far I'm digging it. I tried a used one at GC over the weekend but its always hard to really hear something there. Here I get to try my guitars and in the situations I'd actually use it.

I've already started ooking at this: http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-BLA-BH5HS


:o

[Mark Wein]

OK..here is a short sound clip:

[mosiddiqi]

Great! HNAD!..I can't hear the clip from work, will check later...what's the problem with the les paul?..muddy?

[ellengtrgrl]

Yep, that's Blackheart - sort of Fenderish, with a little bit of breakup at lower volumes. It sounds good! :thu: I wonder what it's like with a clean boost or an overdrive running through it, to goose the pre-amp.

[Ronk]

Nice... I have the $199 combo special that was posted here ordered - but it's still on back order :/

[Help!I'maRock!]

did you get a bowl of soup with it?

[Prages]

I think I'm going to sell my Blackstar HT5. It's cool and all, but I just don't use it.

[sunvalleylaw]

Yep, that's Blackheart - sort of Fenderish, with a little bit of breakup at lower volumes. It sounds good! :thu: I wonder what it's like with a clean boost or an overdrive running through it, to goose the pre-amp.

That description sounds like my Peavey C-30 too, kinda fenderish, etc. No wonder I liked the Blackheart, which I did think did a good job of that sound at lower volume. I think that was what I liked most, I could get some of what I get out of my Peavey at lower volumes, and it sounded so sweet.

[Mark Wein]

Great! HNAD!..I can't hear the clip from work, will check later...what's the problem with the les paul?..muddy?

My LP has a lot more drive than the other guitars I own...to get the sound I like with the single coil guitars I have the bass maxed out and I just have to turn everything down. So yeah, I guess a little muddy :o


Yep, that's Blackheart - sort of Fenderish, with a little bit of breakup at lower volumes. It sounds good! :thu: I wonder what it's like with a clean boost or an overdrive running through it, to goose the pre-amp.

I'm going to use it in class tnight with my pedalboard and see if it can hang...


Nice... I have the $199 combo special that was posted here ordered - but it's still on back order :/

Thanks! I wonder why they ran a special and then backordered everyone?


did you get a bowl of soup with it?

A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.


I think I'm going to sell my Blackstar HT5. It's cool and all, but I just don't use it.

I probably wouldn't have bought an amp like this except for I want something with a a 12" speaker that sounds decent at low volumes to play through at work. Even if it just sits in my office I'll get my moneys worth, I think.

[Ronk]

The other cool thing about this amp is there is a Turret Board mod... This would be fun to build.


The blackheart kit is an upgrade package to a handwired, tube rectified amp with boutique level parts. From there it becomes fairly easy to mod it, but that is left for the techs and tinkerers out there and what their idea of good tone is.

http://www.mojotone.com/amp-parts/Special-Projects-Amp-Kits/Blackheart-Little-Giant-Amp-Upgrade-Kit-BH5-Turret-Board-Ki

http://www.mojotone.com/core/media/media.nl;jsessionid=0a0105531f43690cf285dc004e8a89 f08f40190fd266.e3eSc3uRax8Te34Pa38Ta38Raxj0?id=741 5&c=923962&h=afe2dcf055a8b23c761c

[Mark Wein]

The other cool thing about this amp is there is a Turret Board mod... This would be fun to build.



http://www.mojotone.com/amp-parts/Special-Projects-Amp-Kits/Blackheart-Little-Giant-Amp-Upgrade-Kit-BH5-Turret-Board-Ki

http://www.mojotone.com/core/media/media.nl;jsessionid=0a0105531f43690cf285dc004e8a89 f08f40190fd266.e3eSc3uRax8Te34Pa38Ta38Raxj0?id=741 5&c=923962&h=afe2dcf055a8b23c761c


I didn't know that. That is KILLER. It actually looks easier than the BSIAB2 pedal kit I just ordered :p

[Help!I'maRock!]

I didn't know that. That is KILLER. It actually looks easier than the BSIAB2 pedal kit I just ordered :p

why spend $200 on an amp just to replace everything? buy a kit instead and build the amp you want from the ground up.

[Mark Wein]

why spend $200 on an amp just to replace everything? buy a kit instead and build the amp you want from the ground up.

I suppose I could do that. A full amp build is very intimidating, though. This seems like a nice intermediate step and if I screw it up I could always put the original PCB back in, I guess.

[Prages]

why spend $200 on an amp just to replace everything? buy a kit instead and build the amp you want from the ground up.

Because almost every amp kit on the market costs more than buying the amp and the turret board kit combined. :idk:

I'd love to try my hand at an amp kit, but if I did one, I'd want it to be something I'd be able to use with the band, and most of those are $500+.

[Ronk]

I suppose I could do that. A full amp build is very intimidating, though. This seems like a nice intermediate step though and if I screw it up I could always put the original PCB back in, I guess.

Exactly... the kits I want to build are around $800 and that doesn't include the cab or speaker. This is a good compromise and confidence boost for me to get my hands inside an amp and seeing how they work.

Is 300 bucks unreasonable for a P2P amp with a decent speaker and cab to boot?

[Prages]

Okay, I was just looking at Ceriatone. I thought the shipping table was in lbs. It's actually in kg. So, shipping is nowhere near as expensive as I thought.

Looks like I could get a JTM45 kit without tubes for $626. That comes with the assembled board, and all the parts needed except tubes.

Hmmmm....

Anybody want to buy a Blackstar HT5 full stack? :o

[Mark Wein]

Okay, I was just looking at Ceriatone. I thought the shipping table was in lbs. It's actually in kg. So, shipping is nowhere near as expensive as I thought.

Looks like I could get a JTM45 kit without tubes for $626. That comes with the assembled board, and all the parts needed except tubes.

Hmmmm....

Anybody want to buy a Blackstar HT5 full stack? :o

link?

[Kerouac]

Clip sounded pretty good. Sorry to hear about LP stinkage though... I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands....

[Prages]

Here's the Ceriatone site:

http://www.ceriatone.com

And here's the link to the JTM kits.

http://www.ceriatone.com/productSubPages/BSJTM45/BSJTM45Kits.htm

Shipping to the US would be another $126.

[Help!I'maRock!]

hard to argue with this:

http://www.ceriatone.com/productSubPages/ACChampUltra/ACChampUltraComplete.htm

[ellengtrgrl]

I considered buying one of the Trainwreck clones, or the 36 watt "sort of" Marshall clone, but the cost would ahve been around $1000 by the time I was doen paying for everything. So, I passed on it. I'd build my own, but I 'd need somebody to make a chassis for me.

[Mark Wein]

:hmm:

This kind of GAS can be dangerous. I need to get a couple of pedal kits passing signal first, though....

[telecaster911]

I'm actually thinking about trying a scratch build repro of the ga-20 that I picked up. With a larger mult imp OT and reverb though. That amp just sounds that good that I want another just like it. (With reverb though).

[Prages]

I'm actually thinking about trying a scratch build repro of the ga-20 that I picked up. With a larger mult imp OT and reverb though. That amp just sounds that good that I want another just like it. (With reverb though).


If you do that, how much do you think the parts would cost, and would you be willing to do a thread like you did for the fuzz pedal?

[Mark Wein]

I'm actually thinking about trying a scratch build repro of the ga-20 that I picked up. With a larger mult imp OT and reverb though. That amp just sounds that good that I want another just like it. (With reverb though).


If you do that, how much do you think the parts would cost, and would you be willing to do a thread like you did for the fuzz pedal?

* watches thread intently *

[telecaster911]

Ill try to get some idea of the cost tonight. After I put brakes on the car :( id certainly do a thread. Was my fuzz thread detailed enough? Sometimes I gloss over stuff.

[Mark Wein]

Ill try to get some idea of the cost tonight. After I put brakes on the car :( id certainly do a thread. Was my fuzz thread detailed enough? Sometimes I gloss over stuff.

I think that even peoples questions and troubleshooting posts are really helpful.

[tgk03]

Then the students wouldn't have to play on my vintage Silvertone every night :)


:mad:

[Mark Wein]

:mad:


:msm:

[Kerouac]

I was looking at some of those Ceriatone jobs and I *really* like the DC-30 clone! :love:

[ellengtrgrl]

I was looking at some of those Ceriatone jobs and I *really* like the DC-30 clone! :love:

Yeah, they are pretty cool. As i said before, I was interested in these last year:

http://www.ceriatone.com/productSubPages/BS36watt/36watt.htm

http://www.ceriatone.com/productSubPages/tWRockIt/tWRockItKits.htm

But, if I did it as a complete (nuts & bolts from A to Z), it would have been quite a bit more, than I was willing to spend ($720 minus the enclosure for the Trainwreck clone, and about $500 for the 36 watt sort of Marshall clone). BUT, you can same some coin by not ordering the transformers from Ceriatone, getting your own tubes, and building your own enclosure, saving on the shipping cost (Ceriatone is in Malaysia).

I did contact Ceriatone a few times. Nick is very prompt at answering his e-mails.

[Prages]

Ill try to get some idea of the cost tonight. After I put brakes on the car :( id certainly do a thread. Was my fuzz thread detailed enough? Sometimes I gloss over stuff.

I think the fact that I had never done a pedal build before, and was able to put it together with VERY little trouble says a lot about how good you documented the build.

I mean, before that, the most complicated thing I'd ever soldered was a guitar. I'd never done any work on a PCB, or even cracked open a pedal for anything other than changing batteries or adjusting the internal trim pots on my Barber.

Sure, I had a few questions along the way, but I think that's to be expected. And even then, for most of the questions I asked, I was able to figure out where I went wrong, or what I was supposed to do, even before you gave me the answer.

So yeah, I think your build thread had the perfect amount of detail and description.

[Kerouac]

Yeah, they are pretty cool. As i said before, I was interested in these last year:

http://www.ceriatone.com/productSubPages/BS36watt/36watt.htm

http://www.ceriatone.com/productSubPages/tWRockIt/tWRockItKits.htm

But, if I did it as a complete (nuts & bolts from A to Z), it would have been quite a bit more, than I was willing to spend ($720 minus the enclosure for the Trainwreck clone, and about $500 for the 36 watt sort of Marshall clone). BUT, you can same some coin by not ordering the transformers from Ceriatone, getting your own tubes, and building your own enclosure, saving on the shipping cost (Ceriatone is in Malaysia).

I did contact Ceriatone a few times. Nick is very prompt at answering his e-mails.

I'm not handy enough with a soldering iron to try it unassisted. That's a lot of coin to fuck something up. :o

[Prages]

I'm not handy enough with a soldering iron to try it unassisted. That's a lot of coin to fuck something up. :o

They also sell working chassis, so you'd just need to put it in an enclosure.

FWIW, if tele's amp build is within my budget, and some more people want in on it, I would be willing to build enclosures for everyone at cost. If I just did the woodworking, the cost would probably only be about $10-15 plus shipping. The wood is cheap, and I've already got the tools and jigs to do the finger joints, plus I've built a head cab and a couple of speaker cabs, so I feel pretty confident in that regard.

The expense on those builds is really the tolex and hardware.

[Ronk]

They also sell working chassis, so you'd just need to put it in an enclosure.

FWIW, if tele's amp build is within my budget, and some more people want in on it, I would be willing to build enclosures for everyone at cost. If I just did the woodworking, the cost would probably only be about $10-15 plus shipping. The wood is cheap, and I've already got the tools and jigs to do the finger joints, plus I've built a head cab and a couple of speaker cabs, so I feel pretty confident in that regard.

The expense on those builds is really the tolex and hardware.

That would be awesome... count me in!

I thought the fuzz build was perfect and a lot of fun ... and any of the issues that came up got answered and just added more value to the posts.... and I finally got to use my multi-meter that my Dad bought me years ago :)

[Kerouac]

They also sell working chassis, so you'd just need to put it in an enclosure.

FWIW, if tele's amp build is within my budget, and some more people want in on it, I would be willing to build enclosures for everyone at cost. If I just did the woodworking, the cost would probably only be about $10-15 plus shipping. The wood is cheap, and I've already got the tools and jigs to do the finger joints, plus I've built a head cab and a couple of speaker cabs, so I feel pretty confident in that regard.

The expense on those builds is really the tolex and hardware.

Can you make some moonshine too? :love:

I actually might take you up on that, but with a smaller kit to start. :)

[Prages]

That would be awesome... count me in!

I thought the fuzz build was perfect and a lot of fun ... and any of the issues that came up got answered and just added more value to the posts.... and I finally got to use my multi-meter that my Dad bought me years ago :)

I've got a couple of multimeters, that up until a few weeks ago, about the only thing they got used for was to check continuity when tracking down bad patch cables. :o

[telecaster911]

I can make the chassis, but I would have to do cost and shipping this time as well. Would include an engraved control panel plate and front badge.

[Mark Wein]

I can make the chassis, but I would have to do cost and shipping this time as well. Would include an engraved control panel plate and front badge.


Sounds good to me. :thu:

[Eminence_Front]

Mark Wein with GAS is like watching hurricane season on the weather channel . .

1st storm of the season - narrowly misses coastline

2nd storm of the season - fizzles in the north atlantic.

3rd storm of the season - BRINGS THE BROOTALZ to Louisiana..


You justs never know whats gonna happen . .

[Mark Wein]

:o

[telecaster911]

Can you make some moonshine too? :love:

I actually might take you up on that, but with a smaller kit to start. :)

I can get you the swill :o

[Prages]

Now that we've got the cart placed thoroughly in front of the horse, I'll be anxiously awaiting the verdict on how much this is going to cost. :D

[Prages]

I just did some googling, and found several schematics for GA-20 RVT (GA-20 with reverb and tremolo).

There are a few different GA-20 schematics on Gibson's site. Don't know which one tele has that this build would be based off of though.

http://www.gibson.com/Service/Tech/Schematics/

[Kerouac]

Hmmm... I wonder about this. I bet I could find an old trashed amp for the chassis?

http://www.torresengineering.com/britinkit1.html

[telecaster911]

The rvt is a different beast. The one I have has 3 12ax7, 2 6V6, and a 5Y3 rectifier. Like a stripped down deluxe. I think mine is 1956, shaved poodle 2 tone.

[telecaster911]

Looks like it's coming in at about 200 bucks with no speaker, no tubes, no chassis, no reverb. Just the parts. I put a couple things on there like a nice leather handle for 8 bucks, etc. The transformers are the cost drivers, everything else is cheap. The 5E3 kit from torres is 425 plus shipping for essentially the same stuff. Add 100 bucks for a decent speaker, 80 bucks for tubes, + wood, metal for chassis, covering materials, grille cloth. It will be $500 before it's done with no reverb.

Maybe we should build this... $99

http://web.me.com/calhoun/Site/Firefly_PCB.html

[telecaster911]

Wow...listen to video 2 of the firefly.

[Kerouac]

Looks like it's coming in at about 200 bucks with no speaker, no tubes, no chassis, no reverb. Just the parts. I put a couple things on there like a nice leather handle for 8 bucks, etc. The transformers are the cost drivers, everything else is cheap. The 5E3 kit from torres is 425 plus shipping for essentially the same stuff. Add 100 bucks for a decent speaker, 80 bucks for tubes, + wood, metal for chassis, covering materials, grille cloth. It will be $500 before it's done with no reverb.

Maybe we should build this... $99

http://web.me.com/calhoun/Site/Firefly_PCB.html

I can't listen because I'm in a lesson, but I'm in. :o

Apparently I better buy one tonite if he's almost out!

[ellengtrgrl]

They also sell working chassis, so you'd just need to put it in an enclosure.

FWIW, if tele's amp build is within my budget, and some more people want in on it, I would be willing to build enclosures for everyone at cost. If I just did the woodworking, the cost would probably only be about $10-15 plus shipping. The wood is cheap, and I've already got the tools and jigs to do the finger joints, plus I've built a head cab and a couple of speaker cabs, so I feel pretty confident in that regard.

The expense on those builds is really the tolex and hardware.

Man I'm game! Count me in! I LOVE building electronics stuff. It's a rewarding feeling knowing that something you built (or restored from the dead) is bringing you so much fun! I've built ham radios from kits, and restored them from the dead.

My other limiting factor, would be a punched chassis. I live in an apartment, so I don't exactly have access to the tools needed to do that. The GA-20 is a good sounding amp, that when cranked, can give a Marshall 18 watter, a run for its money.

[ellengtrgrl]

Looks like it's coming in at about 200 bucks with no speaker, no tubes, no chassis, no reverb. Just the parts. I put a couple things on there like a nice leather handle for 8 bucks, etc. The transformers are the cost drivers, everything else is cheap. The 5E3 kit from torres is 425 plus shipping for essentially the same stuff. Add 100 bucks for a decent speaker, 80 bucks for tubes, + wood, metal for chassis, covering materials, grille cloth. It will be $500 before it's done with no reverb.

Maybe we should build this... $99

http://web.me.com/calhoun/Site/Firefly_PCB.html


Wow...listen to video 2 of the firefly.

The Firefly's a fun little amp. I didn't know a kit version of it was offered. It'd be fun to do a Trainwreck clone - except for trying to keep the thing from going into self oscillation, and acting like a DC or regenerative receiver. :o

[Prages]

Looks like it's coming in at about 200 bucks with no speaker, no tubes, no chassis, no reverb. Just the parts. I put a couple things on there like a nice leather handle for 8 bucks, etc. The transformers are the cost drivers, everything else is cheap. The 5E3 kit from torres is 425 plus shipping for essentially the same stuff. Add 100 bucks for a decent speaker, 80 bucks for tubes, + wood, metal for chassis, covering materials, grille cloth. It will be $500 before it's done with no reverb.


Well....

If the $200 includes the transformers, that's not a bad price. How much do you think the chassis would cost? I've already got enough tweed to cover my cabinet (ordered way more than I needed when I built the extension cab for my Classic 30.) As for reverb, I've got a good sounding reverb pedal. Spring reverb would be cool, but not manditory. What's a reverb tank cost....$25 or so? What other costs are associated with adding reverb to the amp?

Also, as far as the covering goes, I did this amp with vinyl I bought at Walmart for $3/yard. I think the whole thing took about 3 yards, so $9 total. It isn't as tough as tolex, but it gets the job done.

http://www.thewindtunnel.com/GuitarPics/Classic50Stack/Stack1.jpg

Also, I was thinking about making mine a head instead of a combo if we do it. I've got a 412 a 212 and a 112 cabinet that I could use with it. That would save me a $100 or so for a speaker, plus it would give me some more flexibility.

[Prages]

Now that I think about it, I actually already have a cab pretty much built that I could use as a combo cab. I built two cabs when I did the 112 extension cab and never finished the second one. :cool:

http://www.thewindtunnel.com/GuitarPics/112Cab/UnfinishedCab2.jpg

http://www.thewindtunnel.com/GuitarPics/112Cab/UnfinishedCab1.jpg

[telecaster911]

Reverb tranny 20 bucks, tank 25, tube and socket 15 bucks...maybe 80 bucks all together with pots and small parts.

[ellengtrgrl]

Reverb tranny 20 bucks, tank 25, tube and socket 15 bucks...maybe 80 bucks all together with pots and small parts.

Hmmmm, so in otherwords, 200 buckolas for all of the parts, minus the chassis, and the (head) cabinet? That isn't the worst. I'd just have to come up with a chassis and a cabinet. What about the turret board?

[Ronk]

So we are looking @ ~325 for a head w/ reverb? I think I could be in for that.

[Mark Wein]

:hmm:

[Kerouac]

:hmm:

http://andymclain.com/pics/hmmbw.jpg

[telecaster911]

Hmmmm, so in otherwords, 200 buckolas for all of the parts, minus the chassis, and the (head) cabinet? That isn't the worst. I'd just have to come up with a chassis and a cabinet. What about the turret board?

I think prages was building the cabinet for cost and I was going to do the chassis at cost. There is no turret board in the ga-20, just a terminal strip. It's all in the $200 estimate.

This definitely isn't going to happen overnight, especially if we want to add reverb. Maybe we will bail on the reverb, I have no problem with using a delay or reverb pedal. Plus, I'd like to get one together before I get a bunch of folks $200 deep in the project. Plus I want to put together some nice wiring diagrams instead of my chicken scratch ala MKII build :-)

[matou]

I'd like to have somethin' like this (http://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_60a.htm#6A14H).

[Prages]

I think prages was building the cabinet for cost and I was going to do the chassis at cost. There is no turret board in the ga-20, just a terminal strip. It's all in the $200 estimate.

This definitely isn't going to happen overnight, especially if we want to add reverb. Maybe we will bail on the reverb, I have no problem with using a delay or reverb pedal. Plus, I'd like to get one together before I get a bunch of folks $200 deep in the project. Plus I want to put together some nice wiring diagrams instead of my chicken scratch ala MKII build :-)

So, is yours done yet? :o

[Mark Wein]

I think prages was building the cabinet for cost and I was going to do the chassis at cost. There is no turret board in the ga-20, just a terminal strip. It's all in the $200 estimate.

This definitely isn't going to happen overnight, especially if we want to add reverb. Maybe we will bail on the reverb, I have no problem with using a delay or reverb pedal. Plus, I'd like to get one together before I get a bunch of folks $200 deep in the project. Plus I want to put together some nice wiring diagrams instead of my chicken scratch ala MKII build :-)

The chicken scratch was very easy to follow, though :p

[Ronk]

So, is yours done yet? :o

:hmm:

[ellengtrgrl]

I think prages was building the cabinet for cost and I was going to do the chassis at cost. There is no turret board in the ga-20, just a terminal strip. It's all in the $200 estimate.

This definitely isn't going to happen overnight, especially if we want to add reverb. Maybe we will bail on the reverb, I have no problem with using a delay or reverb pedal. Plus, I'd like to get one together before I get a bunch of folks $200 deep in the project. Plus I want to put together some nice wiring diagrams instead of my chicken scratch ala MKII build :-)

Hmmm, sounds good to me. A lack of reverb is not a deal breaker for me. I'm still game to do it.