OT: Show us your DIY tube amps

**Alien_Shore** · May 10th, 2013, 12:32 PM

Seems like we have a few DIY tubers hanging around now, so rather than hijacking Cradledorfs thread, I started this one!

Here's one that I've done.
It's a DIYTube Dynaco ST35 clone

diy35

Great PCB-based kit, easy to build and sounds like an amp that is way bigger and more complicated! Perfection for my Altec HF compression drivers especially.

**alancohen** · May 10th, 2013, 12:51 PM

Very nice Mike!. It's amazing what glorious sound comes from a simple, well-designed tube amp. Makes you wonder what all that other stuff is for.

My KT88 based, transformer-coupled Cathode Follower. 3W/ch:

Inside the CFA:

And my output transformerless EL-509 based Son of Beast. 15W/ch.

Inside the SOB:

Both are all P-P wired. They came with simple to follow step by step instructions. I have no electronics background, but I can follow directions! If you can follow a Lego book, you can build these amps.

Oh yeah, and my phono preamp:

**Altec Best** · May 10th, 2013, 04:22 PM

Looks Like Nice work there guys !

**analog addict** · May 10th, 2013, 05:51 PM

A very simple 6DJ8 - 2A3 build....

This was only 3-4 years in the making. I'm a bit slow in getting projects off the ground when I'm breaking new ground. It was worth the wait. Believe it or not it powers the Simplex/M19 stacks and the 604s with ease. All of 2.5 WPC...

Build thread here....

**Altec Best** · May 10th, 2013, 05:55 PM

Looks like you need to dust off those tubes Alan ! LOL!

**bowtie427ss** · May 10th, 2013, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Altec Best

Looks like you need to dust off those tubes Alan ! LOL!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Toobs need a layer of dust to smell correct when they get up to temperature.

Seriously though, don't clean them unless you're aware of how delicate the numbers and other graphic print on the envelope is. Some tubes lose their numbering/lettering if you just look at them wrong. I'd much rather have 60 year worth of dust than some squeaky clean mystery tubes.

**Old Guy** · May 10th, 2013, 09:55 PM

here's an odd bit.

If you can't read the number on a tube, rub it on top of your head. The oil in your hair makes the number more readable. Taught to me by an old TV guy back in the 60's when I was a teenager teaching myself TV repair....

No clue why it works but it does...

**cradeldorf** · May 10th, 2013, 11:50 PM

I've never heard a tube amp... I wonder how they compare to my SS. All I know is that changing amps can make a substantial improvement depending on what your switching up to.

Check out this unique tube amp.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-50s-60s-...item19dc598f04

**mah** · May 11th, 2013, 03:36 AM

One I made for my daughter. Basically a Soldano Atomic 16 with buffered tube effects loop.

**alancohen** · May 11th, 2013, 06:28 AM

As long as we're talking DIY tubeys, This is the most amazing OCD-laced build I've ever scene. It's a pair of TS 160W OTL monoblocks by Mark in Oz.

http://sharksphotos.yolasite.com

Stunning!