Scratch building amps

  The same is true with a tube amplifier except there are not any tube amp schools out there that I am aware of. So you are then left with the only choice. Start reading some books to learn how a tube amp works. I have some very good books on my Books/Video page that you can start with. Also, visit my amp forum, read the postings there and ask questions. There's lots of knowledgeable people on my amp forum.

 If you want to build an amp from scratch, you will have to look at a layout diagram or schematic of the amp you are trying to build and make a list of parts that you need to complete the amp. You must know what you need to complete your amp. Here is the theory,  "If you understand what it is that you need, then you should understand how it all goes together."

 If you do not have any amp building experience and do not understand the basics of how a simple tube amp works, then you should get a book or video or two before you attempt to construct an amp from scratch. See the books and video's page in my tube amp parts catalog. If you want to build from scratch and you don't know what you need, you will not be able to get though your project because you do not understand how it all goes together. You must be willing to read some books and spend some of your time learning about amplifiers.

 I get many people emailing me wanting a complete amp in a box type kit. I don't have complete kits because there are a ton of different types of amps and every one is different. Most guys have some of the items they need already and so they do not need everything. If you look at my parts catalog section, you will see that I have many of the parts it takes to assemble many different models of amps, just pick out what you need. If you don't know what you need, how are you going to assemble the amp? Note that I do not stock cabinets, speakers, grille cloth, etc so I could not give you a complete amp kit in a box.

 In most cases, it usually cost way more to assemble an amp from scratch than going out and buying the real deal. You should sit down with your parts list and add up the cost of everything it takes to build it and then see if it is cost effective to build it or buy an amp. But let me say this, I was one of those guys that had to build it from scratch no matter what the cost, because I was ate up with the "tube amp fever" and it is very exiting to build your own amp that actually works and sounds great.

 I get asked all the time to assemble a parts list of everything needed to make an amplifier. The problem with this is that I am very busy all day long shipping customer parts orders, I don't have time to make parts list for customers. If you are just curious about what it will cost to build an amplifier, assemble your parts list on my shopping cart, it will give you a total cost.

1) First choose the amplifier that you want to build. For example a 5F6A Tweed Bassman.

2) Get the schematic or layout diagram of that amp. The schematics for many types of amps are listed in the Hip tube amp book and the Aspen Pittman book on my Books/Video page. Also see the schematics links on my library page.

3) Look at the schematic or layout diagram and make a parts list of what you will need. If you don't know what you need, you must read some books first and be willing to spend some time learning. You cannot expect someone to spends enormous amounts of time helping you learn. You must be willing to help yourself.

4) After you have made your parts list, go to my on line parts catalog and assemble your parts list.

The parts listing below is here to help you figure out what you may need or may have forgotten when you are getting your parts list together for your project. If you are scratch building, and you don't know what you need, you will have to look at a layout diagram or schematic of the amplifier you are trying to build and make a list of what you  need. Not all of these parts are used on every project. For example, Marshall's have two fuse holders and Fender's have one. Some amps use a choke and some amps do not use a choke.