Iamweasel
Has anyone done such a build?
Maybe some help if I want to get started?
I am looking for someone that could do it?
ezietsman
Building a clone is not cheaper than buying a second-hand model and could cost more. Also, the bigger an amp you try to build, the more expensive some of the parts become e.g. the transformers in a Twin is enormous and weigh a lot and shipping becomes prohibitively expensive. It needs 2 speakers, which with shipping doubles their price (if you get Webers or similar from overseas).
To illustrate, I built a Fender Tweed Delue clone. The kit cost $400 from Trinity amps. I bought a speaker from Weber for $100 and shipping on the speaker was another $110 O_o. The only reason I could afford it was that I went on a paid-for work trip to the states, so the total shipping on the parts was $20 instead of $300 from Canada to South Africa. I also bought Tolex and grille cloth and handles etc. The kit and the misc parts was brought back on the plane in my luggage so I didn't pay extra for shipping.
These costs go up the more the stuff weighs and a twin's parts prob weighs at least double what a Tweed Deluxe's do.
So my recommendation is either:
Build it and be happy with the expensive and enjoy the thing you created yourself
Or
Build a clone because you want to mod it do be different from a standard model
Or
Look for the Fender one second hand.
AlanRatcliffe
^This. You can occasionally pick up early silverface or even blackface Twins for +/- R10K (later silverfaces even less). Spend a few grand to recap and revalve them and you are golden. There's not much you can do to a Twin to improve on it anyway.
I can tell you that a few years ago it cost me over R6K just for speakers for my Twin. Granted they were both Alnicos, but shipping would have been the same - and that was over a third of the cost.
Attila
The other option is to buy a old tube amp that is a basket case and use the entrails as donor parts to your build. I suppose it depends if you are a purist or a mad scientist where you can tweak your project on the fly.
I my case my amps go through several iterations until I get to a point where I box it and that is that ....otherwise its a never ending story :'(
The expensive things are generally the heavier things the transformers, chassis, reverb tanks, speakers etc etc.... the smaller things like caps resistors, wire are easier to import, but there are also a lot that is available locally.
shout if we can help
Iamweasel
Thanks for the advice, I will be looking out for some second hand ones! They just so rare... :'(
Gearhead
Iamweasel wrote:They just so rare...
Don't worry, first they are only hard to find, then hard to lug around and finally just bloody loud. Fortunately easy to get rid of 'cuz they sound so great (from a distance).
My advice: build something 5..20W.
RobbieZ
ez wrote:
So my recommendation is either:
Build it and be happy with the expensive and enjoy the thing you created yourself
I agree, build it because you enjoy the process and then enjoy your handiwork.
refuogee
You could also just build a head...
Yes transformers will still cost you but then you save on speakers and can use it with any variety of speaker cabs.
Heads supposedly also contribute to less wear on tubes as vibrations are minimised.
Just another option.
ezietsman
refuogee wrote:
You could also just build a head...
Yes transformers will still cost you but then you save on speakers and can use it with any variety of speaker cabs.
Heads supposedly also contribute to less wear on tubes as vibrations are minimised.
Just another option.
This is the way I went but speaker cabinets are expensive too. Also, a 20 Watt amp is generally a lot smaller and lighter than those beastly twin reverbs. It is kinda a weird situation. If you are not going to lug it around i.e. you don't gig, you don't need a big amp like a twin and if you DO gig, you also don't need a big amp like that because you can never turn it up. The point is, nobody needs a 100 watt (or even a 50 watt) amp these days.
If you really want a Fender amp with reverb, get a Deluxe Reverb or build a clone.
Attila
Transformers, power and output can be wound locally, at a fraction of the big brand name stuff.
RobbieZ
Attila Barath wrote:
Transformers, power and output can be wound locally, at a fraction of the big brand name stuff.
Can you please PM me with details? ???
Attila
Karel Mars(Paarl - forum member) (0724465072)
http://www.marsamps.co.za/
Or Peter Souris Eloff Ext SE St, VILLAGE DEEP 2001
011 493 2042
There are a bunch of others Sue Andrews in Marlboro Gardens.
Depending on what OT you are looking for I have and can calculate the winding plans (which Karel does as well) so any pro winder can execute easily
PS don't ask to speak to Peter he passed on many years ago
ezietsman
Attila Barath wrote:
Karel Mars(Paarl - forum member) (0724465072)
http://www.marsamps.co.za/
Or Peter Souris Eloff Ext SE St, VILLAGE DEEP 2001
011 493 2042
There are a bunch of others Sue Andrews in Marlboro Gardens.
Depending on what OT you are looking for I have and can calculate the winding plans (which Karel does as well) so any pro winder can execute easily
PS don't ask to speak to Peter he passed on many years ago
So why put his name down then? Who is the correct person to ask for? Or is there a business name to ask for?
Attila
Its the business name, I cant remember what the guys name were .....shees I am getting old
Attila
S.J.Andrews Electronics (Pty) Ltd
Address:
41-14th Street, Eastgate Gardens,
Malboro, Sandton
South Africa
2090
Telephone: (011) 444-1521
Fax: (011) 444-8054
Mobile Phone Number: 082 372 1805
Kelvin Foxcroft
Iamweasel
Thanks for all the replies!!! ? I am getting a good idea to maybe look at something smaller , but CLEAN....any suggestions?
I would like to build myself for the making it "mine"
AlanRatcliffe
In the same family, the Deluxe Reverb (22W) and Princeton Reverb (15W) both have similar cleans. Both quieter for the power than a similar rated higher gain amp (like an AC15 or 18W Plexi). The Deluxe is the perfect club/pub amp, the Princeton is great as a home/practice amp. Both start getting gritty on 4 (with humbuckers) or 5 (with single-coils) - but have plenty clean volume and headroom (for the application) below that.
Neither sound quite like a Twin, which is designed from the ground up for high volume cleans (80W, 4 x 6L6, SS rectifier, 2 x 12 with 50W speakers) but both have similar, great clean tones.
Still, for all of the Twin bashing above, nothing punches like a Twin and they still sound great at 2.5 (just better at 5 or 6), which I've found is about right for even a small venue (and for home play, I have tolerant neighbours).
ezietsman
Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
In the same family, the Deluxe Reverb (22W) and Princeton Reverb (15W) both have similar cleans. Both quieter for the power than a similar rated higher gain amp (like an AC15 or 18W Plexi). The Deluxe is the perfect club/pub amp, the Princeton is great as a home/practice amp. Both start getting gritty on 4 (with humbuckers) or 5 (with single-coils) - but have plenty clean volume and headroom (for the application) below that.
Neither sound quite like a Twin, which is designed from the ground up for high volume cleans (80W, 4 x 6L6, SS rectifier, 2 x 12 with 50W speakers) but both have similar, great clean tones.
Still, for all of the Twin bashing above, nothing punches like a Twin and they still sound great at 2.5 (just better at 5 or 6), which I've found is about right for even a small venue (and for home play, I have tolerant neighbours).
Yes. This last sentence. Any amp greater than about 3-5Watt gets pretty loud when they start breaking up. If you are building, build anything you fancy that is 20 Watt or less. IAmWeasel, i
f you don't believe me and live in Cape Town, I will gladly demonstrate this issue with my 18 watt Marshall and my 14 Watt Tweed Deluxe (both home builds) and show you the solution I used to combat it.
TomOlsen1
As both a hobbyist builder and occasional twin user, I'd like to throw my two cents in here.
I use a twin whenever I do the odd Mango Groove show. And yes, while a deluxe reverb has the same heritage as a twin, nothing sounds quite like a Twin. 4x 6L6, hefty 2x12" gives it a great gigging voice. And yes, they sound great throughout their range. But it depends on what you're looking for. A twin with some good pedals is a fantastic rig, although a bit weighty.
But, for my own shows and the appropriate sessions where amp drive is required I prefer my 18 watter equipped with power scaling. But when you enter the world of amp drive there are a lot of factors all contributing to the sound. That sweet spot of preamp, phase inverter, power amp and speakers all crunching just right is magic. And changing anything effects the sound. Dropping the VVR lessons speaker crunch, master volume drops power amp drive and gain brings down your pre. But there is a window of absolute magic, and even with some factors lessened, it gives me what I want.
A recent show had two players from each side. Me running the rig above, and Michael Bester (great player) running a pedals and clean amp rig. Michael had the more polished sound, with all his delays and mods running post drive, and riding his volume pedal the whole time. When it came to solos, I was reliant on the engineer to lift my level. BUT, I traded this for the ability to clean up with my right hand only and all the touch response that comes with an amp drive rig. Both were great rigs, and both have pros and cons. Which you would have preferred comes down to personal taste.
You'll never regret having a great clean amp in your arsenal.
-Edit- saw you already have a Marshall. Get a second hand twin!
Iamweasel
Hi Guys,
Have been away on work, sorry for late reply. Thanks for the reply Alan thomas & ez, i am leaning towards so something smaller, what do you guys think about these kits?
http://www.marsamps.co.za/guitar-amp-kits.html
