AX84 5 watt DIY project

CLS

Hi ...new to this forum. Need some advice on a DIY valve amplifier project on the AX84 site. I can source most components but can't seem to find the board, the turrets or the eyelets. The board is something called Garolite.

Has anyone tried to build this amp? What board have you used for the point to point wiring?

TomCat

Hey CLS

Welcome to the forum.

The two guys who are able to help you are Matta and Karel Mars. I'm shure one of them will get back to you soon.

Enjoy the forum.

Heath

welcome , where did you find the power and output transformers

AlanRatcliffe

Tailon - Mr. Valve carries trannies.

21Fretter

Rule #1. When building a guitar amp and you are part of a forum, post as many pics as possible! ?

CLS

Thanks for the welcome.

welcome , where did you find the power and output transformers

I bought a 125E Hammond rated for 15watts from Mr Valve (Wim) a couple of months before his tragic death. He was extremely helpful in getting me started on valves and related electronics. At the time I wanted to build the Firefly (1 watt) version.

I recently had to learn to repair my valve amps ('64 Bassman and '69 Twin Reverb) as they started to crackle and hum severely. Got lots of help from overseas forums (wasn't aware of a local one) and battled to get equivalent caps etc.

So, found out that between Communica, ElectroComp and Electronics123, I could source most caps and resistors.

For this build from scratch however, finding the relevant bits is turning into a nightmare!

I have all the resistors (Communica does not supply 2 watters in metal film - Electronics123 do for limited ranges and are pricey)
I have most of the caps (high voltage ceramic discs are impossible to find so far - Electronics123 has them in very limited ranges)

Power transformers (Hammond equivalents) need to be custom wound - busy enquiring (Magtran etc)

Sockets, valves and output transformers- Mr Valve

The stumbling block now is to find a suitable board material, solder pin equivalents (eg turrets) http://www.turretboards.com/tut_building_turret_and_eyelet_boards.htm

Any ideas for local alternatives?

Gearhead

Hi CLS, welcome; good to have more tube builders around. I source(d) my turret board, (orange drop) caps and transformers through another member of this forum, Karel Mars. He gets the turret boards and caps in from the US and has started winding his own transformers. He also gives workshops, which also helps. Search this forum.
Wirewound 2W resistors and diy turrets you can find at RS Components. The diy turrets are meant to be 'trumped' into any material, but apparently perspex is good. For the classic look you can go for tufnol. The advantage of diy turrets is that you can go for any pattern - design the layout first and then decide on turret location.

CLS

Wirewound 2W resistors and diy turrets you can find at RS Components. The diy turrets are meant to be 'trumped' into any material, but apparently perspex is good. For the classic look you can go for tufnol. The advantage of diy turrets is that you can go for any pattern - design the layout first and then decide on turret location.

Thanks Gearhead. Didn't think of trying RS Components. I see a lot of amp builders first plot out the layout on graph/block paper and then transfer to a board and drill to the appropriate pattern.
I'll give them a call on Monday.

Karel-Mars

Hi CLS

Welcome to the forum. Exciting project ? I would start with tag strips to mount the components. Get from from RS when you order next. Then when you are done prototyping/changing components, you make/get the right turret board.

RS Stock No. 433-775
RoHS Status RoHS Compliant RoHS Certificate of Compliance
qty Price Each (In a Pack of 10)
10 R 15.53
150 R 14.91
500 R 14.32

Price seems to be reasonable. A pack of 10 is going to last you a long time ?

I do a 15watt 2K5 into 8/16 SE OPT . PM me for info.

TomCat

Karel Mars wrote Hi CLS

Welcome to the forum. Exciting project ? I would start with tag strips to mount the components. Get from from RS when you order next. Then when you are done prototyping/changing components, you make/get the right turret board.

RS Stock No. 433-775
RoHS Status RoHS Compliant RoHS Certificate of Compliance
qty Price Each (In a Pack of 10)
10 R 15.53
150 R 14.91
500 R 14.32

Price seems to be reasonable. A pack of 10 is going to last you a long time ?

I do a 15watt 2K5 into 8/16 SE OPT . PM me for info.

Thanks Karel.....I was actually looking for this........now answered....... ?

CLS

Karel,

Thanks for the info. Will visit RS Components in Kyalami this week.