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The Project Begins

All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
edited February 2012 in Musicians and Gearheads
Off and on for the past few years I've headed over to a buddies house to try out his latest hand wired amps, mostly clones of old circuits with a new modifications etc. Well over a month ago I was over there trying out two versions of his latest creation, and one of the two versions really grabbed me. Yes I'm typically a bass player but I have a thing for guitar tones. After my place of employments end of the year bonus showed up (not jelly of the month club this year), I determined it was finally time to take the plunge. So he is building me one. The parts started coming in today so the build begins.

It's a dual 6v6 circuit with 5aR4 tube rectifier set up. It's a mix of a black face and tweed style amp.

12-29-11-001.jpg

All his work is done in a 18 watt Marshall chassis clone, and will be in a shorty style Marshall head. The head cabinet and 1x12 cabinet are both being built by J Designs http://www.jdesigncabs.com/home I'm going with something a little different that with my crossed fingers I hope goes together. The head will be a two tone color scheme made of Green Levant and Cream Levant tolex with the typical gold Marshall piping. Gold face plate with black letters. The 1x12 cabinet which will end up having a Weber Alnico speaker in it (still deciding on the model) with be Green Levant with gold piping and the small cane grill which I've seen that grill in person and it looks awesome.

I have to give some thanks to Exhausted, I've been driving him nuts going back in forth with cabinet color ideas and speakers.

I'll keep this updated as it goes.

Fixed the picture
E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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Comments

  • DewieCoxDewieCox Posts: 11,429
    I'm sure it'll be gorgeous in sounds and looks. There's a Mesa Boogie with a pretty similar color scheme that was very classy looking. I'm sure they're not right for everybody or every amp, but AlNiCo speakers sound really amazing. Love my Blues.
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 Posts: 23,303
    that sounds really awesome! good luck with the project. you are more a man than i, as i am so terrible at soldering that i will not even attempt to build an amp haha...

    i have seen some matchless and bad cat amps with a similar color scheme. does it look anything at all like this?? is it a dark green like that?

    http://www.willcuttguitars.com/amps/bad ... -cab-green

    i think this is a very classy looking amp.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 Posts: 23,303
    here is the matchless....no tan though...

    http://www.matchlessamplifiers.com/independence.html
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    This is the green, https://taweber.powweb.com/store/cabs/6m45h_lgreen.jpg

    This is the cream, https://taweber.powweb.com/store/cabs/5E7h_lcream.jpg

    The small cane grille is on this page http://www.jdesigncabs.com/coverings_an ... rill_cloth

    I'm not personally building the amp. I'm to much of a perfectionist. I've built a few pedals, and installed a bunch of pick ups, that's it. When it comes to doing a amp circuit to much can go wrong for me to really want to do it. He had done a bunch over the years.
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    DewieCox wrote:
    I'm sure it'll be gorgeous in sounds and looks. There's a Mesa Boogie with a pretty similar color scheme that was very classy looking. I'm sure they're not right for everybody or every amp, but AlNiCo speakers sound really amazing. Love my Blues.

    Alnico is about perfect in most situations that I like. I have a space for ceramics but in the end it's ALnico.
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    This is going to be a tasty, tasty amp.
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    Updated shots. Looks like it's the end of January for the cabinets to arrive.

    12-31-11-006.jpg
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    12-31-11-009.jpg

    12-30-11-005.jpg

    12-31-11-008.jpg
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    All Those Yesterdays wrote:
    Updated shots. Looks like it's the end of January for the cabinets to arrive.

    12-31-11-006.jpg

    Appparently my resizing on photo buck blows.

    here is the link to the album....

    http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15 ... assic%206/
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    Near completion

    01-08-12-016.jpg
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    The amp circuit is done, and broke in.

    01-11-019.jpg

    Head Enclosure, and matching 1x12 cabinet is completed. it was accomplished by J Design Speaker Enclosures http://www.jdesigncabs.com/home It shipped out yesterday and will be showing up around Friday sometime. I'll post the pictures he emailed me in a little while.

    Waiting on the shipment of the cabinets, the speaker from Weber (which should be here sometime this week), and also the face plates for the amp chassis.
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    1x12 enclosure

    01-16-021.jpg

    With the matching head

    01-16-023.jpg

    Back of them

    01-16-022.jpg
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • mfc2006mfc2006 Posts: 37,446
    that is awesome!!!!
    I LOVE MUSIC.
    www.cluthelee.com
    www.cluthe.com
  • DewieCoxDewieCox Posts: 11,429
    mfc2006 wrote:
    that is awesome!!!!

    This



    but that might not even do it justice. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous.
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    It's hard to tell in those photos, but the dark color is a dark green. and there is gold piping. When I get them in I'll try to get better pictures of it, with accurate color representations.
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • RedMosquito22RedMosquito22 Posts: 8,158
    That is going to be baddass!!!! Enjoy!!!
    Member 164xxx

    8/15/92, 9/28/96, 8/28/98, 8/29/98, 9/18/98, 8/3/00, 8/9/00, 8/10/00, 8/23/00, 8/25/00, 9/1/00, 9/2/00, 4/28/03, 6/18/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 10/1/04, 10/3/05, 6/19/08, 10/27/09, 10/31/09, 5/21/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/21/13

    More to Come....
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    According to the tracking number, the cabinet and enclosure will be here at work today :D . But the Weber speaker won't be here till Monday :( . And it appears a week out till the front and back plates show up.

    Tomorrow I'll come up with a way to mount the chassis. I'm not a big fan of the wood screw idea. Just will probably bolt it through the bottom with finishing washers both in brass, and do a nut and locking washer inside.

    It's getting near, extremely near.
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    I think I did well with the color choices, Green Levant, Creme Levant and gold piping. Will look good with the black on gold name plate and face plate.

    01-26-27.jpg
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • RedMosquito22RedMosquito22 Posts: 8,158
    How much did this run you by the way. If you don't want to talk about it you can PM me.

    Thanks.
    Member 164xxx

    8/15/92, 9/28/96, 8/28/98, 8/29/98, 9/18/98, 8/3/00, 8/9/00, 8/10/00, 8/23/00, 8/25/00, 9/1/00, 9/2/00, 4/28/03, 6/18/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 10/1/04, 10/3/05, 6/19/08, 10/27/09, 10/31/09, 5/21/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/21/13

    More to Come....
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    RedMosquito22 wrote:
    How much did this run you by the way. If you don't want to talk about it you can PM me.

    Thanks.


    The 1x12 cabinet empty with the two tone tolex and piping was $220 shipped. The two tone head empty was $210 shipped. Weber speaker was $95 plus shipping.

    The chassis/ circuit itself was done for me at cost, because he is a good friend and trying to get the name out. We have a deal that if I ever want to get rid of it, that I offer it to him, if he doesn't want it and I sell it, I get what I paid for out of it and he gets the rest.

    Here is the cabinet guys website http://www.jdesigncabs.com/home
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    Well the speaker won't be here till Wednesday. Way to go Fedex.... But in the end I guess it's my fault....
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    The speaker arrived yesterday so I loaded it in the cabinet, and also change out the fasteners on the back of the cabinet to brass (so it matches the rest of the hardware on the amp and it's gold finish). Minor incident with a brass screw broke the head off it), so I'll have to drill that out tonight. The odd thing was I really wasn't pushing it hard with the drill when I was putting that screw in and it still broke the head off. Freaking 40 cent screw. But that's the breaks in the world of brass.

    Of course all my heads are at the studio so I didn't get to try the new speaker out. Oh well...

    01-24-29.jpg


    I also installed the weber logo to the grille on the cabinet.

    01-24-30.jpg

    Now waiting on the front and rear face plates, mount the chassis to the head and it will be good to go.
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • RedMosquito22RedMosquito22 Posts: 8,158
    Almost there!!!! Looking good man!!
    Member 164xxx

    8/15/92, 9/28/96, 8/28/98, 8/29/98, 9/18/98, 8/3/00, 8/9/00, 8/10/00, 8/23/00, 8/25/00, 9/1/00, 9/2/00, 4/28/03, 6/18/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 10/1/04, 10/3/05, 6/19/08, 10/27/09, 10/31/09, 5/21/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/21/13

    More to Come....
  • mfc2006mfc2006 Posts: 37,446
    looks great!!!
    I LOVE MUSIC.
    www.cluthelee.com
    www.cluthe.com
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    Faceplate is in and installed. Should be wrapped up if there is time on Saturday

    01-31-32.jpg

    01-31-35.jpg
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    Project is being wrapped up on Saturday. Chassis will be mounted, everything buttoned up, and my first chords will be played through it.

    Now my fingers are crossed that the speaker I chose will work out.
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    And it's complete. Need to take pictures of it all finished and post them up.

    Amp sounds amazing, nice and creamy. Push pull on the boost is a nice change from the switch in the prototype. Nice cleans, great break up, great compression. Pretty freaking versatile amp. Way beyond my abilities. The Weber speaker will be about perfect once it gets a few hours on it. But its voicing does go well with the circuit. Right now I'm dealing with a rattle in the cabinet that I'm trying to solve. Everything is pointing at the baffle. I'm going to attack that when I get home tonight. If i were to do anything different I would probably go with a vintage 1x12 cabinet from J Design in lieu of the thin line cabinet. I swear the extra girth from the vintage cabinet helps with projection. But live and learn. In the end the Phathead Classic 6 is about perfect for me. I am not disappointed.
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    Lady's and Gentlemen, the Phathead Classic 6. A 5e3ish power section paired with a blackfaceish pre amp section. My basement is pretty dark, hard to get good photos.

    IMG_0951.jpg

    IMG_0958.jpg

    IMG_0963.jpg

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    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

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  • RedMosquito22RedMosquito22 Posts: 8,158
    So, so, so pretty!!!! Enjoy the shit out of that!!! Boutique overdrive for me next. Probably wait until the next guitar show.
    Member 164xxx

    8/15/92, 9/28/96, 8/28/98, 8/29/98, 9/18/98, 8/3/00, 8/9/00, 8/10/00, 8/23/00, 8/25/00, 9/1/00, 9/2/00, 4/28/03, 6/18/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 10/1/04, 10/3/05, 6/19/08, 10/27/09, 10/31/09, 5/21/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/21/13

    More to Come....
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
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