Custom built tube amps?

[petsematary]

Do you know of any people on the web who build customized tube clone amps? I'm thinking especially of affordable combos and such... Would greatly appreciate some names and URL's since I'd like to buy a small plexi clone...

[everybody's x]

here's a guy on ebay that has some interesting stuff

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfromZR9Q...QQsassZeddiejg

[RoundBadge]

This guy makes some of the best sounding Plexi's[cloned or real] in the world.
I own one and 2 friends have subsequently bought them as well..
His name is Greg Germino and his entire focus is reproducing amazing sounding all hand wired plexi style Marshall amps.. ..his JTM 45 is stunning.
also , some bluesbreaker style combos.
I own the LoVo lead 50..which records like a dream. ..pure Jimmy Page
[with a great player of course!]

http://www.germinoamps.com/

[petsematary]

I'm getting a woodie just reading your descriptions!

However that Germino dude was way over my budget. I'm talking sub-1000USD and combos only...

[cdog]

What amp do you want cloned?

You're not getting jack cloned for under a grand.

I think for the $$$ the Mesa F series and the VHT Pitbull combos are great all around studio amps that absolutely dfegad on Fender and Marshall's new low end crap.

[audiothings]

fab amps

the cheapest customizable all tube (?) amps i've seen.

also check out amptone for some cool links.

.02,
self.

[mikedaul]

Go to the harmony-central amp forums to read some horror stories about the fab amps.

I have an allen class-act head that I built from a kit. I think I paid something in the neighborhood of $700 for it 5+ years ago. I freaking love this amp. There's one on ebay right now: http://cgi.ebay.com/ALLEN-CLASS-ACT-...QQcmdZViewItem

If you want to RYO, check out the ax84 projects:
www.ax84.com

Firebottle is a great resource for homebrew amps:
http://www.firebottle.com/ampage/

[petsematary]

Yees, I did. Fab Amps did not get rave reviews there and I would not buy anything from him after reading that, I'm sad to say.

[jdunn]

If you want a sort of Jetsons retro look, check these out!

Electrosonic Amplifiers

Their Solaris is a 7 watt Class A head. The Thermosonic is a 7 watt Class A combo. They make lots of cool studio amps, and reasonably priced. They all look so insane I can't decide which one to buy! The one in this picture is a Blue Rocketone.

Here's another link w/ lots of Plexi clone info. The Fargen Mini Plexi is a popular one.

Soulcactus

[petsematary]

Originally Posted by jdunn

If you want a sort of Jetsons retro look, check these out!

Electrosonic Amplifiers

Their Solaris is a 7 watt Class A head. The Thermosonic is a 7 watt Class A combo. They make lots of cool studio amps, and reasonably priced. They all look so insane I can't decide which one to buy! The one in this picture is a Blue Rocketone.

Here's another link w/ lots of Plexi clone info. The Fargen Mini Plexi is a popular one.

Soulcactus

Those were really really really really really cool. And they're totally customizeable too, apparently. Looks like these little 60's retro monsters might be it. That one in the pic, with plexi specs...yum.

[mr.gefell]

i love this guy


www.tubesville.com


drrol baby drooool!!!!

[jdunn]

Originally Posted by petsematary

Those were really really really really really cool. And they're totally customizeable too, apparently. Looks like these little 60's retro monsters might be it. That one in the pic, with plexi specs...yum.

Good. I'm glad someone else likes them too. That blue Rocketone reminds me of an Esquivel album cover or something. Classic. I've read some good reviews on them. Here's some more pictures.

[RoundBadge]

Gdamm..Those Electrosonic amps look sooo fcukkin silly cool!!

[jdunn]

And how about that cabinet with a 10" and a 12" speaker? Mic either one or both for different tones. Maybe that's been done before, but I've never seen it.

Soon I predict many a slut will have a retro looking Jetsons amp! They're handbuilt to order, so I'm guessing there's a bit of a wait. I had better order one before the line gets long.

[Ziggy!!]

If you want a custom amp (ie, made to order to your requirements) then check out Judybox amps.

[Tetness]

I'm a big tweed collector. (I have them all) And I have very discerning ears whe it comes to late 50's narrow panel Fender amps. I don't like the reissue Fenders or the Victoria (which are little better). But an amp-builder named "Woody" builds Fender tweeds under his label: BLUESLAND. That sound pretty amazing. I put my low-powered '57 twin next to his clone. I have to say, his clone really impressed me. Tighter in the bass than a vintage one and screaming good. Kind'a bumed me out. I paid 10 grand for my '57 twin and his Bluesland is only 1,500. If you're interested in something Fender. I give him thumbsup thumbsup way up!!!!!

[jdunn]

bump So slutz from So Much Gear can find this thread.

[rob S]

i have two electrosonics.
both different variety's of the neptune.
i like them alot.
one is EF86 6L6/EL34 combo with volume tone and
variety cathode bypass cap switch.
the other was 6V6/EL84 combo.
interesting. not at all gainy but nice tones.

thought josh was great to work with.
dont know exactly what happened with them but they sure arent around anymore.

[biggator6]

The best bang for the buck clones have to be Ceriatone.. Nik does good work and is reasonably priced (he's in Malaysia, I believe).

Custom, to-spec and under $1k is a tall order.. unless you want to DIY.

[noah330]

I wouldn't have a custom amp built. I have a bunch of old Fenders, a Dumble, Soldano, Divided by 13, old Vox, as well as a bunch of oddball stuff - like some old Supro, Rickenbacker, etc... stuff and some of the common new stuff (Mesa, etc...).

All those guys know a heck of a lot more about what an amp should sound like then I do.

My fav amp is a 1950 Fender Deluxe that matches my 1950 Fender Broadcaster guitar.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

The problem is the budget. If you built it yourself, there are kits and parts and chassis ad all sorts of help, and you can do it. If you want someone else to buy all the stuff, and you pay him for his labor, your budget is blown. Unless he shaves corners in quality...

Is this for recording or playing out? You can record with a 5 watt amp. Playing out you need at least 18-20, though I've done plenty of small bars with my Reverend Goblin (switchable 5/15 watts, cost under $600 new) and let the PA do the heavy lifting. To mention the Goblin again, it comes with an instruction sheet for setting the controls to emulate the various popular vintage amps. Is the tweed setting identical to all Fender tweed amps? Of course not. But it is close enough for most usage. I'm sure that there are other similar amps, and in the case of Reverend, they also make a floor pedal called the Drivetrain which offers similar controls and a similar instruction sheet.

I used to collect vintage amps so that I had their sounds at my fingertips. Then I discovered boutique amps, and I like them better. Same idea, taken a step further.

[biggator6]

Originally Posted by noah330

I wouldn't have a custom amp built. I have a bunch of old Fenders, a Dumble, Soldano, Divided by 13, old Vox, as well as a bunch of oddball stuff - like some old Supro, Rickenbacker, etc... stuff and some of the common new stuff (Mesa, etc...).

All those guys know a heck of a lot more about what an amp should sound like then I do.

My fav amp is a 1950 Fender Deluxe that matches my 1950 Fender Broadcaster guitar.

Ok.. pics,please!
"-)

[noah330]

[Murasamee]

Originally Posted by noah330

Delicious.

[appleburger]

take a look into frenzel amps. the guy makes some great clones with improvements and is very reasonably priced. a buddy of mine just got the super deluxe 5e3 head from them and i was blown away after playing on it!

http://frenzeltubeamps.com/

[biggator6]

Wow, Noah.. that's just drool-worthy!
thumbsup

[popmann]

Custom tube amps? Great ones all day...but, under $1k? Not even.

Why? Great ones=hand wired. Good components. You do both of those, and you'll pop the $1k range.

I've got 4 amps...a 59 BassmanRI...A Reinhardt Storm33...a Fralin model VVT...and a custom built Red Rock locally made. All wonderful for their thing. The Reinhardt is going to be your Plexi'sih.

If you just wanted a head...the local builder has a driven single ended EL34 head that it really amazing for about $1100-1200'ish--I'd have to ask for current pricing. I was talking to him about marketing it, because it's an amazing little "mini Marshall" kind amp...I told him if he could get it to $999 retail, I could sell the hell out of it--he said there's no way he could do it for that unless he were going to have them built in quantity. And the thing is--for a combo, the cabinet is one of the most expensive parts to produce (done right).

If you want a good amp under a grand, it's easy to get...find a used Fender millions of them around...and an OCD or Barber drive...and roll in some complimentary tubes as money allows. There's no point in going the custom route unless you can pay for it to be done right. Last year I went to the Nashville amp show...floors and floors of great boutique amps...I don't think anything was under $1500 direct. Maybe a few heads...

[WB1984]

If you are into Fender tones, David Gries of Gries Amplification gets a lot of love.

The Gries-5 combo is $850 and, at 5 watts, should be great for recording or very low volume gigs. This will most likely be my next amp purchase, point-to-point hand wired for under 1k is hard to find..

That said, there's a lot of worthwhile inexpensive stuff out there that's mass produced, e.g., The Tiny Terror (great amp).

[noah330]

I'm telling you this as a guy who owns a lot of expensive guitars and amps - don't buy into this foolish boutique amp builder crap.

Chances are you'll end up with an amp that is hard to sell and doesn't sound much different then something you can buy. There are exceptions - but the exceptions tend to be 'production' companies like Soldano, Divided by 13, etc.... I just got one of those PRS amps and it's pretty cool too.

I bought some new amps about 5 months ago. I wanted some cool stuff and didn't want to pay over $500 each. I bought:

The 1950 Fender Deluxe shown above - $475
Rickenbacker M8 - $250
Gibson Goldtone GA30R - this is a recent American made (buy the black one not the brown one) amp that is pretty much a copy of an AC-15 - $379

All these cool amps can be had for under $600 used:







Here is a pic of how I record guitars - nothing fancy:

[gingataff]

Another option to add to your list, MJW amps.
MJW Amps :: Specialising in Building and Servicing Valve Powered Amplifiers