I've had real good luck building this Valco 510-11 circuit. For those who would enjoy retrofitting old and good looking vintage cabinets, this design fits the bill. The sound is fat and stuffed to the brim with harmonics. What one could call a "bedroom" amp.

I would be willing to assist in sourcing the 3 common tubes, transformers, and related components. Total cost will be somewhere around $200+ however this circuit is fairly forgiving and used power transformers, sockets, knobs, & chassis not only make the amp look better, it's cheaper as well.

Uses a 5Y3GT, a 6SL7, & a single 6V6. The last one I built went into a suitcase. The preamp section was biased well below maximum, but acted so hot that with the modd'ed preamp volume when turned up added a vibrato. This design is extremely sensitive, simply hammering the neck plays loud. 

In this small venue (Cigar Box Nation) I will be glad to share my schematics & links to the most reputable parts suppliers. This amp will not only fit a small foot print, but will preform well with a standard guitar & will allow you, the tube novice (and experienced builder alike) to enjoy the amp that Jimmy Page used to record Stairway To Heaven with. 

Search the web for Valco 510-11 images. The drawing is tilted slightly, that's the one.

If there is some interest, I'll post a couple of pics of what I have, maybe a youtube clip as well.

Rest regards, Doug

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print & BOM coming

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Arggg, good morning yall. Still warm & humid here in south east Texas. Get'in out in the garage will suit me better later in the year....but the weather never held me back from "amp'in". 

Above is the schematic for the modd'ed Valco 510. It's going to be loud. 'yall need to be thinking about a 12 inch or a pair of 10 inch speakers. The speaker ohm rating should be 8 ohms +/-. Warehouse Speakers.com is a very reputable and respected outfit with excellent customer service, here is a link to a "decent" 12 inch guitar speaker   http://wgs4.com/12-g12q-20-watts 

The BOM is over halfway finished. Not too sure how to post it here as the hyperlinks may not work, so if you see some stuff up here today, it may or may not be my final post as I will be testing Shane's (bless you brotha) website...:)

that is really awesome...forget the links and posting photos, make a great video and it will get so much more useage on the internet, people will be able to watch and see it, start at the beginning, talk about the supplies and the ones you have and where to get the others, and then do a build along, I know folks will eat this up, espially if you do a complete A to z video...make it kind info mercial, kinda documentary, people need this info!!!

Here is an attachment with links to everything you will need, except the basic supplies such as wire, solder, tools. I can cover that in my 1st video. See attachment .pdf

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I want you to start reading all you can regarding Tube Amp Basics, this is including High Voltage safety.  There are many forums dedicated to this obsession. Here is the 1st one I found ...http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=225729    I picked CBN for my 1st tutorial mainly because of the lack of "headbangers". "yall seem to be real folks around here.  Also read this...http://www.aikenamps.com/index.php/safety-tips-for-working-on-tube-...  

Remember Safety DOES NOT EXIST! WHEN YOU NEED IT, YOU MUST INVENT IT!   enough said.

OK, uploading 2ea 10 minute vids I took today.  The 1st video is about some tools & techniques including a very quick soldering class. 2nd video describes checking out your Power Transformer with a Variac & a Digital Volt Meter (DVM), and a discussion regarding amp ground wiring, reading & learning on some more popular amp build websites.

Next week I should have a new & bare chassis in hand (I'm fresh out) when I can start in with punching & machining for the tube sockets & front panel layout. Between now & then I plan on doing some tutorials on the schematic, at least simply going over the areas of wire construction and how best to use proper wiring practices.

- Q's?

Best- Doug 

Here is the first video. AMP Basics - Soldering, Tools & Techniques to make your Amp project look professional.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTw5CdBUDZo&list=UU9W4Vl201YkwF... 

Another video that covers construction of a Octal Tube Amp & a quick test of a Power Transformer.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGXJGtyjTvY 

I too have touched those little things you were talking about and got the shit shocked out of me...I could not figure out how so much voltage was pent up in those liittle things...I got a mega shock and was kinda freaked out the rest of the day

They don't call it a "jolt" for nothing! One day when I was in 5th grade, I brought a tiny transformer to school, out of a transistor radio (size of a sugar cube) and a "C" cell battery. I had so much fun shocking the heck out of my non-believer friends. They became belivers!

Before we get started I will add a "bleed down resistor" to the power supply schematic as a fail safe. If you turn on the power (on switch without any tubes installed), there will be left over high voltage on the filter caps.

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