I didn't build my first guitar amp until 1997. There were virtually no kits on the market except for Dan Torres kits. Since 1997 I have built about a dozen or more guitar amplifiers from scratch, and never used a kit or pre made circuit or turret board. I did make up three kits for friends and shipped them all the parts, turret boards etc with instructions. All of those kits went well for the novice builders.
Now days the market is flooded with guitar amp kits of all descriptions. Some are simple small amps and some are much more complicated and complex, and the prices go from relatively inexpensive to a fairly sizeable investment.
Two years ago a guy from an online magazine, Guitar Kit Builder contacted me and asked me to assemble a guitar amp kit and evaluate and review it for him. Having never built a modern guitar amp from a kit I thought this would be a lot of fun. Especially since the kit was provided for me at no cost.
The kit is from Amplified Parts and is called the MOD 102, SE 5W amplifier. It came with all the parts and tubes as well as a predrilled chassis. The price of the kit is just $215 complete.
I wanted to build it as a combo amp but the chassis didn't lend itself to that adaptation well, it is just an exposed chassis type of thing, sort of a head without a cabinet. So I folded my own chassis to the same dimensions as a Hammond 1444-18 (13.5 x 5 x 2) chassis that is available everywhere. Then I installed it in a pre existing small cabinet I had on hand. This way it is portable and doesn't need a separate speaker cabinet. I used a MOD 10-35 speaker in the cabinet, I don't rememer the price but it was really inexpensive.
For guys who want to build their first amp and want a nice starter project on a small budget, I think this fits the bill nicely. At 5W it is a great practice amp or maybe a dorm room amplifier. This little kit has great illustrated simple to follow instructions and can be great confidence builder.
The complete build article, review and YouTube sound clip is here.
http://www.guitarkitbuilder.com/content ... lifier-kit
For JUST the YouTube sound clip go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_bJ9Lo0yhw
I would be interested to know what you guys think of the tone and flexibility of this $215 amplifier kit. Please post your comments thanx.
Here are a few of the pictures of the build.
My cabinet with the stock MOD chassis.
The complete kit with all the parts
The chassis, transformers, sockets and controls
Mid construction
Completed rear view of the cabinet and Gut Shot.
Completed amplifier
