I know I've been a bit quiet recently

[hamfist]

  Some of you may have noticed (maybe even with some sense of relief) that I've been a bit quiet on the forum recently.
  This is because I have been absolutely obsessed with a certain project - which is now nearing completion.

A month ago I bought an old 100W Selmer PA, hand-wired, full of old tubes, Mustard caps and Partridge transformers.

I have been almost completely rebuilding it from the bottom up into a fire-breathing dual channel Soldano/Marshall beast.

It will shortly be a foot-switchable two channel job. Channel one is a Marshall 2203 clone. Channel two is a Soldano SLO lead channel-type affair. both channels have completely independant pre-amp pathways, tone-stacks and MV's. Power section is 4 x EL34, Marshall 2203 clone.
  I have to say it sounds awesome so far. The noise floor is low (amazingly), even on the SLO channel.  I'm just awaiting one tiny little part to complete the channel-switching - hopefully tommorow !

It has been a real labour of love, as I had never even changed a single amp component 8 months ago....... I was a complete noob at anything techy like this. THanks to snippets of advice from MartinW and HTH, along with days and days of scouring the www, and using certain other techy forums, I have somehow reached the point where I could build this amp.

  The great news is that if I get bored with this amp, I'll just rebuild it into something else. It's going to save me a fortune !

I've got a big gig on New years Eve, so I'm really hoping to have the amp fully sorted, and up and running by then. It'll be a real wolf in sheeps clothing that's for sure !

Keep your ears open. I'll provide pics and clips when it's all done !

[Denim n Leather]

Sounds like a killer project! Glad you came up for air; now get back to work!!!

[FernandoDuarte]

Sounds great! Wish I could solder a wire without burn my hands :lol:

Serious: Go forward, it's not enough one more amp builder in the world seeking quality instead of being freaking rich!

[JDC]

how much did this cost you to do? I'm guessing it isn't that much cheaper than buying an amp since there probably isn't that much labour cost since everything is on a production line for the big amp companies, but there is the advantage of not having to buy loads of tools like you would building a guitar

I wouldn't mind giving it a go if I had the time to learn it all and put it into practice

[hamfist]

how much did this cost you to do? I'm guessing it isn't that much cheaper than buying an amp since there probably isn't that much labour cost since everything is on a production line for the big amp companies, but there is the advantage of not having to buy loads of tools like you would building a guitar

I wouldn't mind giving it a go if I had the time to learn it all and put it into practice

Including buying the amp, a spare quad of EL34's, all new electrolytic caps, and loads and loads of spares (caps, resistors, diodes, etc etc), I'd say it cost somewhere between £400 and £450. However, to get a brand new hand-wired amp, with the same functionality, and the same quality transformers, I guess you're usually looking at about £1500 or over, so I think I've got a bargain.
  Doing it yourself, also means you can voice it exactly to your own preference as well (which is not that hard) ........as well as the satisfaction of actually playing an amp you made yourself !

[kevincurtis]

That sounds really fantastic... we seem to be following similar paths, I built my TS clone just before you got yours to play with, and my Christmas present from my better half is a valve junior head cos I fancy having a play with an amp now (and wanted a low power amp). I look forward to hearing some clips when it's done!