Author Topic: Amp Kits??? (Read 7551 times)

Norm Fireland · « **on:** April 08, 2007, 01:41:17 PM »

Hi there everyone, quick question....

I have been recommended the following site for an amp kit, only problem is that its in the USA and i would be worried about shipping and customs costs.

http://www.ceriatone.com

Does anyone have any experience with the site, or even better does anyone know of amp kits available in the UK?

Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

Norm

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2007, 02:09:34 PM »

shipping ain't no sweat - I've shipped stuff all over the world. just make sure you figure import duty into your budget.

I'd recommend Metro Amps, they're very, very tasty... http://store.metroamp.com/index.php?cPath=44

or if you really must stay within the UK, try these...
http://www.ampmaker.com/index.asp

:twisted:

willo · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2007, 03:14:32 PM »

Ceriatone is in malaysia, not USA.

indysmith · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2007, 04:24:48 PM »

http://www.ampmaker.com/
these look pretty good to me; good simple guides to building em too

apmaman · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2007, 04:51:33 PM »

that wee 5w amp on the ampmaker.com site sounds great! the soundclips are fantastic. For £90 thats one sweet ass amp.. Much better sounding than an Epiphone valve jr and its the same price!

indysmith · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2007, 05:00:43 PM »

Quote from: apmaman

that wee 5w amp on the ampmaker.com site sounds great! the soundclips are fantastic. For £90 thats one sweet ass amp.. Much better sounding than an Epiphone valve jr and its the same price!

have to pay extra for the cabinet to put it in though

WezV · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2007, 06:34:53 PM »

Ampmaker seems a really good choice for us in the UK but here are some other links:

http://stf-electronics.com/

I made one of their champ head kits a couple of years ago, its a great little amp but was a little bright with stock tubes - great with vintage mullards! Delivery was slow, but the instructions and support was great! Website is poor! :?

http://www.torresengineering.com/maktubam.html

Lots of choice, there used to be a UK supplier advertising in the back of guitarist but i cant find it now!

http://www.tubedepot.com/tubeampkits.html
https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits.htm
http://www.ax84.com/
http://dobermanamps.com/shop/

should get you started!

If either of the ampmaker kits suits you i would really be tempted to go for one of those but if not dont be scared of ordering form the US. I order loads of stuff all the time, just make sure you check what delivery service they are offering and try to get one that is trackable to give you a bit more confidence. Also make sure you get it form a company that will supply an appropriate power transformer for use in the UK

As for customs - as long as calculate it when pricing up the kit its not so much of a PITA. I usually allow 25% on top of the cost of the package and shipping to cover it, its usually less. Royal mail now charge £8 admin charge to deal with customs (theiving buggers) and will request payment before delivering anything. Companies like DHL deliver first and send you a bill at the end of the month, there admin is £125 for individuals or around £10 for companies

With the exchange rate the way it is its a bit easier to soak up the customs charges

apmaman · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2007, 06:37:01 PM »

Ahh, I forgot about that.

Skybone · « **Reply #8 on:** April 08, 2007, 11:14:14 PM »

http://www.ampmaker.com/

They do a really nice 18w Marshall clone as well that looks very tasty...

Norm Fireland · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2007, 04:58:34 PM »

Thanks for all the replies guys, however im hoping to be able to get a 100 watt plexi sound. Was trying to get something reasonably cheap as i have changed gear more than i have had hot dinners and so the funds are low now!

I play a JTM45 at the moment through a 4x12 loaded with greenbacks, i play a 65 relic strat too. I love the sound, but we got a new drummer and the 30 watts just doesn't cut it!!! He is an animal on the kit!!

Anyone wanna recommend any amps?? Bear in mind tone rather than gain is what i need!

horsehead · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2007, 05:49:59 PM »

YOUR PLAYING A JTM45? Original or re-issue? They're suppose to be pretty sweet sounding

DeanS · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2007, 08:51:14 PM »

Quote from: Norm Fireland

Thanks for all the replies guys, however im hoping to be able to get a 100 watt plexi sound. Was trying to get something reasonably cheap as i have changed gear more than i have had hot dinners and so the funds are low now!

I play a JTM45 at the moment through a 4x12 loaded with greenbacks, i play a 65 relic strat too. I love the sound, but we got a new drummer and the 30 watts just doesn't cut it!!! He is an animal on the kit!!

Anyone wanna recommend any amps?? Bear in mind tone rather than gain is what i need!

Metro amps are definitely the way to go then.......

sgmypod · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2007, 10:30:01 PM »

sorry to jump in your post..but how different are the 45's to the 30's(have a 30 at mo..second amp)

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2007, 11:55:21 PM »

yikes, I seriously doubt ANYONE needs the full unleashed power of a 100w plexi - I'm a loud player and rarely get mine past 3 or 4.

those JTM45 reissues through a 4x12 with RI greenbacks won't really give you much 'cut' (having played such a rig).

here's a cheaper option that will give you the desired volume increase but come in cheaper.

(1) get rid of the RI greenbacks and replace them with G12H-30s. the 3dB increase in sensitivity means that they'll be noticeably louder than the G12Ms. you should easily be able to get £100 for the four G12Ms and four new G12H-30s will set you back £200 from www.loudspeaker.co.uk (ok, so we've spent £100 already)

(2) replace the output transformer with a 50w plexi type - your PT should be fine since you're still gonna be using the same valves (2x 6L6 and 3x ECC83, I'd dump the GZ34 in favour of sicilon rectifiers or a Weber Copper Cap). a decent 50w OT is gonna set you back around $150 - by the time you have postage and import duty, say £125 for the OT. if you can sell your old JTM45 OT on ebay for £25 you've only laid out £100.

so, for a total outlay of £200 you've just made a MASSIVE improvement to your amp rig. you could leave out the speakers and you're only spending £100.

:twisted:

Bainzy · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2007, 12:52:15 AM »

If you want "that tone" of a 100w Plexi, you need quality components. They key to that fantastic sound is how the extremely simple and pure tonal path allows the different components such as valves, capacitors and the OT to shine - so if you really do want that sound, either mod a 1959slp reissue with Sozo caps, a Metroamp or Mercury Magnetics OT, and use some vintage ECC83's in there... ...or buy a Metroamp kit that will have all the good stuff in there already (not NOS tubes but the best of the modern production). Trust me I've spent many an hour working on every variation of the 100w 1959, I know that amp completely inside out and if you cheap out on parts you won't be happy.