Build Your Own Clone Message Board

So as many of you know, I have been itching to build a 5F1. But it needed some upgrades and while BYOC makes a fantastic product, I wanted more options (transformers and Chasis) than were offered in the BYOC kit.
Enter phase 1:
I got a box today from Triode USA. In the box is their "5F1 Champ kit". I ordered the upgraded Transformers so this build could handle 6L6, KT66, EL34 etc tubes. In the box is everything you will need to build a 5F1 sans Chasis and tubes. Two things to note: 1. They give you an RCA jack for the speaker out, claiming this is what was in the original champ. Also, they don't include a fuse. I emailed them about these things and they agreed to send me a 1/4" jack and fuse to "complete the kit." All of the parts look to be of high quality and good names (Sprague Atom and Mallory Caps, Big Carbon Comp Resistors, Neutrix jacks, Belkin sockets etc.)

Phase 2 will be here in a few days:
From Watts tubes I ordered a blank chassis, tubes (JJ 6V6, 5Y3 and Sino Coke Bottle 6L6), a 10watt 470ohm resistor, blue Jewel and a few odds and ends. I will give updates as I get parts and pictures.
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Subscribed!

This is going to be really cool to watch!

Jank it all the way up to KT66. That would make one hell of a tube-based super clean pedal tester.

I actually want to run a KT66 (or KT88, gotta check to see if the PT can handle it), but man, a 6L6 cost $10-$20. A decent KT66...$35+, just a bit out of budget right now.
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Pfft! Be a real man and jack it up to run ONE OF THESE!

I that I may run out of current with either the KT88 or KT120...

A Side note, I hate the switchable pot. I have used a basic 6A/125V toggle in most amp builds. Is that overkill for the power switch on this amp, or should I just use a 6A/125V?
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Yeah, I know. I got one in a trade deal maybe 18 months ago. Sounds pretty nice in my Uni. I'm not sure it is significantly better than a 6L6 or EL34, but it's quite nice.

Also, check out JJ's E34L. I preferred it over the Russian equivalent EL34s (EH and Sovtek).

God luck dude! I've only built one amp and that was the simple little 20watt project from musicpcb

I think I need to buy an amp just so I can buy these tubes Do they sound as amazing as the description thou?

Who cares? They are HUGE and MANLY!! Isn't that reason enough??

Got some new goodies today and some updated info:
In today's box is: 1 470ohm 10Watt resistor (to help when using the bigger PT and OT), one blue Jewel, one 9x6x2.5" Aluminum Enclosure from Watts tube audio (very nice enclosure btw) and 3 sexy pieces of Glass... One JJ 6V6S, One JJ 5Y3S, One Sino 6L6 "Coke Bottle". All nice looking, lets see how they sound in the end. I will get pics up as soon as I can find the damn camera.
Also, got some info about the tubes I can use. Apparently the PT/OT can can handle : 6V6, 6L6, EL34, EL84, KT66, KT88 tubes. yummy.
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That is a cool idea to be able to use different tubes.

I'm actually done with my build...I hope and by that I mean I need to fire it up to see if it works. Hope to do that tonight. Try not to catch my hair on fire.

Don't worry too much about catching something on fire. I would be more concerned with standing your hair up with a big jolt. The good news is that there are only a few lethal spots in an amp, but just use some safety and chances are, you will turn it on, and all will go well.
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I'm going to use the BYOC instructions to a T when firing it up. It's got a good methodical way to do it that will be perfect for my brain.

So I have been going through everything and getting all of the parts together and there are some things that the consumer needs to be aware of with both of the companies that I used:
1. Triode: The kit is not complete. They send an RCA jack for the output, no fuse and no heater wires. WTF? While the kit does have a fuse holder, it is very cheap and not worthy for my build. The wire is a bit baffling as they provide all of the other wire, in Blue, Red and White, but there is clearly not enough to run the heaters with it. In addition the hardware (nuts and bolts) are complete garbage. The bolts are so short that you can't use them with a good chassis, all of them have flat head screws (as apposed to phillips) and the kit does not come with standoffs (mine had 2 in the bag, but when I emailed about the other 2, they told me the kit doesn't actually come with them that they simply put some in the bag for me). This is all very peculiar since the important components (caps, resistors, sockets, jacks, transformers) are all very high quality.
2. Watts Tubes: The Chassis is very nice and comes with welded-on mounting nuts. But I can't find any information on what size bolt to use for them. Further, while searching on the website, I saw that 3 days after I ordered my Chassis, they put them on sale for 20% off. So I emailed a few times asking if I could get the difference in price since it was only a few days, and as of now, I have been completely ignored. Not even a "sorry we can't do that". The part that really pisses me off, is that before I ordered anything, I had a number of emails back and forth with Watts and they always responded quickly. But the minute I had a complaint after the sale I have been ignored. Not good business practice.
So there you go. I start the drilling/cutting of the Chassis this weekend.
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I can echo the Triode deal. That is what mine was as I wanted to punch my own chassis so I got their kit too. Same deal.

Watt's tubes is cutting off their nose to spite their face. My wife is a seasoned shopper. NO ONE is better at it than her. You can only be just as good trust me. I have learned many things of no value whatsoever as a result but I've also learned that almost all business's will honor their own sale price within a few days. I'm guessing Patrick will not order tubes from them again because of this so if you are Watt's tubes what did that get you? Dumb business practice in the long run.

Here is the response I got from Watts:


Wow. Really you can't make it retroactive, or you WON'T? That is just complete BS. And then to add "They (the bolts) are available at the bottom of the page" just really pisses me off. Why the F would I order from this company again?

So I sent them this message in response:

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And of course you've told all of us about it, and now how many of us are likely to order from there as well. All that is saving them 20% on one chassis... Hope it's worth it ya know?

Subscribed to this thread now too because I'm really anxious to see how it all comes out.

BTW the RCA jack for speaker outs is def old school Fender standard for combo amps. Nice that Triode sent you a 1/4" jack of course for convenience. Course you could always cut the 1/4" plug off a speaker wire and attach to an RCA plug as well. I'm with you for using it as a head I'd def go with the 1/4" setup purely for ease of switching heads and cabs around. If I was building it as a combo I'd be really tempted to make my own speaker wire with RCA to terminals.

I thought about that. The cool thing with this OT I have is that it has 4, 8 and 16 ohm taps, so I can have 3 outs on the back to use with different speakers. So 1/4" in this case is the way to go.
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Well that blows. But at least you've learned a bit more about sourcing amp parts and what to check for in kits.

I'm sure it will be a great amp when you're done.

So let's see. Maybe you paid $40 for the chassis let's say. So ole' Ken saved himself $8. Good for Ken. That can go towards the difference on him losing out on hundreds of potential dollars in the future, if not more.

Hate to rip on old Ken, but in business 101, man if you don't get good word of mouth going and toss in, in today's world of competition, not sure you are maximizing your potential. What you asked of him happens all day, every day in the consumer goods world. Had they given you a heads up in advance too, what kind of good will would that have spread towards you and maybe you telling us.

Ken could have also said let me toss in a few bolts for you to make it up in some small way....something....anything......store credit....something instead of NADA.

Seriously, the chassis was $34, so about $7 difference. I will say this, it is a damn nice chassis. But this whole "we can't retroactively..." is just total BS.
At any rate, anyone thinking about purchasing from Watts (http://www.turretboards.com) be warned. Also, as a side note, the chassis would have easily fit into a USPS flat rate box ($12) and been here in 3 days. I was charged $12 shipping and it was sent parcel post (7 days) in a crappy way-too-big box.
Ok back to the build.
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Hmmmm. Well I haven't ordered yet because I haven't heard back from his cabinet maker. The company that used to make them(Reason amps) doesn't make them any more. I don't think they make cabs anymore at all, not just for him. The last last cab I had made was by none other then basic audio himself. You know, the guy who's wiring is neater then Felix. (We live you John) and it's Steinway quality, so maybe I give him a holla soon If i don't here from his Kens guy. John you reading this thanks for the heads up. My hard earned American Dollars are staying in this country for people who In this industry want it and are gonna give me pride along with product that ill gladly pay for.

More new info!
Classictone Transformers that I am using:
PT-40-18027 (has a 100ma plate winding vs the 70ma found in the base transformer)
OT- 40-18031 (15 watt OT, with one 6V6 you have 5watts, 6L6, EL34, KT66, Twin EL84 or Twin 6V6 is 15wattish. Also has 4,8 &16 ohm taps) This is versus the 5 Watts that the stock transformer puts out.
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So you bought new transformers? Cool.

Actually, the big plus to the triode kit was being able to choose the upgraded transformers for $5 more.
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