Haven't given up on this site.

It's been a while, but my quest to build a DYI tube amp has yet to relent.

Since my last update I have opted to scrap a faithful re-build of the MA-17 I was going to do earlier. Many of the tubes from that amp aren't even manufactured any more. I could find spares on Ebay, but that whole process would just complicate things. So much so that I gave up. What have I done since?

I'm going to go with the Fender Tweed Deluxe schematic. According to Wikipedia, it was initially designed to be a real clean amp, but failed drastically. Consequently though, the rich tone the amp did put out became a favorite of guitarist the world over. Count me in as one of em. If you're curious about the tone than follow the jump.









http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qClSGsk5UFs

Nice, huh? At least, I think so.

That's why I ordered the kit from from Triode Electronics. They use good parts and allow you to buy just the components. So if anyone out there is like me and doesn't need a new chassis this works just great. Keeps things cheaper too.

As for that chassis...

I'm still using the old Masco chassis from the pictures on here. Except I've painstankingly scraped all the paint from it and sanded down the metal to give it a nice, polished metal look. Well, not fully polished, but more of a semi-polished, weatherd vintage vibe. I'll get some pictures up when I think of it.

So there you have it. That's my plan and I should be getting the parts sometime next week. Once they come I can dig into this project and I'll update this site accordingly. Until then, later.

If you wanna see....

The MASCO MA -17 in action, check this out. Just thinking about plugging my guitar in this baby makes want to do something that someone who is very excited does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqfCyFreqfI

Recieved the Sam's Photofact

I recieved the photfact today, and upon a quick look through I found that it is more than likely that this amp has been modified, which should add some confusion to the process. Seems that the older output sockets have been replaced with the 1/4 standard jacks. Hopefully, this is all whoever modded it did, but if they did one thing, I'm not going to be naive and assume that was all they did. Anyways it's on the next phase (Whatever that may be).

As you may have already noticed, I have posted the Masco MA -17 schematics and part list with this blog. The internet was amazingly sparse in MASCO information department :( Not that I was expecting websites like the fine blog I am providing, but nonetheless. So I encourage any and all to capitalize off my $8.95 investment, and spread the info.

A very useful link.

I found this place http://www.geofex.com/tubeampfaq/taffram.htm, and found it extremely helpful. Naw I mean.

One step forward.

First, order of business done. I ordered a Sam's Photofact for the model I'm pretty sure the amp is. Basically just includes schematics, part lists, and build photos, so pretty helpful if you've never done this type of thing before. Only $8 bucks, too.

Prologue

About three months ago I begin looking into guitar amps. I knew I wanted to go tube, but I had no idea why; I knew they were exspensive and usually for reason, so I began perusing the internet, gaining the knowlege any good, techno-savy, online shopper would acrew. Eventually I stumbled up on this website: http://www.ax84.com/ (For those who don't want to follow the link: It offers many homebrew tube amp options, and an extremely helpful active community.)

After perusing this website for a couple hours I was convinced I had been touched by Rectifier himself (Rectifier - A forgotten Roman God, responsible for the aesthetic properties of valve based electronics) And thus I would spend the next three months dillegently pursuing the tonal bliss of my very own tube amp.

But I don't have that much money. Even the DIY kit from http://www.dobermanamps.com/ is pretty spendy, although I would have done it if it wasn't for what I'm about to tell you. The conclusion of those three months brought me gem. Sometimes I wonder, "Why, oh, why don't I ever win anything." Never again.

I found this sucker (pictures with post) on craigslist for $40. Upon some minor research I have concluded it is a MASCO MA-17 PA amp. Supposedly, this amp was made in the late 40's, early 50's, and is widely coveted by Harp players! Although, all excitement aside (as shown by the exclamation point) it doesn't work. I plugged it in and the 6L6 tubes lit up, as did the power light, but it doesn't put anymusic out. I have a suspision that it is the Output Transforme, but I will see. And so shall you, because that is the purpose of this website. I am going to document my furbishing of this amp into the screaming, 17 watt dynamo it can be.