Custom Bass Amp (not your normal thread)

[brandondrury]

So is this still going to have the multiple preamps?

Brandon

[mrabassist]

Nope. I realized that I'm to set on the tone that I want to really require that. And since Danny is with me 90 percent of the year for band and recording stuff, its pretty certain that if I ever care to try something new, I can. The entire preamp, plus tubes, is about 120 dollars. So a little rerouting wont kill me haha.

I'm happy with the choice though. I still will post up the schematic for this stage design.

[brandondrury]

Okay, so you've really just built a really affordable tube bass amp? All the big, fancy, and over the top features have been tossed out due to reality, right?

Brandon

[mrabassist]

Eh, more lack of necessity. Reality is a harsh word and makes it sound like I dreamed up these over the top ideas that could never happen. I am still a big fan of the stage idea, and as progressive as it is, it isn't something I'm overly concerned about in my particular amp. We are building prototypes of it as we work to test different things, and I ultimately stand by the fact that it could be a huge innovation, even if it never takes off. So yes, I've professionally built an affordable tube bass amp that is completly customized down to the capacitors as to what I want to achieve the exact tone I want. Sounds pretty good to say that for under 700 dollars I bypassed every single form of unorigonality that goes into most mass production.

This isn't to say I ditched fancy features. We did include the ultra high, ultra low, and a new ultra mid boost. Changed those from button to vintage switches, seemed cooler. We will probably wire led indicators for the tube lifes because thats a lot simpler then it sounds and we will probably, given that we have a 24 inch long chassis to work with, include a signal VU meter.
We have a very advanced fan system going into the amp. Tons of cool features

I hate the common conception of self built amps. That is part of my motivation for destroying it and saying that it can be done better then others are doing it.

I'm not completly right yet though hahahha. But I couldn't be more excited about the features this amp will include.

AND I decided that deep red tolex with black grill cloth might just look nice.

[brandondrury]

Reality is a harsh word and makes it sound like I dreamed up these over the top ideas that could never happen.

I wouldn't go that far. There is a big difference between "could never happen" and "more trouble than it was worth right now".

Keep on fighting the good fight, dude! If I wasn't mixing 3 projects, running this website, doing 2 freelance web gigs, and writing a book I know that a project like this would be towards the top of my list, too!

I can't wait to hear how it sounds.

Brandon

[mrabassist]

Welp, as we speak Danny is cutting the chassis. Here is the basic layout


Front Pannel


Light On/off Standby Gain Low Mid High Ultra Low Ultra High Vol Input

The on off, standby, ultra high and ultra low are all large toggle swtiches, like the vintage ampegs, the rest are large fender turn knobs


On the inside the back is lined for my 5 preamp tubes and 4 power tubes

on the back we have a single bias pot, two 4 ohm outputs


We had a problem with transformers, the ones we bought didnt feed the right current, a simple mistake, but this is going to run our price up, even with the returns, only by about a hundred dollars though.

I will have pictures very soon.

[brandondrury]

Keep the updates coming. I'm anxious to see this.

Brandon

[alexwittscheck]

Did this ever come to fruition?

[brandondrury]

I guess it died in the water. Damn!

Brandon

[mrabassist]

My inability to keep up with threads is horrible.

The amp is wonderful, but got sold off for 1,400 dollars to a guy who heard it. So we are in the processs (slow process) of building another one.

The initial problems included thin sounds because of much power this thing was trying to suck through such a long circuit, and heat because...well we had upwards of 20 tubes in the design. But it did what it was supposed to do, I had three classic tones:
the balls of an ampeg svt
the smooth attack of a fender bassman
and that sweet sweet silvertone sound

I will eventually throw up pics of everything and keep you updated on my second try.