TubeDepot 18 WATT Assembly Manual Download Page 2

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This manual was developed and published by:

TubeDepot.com LLC, Memphis, TN

Written by:

Robert Hull

Edited by:

Mary Klaebel
John Anderson

Design and Artwork by:

Robert Hull
Mary Klaebel
Christian Magee

Special thanks to following for their design help:

Joe Austin

Brian Overstreet

Mike Taylor

Matt Kirby

Doug Sims

Ashley Lewis

Henry Lum

Ben Siler

Alan Yee

Special thanks to the following for their excellent amp building and proof reading skills:

Fernando Villarreal

David Hilts

John Anderson

Ryan McVay

Bob Buzanowki

Tim and Corey Robillard

Erich Sagers

Todd Farmer

Timothy Dinkins

Pieter Kniest

Dwight Sigouin

Glenn Burgos

[email protected]

REGARDING THESE BOOK MATERIALS

Reproduction, publication, or duplication of this booklet, or any part thereof, in any manner, mechanically,
electronically, or photographically is prohibited without the express written permission of the publisher.

The Author, Publisher or Seller assume no liability with respect to the use of the information contained herein.

For permission and other rights under this copyright, contact TubeDepot.com.

ii TubeDepot.com

Acknowledgements

Summary of Contents for 18 WATT

Page 1: ...Dr Memphis TN 38134 www tubedepot com Learn Build Play 18 WATT TUBE GUITAR AMP KIT ASSEMBLY MANUAL for the Classic style Version 20 01 August 2016 with some great style mods Click here to watch the a...

Page 2: ...n McVay Bob Buzanowki Tim and Corey Robillard Erich Sagers Todd Farmer Timothy Dinkins Pieter Kniest Dwight Sigouin Glenn Burgos Copyright 2010 TubeDepot com LLC 1686 Barcrest Dr Memphis TN 38134 877...

Page 3: ...out Schematic 12AX7 input Schematic EF86 input Wiring and Parts Layout 12AX7 Wiring and Parts Layout EF86 Chapter 11 Cool Modifications Appendix A Resistor and Capacitor Codes B Soldering Hints C Ampl...

Page 4: ...uction quality components and just a touch of American upgrading this kit is ready to become your sound This construction manual has been designed with both the beginning and experienced kit builder i...

Page 5: ...ing out the hard way When building this kit we want your experiences to be both enjoyable and safe There are more kits to assemble and we want you to enjoy building and playing them all Throughout thi...

Page 6: ...Masking tape 2 or 3 Ruler or scale 12 w 1 16 markings Permanent marker fine tip Soldering iron 25W 40W 35W recommended TL WP35 Solder electronics safe 60 40 w rosin core recommended TS 24 6040 0027 F...

Page 7: ...1 ea jack 1 4 stereo closed circuit 505 P CL 505 2 ea switch toggle SPST Carling P 110 63 2 ea washer lock 1 2 internal tooth LW IT 1 2 1 ea switch 3 position rotary P ROTARY SWITCH 1 ea plug AC chass...

Page 8: ...TR BLUE 3 ft wire 20 awg stranded hi temp PVC violet HTPVC 20 STR VIOLET 2 ft wire 20 awg stranded hi temp PVC orange HTPVC 20 STR ORANGE 7 ft wire 18 awg stranded hi temp PVC black HTPVC 18 STR BLACK...

Page 9: ...0047ufd 630V Mallory 150 CP M150 0047 630V 4 ea 01ufd 630V Mallory 150 CP M150 01 630V 1 ea 022ufd 630V Mallory 150 CP M150 022 630V 1 ea 1ufd 630V Mallory 150 series CP M150 1 630V 3 ea 022ufd 630V M...

Page 10: ...solder lug 6 P TERMLOCK 6 Solid State Tube Rectifier Selection Mod 2 ea diode 1N4007 1000 PIV 1A diodes D 1N4007 1 ea Switch mini toggle SPDT P 108 MINI 1 1X12 cabinet option does not include speaker...

Page 11: ...two gold end covers mounted to the top of the cabinet 2 Feet rubber There should be four rubber feet attached with screws to the underside of the cabinet 3 Back panel w screws The back panel should b...

Page 12: ...the correct 1 1 4 measurements Step 5 On both strips of masking tape draw a line connecting these front and back marks photo 4 2b Step 6 On both strips of masking tape make a mark 1 1 2 from the back...

Page 13: ...hobby knife 4 3 2 Head Cabinet Step 1 Place the cabinet with the back open toward you Step 2 Cut three lengths of shielding tape each 18 long Step 3 Remove the backing from the first of the 18 shield...

Page 14: ...g photo 4 3b Step 7 Shrink the heat shrink in place with a heat gun photo 4 3b Step 8 Install the remaining 3 heat shrink length over the tech flex at the opposite end of the twisted pair near the cut...

Page 15: ...unting holes I recommend installing the speaker with connecting terminals on top Step 3 Install a single 8 flat washer on each of the four mounting screws prior to installation Step 4 Install the four...

Page 16: ...black and green wires toward the front Step 3 Seat the transformer against the chassis and install three appropriately bent 8 solder terminals photo 5 3a to three of the four transformer mounting bol...

Page 17: ...clamp Installing the Shock Mounted V1 Preamp Tube Step 1 With a 1 4 drill bit enlarge the two V1 tube socket mounting holes in the chassis Deburr any rough edges Step 2 Insert the two 1 4 grommets in...

Page 18: ...pin 6 of the tube is closest to the chassis edge corner Step 4 Insert a 6 x 1 4 screw into each mounting hole of each socket from the outside of the chassis and secure the socket on the inside of the...

Page 19: ...Step 1 Twist the wires of the indicator lamp tightly together being careful not to pull the body of the lamp out of the back of the red lens Step 2 Feed the twisted wires of the indicator through the...

Page 20: ...in this end and solder it to pin 9 photo 5 10a Try to apply as little heat as possible solder quickly so that the insulation doesn t contract too much Step 11 Trace the twisted pair over to the opposi...

Page 21: ...tep 28 Trace the twisted pair over to the opposite side of the V3 tube socket between V3 and V4 and put a 90 degree bend in the twisted pair from the chassis edge in line with pin 9 of the V3 socket S...

Page 22: ...edge and up to terminal 5 of V4 Reform the 90 degree bend as necessary to maintain uniformity Step 48 Cut the red wire to length and strip and tin the end Install into terminal 5 but do not solder jus...

Page 23: ...act melt too much Step 65 Insert the tinned end of the black wire into pin 4 of V5 and solder along with the previously installed black wire Try to apply as little heat as possible solder quickly so t...

Page 24: ...wire Step 3 Tack solder this jumper in place between pin 3 to pin 8 of V3 Step 4 Tack solder a 220K 1 2W resistor between pins 1 and 6 on the back of tube socket photo 5 14a Preliminary Wiring of V2...

Page 25: ...eplate with the terminals facing up Installing the Impedance Selector Step 1 Enlarge the speaker selector switch mounting hole in the rear plate by drilling a 7 16 hole in place of the present hole th...

Page 26: ...inal nearest the back panel Step 11 Cut the black wire with strip coming from the transformer to appropriate length and Strip and tin the end Step 12 Solder this wire to the AC receptacle terminal nea...

Page 27: ...ink should shrink to cover the end photo 5 21a Step 4 With the heatshrink still hot squeeze the ends closed with fingers photo 5 21a Step 5 Tightly bunch the capped wires together and secure with tape...

Page 28: ...Run the blue wire along the chassis edge over to V4 pin 7 and cut to length Step 5 Strip tin and solder this blue wire to pin 7 V4 Wiring the Footswitch Jack Step 1 Cut a 6 length of black 20AWG wire...

Page 29: ...cks photo 5 26a Step 7 Cut a 10 length of 18AWG black wire and strip and tin one end Step 8 Insert the tinned end of this wire in the open sleeve terminal nearest the impedance selector photo 5 26a St...

Page 30: ...al Step 6 Solder the orange wire 16 ohm tap to the third and final terminal Step 7 Take the 18AWG wire previously wired to the tip terminal of the nearest speaker output jack and solder it to the comm...

Page 31: ...cut photo 5 28c Step 11 Strip and tin the center conductor Step 12 For the jack end of the shielded wire separate the shield from the center conductor Step 13 Tightly twist the shield together and tin...

Page 32: ...100K resistor between the two controls with the insulated end along the volume control terminals Bend the leads at 90 degree angles at both ends so that each lead goes into terminal 3 of the two appr...

Page 33: ...end of this wire to terminal 2 of the tone control Step 11 Tack solder the opposite end of this wire to terminal 2 of the volume control Step 12 Cut a length of 20AWG black wire 4 1 2 long Strip and...

Page 34: ...s black wire to the 6 solder terminal at the aluminum standoff nearest the normal channel input jacks photo 5 32a Installing the Standoffs and Grounding Terminal Step 1 Install a 6 solder terminal whe...

Page 35: ...the swaging method For a thorough explanation see the booklet How to Make a Top Quality Turret Board at http site tubedepot com pdf turret_boards_v1 pdf As well view the two videos How to Build a Tur...

Page 36: ...djust the size and or shape of any mounting hole s in the board in an effort to make the board properly fit on the stand offs Step 4 Once the board has been verified to fit by mounting with screws to...

Page 37: ...Installing the Ground Buss Step 1 With the 16AWG buss wire make a small hook at one end large enough to fit around a turret Step 2 Hook this loop on turret T6 and solder in place photo 6 7a Step 3 Ext...

Page 38: ...AWG wire remains parallel with the board edge Step 12 Once the wire is wrapped once or twice around trim excess and solder in place Step 13 Repeat the above for turrets T26 T30 and T34 photo 6 7c Step...

Page 39: ...ctrolytic capacitors DO have a polarity and must be installed into the circuit according to the markings on the component and the template CAUTION It is good practice to install all components centere...

Page 40: ...Solder at T19 Step 12 Install a 47 5K resistor between turrets T16 and T17 Create a small loop at the lead end that goes to turret T17 and hook around the inserted lead of the 825 resistor photo 6 9b...

Page 41: ...r at T38 Step 33 Install a 475K resistor between turrets T42 and T48 Solder at T42 Step 34 Install an 8 25K resistor between turrets T45 and T48 Solder at T45 Step 35 Install the remaining salvaged le...

Page 42: ...to terminal T20 as above Step 9 Cut a 3 1 2 length of red 20AWG wire and solder to terminal T22 as above 6 10 38 TubeDepot com For a uniform look when installing these wires have all the wire hooks s...

Page 43: ...ove Step 19 Cut a 7 1 2 length of violet 20AWG wire and solder to terminal T25 as above Step 20 Cut a 3 1 2 length of yellow 20AWG wire and solder to terminal T27 as above Step 21 Cut a 3 1 2 length o...

Page 44: ...e and solder to terminal T56 as above Front Edge 18AWG Step 33 Cut a 5 length of black 18AWG wire Step 34 Strip and tin the end of the above wire and from the back of the board insert this wire up thr...

Page 45: ...semblies Step 2 Strip and tin this wire and solder to the signal buss ground nearest the point where the chassis ground wire is also soldered Wiring Volume Control Grounds to the Signal Buss Ground St...

Page 46: ...d of this wire and connect it to terminal 2 of the normal channel volume control Wiring Tremolo Channel Controls Step 1 Locate the 20AWG violet wire attached to terminal T18 of the turret board Strip...

Page 47: ...s Step 1 With the turret board mounted in the chassis locate the red and black twisted 20AWG filament wires Step 2 Neatly run these wire to terminals T59 and T60 on the turret board Step 3 Cut to leng...

Page 48: ...rret T39 Place a small mark at the stripped and tinned end with a permanent marker Step 8 Strip and tin the end of the red 20AWG wire from turret T43 Step 9 Twist these two red wires together the full...

Page 49: ...tin the end of the yellow 20AWG wire from turret T55 Step 8 Solder this wire to terminal 3 of tube V5 tube socket Step 9 Strip and tin the end of the white 20AWG wire from turret T53 Step 10 Solder th...

Page 50: ...is not important 8 46 TubeDepot com Testing It is good practice to use a power strip with a circuit breaker and an on off switch between the wall power and the amplifier power cord as an improved elec...

Page 51: ...all three 12AX7 preamplifier tubes no power tubes just yet Step 2 Plug the amplifier s AC power cord into the AC power source at the wall Step 3 The panel indicator should illuminate Monitor for any...

Page 52: ...unusual smoke or smells or blown fuse If anything unusual occurs or if loud hum is heard from the speaker disconnect power immediately and review all connections Let the amplifier warm for 2 minutes...

Page 53: ...table when played at high volumes I recommend using a wooden stick old chop stick works great and move the wires around These would be the wires between the turret board the tube sockets and the contr...

Page 54: ...ith the knobs facing toward you Step 3 Lay the back panel on top of the chassis with the cutout of the panel facing toward you Step 4 Loosely install all the screws with washers through the back panel...

Page 55: ...10 TubeDepot com 51 Schematics Templates And Parts Layouts Visit our website to download high resolution versions of these drawings schematics and diagrams...

Page 56: ...52 TubeDepot com Visit our website to download high resolution versions of these drawings schematics and diagrams...

Page 57: ...Wiring and Layout Template 12AX7 input tube TubeDepot com 53 Visit our website to download high resolution versions of these drawings schematics and diagrams...

Page 58: ...Wiring Template EF86 input tube 54 TubeDepot com Visit our website to download high resolution versions of these drawings schematics and diagrams...

Page 59: ...res HV from the power transformer to pins 4 and 6 of the octal socket Step 4 Connect the B wire from the standby switch to pin 8 of the octal socket Step 5 Install your octal rectifier of choice Upgra...

Page 60: ...AWG jumper wire between terminals D and E of the footswitch jack as shown Install a Tube Solid State Rectifier Selector Switch Solid state rectifiers will improve the punch of the bass frequencies as...

Page 61: ...neatly routing these wires under the board if so desired Install a Choke in the Power Supply By installing a choke in the power supply the dynamics of the amp will be quicker and the low end will hol...

Page 62: ...the wire from the pot terminal 1 folded terminals over to turret T44 of the turret board Cut to length strip and tin the end and solder to the ground buss at this point Step 10 Neatly run the two wir...

Page 63: ...r volume TubeDepot com 59 connect to nearest chassis ground Use a 10pfd silver mica capacitor Ground wire to normal jacks Preamp Tube RF Shunt If you are receiving unwanted radio stations into your am...

Page 64: ...graded by their values but also by their power ratings Power ratings are determined by how much heat power can be safely dissipated by the resistor Higher ratings are usually indicated by larger sizes...

Page 65: ...dual component is often impossible Therefore codes were invented to represent these characteristics and it is these codes that are printed on the components Below I ve listed some of the more common c...

Page 66: ...22ufd 472 0047ufd Silver Mica high quality high accuracy small values 1st line 250 5 direct value in pfd 250pfd tolerance 5 2nd line 500V SM voltage rating 500V batch code Metalized Polypropylene Warm...

Page 67: ...onnection Importance of Proper Soldering Proper soldering is the basis for faithful equipment operation A good solder connection is physically strong and electrically reliable A poorly soldered connec...

Page 68: ...as well as a paper towel to absorb the contaminants By following the below sequence of events every time you make a solder connection your connections will perform better than ever before And they wil...

Page 69: ...keep the amp as cool as possible Amplifier Feeding As with any tube amp the choice of tubes will affect the overall tone of the amp And of course some tube choices are more dramatic than others There...

Page 70: ...66 TubeDepot com D How to Swage Fit Turrets...

Page 71: ...TubeDepot com 67 How to Press Fit Turrets E...

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