Build Convert Solid State Guitar amp to tube Example Fender Sidekick 35 to 6AQ5 6G2 circuit

This is the D-Lab D-62 boutique amp creation. 6 have been made. The last 2 were scaled down for 6AQ5 output tubes. The amp started its life as a solid state Fender Sidekick 35 Reverb combo amp. I seek them out, remove the circus boards, reconfigure the amp similar to the Princeton 6G2. The cabinet is perfect for a Princeton layout. Speaker is normally a 12" Fender (good quality) Therefore you get quite a great starter cab. I do not use negative bias. There is a cathode resistor for idle current ( Bias). This video will show you the process for converting this chassis for a tube circuit. Plenty of room for the new layout. The nice thing about this design, is the 6AQ5 tubes are really cheap. They are around 5-8 dollars, compared to 6V6's which are 35 ea. Vintage Japanese amps ran this tube. Very popular in the 70's. So you can experiment with different brands without breaking the bank. Control panel is custom made from .040 aluminum, painted & vinyl decals. A very nice 8 watt class AB amp for recording or practice. The last 2 built also incorporated my ECB-AT and power supply modules which make wiring a breeze. This is the last I made and yes, it has sold. If you want to take on a build and need my boards, contact me. I can also assist with the wiring diagram.

[@wesleymorris1]

This is what I do for most my builds. Cheap ss amps make great starters

[@russiangoose7053]

Definitely cheaper than buying a pre built cabinet and chassis if you don't have the tools to build them yourself. Pick up one of these for 50-100 bucks or some other cheap SS amp and get some transformers and a small parts kit and drill some holes and start building. Could even leave it looking like the stock amp and make it a sleeper lol

[@wesleyc.4937]

@@russiangoose7053 That's a good idea for my Winnebago... it's only worth $50.00.

[@southernpride2003]

​@@wesleyc.4937I did this with an old RMS solid state me and my grandpa turned it into a homemade Echosonic amp from schematics we found and it has the built in tape loop it's my main tube amp along with my Gibson tube amp I play country and rockabilly I bought a Marshall chassis though cause they don't sell Echosonic chassis's so we improvised my grandpa does a lot of electrical work and woodworking oh yeah and for the speaker we chose a Jensen vintage looking speaker

[@boxerfencer]

Thanks for sharing. Your love of amps is contagious.

[@jesse75]

I agree with that statement. Two blocks away from my house I never knew an old guy had a garage full of tube equipment. He just died and his son is unloading all the stuff. I'm in heaven.

[@pearsedunne9938]

Nice conversion, Terry…..👍🇮🇪

[@electrolytics]

Great little amp. Sounds good. That speaker gives the amp a particular tone.

[@elwrongo]

I've got 6AQ5's in a little Teisco 88, that amp sounds so sweet.

[@edwardhannigan6324]

Nice one Terry..Great little amp, super clever, sounds great..Ed..UK..😀

[@russellzauner]

I was wondering what I was going to do with my old Peavey Bandit 112 Sheffield blueface; this is a very interesting idea. Thanks for the video!

[@satanbane]

Totally my kind of project! Very nice work. 6AQ5 FTW, as they say. Very interested in this tube for custom builds.

[@DrKennyWang]

This is fascinating. “Easy steps”

[@ivandukemusic]

I really appreciate your videos. Very informative . Entering and concise.

[@jeffbrooks7246]

Very nice and the work of a master. I love it.

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

VERY nice conversion!

[@robnamowicz8073]

Extra points for creative use of paper plate piece receptacle!!

[@CC-te5zf]

Most excellent!

[@ronengel4586]

I love tube amps and this looks great but I just picked up a Laney Lionheart Super 60 SS all analogue amp. It’s light and it sounds great 4 switchable gains, Rev Chorus and a really nice tremolo and less than$500 just saying! The Orange Crush 100 and all Quilter are great SS amps as well. The modeller ones such as the katanas I’m not that excited about. I can see the appeal but the all analogue amps just have more detail and feel. It’s a nice time to be guitarist!

[@paulfordree5564]

As usual, you hit the ball out of the park Terry! Looks like a fun project. Now to find a donor amp…

[@ot4kon]

Man. That was a good solid state amp. 80s rivera era SS. Convert a frontman 25R or those champion SS blackface. Those are considered as bad amps

[@_-_Michael_-_]

Nice build but we can clearly hear this would benefit from a speaker update to some Alnico one. The huge Marshall is pulling out some frequencies that we don’t associate with small Fender amps sound.

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

Excellent Job terry

[@richardbrobeck2384]

nice build terry !

[@rustyrobinson8027]

Thanks again 👍

[@timbuckxxi9690]

D Lab made a custom Fender blues Jr... Nice little amp..

[@jesse75]

This is a great video. Thanks.

[@zbaby82]

That's a nice amp Terry. And I prefer solid state rectification myself.

[@littlerhodyguitar2169]

Great video. I have a 30 year old Laney Pro Linebacker combo with 2 channels and 2 separate EQ. Could that be done still having 2 channels and 2 separate EQ on the same chasey? Thanks.

[@robertparker3580]

AWESOME BUILD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jerryking2418]

Great conversion.

[@cyclesnapper]

Maybe you could do a video about making the graphics and applying it to the faceplate.

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

That's nuts!

[@pauldow1648]

Wow... Is that as good or even better tone, than a rectified/capped/resisted unit....

[@openup007]

I love this video! I have several smaller 🤡 board amps that I’d like to upgrade to the real deal. Ps. Parts are available from D-Labs? Pss. I need to add an effects loop circuit… do you have a prefab kit. So many players I know are looking to do this mod, but there are so few vendors out there. Love the channel- all the best! Frank

[@d-labelectronics]

Yes, I have the boards on hand, see d-labelectronics.com I do not have info on effect loops

[@danhorton6182]

May I ask, maybe you have already been over it, but what was the reason for the decision to go with solid state rectification? We’re you trying to get as much high voltage as possible and a tube would have not been efficient enough? Purely curiosity, amazing build by the way, now that cabinet is a million times better!

[@preacherjohn9986]

Sounds GREAT dude! Where can I get my own custom faceplate similar to yours? I've been following you for years and building my own amps during that time. This has gotten to be a hobby for me in my retirement and I've gleaned many tips from you. Now if I could figure out how to print my own faceplate.

[@preacherjohn9986]

Sorry Terry but I can't text; I don't have a smartphone. I can use email or messenger on my pc.

[@Melissa0774]

Do you have any videos on how to hook up a vintage tube stereo, like a Fisher 800b, to a laptop or a modern day TV? Is it possible to do that? Can you make a video on that, if you haven't already?

[@robertcox5228]

What changes do I need to make to use 6v6 with diodes. I have 4 matched 6v6 that I can use. Great update, tubes rule. Thanks

[@aaronwentzel4145]

Awesome freaking video!!!

[@jutukka]

Nice! 🥇🏆

[@joshlawrence8091]

Hello! Keyboard player here - what is that cool looking device with knobs and switches at the beginning of the video? Looks like it has an oscillator, maybe a filter???

[@shckltnebay]

I really like your work and channel but Why the Fender badge??

[@d-labelectronics]

It was already on the amp, 2 screws its off if the new owner wishes

[@subjectt.change6599]

I’m asking around, do you know of anything preventing me from replacing all the tubes in my amplifier with transistors? I understand it will affect the tone; but I want to know A. Will it function? B. Will any additional mods be necessary to the circuit to properly employ the output transformer? C. Will this path do nothing but destroy an amplifier?

[@gregoriacortesgarcia9470]

you know if i can put a princeton reverb chassis in the cab?

[@dhpbear2]

Nice job, Terry. One thing I noticed was that the power switch is conspicuously absent from the front panel!

[@d-labelectronics]

Its on the rear, just like the Princeton 6G2

[@dhpbear2]

@@d-labelectronics Ah, thanks, Terry. I need to read up on those old models!

[@ericw751]

So I have a broken Fender Champion 20 that I can recycle or gut to make a cab or convert to tube amp. As I'm not very saavy re electronics, what do you suggest for this novice that won't break the bank?

[@richard66754]

Do the transformers being oriented in the same direction cause any hum? Edit: Sorry, the oscilloscope trace answered my question. IMO, that sounds very nice.

[@d-labelectronics]

No, not modern bell end transformers. I have answered this question 100 times. Guess I need to do a video and rotate a transformer so everyone can see the results. Yes, the o'scope noise floor test is evidence. I will get more info on soon.

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Good question but a simple explanation that us "Dummies" can comprehend would cause less anxiety; " Is my amp transformer recieving + where - is supposed to be and vice-versa. EUROPEAN plugs use "Shuko" design where it's hard to tell + from - , all we want to do is plug-in power the right way round. I have to test every wall socket to see how the local "Sparky" has orientated the wiring, when I find + I then wire-up my own plug to correspond with the amps power cable colours. It may not make a difference but when you use valve amps yoh just want to know you are'nt going to damage it by reversing power phase...Help!!

[@jcool0122]

You know, if it's cathode biased and doesn't have negative feedback, it's closer to a 5E3 deluxe than a 6G2 princeton.

[@funny0000000]

You should auction these off. I bet with your subscriber count you would get a nice amount of money for these.

[@manchan7914]

How could you print the "12AX7" and "6AQ5" marking on the top plate?

[@bill.clifford.59]

What does the kit cost?

[@jesse75]

How about building a high breed ?

[@pintsize8162]

can you convert a valve amp to solid state.

[@steveh1273]

No standby switch? Have you over-rated the filter caps to handle the power on surge? Also, what was the power transformer?

[@d-labelectronics]

I never use standby on my builds. The power transformer is custom made

[@soapboxearth2]

What power transformer is that ??

[@tdmckee-mm8wn]

Are you getting hum from the output transformer being inline and not perpendicular to the power transformer?

[@d-labelectronics]

Nope, That old rule does not apply as you can see from the noise floor test

[@zulumax1]

I noticed the power transformer wire bobbin is well shielded with a Faraday shield.

[@lionscircle4700]

Terry, Are you offering any dummy load units with the o-scope output?

[@robnamowicz8073]

that's me, a dummy load!

[@GIBKEL]

Help….see that you use the hioki dt4256. Had another electronics tech tell me it wasn’t sufficient for guitar amp maintenance and mods due to a frequency range limitation. He recommended the Hioki DT 4284. He had said that the 4256 was more for checking outlets around the house. Confused? It sounded a bit like bunk because I think you’ve used this religiously since taking it for a spin. I want to be able to do projects like the one you are showing us. Any thoughts on this and are you at all familiar with the DT4284? I would like to buy once and have collected a lot of future projects since coming across your fantastic channel. Cheers Terry-much appreciated

[@d-labelectronics]

I purchased the DT4256 for the high speed display update and am very happy with its performance. Matter of fact I own 2 of them. When I'm concerned about frequency, I use an oscilloscope.

[@GIBKEL]

@@d-labelectronics-thanks Terry

[@waynegram8907]

D LAB, How did you reduce the noise floor? any tips

[@d-labelectronics]

Grounding & wire dress

[@waynegram8907]

@@d-labelectronics can you make a video showing the wiring dressing and grounding difference?

[@d-labelectronics]

Can do, but it will be a while due the backlog here

[@waynegram8907]

@@d-labelectronics that fine I'm curious to see the wiring dressing and grounding schemes to lower the noise floor

[@chuckwn]

How did you do the graphics?

[@d-labelectronics]

I have a Vinyl cutter & Cad program

[@chuckwn]

I would love to see a demo of making the graphics. Thanks

[@d-labelectronics]

I will feature that on my next boutique amp build

[@flintdavis2]

Wish you would have removed the fender logo. It’s D-Lab now.

[@ericheder777]

How many watts output?

[@d-labelectronics]

8 watts class ab

[@ericheder777]

@@d-labelectronics thought you said that, wasn't sure. Should have cranked it to hear some of that fire breathing breakup!

[@d-labelectronics]

Yep, sorry its on the way to the new owner.

[@ericheder777]

@@d-labelectronics I'm sure Terry, that is a great little practice amp. Like always a great job!

[@InTonalHarmony]

Hahaha . . . Circus board.

[@randysterling4700]

Jeremey indeed does not like it.

[@SteveHacker]

It’s SSSOOO SSSAD that he only makes “Look What I Did” videos, and doesn’t actually show his work, or teach, or make how-to videos… 😞😞😞

[@SteveHacker]

Dear God PLEASE tune guitars before videoing them! 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@brentnearhood8874]

Thanks! Terry Maybe Fink needs to learn how to pay guitar. 🎶🎸🎛