How to Scratch-Build a Vintage Amp, Part 8: Completed and Tested

[@freakflagjo]

Uncle Doug, i just don't have words for what you have done! I have learned so much about amplifiers and building them. You are truly a great teacher and a very special person. Thanks so much, JT.

[@hadireg]

+James W Talbott Jr, that's Sooo true what you're saying!

[@DhinCardoso]

+James W Talbott Jr, that's Sooo true what you're saying! [ 2 ]

[@rhdwave]

Uncle Doug, This is the second time i've watched this in its entirety. First i think a year ago or so. Your videos are amazingly informative and an incredible resource for anyone trying to learn and wrap their heads around the world of electronics and amplifier circuits. Thank you so much for all you do!! Also, R.I.P. Rusty and a scratch behind the ears for Jack the master capacitor sniffer and catscanner. Best, Rick

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, RHD, and rest assured that Jack is getting more than his share of attention :)

[@BurtonBoyz715]

Uncle Doug and Rusty....The greatest DIY 'Build" I've ever seen.....most impressive...Dead Bloody Quiet....Wow... Gives a whole new meaning to"scratch built " It's all in the details....Beautiful...Congrats...Bill... ;D)

[@UncleDoug]

+William Earney Wow, thanks so much, Bill. Such a positive assessment really makes it all worthwhile. We really appreciate your kind words and are glad you enjoyed the video series :)

[@questioneverything1123]

Uncle Doug, I marathon viewed (with profound enjoyment) the entire 8 segment series. I don't even play a musical instrument... but I want to build one of these... I struggle with you laying out the cost, and the mere suggestion about the prospect of ...a 2,000.00 home built product... I choose to think of it as *a one of a kind hand built treasure* that any reasonable person would be delighted to own and enjoy using... for such a modest price for the phenomenal work that you have done... cost is not even an issue or should not be. I have been restoring vintage HiFi gear and building mostly "audiophile" power amplifiers for nearly 40 years, and approach my work with the same careful thought and consideration that you do as you express and shared with us. I learned a lot from you through this series... feel grateful for the perspectives and deep knowledge that you shared... Thank You for the effort and helping us that want to take our work to the next level... KUDOS MAN!!!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much for your very kind and thoughtful comments, QE. We're really glad that you enjoy our videos and wish you the very best with all your projects.

[@voxburn]

Beautiful, I hope Jack doesn't use it as a scratching post. I've learned a lot from this series, thank you.

[@UncleDoug]

+Mark T He would get neutered....again, if that happened :) You're welcome.....glad you enjoyed the video series.

[@bryanlemeilleurtexas]

@@UncleDoug Ahahaha

[@cwright2910]

Awesome! Uncle Doug, You are my Hero! I am an Instrumentation Tech with my own business and was not trained in tubes... I'm 54 years old... I do love music, own a Yaqin MC-100B Stereo Amplifier... I am a Tube Guy, I love the sound of Tube Amplifiers and want to build one myself one day... You Sir are an Inspiration! I wanted to thank you for sharing the process and your knowledge! I thought you had mentioned that you were an Algebra Teacher in one of the videos? I wish I'd had a Teacher like you! Again, thank you for sharing this with the world.

[@UncleDoug]

+cwright2910 You're welcome, CW, and thanks for the very nice comments :)

[@UncleDoug]

Gary M, your comment had no Reply capability so I'll answer up here. I understand your suggestions and certainly take no offense. With regard to insetting the grill, I have done this on a few other builds and agree that it gives a nice, finished appearance......however, on this one, due to the clearance issues between the speaker and chassis, I could not allow another inch for the recess without making the cabinet so thick that it would begin to resemble a cube.....a shape I don't find pleasing in amp cabinets. With regard to the placement of the screws on the rear panel, since they are threaded into the 1/2" flanges at the rear of the chassis, their vertical orientation must be in proximity to the top and bottom edges of the panel......there is simply no other metal or wood to which they could attach. Bottom line, during the construction of a complex project like this, certain design compromises must be made.

[@rubypye9472]

Uncle Doug

[@JoelzombieThomas]

Hey Doug, nice to revisit an old one. I got wood to construct my cabinet for the Fender 5E3-P today and have been watching your good old how-to builds. I wouldn't have gotten this far without your build videos. In fact, I don't know if I would have done it at all without having found someone equally obsessed but way more wise and disciplined on it. That's a good thing. This amp screams and has tons of mojo. It's one of the best sounding in my memory of all your builds.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, JT. Best of luck with your project.

[@BrutusJones]

Sounds really clean with good tone. Reminds me of stuff I used to hear in the 60's.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Steve :)

[@billdyke9745]

Our old ears did work that bit better half a century ago... And the music was worth listening to.

[@drummist515]

ive been studying the possibilities for several years and have recently acquired an old 3 channel Baldwin amplifier with a load of parts. after anxiously awaiting each new episode of this series i am more inspired than ever to start with something small like a tube pre-amp. Thanks Uncle Doug for your labor of love.

[@UncleDoug]

+Jimmi Brewer You're welcome, Jimmi. It's great to hear that the videos were helpful and inspirational. Best of luck with your project :)

[@budandbean1]

Uncle Doug, I don't know what to say... It's just amazing. It sounds wonderful. The reverb and tremolo systems both sound outstanding, maybe the tremolo is a bit strong but I'm sure a tweak here or there will fix it. No hum... unbelievable! (I blame it all on you! :-) ) It's is an amazing piece of work, you should be very proud. Thank you so much for letting me feel like I was a part of it and thank you for the great documentation. I just might build one some day... One last thank you Uncle Doug, it is just beautiful, Ciao... Buddy

[@UncleDoug]

+Buddy Martin You're welcome, Buddy. Getting such positive feedback from great viewers (like you) really makes it all worthwhile. Thanks for joining me on this lengthy project and for your kind appraisal of the outcome :)

[@jensenbell]

The reward for watching all 8 of these videos is some real learning. I'm surrounded by amps for my work... my home looks like a collectors' lair. Now I know them all just a little more intimately/accurately. It's good to remember the joy of the build but also the basic math of what each circuit is providing with our common tubes. It all comes down to making music with good tones... but we can never stop learning what our options are and what our choices yield. Thank you, Uncle Doug, for making this series.

[@UncleDoug]

+Jensen Bell You're welcome, Jensen. Thanks for watching.....and commenting :)

[@daveb9370]

Damn Uncle Doug, Rusty sure did alot of work again, as usual..... I love Rusty, give him a bone for me. As always, excellent, excellent professional work and awesome documentation and sharing your immense knowledge with all us gear fans. We really appreciate and enjoy learning and watching your projects. Rock on!

[@UncleDoug]

+Dave Bogusky Thanks so much, Dave. I will convey your appreciation to Rusty tonight when we play ball and he gets his dinner. Meanwhile, regards to that fine pup in your icon image.

[@achdee55]

Uncle Doug, once again you have blown me away with your fantastic videos. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience with the rest of us. I'm seriously considering trying my hand at building your amp. It would be a gift for my son, who is a guitarist and resident physician at Norfolk General Hospital. A kind of late med school graduation present, if you will. Thanks again for all your effort with the videos, I will certainly be looking forward to the next one!!!

[@UncleDoug]

+achdee55 You're welcome, HD, and thanks for the very kind words. I think an amp, hand-built amp by a father for his son, would be about as nice a gift as I could imagine. Best of luck with the building project.....it's one that neither of you would ever forget :)

[@MorganEarlJones]

Spectacular! The spring reverb is about as good as any I've heard, and the tremolo is better than I'd hoped. Your craftsmanship is also quite good, although I don't know how to feel about the floral pattern you chose for the cabinet :P I'm grateful for the so-called "reverse strip-tease" format here, where most channels on KZbin would instead drag the reveal out to the very end, I suspect often for the sake of ensuring viewer retention for the benefit of their channel per KZbin's video suggestion algorithms. You've shown us, the viewers, a great deal of respect here. Also, congratulations on 20,000 subscribers! Without a doubt you've earned every last one!

[@UncleDoug]

+MorganEarlJones Thanks so much, Morgan. I'm really glad you liked the tremolo and reverb. Hopefully, the tooled-leather look will grow on you. It just seemed fitting considering where I live (desert southwest) and the history of Valco amps. I do have a great deal of respect for viewers, and I'm glad it shows :)

[@Relicsun]

Uncle Doug you had built an iconic amp, it looks and sounds way better than any other expensive boutique amp out there . The quality and attention to detail is just amazing, it's worth the wait. I wish I could play it.

[@UncleDoug]

+relicsun I wish you could too, RS. Thanks so much for your very kind assessment. Such nice comments definitely make it all worthwhile.

[@kevinliscombe5194]

beautiful amp Uncle Doug, beautiful sound, loved the reverb..echo y without sounding wet..your videos on this build are quite detailed..I however have no schooling in electronics. although I understand what I'm looking at on a schematic, I lack the knowledge to separate and compartmentalize the layout in the chasis. all the theory eventually makes my head turn off. i would love more breakdown in a video, showing the boring details of actually soldering the individual components together ..I know, that's a lot of video. wish i could read schematic like you. love your approach to chasis layout and terminal strips..very clean

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, Kevin. We really appreciate your nice comments. Regarding the step-by-step breakdown, I really believe it would be counter-productive. As a long-time teacher, I can tell you that for every student there comes a time, after the fundamentals have all been explained, to assume personal responsibility for their continued learning. Compare it to learning how to play tennis.....would you gain more skill from watching tennis tournaments, or from actually playing tennis? If you really want to learn how to do this, watch the videos, study the basics, and then start working and experimenting on your own. We wish you the very best in your pursuits.

[@Sprangleweed]

Speaking as an ex-audio, TV and video engineer who has over the years built many amplifiers both valve (sorry, tube in USA) and solid state, I find your videos excellent. You have a great ability to put your point across logically, succinctly and in a friendly manner. Anyone wishing to learn about tube circuitry, both practical build and theoretic principles, should make a point of watching your You Tube videos. Personally I find them just great. Thanks for all the effort you put in. P.S. Love your dog, Rusty. Great attitude.

[@UncleDoug]

You're quite welcome, Tony. Thanks so much for your very nice comments. Best of luck on all your future projects, from all of us :)

[@stefanvaneylen9488]

fantastic! lots of respect for Uncle Doug. i feel really small right now :). great series, learned again so much!! thx.....

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, Stefan, and thanks for your very nice comments. My purpose was to demonstrate the steps by which you could create your own amp. Please consider giving it a try......I think you would enjoy the experience.

[@stefanvaneylen9488]

+Uncle Doug maybe after my current project (simplify and handwire PTP my champ 12). waiting for my first order from TubeAmpDoctor Germany.

[@UncleDoug]

Good luck with your project.

[@JDPri77]

I watched the entire series of this build on the 4th of July. I know I am late to the party since you did this nearly 9 months ago. But, I am really amazed in your explanations of everything during the build. I never appreciated amps from the 50s and 60s until I stumbled on your videos. Now I want to find a good one (if possible) and put it in a cabinet like this. And my dog Dandi says hi to Rusty and Jack.

[@UncleDoug]

Rusty, Jack, and I are really glad that our videos have inspired you to acquire a vintage tube amp, JD. Best of luck with your project, and best regards to Dandi :)

[@Nachesko]

Very nice build! Congrats, you are truly an artist

[@UncleDoug]

+Ignacio Medina Thanks, Ignacio :)

[@GuteisFinger]

What Jos Meurrens said! Only someone truly accomplished in their field could express these concepts and explain these processes so thoroughly, calmly and with such clarity as you do routinely, Uncle Doug. What a fine result you produced for us to see and hear and how I enjoyed and learned so much from each stage. Thank you once again for sharing your time and invaluable knowledge.

[@UncleDoug]

+Carl M Varady You're quite welcome, Carl. Wonderful comments like yours, Joseph's, and many others really makes this channel hugely rewarding. It's an honor to hear from kind, intelligent people all over the world, exchanging ideas and comments in a rational, mutually respectful way. I would like to think that we have formed a brotherhood of sorts, making the great distances between us insignificant, when compared to the thoughts and common interests we share with each other on a daily basis.

[@GuteisFinger]

+Uncle Doug Well said. The fellowship of the tube.

[@gustavo13k]

Well, from the looks of it, it looks awesome. From the sound of it, it sounds awesome. All in all, an awesome amp. Congratulations on the result :)

[@joachimschranzhofer5566]

Dear Uncle Dough. Outstanding work! I just hope that you don't decide to retire after delivering this masterpiece and leave us amp-a-holics stranded out here in YT-land. Jack is becoming a real character but I still love Rusty's stoic, totally unflappable attitude.

[@UncleDoug]

+Joachim Schranzhofer Thanks, Joachim. Don't worry, once you're infected with amplimania, you're hooked for life :) Jack is still young, but he's learning from sly old Rusty......like Luke and Yoda :)

[@raw5069]

worth 6k easy ... ! nice

[@UncleDoug]

+raw5069 Wow, high praise indeed. Thanks so much :)

[@raw5069]

Uncle Doug you're welcome, thank you for your videos

[@sootikins]

Not sure which impresses me more: your craftsmanship or your presentation. Both are outstanding. And if you knew what a critical perfectionist jerk I am you'd know it is rare that I say such things to anybody. Fantastic build sir!

[@UncleDoug]

+Sootikins Thank you so much, Sooti. Coming from a perfectionist such as yourself, I consider your assessment to be high praise indeed. Rusty, Jack, and I not only send our regards to the kitty in your icon pic, but wish you the very best.

[@sootikins]

+Uncle Doug Speaking of kitties... will Jack be producing a video clip for Halloween? Being a black cat I should think he has a vested interest in this particular holiday! All the best to you and your crew Uncle Doug.

[@UncleDoug]

I hadn't thought of that, Sooti, but it's a good idea. I'll speak with his agent and creative team to see if we can all come up with something that relates to Halloween. Our best to you, too :)

[@ianjamesfowler4815]

Defiantly captured that classic tone of the era.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Ian :)

[@Karlfalcon]

I just discovered this series, and have only just gotten back into equipment building. Even if I never get to work on HV amps, the general information in this series is indispensable. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@UncleDoug]

+Karlfalcon You're welcome, Karl. I'm glad the videos are helpful and appreciate your watching and commenting on them.

[@davep6479]

What an outstanding job, both the amp, and the videos. I recently came across a complete 60's Lectrolab R600C, on the side of the road heading for the dump. It turned on, but the pots were bad, caps, etc., it was completely original. So off to the internet I go to learn about these tube amps, luckily I found your videos. I am not there yet, to tackle the restoration project, but your lessons have been invaluable. Thank you again Dave

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, Dave, and best wishes during your pursuit of knowledge.

[@aspeguitars4071]

I really love that you even made that chassis yourself! Really inspiring.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, AG. We're about to do it again in our latest video series.

[@tectalabyss]

Wow Doug. YOU ARE THE MAN !! Just don't have the words. Thank You,Rusty and Jack the Cat,for this awesome series. Get some rest and don't become a stranger,you have a lot of us looking forward to more. All my best. Bobby

[@UncleDoug]

+Bobby Tectalabyss You're welcome, Bobby. Glad you enjoyed the series, and thanks for the kind words. We'll be back....after a short rest :)

[@tectalabyss]

Uncle Doug Hello Doug. Your very welcome :) When you get rested and take a ride into the desert could you do a video of the sights. I have never been to a desert. All my best. Bobby

[@UncleDoug]

Greetings, Bobby. You're in luck. We did make such a video.....check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqfUqp-ZlJ16kLs

[@theabsolutetruth3364]

MR. UNCLE DOUG ... I AM ABSOLUTELY AMAZED AT HOW BEAUTIFUL , POWERFUL , AND HOW GREAT THE RESPONSE IS TO YOUR TECHNIQUE IN THE AMPS CLEANLINESS AND IT'S SHARP ATTACK ... THE KNOWLEDGE SUPPLIED IN THIS JOURNEY IS PRICELESS ... THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOD BLESS ... )))

[@UncleDoug]

Wow.....thanks so much, AT. Rusty and I really appreciate your kind comments :)

[@onparguitar3448]

When it comes to tube amp, you are a godsend. I have an old Baldwin organ amp that I plan on converting to a guitar amp. The first thought were to trace down every circuit, remove what is unnecessary and modify here and there. About 2 hours into that, I gave up on that birds nest of a wiring job. I've decided to start from scratch and use whatever components i can salvage from the Baldwin. After searching through vast schematic diagrams, I've settled on using the Fender "Pro" 5E5 since it closely resembles what I have and go from there. I just wish I knew what the speaker impedance was for the output transformer. it only has the two wires out. Thanks for being the tube teacher many of us desperately need!

[@UncleDoug]

+OnParGuitar You're welcome, OP. You can find out the secondary impedance by determining the winding ratio.....watch my video on output transformers to see how.....and looking up the plate resistance of your output tube(s). Good luck with your project.

[@Slugg-O]

I'm having trouble finding the right words to describe what I have seen throughout this build. I've waited days to see and hear the finished product, checking at least twice each day, and the result is far beyond any expectations I could have had. The research, detail, personal attention and craftsmanship are simply superb. Thank you Doug for bringing us along for the ride.

[@UncleDoug]

+Slugg0matic You're quite welcome, Randy. I'm glad the result exceeded your expectations. I really appreciate your kind appraisal :)

[@PayUntoCaesar]

I've just begun to learn the process of what UD is doing in these videos. I can say from my limited experience, his work is beyond exceptional. I can't imagine what one of these amps would cost on reverb.

[@UncleDoug]

Wow, thanks so much, JG. I will tell you that the amp sold to a viewer for $2500. Is that about what you were thinking ?

[@PayUntoCaesar]

I would have paid a great deal more, honestly.

[@phillipyannone3195]

I thoroughly enjoyed binge watching this 8 part series. Beautiful craftsmanship and looks and sounds excellent. I hope you signed it inside, a hundred years from now it will be worth millions on antiques road show.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, Phillip. Yes, I include a "Certificate of Authenticity" in each of my home-built amps and effects :) Let's hope they're the next Dumble's and Trainwreck's.

[@oldguy5381]

Wow UD I had to use a entire roll of paper towels after hearing the tremolo. That’s a wonderful amp. I believe that’s all a man needs. Stay safe 👍👍

[@UncleDoug]

You're a man after my own heart, OG. Thanks !!! You too.

[@alanwomack9948]

Thanks for all these videos Uncle Doug. I’ve been watching them for 2 days straight. Hopefully soon I’ll feel comfortable enough to start a build of my own.

[@UncleDoug]

We're flattered that you would spend so much time watching our videos, Alan, and wish you the best when you do decide to embark on your first building project.

[@jenniferjohnson708]

A friend of mine and I have just completed building this amp and it sound incredible. With a 12" speaker it stacked up really well to a Fender Twin Reverb. Tone is incredible. We used a 5y3 with a 6v6. Everyone who has played it thought it was great the. The reverb is amazing and the tremelo circuit is absolutely fantastic. We did modify the circuit slightly. We put both sides of the first 12AX7 in parrallel so the signal was sent to each grid. The touch response is great and this really sings with a single coil in the neck position. I highly recommend this build. The schematic and instructions were great and really sped the project along. Thanks Uncle Doug for a great circuit and project. By the way we named this the "Rusty" in tribute to your inspiration.

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, JJ. It's great to hear that your version of the TV turned out so well. Hopefully this will encourage others to give it a try. I like your suggestion about parallel wiring of the 12AX7 grids, and will experiment with it in the future. Rusty and I appreciate your nice remarks and congratulate you on your success

[@tremolux13]

My word, she came out gorgeous didn't she, Thank you for this amazing ride Uncle Doug.... To my ears she sounds amazing.. Reverb and trem sound great... Thank you for the time you put into these videos, it means a lot to. Say hi to Jack and Rusty for me and once again thank you

[@UncleDoug]

+Jesus Cervantes You're welcome, Jesus. Thanks for joining me on the ride, and for your very kind appraisal of the outcome. Jack and Rusty send their regards :)

[@YTNUKLR]

Just came back to this page to reference as I start my own Supro guitar amp build. Hope you are doing well, Doug. You have made a huge contribution to my life!

[@UncleDoug]

Best of luck with your project, YT. Be sure to let us know how it turns out.

[@johnnyrj4014]

UD, I love your video's and can't wait to see them. We share the same love of building, playing, off roading and the southwest. I do have one beef though. Being five years younger than you, we never, ever played these beautiful amps on 3. Many classic CD's were made and are still being made with these amps on 8-10. So I beg of you, please turn it up to where you get that sweet spot we younger guys love...... John

[@UncleDoug]

+john shipley Thanks so much, John, and I fully understand your suggestion. It was simply a matter of maintaining a volume level that the camera microphone could cope with without clipping or compressing. I wanted you to hear the amp as it really is. Now that the camera is off, so are the restraints :))

[@johnnyrj4014]

+Uncle Doug If you have turned up theses amps, please give us a report. I have been on a search for the last 20 years to find an amp that has the tone of the amp I played professionally back in the late 60's. After collecting nearly 100 amps and building quite a few I just went back to the amp I played back then.....a black face bassman. Most of the old amps get the tone, but are not worth possibly blowing up....so the search continues. I do have some amps that you might be interested in. BTW, besides the knowledge in your video's, the humor is the best. I copied your joke on Rusty and Tesla with my grand daughter and a hello kittty letter to my cat......thanks

[@UncleDoug]

I will, John. To be honest, a BF Bassman would be pretty hard to beat :) I too am hesitant to turn vintage amps with original speakers up to 10.....in fact, I tend to baby them a bit, since I would feel awful if I destroyed one. I'm glad you enjoy the humor and shared it with your granddaughter and cat :)

[@horizoncomputerco]

Hello Sir, I have been wanting to build my own tube amp for a few years and then I came across your videos. Now is the time. You have given me the confidence. I ordered the power transformers today. I ordered the ones you spoke of in this video. But I am afraid this amp is a bit over my head. Just starting with the Champ schematic. My father passed Feb of this year and left me his 1966 Gibson ES335. I can not wait to hear it through this build. It seems like I am good when you show the schematic, but then I get lost in the actual amp. Then when I get frustrated, you show the dog and I feel better. Just wanted to say thanks for what you are doing and keep it up.

[@UncleDoug]

+Evan Hick You're welcome, Evan, and congratulations on starting your first amp-building project. I can think of no better use for it than amplifying your father's ES-335. He would be proud of your efforts. Rusty and I wish you the best of luck with the project :)

[@landonfinnerty2391]

I wasn't intending to watch this entire process today, but, I was amazed. Thank You, Rusty, Jack, and those lazy birds. I will be back to rewatch in a short while. The sound is wonderful.

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, Landon. We're glad you're enjoying our video series.

[@Ana1yst]

Big fan of the 6V6. Wonderful vintage tone, as well. Tremolo and reverb, very nice. Excellent job, well done. Les

[@UncleDoug]

+Leslie Pierce Thanks so much, Leslie.....glad you liked the Supro :)

[@redfishbum]

Hey Uncle Doug.....just checking in on this amp video again. I see that you sold it! I wanted to thank you again for putting this series together. I am so glad that I took on the challenge to scratch build my own tremoverb. I finally have it all sorted out....I recently had this intermittent tremolo thump that I traced back to continuity with ground on the intensity pot.....there must have been some errant wire or something else.....I replaced the pot and that thing is very quiet. Just a very cool looking and sounding amplifier......I'm very proud of it. Thanks again!!

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, Bart, and congratulations on your successful build of the Supro T/V and your troubleshooting.

[@six97s]

Wow. What a craftsman. What an amp. Watched the whole series this morning. Really cool!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Six :)

[@HammerToneAmps]

Doug, I'm worn out just thinking about all the work you put into this project .. both the amp and the video. Excellent job on both .. the amp is a real beauty, sonically and cosmetically.

[@UncleDoug]

+HammerToneAmps Thanks so much for your very kind assessment, HT. I really appreciate your recognition of the work involved. I'm sure you're in a position to fully understand the challenges involved.....which makes your input all the more gratifying.

[@jeffreyjhouser]

Great project Doug! Amp isn't exactly my cup of tea but learned ALOT and have lots to digest!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Jeff.

[@SiliconSet]

A very professional job Doug!!! Fully endorsed by Jack and his sniff test I see. Rusty as keen as ever to participate.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, SS. Yes, I would be lost without the able assistance of my furry helpers.

[@bluesman97]

Beautiful Amp !.. Very kind of You for taking the time to share your wealth of knowledge. A rarity in today's world, and A true National Treasure to have folks like you..

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, B. We really appreciate it :)

[@ElPasoTubeAmps]

That is beautiful, Doug, and I love your black kitty, Jack, and Mr. Rusty is always a hit. The sound is magnificent, even over the internet. I just wanted you to keep playing.

[@UncleDoug]

+ElPaso TubeAmps Thanks so much, David.....glad you enjoyed the video series. Welcome back from your odyssey. Jack is the long-lost twin of your kitty. I was surprised to learn that they are a recognized breed: Black Bengal. Now that he knows this, Jack has been even more haughty and spoiled than usual :)

[@joereedmusic9853]

An absolutely sweet little amp that any player should be thrilled to own, Great build, thanks for sharing.

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, Joe. Thanks so much :)

[@thomasbuss1118]

Effing unbelievable results! I wish I could understand the electronics part more, but i'm still fascinated.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Thomas. Keep watching our videos and the electronics will begin to make sense.

[@billdyke9745]

A work of art. A few minor tweaks and it'll be worth $3,000... Perfect reverb already. Tame the trem and the highs. And that vinyl is a scream... 12/10!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Bill. It was sold to a viewer shortly after completion.

[@mrsconley666]

"Boutique" amplifier makers such as Suhr, Bogner, Custom Audio Electronics, etc etc.....eat your hearts out. This is an amazing amplifier. This is beautiful. Just as much a work of art as it is a wonderful tool. Cheers and thank you so much for always sharing. Your videos are just beautiful, wonderful instruction as well as end result.

[@UncleDoug]

+Sean Conley (sconley666) Wow, thanks so much for the very nice comments, Sean. Rusty and I really appreciate it :)

[@maverickdallas1004]

It would seem likely that the "boutique" amp makers outsource their cabinet work and metal work and do all the rest in-house. The cost would be prohibitive otherwise (especially these days) unless you have a fairly large, well-equipped and well-staffed factory turning out amplifiers in considerable numbers. Uncle Doug went to the extreme on this build and produced a one-of-a-kind, true work of art! The satisfaction gained from completing such a project must be tremendous!

[@Starriddin]

Uncle Doug I know this series is somewhat old, but, this is is about my 4th time watching it. This past weekend I watched several of your amp basics theory videos again! Your knowledge and teaching style makes us want to continue the learning process, even though, we may need to replay the videos a couple of times for all the knowledge to sink in. I am especially glad these videos capture Rusty at his finest. I miss him almost as much as I am sure you do! Thank you for making such informative videos while adding entertaining breaks along the way. Hats off to you Uncle Doug as the BEST vintage amp tech/tone-aholic and Math teacher in the WORLD! Thank you for all the time and effort you put in to all these priceless videos!!!

[@UncleDoug]

Wow.....you're quite welcome, Star. Just hearing such wonderful comments from great viewers like you makes the job all the more rewarding.

[@johncunningham5435]

You did it Doug! no hum; Overall you should be proud of your accomplishments from the construction to the design and careful placements of all parts to the finish product. I know you think the bass lack luster and the tremolo was a little strong but can be addressed. The hard part was the vision to imagine the possibilities and you did all that, I am truly blown away. Exceptional by all standards, well done.

[@UncleDoug]

+John Cunningham Thanks, John. I was able to correct the minor deficiencies and the amp ended up being very close to perfect. I appreciate your kind comments.

[@dub537h5]

I was doing research on building my own amp and discovered your video series in the process. What an informative and extremely well put together series! I will continue to view all your other videos; I find you to be an incredible teacher! Thanks for sharing all of this information!

[@UncleDoug]

Wow.....thanks so much, Seth. Welcome to our channel and all our videos. I hope they are helpful with your project.

[@dub537h5]

@@UncleDoug I'll be staying tuned, for sure. One thing I realize, is that you make it look a lot easier than it really is!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Seth. It all gets easier with practice and experience.....but the pleasure remains the same :)

[@mutanthifi]

Stunning Uncle Doug, especially with the 6L6. Thankyou for making such wonderful videos, I'm learning so much, and in a relaxed calm mood. My cats Hattie and Jake love it too

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, M. Regards to those kitties :)

[@lrdisco2005]

With out doubt the best engineering I have ever watched on KZbin. True craftsmanship.

[@UncleDoug]

Wow, thanks so much, LR. Rusty and I really appreciate your nice comments :)

[@streetside1183]

Thanks so much for all the time, teaching, and video footage. I learned so much! I really enjoyed the whole process from start to finish. A lot of great humor with your pets as well! I plan on building an amp from scratch and will be the first one to ever build. I look forward to more videos! Thanks!

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, Harrison. We're glad you enjoyed it. Best of luck with your own project.

[@run4fred]

Uncle Doug... an absolutely great series on guitar amp building... I learned a great deal from your circuit analysis and build tips... many thanks to you, Rusty and Jack.

[@UncleDoug]

+Bill Laface You're welcome, Bill. It's great to hear that the videos are helpful and appreciated. Thanks for your kind words....and for watching.

[@Waltkat]

Late to the party here but I just started learning how to play the guitar (at 66 years old!!) so this project would be perfect. I plan to add your overdrive circuit to make playing "metal" possible. Because I've been playing around with tube HiFi equipment for decades, I have most of the parts to build this. Will build the 5881 version since I want the power and have at least three dozen mil spec versions of these tubes in my stash. Thinking I'll use an Eminence 10" guitar speaker from Parts Express. Thanks very much for putting this out there for us hobbyist to enjoy.

[@UncleDoug]

You're quite welcome, Walt. Best of luck with your project and regards from Jack to the kitty in your icon photo.

[@1967MCB]

All of your videos are very informative and fun to watch, Doug, but I thoroughly enjoyed the vintage amp build series! Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and wit.

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, M. We're really glad you enjoyed the videos :)

[@hijmestoffels5171]

Thank you for all your labor of love, it was worth it. The lack of support from your canine and feline friends was a bit disappointing, but luckily Jack did a thorough in-depth final inspection.

[@UncleDoug]

We appreciate your kind words, Hijme. Yes, Jack did save the day when it really counted :)

[@cliffwhite2812]

Thoroughly enjoyed these videos and you've given me food for thought about my next homebuild. Thank you Uncle Doug.

[@UncleDoug]

+cliffwhite2812 You're welcome, Cliff. We're glad the videos stimulated your creative inclinations. Best of luck with your project :)

[@nick1fenton]

That whole series was sublime. I gorge-watched it all today.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, Nick. glad you enjoyed it :)

[@mfowler8808]

I gladly took time out from my amp building to check out another fantastic home brewed amp, great work as usual Doug couldn't wait for this final video:)

[@UncleDoug]

+M Fowler Thanks, so much, MF. Compliments from fellow amp builders are always appreciated. Glad you enjoyed the series. Best of luck with all your projects :)

[@Sloggeth]

That is literally the most beautiful amplifier I have ever looked upon!

[@UncleDoug]

+Sloggeth Wow, high praise indeed, Kevin. Thanks so much.....glad you like it :)

[@CherryKirktown]

hey hey Uncle Doug, this is it. This is like the amp that I have fantasized. It it a frankenstein amp with proper trem, a reverb tank, etc. Taking the better/best features of the classics. I like this. The only real difference that I have had in mind is that I want mine built as a head amp so I can plug into various speaker boxes. Please make more. Thanks, Cherry K.

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, Cherry. Yes, this modified circuit does contain the best features I could think of, including single-ended output, which is rarely seen in an amp with these features. I understand your preference for a head configuration, but since the internal speaker in my version is simply plugged into one of the various impedance outputs, it can easily be unplugged to allow for connection to virtually any speaker cabinet. If you do build a version of this circuit, please let us know how it turns out.

[@JustSomeGuy1967]

That was fun to watch !!! I watched each video twice...you are a master at your craft ! If I knew how to play the guitar I would drop 2000.00 on that amp in a second. Pass it down to my kid with the video on a flash drive attached to the inside of the cabinet. wow

[@UncleDoug]

+Mark Jordan Thanks so much, Mark. I appreciate your kind appraisal. That's a great idea.....it's rare to be able to see the step-by-step creation of an amp, and it would indeed be an interesting addition to it.

[@PLINKER]

Wow! Uncle Doug this one is totally magnificent in every detail. You are the master! Wish I had just some of the electrical experience and understanding you have. It's simply just great and sounds great! Tom

[@UncleDoug]

Wow, thanks so much, Tom.

[@tronics666]

Uncle Doug -- Your wiring is a work of art. Hope others appreciate how neat and orderly your circuit work is. Amp sounds great too.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, Tron. Rusty and I really appreciate it :)

[@chaimatepimolviriyachart1560]

Pure vintage vibe sounding amp and superb video lessons. All the details that you provide are so much valuable to me! We are very lucky to have person like you. Thank you so much for your work again!

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, KM. Thanks !!!

[@WillyMcCoy50]

5 years and a day ago and this amp and video are fresh as ever. What a gem!!

[@UncleDoug]

Wow.....was it that long ago?? Thanks, KM.

[@marckeisler4878]

That's the best tremolo tone I've ever heard. Rusty and Jack must have put in some great work behind the scenes. ;)

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Marc. Yes, indeed, they kept working long after I crawled off to bed at night.

[@JCHaywire]

What a landmark video series. I don't think this has ever been done before ANYWHERE--and I congratulate you. And after all that wrestling with tolex and router dust, you have a snazzy amp to scare Rusty out of his biscuit-induced stupor. If I could make one miniscule contribution--GRILLE, not grill. I'm sure Rusty won't like that one, the carnivore that he is. Thanks again. Your self-effacing and direct delivery "for the common man" sure hits the spot. The Dani-sonic Tremo-verb may just be the pivotal point that moved us from The Stone Age to the Iron Age. Cheers.

[@UncleDoug]

+JC Haywire You're welcome, JC. It's always good to hear from you. Your grammatical correction is noted.....that's the last time I use Rusty for a spell-checker. Thanks for your kind assessment of the series and its outcome. Welcome to the "Age of 16-Gauge" :)

[@JCHaywire]

+Uncle Doug Well, at least you know you're safe if any listeners are armed. Just hunch behind the Tremo-verb.

[@UncleDoug]

Better than Kevlar any day.....and you can play a tune while waiting for the police to arrive.

[@ScottMcCulloughBmax419]

Uncle Doug, this has been a wonderful series. Your channel is an asset to KZbin, but this series of videos is especially valuable. Your calm, patient voice is the perfect delivery for what might otherwise be an overwhelming amount of information. I salute you!

[@UncleDoug]

+Scott McCullough Thanks so much, Scott. I'm glad the videos are helpful and the presentation suits their purpose. I appreciate your kind assessment, and wish you the very best. Thanks for watching :)

[@jmangji]

Personally, I think this build is both visually and aurally stunning. Thank you for taking the time to document your process and interest in these vintage circuits. I admire your work very much.

[@UncleDoug]

+Jethro Mann Wow, thanks so much, Jethro, for your very kind appraisal. You're welcome.....Rusty and I are really glad you enjoyed the series and appreciate the time you spend watching them.

[@Chuffin_ell]

Uncle Doug, I know opinions are subjective, but I feel compelled to share that that this series is just fantastic. Thanks for sharing your work and insight. Best wishes to you and yours in 2016!

[@UncleDoug]

+Chuffing Ale You're welcome, CA. Rusty, Jack, and I are really glad you enjoyed the series, and reciprocate on your best wishes for 2016. See you then :)

[@100roberthenry]

wow, rusty did it again, he's got great skills and should be very proud, thats a great looking/sounding amp, thanks for assisting rusty with the great project and filming, it was good to see jack doing the final quality control check at the end too...:) a truly great series, its been great seeing this come alive, excellent work man, rob.

[@UncleDoug]

+100roberthenry You're welcome, Rob, and thanks so much for your positive assessment of the outcome. I'd be lost without my able assistants :)

[@doge114wo6]

Sounds so warm, crisp and lively and looks awesome! Watched all parts of this video, loves every bit of it. Say hi to Rusty!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, DW. I will :)

[@strangequark420]

It looks and sounds incredible, all around. I'm floored, but I'll get up to give you a standing ovation!

[@UncleDoug]

+Tim Satterwhite Thanks, Tim :)

[@geoffreydebieve6762]

Even if I'm not an electronics expert with components and such... I'd like to tell you this Uncle Doug. Every of the videos you made until now just let me speechless. You're making an awesome job and no one else than you have that capacity to explain things better than you did. We love you Uncle Doug. Congratulations and thumbs up. Greetings from Belgium

[@UncleDoug]

Greetings, Geoffrey, and thanks so much for your very nice comments. We're glad you enjoy our videos and wish you the very best :)

[@harbselectronicslab3551]

What an absolute beautiful piece of work........ Sound is just great.....so many voices

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much :)

[@marcohermans3207]

This is a masterpiece in looks and sound. Absolutely top notch quality. They don't make them anymore like this and I understand why. This is a piece of love . I like the tremolo because it's different Keep on building these amps! Chapeau!

[@UncleDoug]

+Marco Hermans Thanks so much, Marco. I'm glad you like the amp and understand what it takes to make one. Best regards from Jack, Rusty, and your old Uncle :)

[@gillamb8669]

I decided to watch again and I’m still amazed with your creativity. The final product is priceless. Magnificent

[@UncleDoug]

Wow, thank you so much, Gil :)

[@BAMPSANDPEDALS]

Hello Uncle Doug & Rusty, Amazing video serie, well explained. This is a decent alternative for the high priced amplifier kits that are on the market. One thing for sure, my next project will be a "Uncle Doug" Amp ! Thank you, Benny

[@UncleDoug]

+BAMPSANDPEDALS You're welcome, Benny, and thanks for your positive assessment of the video series and its final product. Good luck on your next project.

[@mikeelmore6040]

great series beautiful and well built, I would not expect any less from Rusty, Jack and Yourself. I appreciate your informative and fun videos, can't wait to see and hear the tone tweaks Thanks for sharing your passion and your love for teaching; you are way cool sir. Mike

[@UncleDoug]

+Mike Elmore You're welcome, Mike....glad you enjoyed the series and its final outcome. Thanks so much for watching, and for the very kind assessment.

[@stanleychytla3786]

Beautiful craftsmanship and attention to detail. Thanks for sharing this project in such detail. It is both inspirational and a source of practical how-to information.

[@UncleDoug]

+Stanley Chytla You're welcome, Stanley, and thanks for the positive assessment. Our goal was indeed to help people and inspire them to start their own projects. Let's hope we accomplished it :))

[@faronmcneal463]

I can't believe how beautiful this amp is! It's amazing to watch you tackle these projects. Thanks for sharing with us all!

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, Faron, and thanks for the very nice comments :)

[@mixolydian2010]

Great amp Doug and excellent build quality i have really enjoyed this series. Now all have to do is rustle up some money and take a deep breath and build it. All the best to you Rusty Jack and Mrs Doug. Colin

[@UncleDoug]

+mixolydian2010 Thanks so much, Colin. It's always good to hear from you. Glad you enjoyed the series. Best of luck with your future project :)

[@4hammonds672]

congratulations on your accomplishment uncle Doug, what a fantastic project. i am not a guitar player, but i love the sound of a vintage tube amp. you 2 videos of how tube amps work have helped me to understand a little bit how to follow schematics...i know is gonna take me some time to lorn more, but i will continue to gradually increase my understanding of reading schematics...thanks for those 8 fantastic videos of how to build a vintage amp...i love them, God Bless you

[@UncleDoug]

+4hammonds Thanks so much for your very nice and appreciative comment, 4H. Hearing from viewers like you makes it all worthwhile :)

[@AddyAdderson]

Hey Uncle. I just finished watching your new series. You're getting better than ever. Thanks so much for your hard work and sharing your knowledge. I want you to know you were my main influence in attempting my own amp build, and I just completed it. For the first time in my musical life, I have an amp that rings clear and true, and I actually made it with my own hands. It's a 5E3 circuit that I purchased in kit form from Tube Depot, but I had them send me a turret board instead of their stock PC board (some of your influence there). I built a cabinet from scratch that houses two speakers, a 10 and a 12, and I cannibalized an old solid state Fender Ultra Chorus for the 12. The cabinet can also be played in an open or closed configuration, giving the whole rig considerable versatility. Now I'm considering this Supro build to go into what's left of that old Ultra Chorus. You've created an incredible amp here. I'd be honored if you'd have a look at the two videos I posted to show off the amp and offer comments/guidance. After all you're this amp's Uncle. Pt. 1: kzbin.info/www/bejne/enLddodsgJ19frM Part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZ3MpWd4freVZ6s Best to Rusty and Jack, Addy.

[@UncleDoug]

+Addy Adderson You're welcome, Addy, and thanks for your very kind words. I watched two videos and was impressed with the originality and versatility of your cabinet/speaker design. I have long been a fan of using two (or more) completely different speakers simultaneously.....much like a chorus of mixed voices, each lending their own unique characteristics to the mix. I think the ultimate would be a Bassman or Concert amp with four different 10" speakers. To be honest, however, on my headphones, I thought the individual speakers sounded better than the combination.....which really surprised me. I'm not sure how you resolved the challenge of using either or both speakers without causing an impedance mismatch, and if such a mismatch may have handicapped the paired configuration. Another possibility is that the two speakers are out of phase, causing a "hollow" sound between them, rather than a unified, fuller combined output. Regardless, both videos were quite well done. Your playing was excellent, your initial commentary was informative, and your demos were clearly labeled and quite effective. Congratulations on a very unique and impressive creation, and thanks for sharing it with your old Uncle :)

[@AddyAdderson]

Thanks for looking and offering your kind feedback, Uncle Doug. As usual, generous with your valuable time. I don't know how people like me can thank you enough. Yes, I'm becoming aware that I'm causing an impedance mismatch at the OT with a 4 ohm load when I'm plugged into both 8 ohm speaker jacks, which are wired in parallel. I've seen some discussion that this OT should be able to handle the mismatch, in fact that the amp was intended to be used this way. I reviewed your video on OT's and understand that this mismatch can have negative implications for power tubes and speakers as well, so I've contacted the kit provider, Tube Depot, with the question. Rob Hull should have an opinion about this that the company can stand behind. Best, Addy.

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, Addy. All new creations have some teething problems. The tubes and OPT may be able to survive the mismatch (the probability diminishes somewhat at higher volumes), but your tone quality will be negatively impacted. If your OPT has both 4 ohm and 8 ohm outputs, there is probably a way to accomplish your goal using several toggle switches to alter the circuit to permit either individual 8 ohm speaker or the pair in parallel (4 ohms). If you only have a single 8 ohm output, I can't visualize a solution. Bear in mind that your 4 ohm speaker pair is reflecting an impedance to the pair of 6V6's which is about half of what they see when connected to a single 8 ohm speaker. Also, please check your speaker polarity. The easiest way is to simply listen to it the way you have it and then reverse the leads to one of the speakers and listen to it again. There should be a noticeable difference. The classic sign of polarity mismatch is the speakers sound far apart, with an "empty space" in between. Again, an excellent project well done and well documented. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@TheGuitologist]

Amazing job. The amp sounds wonderful. Excellent tremolo! Your attention to detail is commendable. I'm glad to see you going for point to point wiring rather than laying out everything on a board. One thing I noticed.... The shape you've cut in the gill cover piece is a stenciled "N", for "Natonal". Perhaps on future builds you could experiment with a capital "D" for DaniSonic? :) Thanks for taking the time to document your work and post it up for all of us to see.

[@UncleDoug]

+Brad Linzy (The Guitologist) Thanks so much, Brad. I'm glad you like the amp and how it sounds. I'm strictly p-to-p in all my scratch-builds; IMHO it's the purest form of circuit wiring. To me, the only purpose of boards is to facilitate "assembly line" mass production, and if you're only building one, why bother ?? An interesting observation on the grill design.....as I say in the video, it was styled after a 1947 National Deluxe (featured in one of my earlier videos)......so perhaps an "N" is what they had in mind. I've tried to come up with a stylishly designed DS grill cutout, but so far nothing has knocked my socks off. I'll keep trying. Meanwhile, I really appreciate your knowledgeable input and wish you the very best.

[@williamolsen20]

Sounds great, and the video series was very educational..You have the gift of explaining things in a very concise, and methodical manner

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, William. We appreciate your nice comments :)

[@bcarr3116]

WoW great series. The sound is very rich and bright. You Sir are the Tube Master. Thanks for taking the time teach us novices.

[@UncleDoug]

+B Carr You are quite welcome, BC. Thanks for your very nice comments :)

[@ivanduke]

Beautiful .... The Knowledge you share is very much appreciated. You are an inspiration to me. I am gearing up to build and repair a few I have around here. I have made some repairs on a few things that I would not have tried before I started watching you channel. I always am glad when I get a notification that you have uploaded a new video!

[@UncleDoug]

+Ivan Duke Thank you so much, Ivan. I'm glad the videos are inspirational :)

[@closedaccount902]

Uncle Doug... It was freakin amazing, I love it. My tube system consists of dual 5y3 tubes with their corresponding 6 series tubes. It's a very old piece, and I'm unsure what it came out of, but I'll be using it as a model, along with this video series to build an amplifier with an automotive CD player in the same cabinet (run seperately) to allow listening to, and playing along with my favorite tunes. I'm so completely impressed and inspired. Thanks for doing this series..! My best Karma out to you..!

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, CA. Thanks for all your very nice comments, and best of luck with your amp project.