Recommend me a beginner tube amp kit

[redeyes]

Just like it sounds, I want to get into tube amps. I have all the stuff to solder as I do computer repair, and a bit of basic electronic knowledge. Love to get into building my own amps. Any recommendations?

I like metal and high gain but from what I gather, that is for more experienced designers so I should start with something cleanish, maybe low wattage.

[jgreenwd]

A lot of people will tell you to start with a Champ or similar single-ended design because it's easier to debug. I started with a home-brew
18Watt build and found it wasn't significantly more complicated.

Saying that, I would probably go with one of these 4. They would still be useful as mod platforms if you get tired of them in stock form.

http://store.triodestore.com/18wtmbkit.html
18Watt with full tone stack; will run about $500 if you spring for the chassis & faceplates

https://www.tubedepot.com/products/classic-british-18w-tube-guitar-amp-kit-head
18Watt in stock form (with tremolo); $650 with chassis, faceplates and head shell.

http://store.triodestore.com/jtm45tubeampkit.html
JTM45 in stock shape; $600 with chassis & faceplates

http://store.triodestore.com/5e3tubeampkit.html
5E3 Tweed Deluxe; $410 with chassis (faceplate silk-screened onto chassis)

[redeyes]

Very nice. Out of those I'd go for the JTM45 I think. The instructions look very easy to understand as well. Thank you!

[jgreenwd]

Very nice. Out of those I'd go for the JTM45 I think. The instructions look very easy to understand as well. Thank you!

You're welcome! There is a pretty good build video (of the TubeDepot version) of a JTM45 kit here.
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/classic-british-jtm45-plus-tube-guitar-amp-kit-head

[trey85stang2]

Just like it sounds, I want to get into tube amps. I have all the stuff to solder as I do computer repair, and a bit of basic electronic knowledge. Love to get into building my own amps. Any recommendations?

I like metal and high gain but from what I gather, that is for more experienced designers so I should start with something cleanish, maybe low wattage.

My first build was a 50w slo clone, I recommend starting with whatever the hell you are actually going to want to play. My only suggestions is to pick an amp you like that has a big diy following so you can ask people who have built the exact amp you are building.

Kit's are nice, but I think sourcing everything yourself is very exciting and fun.

[redeyes]

Well heck, I'd want something like a JMP 2203. Thats my shit right there. High gain Marshalls. I'd be happy to source parts but I would certainly need a detailed list of what goes where with a nice non-techy blueprint/shem . Again I am just learning.

[jgreenwd]

The biggest reason to start smaller is to make it easier to debug. Obviously, increased complexity introduces increased chance for something to go wrong,
needing more time and headache to sort through. Having said that, there's not a massive jump in complexity between an 18Watt and a 2203.

The other thing to consider is that higher powered designs are more costly. If you decide you don't care for amp building after banging your head against the wall
trying to debug the obnoxiously loud hum, you're out less money with a smaller build.

At any rate, the kits at http://store.triodestore.com/ampsandgear.html cover most of what you would look for. There's no after-purchase support, but
they do come with nice transformers (the most costly item) at a decent price.

[Zozobra]

For what it's worth, a number of guys on a bunch of amp building/repair fb groups I follow have been bitching about triode's customer service being shitty of late so you may want to look elsewhere.