Thanks for posting those videos. Very cool. :Originally Posted by oldguy
The dirty little secret is that it is not hard to build a small, good sounding amplifier. Just about anybody can do it who is sufficiently motivated.
I've been building my own for over ten years now and I have become a world-class scrounger, which is the key to finding inexpensive parts. I've built several amps that have less than $50 in parts in them. Parts have gotten more expensive in the last 5 years or so, though. I haven't found a good deal on parts in a while.
The 5F2-A tweed Princeton is my favorite circuit of all time. It is basically just a tweed Champ with a tone control. I've probably built at least a dozen variations of that circuit using various transformers and tubes. They all have sounded great.
Basically the most expensive parts of the amp are the cabinet (unless you build it yourself), the transformers, the chassis and the tubes. There isn't much else except for a few passives: resistors, caps, and other various hardware.
I have had to invest in a significant amount of tools, though: soldering station, DMM, chassis punches, metal working tools, drills, etc. but it is possible to get started on the cheap and use lots of shortcuts.
But the standard disclaimer applies: building vacuum tube (valve) amps is dangerous. There are high voltages involved and it is possible to electrocute yourself. You have to know what the dangers are and follow safety precautions. One way to get started is to build a couple of pedals.
Sorry this is so long winded, but I thought I'd share some of my observations after a decade of amp building.
tung