Firefly 1.5W Tube Amp Build

[Tone2TheBone]

Holy Moley Voo that's the coolest thing I've ever seen! Let us know how the cap mods do.

[aeolian]

Very nicely done. It must be cool to play through an amp you build yourself.

[ted s]

Crunchy Vood !, nice playing !

[Adrian30]

That's a truly sweet sounding amp!

[sunvalleylaw]

Wowza!

[duhvoodooman***]

Two additional notes:

• Though the Firefly is really about tube distortion, it's not purely a one-trick pony. Nobody's ever gonna confuse it with a Fender Twin, but if I put the 12AU7 tube back in and run just on the main preamp with the boost stage off, it will do a pretty nice clean tone, too. I'll record another clip with my Strat when I have some time, showing the cleaner side of the amp.
  
  
• If you liked the sound of that 1x12 cab, it's got one of those $45 Warehouse Guitar Speakers "Veteran 30" models in it, a Celestion Vintage 30 clone. Unbelievable value at that price, IMO.

[Katastrophe]

Strange... I posted a reply, and now my post is missing.

[oldguy]

That little sucker sounds great, Voodoo. You may have just built the least expensive boutique mini stack in existence!

[duhvoodooman***]

Strange... I posted a reply, and now my post is missing.

What did you say??

[Robert****]

That is awesome, vood! What a fun project that must be for you! :
Cool happening tones, dude! I didn't know Jimmy Page came over to play it for you?

[Robert****]

Me too, I get lost all the time when driving.

[SuperSwede]

Me too, I get lost all the time when driving.

Me too! I really need (ok want) a GPS.

[luvmyshiner]

DVM, I've been giving some serious thought to trying my hand at this little project. I've downloaded the guide and reviewed it. My biggest concern as far as tackling the project is with cutting out the chassis. I think I can get the round holes ok, but I have concerns about the hole for the IEC outlet. Could you explain how you tackled that one?

Also, did you make the chassis yourself or use something commercially available? Thanks for the input.

[duhvoodooman***]

I used a Hammond 1444-16 aluminum chassis that I ordered from Mouser.com. John Calhoun includes a template for this chassis (10"x6"x2") in his instructions.

Re: the holes, I handled eveything on the chassis with a regular drill set, except for the tube holes (got some panel punches from our shop here at work for those; worked great) and the IEC connector, which one of our shop techs cut out for me with a jigsaw.

[tunghaichuan***]

Re: the holes, I handled eveything on the chassis with a regular drill set, except for the tube holes (got some panel punches from our shop here at work for those; worked great) and the IEC connector, which one of our shop techs cut out for me with a jigsaw.

I have a set of Irwin Unibit stepped drill bits. Home Depot and Lowe's sell a set that includes a #1, two #3s and a #4. The #1 goes up to 1/2", the #3s go up to 3/4" and the #4 goes up to 7/8". This will cover most of your drilling needs. I like the Unibit brand as they drill nice round holes. Some of the cheaper knock-offs don't do such a good job. The Vermont American bit I have, for example, drills triangular holes when using a hand drill.

I was thinking of having a machinist make me a template out of 1/2" aluminum plate for cutting IEC connector holes. The Greenlee punch is about $250 Yikes! I've had good luck with using a template with a laminate trimmer and a flush cutting bit with a roller bearing. Cuts through aluminum like butter. The downside: you have to clamp the open end of the chassis down as the bit throws little aluminum chips all over the place. Also, you can't cut ferrous materials with the bit/template.

I've used this method to cut 1 & 3/8" holes in aluminum chassis. I bored a 1 & 3/8" hole in a 1/2" thick piece of MDF and use that as a guide with my laminate trimmer and flush cutting bit. I'm too cheap to pony up the cash for yet another Greenlee punch (I already own 5).

tung

[Tone2TheBone]

Hey Voo how are you going to handle putting the chassis in a brain head ermm I mean amp head? Some plywood and finish? Some plywood covered in tolex? I can't wait to see that baby when it's finished.

[duhvoodooman***]

Hey Voo how are you going to handle putting the chassis in a brain head ermm I mean amp head? Some plywood and finish? Some plywood covered in tolex? I can't wait to see that baby when it's finished.

Really haven't decided yet. Either plywood with a tolex/vinyal finish, or maybe just a nice wood enclosure, stained & urethaned. I'm really in no hurry, because (1) I'm enjoying playing the little sucker too much, and (2) I don't lug my stuff around, so there's really no functional need for an enclosure at this point. I'll get around to it eventually, and you know I'll post it here, when I do....

[luvmyshiner]

Thanks DVM and Tung. That gives me a plan of attack.

[Dreadman]

Cool, very cool.

I'm ordering parts tonight!