TAC Family Forums

Share your wins, get unstuck, or see how others use the TAC Method to create a fulfilling guitar life!

  • I built an amplifier!

    Posted by ted_h on July 12, 2021 at 10:58 pm

    I know this is Tony’s ACOUSTIC Challenge, but I just finished building a Fender Deluxe Reverb from a kit and I’m totally happy (amped?) that it works! The kit is from Mojo Tone. They built the cabinet as well. Here’s a clip of how it sounds:

    https://youtu.be/dO6IyNrOksQ

    Layton_Lange replied 3 years, 7 months ago 8 Members · 12 Replies
  • 12 Replies
  • Alisa

    Member
    July 13, 2021 at 6:46 am

    I was thinking, “did I read that right, he built an amp?? You can build your own amp???”. It sounds AMAZING!!! Hey, Tony doesn’t have anything against amps. He recently did a whole show on must-own pedals. Guitar lovers love all guitars, right? 😁 I don’t know if it’s the amp but your electric sounds drool-worthy. I want it 🙂 What is it? I can’t see from the video.

    • ted_h

      Member
      July 13, 2021 at 2:51 pm

      It’s a PRS Custom 24. It is really a joy to play. And you can’t beat birds as fret markers 🙂

      • This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by  ted_h.
  • JohnV

    Member
    July 13, 2021 at 8:14 am

    Nice. I always day dream about finding an old Princeton or Deluxe Reverb somewhere and rebuilding it…

    • ted_h

      Member
      July 13, 2021 at 3:01 pm

      I’ve been keeping my eyes out around here, but even the sketchy ones go for a lot of money. That’s what led to building a reproduction from a kit. If you’re handy with woodworking you could save some money (like $200-250) by building your own cabinet. I’ve seen some folks online do tube builds in their old solid state amps, too.

  • Layton_Lange

    Member
    July 13, 2021 at 10:25 am

    Sounded really good, great tone and playing too! Very inspiring, I’ve been kicking around the idea of building an amp. Thinking a “Vox” or tweed kit. How was the processing of building an amp?

    • ted_h

      Member
      July 13, 2021 at 2:57 pm

      It was a bit of a reach for me starting with a Deluxe Reverb — the tremolo and reverb circuitry adds a lot of complexity to the build. I’ve heard that a Tweed can be a great first build. A Champ or a 5E3 Deluxe would be really fun!

      • Layton_Lange

        Member
        July 13, 2021 at 10:17 pm

        Thanks for the info, sounded like you nailed it, even with the extra complexity. A tweed would be fun and relatively straight forward. Now just need to convince the wife and find the time lol

  • Loraine

    Member
    July 13, 2021 at 10:37 am

    Well dang … I’m totally impressed!

  • Marty73

    Member
    July 13, 2021 at 11:22 am

    👍👍👍😎

  • johnny67

    Member
    July 13, 2021 at 2:10 pm

    That is extremely cool congrats on the build!👏

  • ted_h

    Member
    July 13, 2021 at 3:03 pm

    Thanks, everyone!

    If you ever get bitten by the amp building bug, check out the YouTube channel from “Uncle Doug” – he’s a great teacher and he has a bunch of 20-30 minute videos about how different parts of the amp work. I learned a ton from his stuff!

  • Marisa

    Member
    July 13, 2021 at 8:17 pm

    Well that sounds great @ted_h! So cool that you can build an amp.

Log in to reply.