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i need a new amp, i dont have a lot of money, want expirience of building amp. now that ive gotten to the point, ive got to ramble (in the talking way). i want the classic fender cleans. maybe a 2 or 3 channel amp, with a good mesa boogie rectifier type distortion. dont know if this will work. but you know, i could deal with a good clean and add a distortion pedal, i dunno. how realistic is this? i have no idea what im doing when it comes to electronics . how expensive is it? how hard? etc. would it sound as good as buying a fender twin reverb? what are some usefull links for this subject? HELP ME OUT, please. (Mr. Scott F, maybe?)

Just to get started, here's two of the best links. Start reading.

18Watt Community
The AX84 Project

Channel switchers can be a bit hairy on the design and layout side, you can make an AB switcher between channels to make it just as good.

A simple AA763 layout like a fender twin shouldn't be that hard, a good idea might be to keep it to just the vibrato channel for even fewer tubes and stuff to put on the board. Transformers and tubes will be the most expensive parts, then you gotta have a chassis for a fender twin and a suitable cabinet. I've never done it, but you gotta be handy with the soldering iron and do a good lead dress to make sure nothing goes wrong.

Perhaps Scott will fill you in on some advice.

A good idea-get a donor amp.

If you can grab a cheap late 70's silverface twin on ebay, you can use the transformers, tubes, chassis and cabinet from that amp, then simply gut it and do the wiring and soldering.

Parts for a cool tube amp are probably going to cost you as much as a used amp. As Q92 points out, there are a number of design and layout issues with high gain amps that will challenge the novice builder.

Building your own is not really the cheap way out. IMHO also not a
good Idea for a crash course in electronics. You might be better off buying
a Amp and modding it. There's alot of info on the inner workings of a
tube amp on the web. Try Most IMPORTANT !!
There is Leathal voltage in a Tube amp. Make sure you know how to
propperlly discharge the filter caps ! (Whats a filter cap you may ask?)
If so? You have a lot to learn. Go Slow and be careful.

after looking at the hoffman amp site, i have decided to retire from building amps. or at least take a break. thanks for everyone's help, though.

I've worked about 8 hours total on a fairly simple amp tonight and I'm almost done. About an hours more effort. 3x12AX7, 2xEL84, 1x5AR4

Takng a break is cool, but it's very rewarding to bring something to life.

Beginning with such a large goal, 2-3 channel switcher, is rather unrealistic as you are now seeing.

But, as far as quot;cheapquot; goes, check out the Weber Speakers site. Ted is offering some very inexpensive kits that have cabs and speakers included, some less than 500 bucks!

Granted his parts are mostly Chinese and cheaper, the price is quite attractive.