Roll-Your-Own question

Danny Peters · Post by **Danny Peters** » 21 Jan 2011 6:06 am

Hello all. I'm currently looking into making my own amp. I was looking at the kit Mojo sells for the tweed Champ, and I had a few thoughts.

Since the most expensive parts (aside from the $60 transformer) are the cabinet ($190), the speaker ($30), and the amp chassis ($70), couldn't I just go to the pawn shop, buy some crappy Peavey 108 or 110 for $50, and use it's cabinet, chassis, and speaker instead? Mojo sells the small parts kits, and otherwise all I'd need would be a board, a transformer, and tubes.

Is this correct, or am I missing something?

LARRY COLE · Post by **LARRY COLE** » 21 Jan 2011 7:00 am

Check Allen Amps. David Allen has some killer kits that are upgrades from the old Fender designs. I built his Accomplice kits a few months ago. It is like half of a Twin. Forty watts with a tone control on the reverb and a raw control that bypasses the tone stack. It has master volume that works like it should. He uses the best parts(Switchcraft jacks, Carling switches,....). The best part is step by step instructions. If you can solder you can build his kits. Rick Johnson built my cab. I can't get my pics to upload. I can email you pics. It is the best sounding fender type amp that I have ever heard. He also has sound clips of most of his amps.
http://www.allenamps.com/index.php

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 21 Jan 2011 7:59 am

A crappy pressed board cabinet will effect your sound as apposed to a solid wood one will improve the sound of an amp.
For the cost of a kit I think the labor for a ken Fox amp is reasonable and it is nice to get a very nice amp from very nice folks with all the bugs worked out.
My Fox 4-10 is the best amp I own and I have a few.

http://www.foxvintageamps.com/

Rich Hlaves · Post by **Rich Hlaves** » 21 Jan 2011 8:59 am

Danny,

Maybe it's just me but I wouldn't skimp on my kit purchase/build. As Ken says above a good cabinet is part of the package and you can't beat the proven pine box.

The cabs Mojo delivers are top notch. At $500 their Champ kit is a good value. For $415 you can get the Weber kit. Not quite the quality in the components but it is less money. At $435 the Champ kit from Marsh Amps is the Weber kit, with instructions, for less money. Maybe the best value in Champ kits?

I have built amps with a piece from here and a piece from there and saved maybe a little money but put it right back in with shipping from 5-6 different locations. I would recommend this only if you are doing a custom build and know exactly what you want in the chassis component wise.

My $0.02 US. Have fun building!