When hobbies collide

[clintj]

Several folks here know I build amps as a hobby, and occasionally take in a repair or three. Been doing that for, oh, five or six years now. My older passion is woodworking. Cabinetry, furniture, jewelry boxes, things of that nature. Started that about 12 years ago, built a few odds and ends and a couple of dressers for the kids. Took a break for a few years since I moved here; the closest hardwood lumberyard was four hours south.

So, on the amp side we have this. An old Hammond L100 power amp I got for cheap and rebuilt into a Matchless type build. Basically a half power Vox AC30TB, reusing the chassis and transformers. Loud little beastie.





I need a cab for it, and I just found out there's a local lumber store that expanded their offerings into fine hardwoods. Picked up some cherry and maple, dusted off my tools, and started this cab.



The main case will be black cherry, and the front panel will be lightly figured maple. Joinery is hand cut dovetails, and it will wear a hand rubbed oil finish. Should make a nice piece of eye candy in my music room.

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[fazool]

That's very cool - I love that kind of thing.

[Steve DeRosa]

Didn't Randall Smith start out this way...?

[maxtheaxe]

Nice, neat PTP wiring on that amp...very clean layout (they usually look like spaghetti). Are those EL84 power tubes? Did you use the original transformers or are those after-market/custom?

Also, nice dovetail mortise and tenon on that cab...wish I could have you make one for my Crate VC50 chassis. I always wanted to separate the amp from the speaker cab and replace the old 15" Eminence with a 12" baffle and a Celestion V-series.

[Bob Womack]

Very nice!

Bob

[clintj]

Originally Posted by maxtheaxe

Nice, neat PTP wiring on that amp...very clean layout (they usually look like spaghetti). Are those EL84 power tubes? Did you use the original transformers or are those after-market/custom?

Also, nice dovetail mortise and tenon on that cab...wish I could have you make one for my Crate VC50 chassis. I always wanted to separate the amp from the speaker cab and replace the old 15" Eminence with a 12" baffle and a Celestion V-series.

2 EL84 tubes cooking at about 360V on the plates. Over the datasheet limit for sure, but I took some steps to help them run safely (lowered screen voltage and big screen grid resistors). The power and output transformers are original Hammond 60s iron, along with the filter choke.

Thanks! That layout took four revisions on paper to make it all fit. I kept running out of turrets. I can be a little OCD inside an amp chassis when I'm building.

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[Darwin]

That, is super cool, both amp and cabinet! -- Darwin

[Kerbie]

That's lovely... you obviously have quite a talent. Wish I had that...

[clintj]

Little more cutting and chopping. Life calls, so that's a good stopping spot for now.

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[muscmp]

clintj: great amp design and great cab!

i have an ao43 amp, ao42 preamp, reverb pan and two heppner 12" speakers from a 1965 hammond L112 that i need to turn into a guitar amp. i'll probably go with a separate head and cab but a 2x12 combo would be cheaper.

play music!

[KevWind]

Can't wait to see it finished very cool

[wrathfuldeity]

Whoa...Nice! wish my hobbies colluded like yours

[Dru Edwards]

What a great way for hobbies to collide, Clint. Looking forward to the completed amp.

[clintj]

Thank you for the compliments. I ordered the handle and feet for the cab today, and tonight I'm off to my real job for the next few days. I rough cut some of the maple for the front panel this morning, jointed an edge, and planed a face flat for further sizing. I also plan to order a face plate for the chassis to make it look more complete. I've got plenty of room for a name, I just need to decide on one.

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[RP]

Very nice dovetails....