Build your own

[Detailed Infinity]

Now I have your attention. With the interest shown in Piet's Etap HW and it's kit format for assembly this site given below is a goldmine for amp building kits. Granted there's HT voltage within the chassis however if anyone's capable and are aware of HT maybe you'll be interested. I know a valve amp can be bought so why bother? I remember backin 1961-62-65 when as young Stereos I bought my first amp from RSC in Castle Market Sheffield. I was a chassis amp (no cabinet) and I think the brand was Linear (Robbo'll know as I think he lurked there in his youth) So there we were with chassied amps and baffle boarded speakers. So I've been there, not very photogenic but Mexbrough Concertina Club patrons weren't listening anyhow.

As an addition, there is a possiblity the Etap chassis could be a 'daughter' board within the set-up----don't know, just a thought. What I do know that E bay has the VOX name plate (gold plastic); the white baffeboard piping, the correct corners, a selection of Vox speaker grill and even the gold pin striping seen around a Vox combo.

http://www.ampmaker.com/store/

Bri

[David Martin]

I started with a Linear Diatonic (?) 12 watts and graduated to a Linear Conchord in a home made cab with Wharfdale guitar speaker, all bought from Ernie Beard in Stoke... anyone remember him? Sold those, and Leak amps (if you could afford them) from his house...

[Detailed Infinity]

When you think about it David, a Copycat was about £30, an enormous amount of money when I was on about £8 a week. Those amplifiers I think were class A amps and what did we know about electrical safety. Health and Safety hadn't been invented back then. All the guitarists (me, Snowy Thornton on bass and Johny Howlet on lead) stood there amid live amps and mics.

Snowy (imaged himself on Heinz) had his bass and after a number, rubbed is hand up and down the neck when Johny announced 'now we'll play some rock by Little Richard----that's his cousin there on bass Big Dick It woke the audience up and got a laugh.

I well remember playing on Friday night at the Empress Ballrom in Mexbrough the day Kennedy was killed. By the time we'd packed up and I'd got home I went straight to bed 'cause in those days the working week included Sat morning (40 hour week including us apprentices). Heard the news from the passengers on the bus Sat morning around 7 o'clock.

Despite all that, they were wild days. One of my recent collegues is concerned that one of his boys isn't sporty---I told him to buy him a guitar and he'd always be popular with the girls--not in a Jimmy Saville way I hasten to add. The lads can huff and puff all they like. All he needs to do is be agrinning and a pick'n.

Bri.

[MickB]

Now I have your attention. With the interest shown in Piet's Etap HW and it's kit format for assembly this site given below is a goldmine for amp building kits. Granted there's HT voltage within the chassis however if anyone's capable and are aware of HT maybe you'll be interested. I know a valve amp can be bought so why bother? I remember backin 1961-62-65 when as young Stereos I bought my first amp from RSC in Castle Market Sheffield. I was a chassis amp (no cabinet) and I think the brand was Linear (Robbo'll know as I think he lurked there in his youth) So there we were with chassied amps and baffle boarded speakers. So I've been there, not very photogenic but Mexbrough Concertina Club patrons weren't listening anyhow.

As an addition, there is a possiblity the Etap chassis could be a 'daughter' board within the set-up----don't know, just a thought. What I do know that E bay has the VOX name plate (gold plastic); the white baffeboard piping, the correct corners, a selection of Vox speaker grill and even the gold pin striping seen around a Vox combo.

http://www.ampmaker.com/store/

Bri

Blimey,I had forgotten about RSC in the old Castle Market.I used to get the No.70 bus from Elsecar on many a Saturday and pop in there for a chat.Philip Cann in Dixon Lane was also on my walk about.My favourite shop in those days was Milners Music shop down Howard Street.My dad bought me my first serious guitar from them.Hofner President electric single cutaway semi.That must have been around 1960.Good grief I feel old now on reading that.Good days though.

[Detailed Infinity]

They were good days Mike, make and make do. Times have changed--I see the youngsters now with Fenders and Vox amps along with all the trimmings. Take them back to our days in the sun when Hire Purchase got you a Zambezi electric guitar and so on. I remember when I was 13, I rigged an electric bell into the input to our radiogram trying to see if it sounded like a tremelo. Got the belt off me dad----buckle end. These days I'd be taken into care by social services

Bri

[ecca]

Now there's a thought.........

[neil2726]

David
Re Earnie Beard - I think almost every club band in Stoke had one of earnies amps in their line up - be it for guitar or PA!
His house was at Birches Head just outside Hanley and indeed his front room was full of stuff!

[Detailed Infinity]

Now there's a thought.........

Don't be a w+++er all your life. Take a few weeks off there's a good chap.

[ecca]

.... And throw away the key....