Completed: 50's Tweed Bandmaster 3x10 (5E7)

[bagman67]

That's where I cower behind heavy furniture and turn the amp on for the first time with a long wooden stick.

 

[fdesalvo]

Ha! 

I started that practice after I inadvertently allowed ac to hit a filter cap about 15 years ago. Sucker blew right off the board and nailed my chest. Sent burnt polyester filaments all over my room. Looked like a chicken detonated.

 

[Cagey]

I had that happen once when I was just a techie puppy and thought I'd be a smart guy and replace a tube rectifier with a ss full-wave bridge. Of course, that raised the voltage to damn near double and kerplowie! Electrolytic guts all over the place.

 

[mayfly]

That's where I cower behind heavy furniture and turn the amp on for the first time with a long wooden stick.

Hmmm.  You know, you can build a current limiting mains power supply pretty easily.

 

[fdesalvo]

I had that happen once when I was just a techie puppy and thought I'd be a smart guy and replace a tube rectifier with a ss full-wave bridge. Of course, that raised the voltage to damn near double and kerplowie! Electrolytic guts all over the place.

Yowza!

That's where I cower behind heavy furniture and turn the amp on for the first time with a long wooden stick.

Hmmm.  You know, you can build a current limiting mains power supply pretty easily.

Yeah, a light bulb works great, too.  JK about the stick.  I test in stages as I build..AC, heaters, bias, etc.  Haven't had a nasty surprise in a while (knock on wood). 

 

[DarkPenguin]

I put my Tweed Deluxe build in the middle of my garage, kicked the power and ran out of the garage.  When it didn't ignite after 20 minutes I went back in with a guitar.

 

[fdesalvo]

I put my Tweed Deluxe build in the middle of my garage, kicked the power and ran out of the garage.  When it didn't ignite after 20 minutes I went back in with a guitar.

One time I put peanut butter on the standby switch of a new build and shut the cat in the room with it.

 

[fdesalvo]

Hurry up, cab!

 

[DocNrock]

I put my Tweed Deluxe build in the middle of my garage, kicked the power and ran out of the garage.  When it didn't ignite after 20 minutes I went back in with a guitar.

One time I put peanut butter on the standby switch of a new build and shut the cat in the room with it.

Bwahahaha!

Your amp is looking sweet, dude!

 

[fdesalvo]

:icon_biggrin:  thank you!

 

[Cagey]

Speaking of amps and cats in a small room, I had an old Gibson 50 watt with 4 10s in a combo package - can't remember the model, but it was old when I got it in the early '70s. I had it apart to do... something... I don't remember what. But, I left the chassis laying out overnight, and the next day when I powered it up, the all-important smoke was released. Turned out the cat had pissed in it. All over the rectifier, as luck would have it. Apparently, it was conductive enough to put AC in a lotta places where only DC was appropriate, and that was all she wrote. Thing was not necessary beyond repair, but more than I could handle at the time. Not long after that, she decided that my dad's work boots were more convenient than the litter box, and that was the end of her.

 

[fdesalvo]

:toothy12:

 

[DocNrock]

Speaking of amps and cats in a small room, I had an old Gibson 50 watt with 4 10s in a combo package - can't remember the model, but it was old when I got it in the early '70s. I had it apart to do... something... I don't remember what. But, I left the chassis laying out overnight, and the next day when I powered it up, the all-important smoke was released. Turned out the cat had pissed in it. All over the rectifier, as luck would have it. Apparently, it was conductive enough to put AC in a lotta places where only DC was appropriate, and that was all she wrote. Thing was not necessary beyond repair, but more than I could handle at the time. Not long after that, she decided that my dad's work boots were more convenient than the litter box, and that was the end of her.

Too bad the AC current didn't follow the stream...New type of internal combustion engine!

 

[Cagey]

Hehe! Yeah, I wouldn't have lost any sleep over it. Cat was bonked in the head.

 

[fdesalvo]

She's 99% done.  Still need to tune the circuit for the cab once the speakers break in.  Also needs to mount the cab strain relief and use some proper mounting hardware for the chassis.  Sounds angelic so far!  May not even touch the thing.

 

[Cagey]

'Tis a fine thing you have built, Mr. DeSalvo! She's beautiful! You should be proud!

 

[fdesalvo]

Thank you!  Can't wait until the grill ages a bit

 

[Great Ape]

Jeez, that is one hell of a job, Frank, and beautiful to look at to boot! VERY FINE, INDEED!!

 

[fdesalvo]

Thank you, man.  I've got an order or two already (yikes?). 

It would be cool to do up a hardwood cab and have you do your magic to the outside.  Collaboration!  Would make a cool little amp!

 

[DarkPenguin]

Just ridiculously lovely.  Great job!