18 Watt MojoTone Kit Build With Conversion To JCM800 Circuitry:

Amp Mad Scientist said:
And that's the best advice I can start with, use galvanized steel.
Bingo dude.
A steel 18 watt chassis.

18W Marshall Style Steel Chassis for DIY TUBE Amp Kit MADE IN USA

www.triodeelectronics.com

Marshall JTM45 Tube Amp Kit - IN STOCK & READY TO SHIP

www.triodeelectronics.com

View attachment 48221

View attachment 48222
Click to expand...
Might as well get everything else from Triode then. Might need to personally contact them on sourcing a head cab for their 18 watt kit though. Triode has an excellent reputation!
 
syscokid said:
A good cleaning followed by the application of dielectric grease is what I use for any grounding points on a aluminum or steel chassis.

Weber's more economical kit prices are definitely related to overseas-made trannies. I don't believe I've ever came across a negative review from someone who actually has built one of the Weber kits, in regards to the cheaper trannies. But personally, I'm more comfortable with USA iron... or even Canadian iron from Hammond for that matter! It's worth the extra cost, IMO.

A couple questions for you:
Your number one priority is to experience amp building, right?
&
I haven't, but have you played an 18 watt Marshall before? EL84 power tubes is a very different flavor.
Click to expand...

There is grease specifically made for copper to copper.
There is grease specific for aluminum to aluminum.
But there is no grease made for dissimilar metals that I am aware of.

On steel: I solder the ground terminals to the chassis. Just like Fender does.

Prior to 1971, dissimilar metals were used for grounding. But after that it was prohibited.
The reason these safety codes are created = because there were actual accidents, and NEC acted to prevent more accidents.

Also, using an aluminum chassis as a circuit path is also prohibited.
But that's exactly what these kits are doing, using the aluminum as the circuit path.

That's why I bring up the issue - safety.
And as you can see, there "is" a steel 18 watt chassis available. It costs about $20 more.
And so If I had the choice, I would use the steel chassis.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
There is grease specifically made for copper to copper.
There is grease specific for aluminum to aluminum.
But there is no grease made for dissimilar metals that I am aware of.
Click to expand...
You know what? All this talk about grease just made me research more info about dielectric grease. BOING!!!!...: It's non conductive!!!!
My mission today will be to invest in a tube of carbon conducting grease and eventually replace all the dielectric grease wherever it was used!
8481-1.jpg
 
syscokid said:
A good cleaning followed by the application of dielectric grease is what I use for any grounding points on a aluminum or steel chassis.

Weber's more economical kit prices are definitely related to overseas-made trannies. I don't believe I've ever came across a negative review from someone who actually has built one of the Weber kits, in regards to the cheaper trannies. But personally, I'm more comfortable with USA iron... or even Canadian iron from Hammond for that matter! It's worth the extra cost, IMO.

A couple questions for you:
Your number one priority is to experience amp building, right?
&
I haven't, but have you played an 18 watt Marshall before? EL84 power tubes is a very different flavor.
Click to expand...

I have played the old 18 watts and I'm kinda excited/intimidated by the thought of building it.

I can easy upgrade the transformers to Classictones for $75.00 each.

I think this amp would respond well to Genelex B759 Gold Lions and the SS modulator in the rectifier position...
 
syscokid said:
You know what? All this talk about grease just made me research more info about dielectric grease. BOING!!!!...: It's non conductive!!!!
My mission today will be to invest in a tube of carbon conducting grease and eventually replace all the dielectric grease wherever it was used!
View attachment 48224
Click to expand...

"conductive grease" is non-conductive? That's a neat trick.

Description846 is an economical, carbon-filled, electrically conductive grease. It lubricates, reduces contact resistance, repels moisture, inhibits corrosion, and prevents static buildup. Use 846 when you want a lubricating grease that provides great electrical contact and environmental protection. It is excellent for ground connections, rotating connections, rotary switches, variable capacitors, roller inductors, roller bearings, slip rings, slide connecters and potentiometers. Features and Benefits • Resistivity of 114 Ω·cm
 
Robert Herndon said:
I have played the old 18 watts and I'm kinda excited/intimidated by the thought of building it.

I can easy upgrade the transformers to Classictones for $75.00 each.

I think this amp would respond well to Genelex B759 Gold Lions and the SS modulator in the rectifier position...
Click to expand...

I would just build the amp stock, and upgrade parts later.
In case there is any mistakes, that cause expensive parts to burn up...
I start out with cheap tubes, and test it first.

I would use classic tone transformers.
Mercury is really nice, but it costs 3X as much.
 
Robert Herndon said:
I have played the old 18 watts and I'm kinda excited/intimidated by the thought of building it.

I can easy upgrade the transformers to Classictones for $75.00 each.

I think this amp would respond well to Genelex B759 Gold Lions and the SS modulator in the rectifier position...
Click to expand...
Well, in that case... Make it easy on yourself and order the 18-watt complete kit from Mojotone. Decent price for what you get at a total price of around $750. Their trannies are USA made. An aluminum chassis is not a deal breaker for me.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
I would just build the amp stock, and upgrade parts later.
In case there is any mistakes, that cause expensive parts to burn up...
I start out with cheap tubes, and test it first.
Click to expand...
Definitely this... (y). No need jump over mountains to make a solid working amp and get an education in the process.

Trannies:
Classic Tone trannies are good and very affordable, but not up to 67plexi's standards... ha ha!
A big step up are the Heyboers. Marstran trannies are made to spec by Heyboer. I think so are the Merren's. Some Mojotone trannies are, or were, made by Heyboer.

Mercury Magnetics are good and have a more modern feel according to cork-sniffers, but IMO they are overpriced.
 
End of the day I was going to build my sister in law a 18 watt amp it was cheaper to just buy a Friedman Runt 20 combo
and it has DI out for recording that sounds good. The last classic tone power transformers I used failed in short order ran hot as hell.

 
67plexi said:
End of the day I was going to build my sister in law a 18 watt amp it was cheaper to just buy a Friedman Runt 20 combo
and it has DI out for recording that sounds good. The last classic tone power transformers I used failed in short order ran hot as hell.

Click to expand...

I used classic tone and they worked with no problems.
I used JJ tubes and they worked with no problems.

But I think the real secret is:
It's more of the layout and the circuit, than it is a particular transformer or choke.
I think that transformer upgrades, choke mods, etc are highly over rated.
I think "NOS" tubes by and large are very over rated.
I think there is a lot of imagination, and a lack of reality.

I learned that there is more you could do with the actual circuit, than paying for what the upgrade produces.

I think it's a bunch of transformer salesmen, screwing with yer head and yer wallet. :rolf:

I think I could put the stock amp---
up against the "upgrade,"
and 50% of the time, nobody could ever tell which is which.
In other words, random guessing and assumptions is what drives most of the "upgrades."
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
I used classic tone and they worked with no problems.
I used JJ tubes and they worked with no problems.

But I think the real secret is:
It's more of the layout and the circuit, than it is a particular transformer or choke.
I think that transformer upgrades, choke mods, etc are highly over rated.
I think "NOS" tubes by and large are very over rated.
I think there is a lot of imagination, and a lack of reality.

I learned that there is more you could do with the actual circuit, than paying for what the upgrade produces.

I think it's a bunch of transformer salesmen, screwing with yer head and yer wallet. :rolf:

I think I could put the stock amp---
up against the "upgrade,"
and 50% of the time, nobody could ever tell which is which.
In other words, random guessing and assumptions is what drives most of the "upgrades."
Click to expand...

Thank you, Tone Chaps, for all your advice and expertise. I am going to build a stocker from the kit and see how it turns out.

I prefer JJ tubes and personally avoid NOS.

I will be using Genelex Gold Lions in this build with the SS in the rectifier tube slot.

@ampmadscientist - can you provide a list of the "special" items i will need that do not come in the kit???

Thanks to all of you who posted.

May everything you do be blessed...
 
This covering caught my eye...thinking it would look good with gold piping:

levant_red.jpg

And this handle is double stitched leather and not vinyl:

handle-d-k.jpg

Part of me thinks it would be good to just stay with traditional gold and black, but I kinda dig the colors available...
 
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