NAK-D

[syscokid]

Ha ha... New Amp Kit Day

Came in yesterday. This is the Allen Amps Chihuahua 1x10 Combo kit:


The Chihuahua is based on a Fender Blackface Champ, but with extra goodies like:
More powerful output tranny and power supply. Creates the option to use a 6V6 at 6 watts, or use a 6L6 or EL34 for 10 watts.
Reverb...!!!
Allens Mid/Raw control, which is a variable Tonestack bypass and is also foot switchable.
Master Volume...!!!
BLUE pilot light...

The cabinets tolex is a vintage style Ampeg Blue Diamond. Looks very black to me, though. Grill cloth is a Fender style Silver/Blue running vertically.

Parts spread out:


Mocked up the front plate for a better visual:


Eminence Copperhead 10" speaker:


Inside of Accoutronics 3-spring reverb tank. Made in Korea these days!


I plan to setup the amp as a 6V6 6 watter. David Allen sent me an extra JJ 6L6 and a couple power resistors, for the 10 watt swap, free of charge...

Linky:
Allen Amplification - Chihuahua

 

[JohnnyGoo]

thats cool.

 

[RVA]

Yes!!! Go go go Sysco! This should be fun. Progress photos please

 

[CabanaBoy]

Nice amp kit, man...

 

[Tony M.]

Really nice.
A single 6L6 in a low wattage amp makes a nice sound.

 

[CabanaBoy]

I don't know if I've ever played a class A 6L6 before, but it sure sounds interesting. I'm going to have to put one on my wanna-build-list

 

[Tony M.]

My Supro Comet is a single 6L6 Class A
and yes, it is interesting.

 

[eSGEe]

looks blue in the pics.......the tolex that is.....

 

[syscokid]

looks blue in the pics.......the tolex that is.....

This tolex is weird. Stare at it too much, and it'll give you a headache. From a straight-on angle it looks mostly black. At a shallow angle, I then can see some blue. As you move your view around, the patterns within the checkerboard change, too. Hypnotizing...

A pic outside, with the Sun about 1 1/2 hours before sunset:

 

[eSGEe]

the colors man,,,,,wow,,,,,

 

[RVA]

This tolex is weird. Stare at it too much, and it'll give you a headache. From a straight-on angle it looks mostly black. At a shallow angle, I then can see some blue. As you move your view around, the patterns within the checkerboard change, too. Hypnotizing...

A pic outside, with the Sun about 1 1/2 hours before sunset:
View attachment 8391

I really like the tolex! Nice to have something different on a Fender. Tweed has been way overdone lately!

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Tolex looks great.

Kit looks really nice.

Looking forward to the build, and I reckon it'll sound amazing.

 

[syscokid]

Kit looks really nice.

Looking forward to the build, and I reckon it'll sound amazing.

Everything about the kit is quality. Dealing and communicating with David Allen, of Allen Amps, is a pleasure. BTW... this David Allen is not to be confused with another David Allen who is known for quality boutique pickups.

As far as the anticipated sound of this Champ-On-Steroids: A really good friend of mine, going back to my High School days, has an original 70s Silverface Champ. Whenever he whips that little old puppy out, and cranks out the full 5 watts... it just gives me a vintagy warm and fuzzy feeling. 30 to 40 years ago, I would thumb my big nose at that amp. Now, I embrace them... :dood:

 

[ChasFred]

I always like building projects like this, I did several for people when I was back in Jacksonville. Really digging the Ampeg style tolex.

 

[syscokid]

I think I'm going to try to break-in the speaker while I'm going thru the assembly process. Maybe connect one stereo channel speaker line to the new speaker?

 

[syscokid]

OK, here I go... Part I

I want to install the reverb tank first, and get the tank and its parts out of the way. Never installed a tank before. You would think it would be simple. Nope... not me! None of my other amps with reverb tanks are hidden in reverb bags. I'm looking for four grommets and their mounting screws... nope, not included. Crap! Also, the size of the reverb bag is hilariously oversize. The bag is for a full size 17" tank. This tank is 9". Double crap!!


HELP... Contact Mr. Allen: "I use the long bags, even with short tanks. Cover bottom of tank with cardboard and tape it on each end without obstructing the jacks. Mark the cable you plug into the INPUT jack of tank on other end so you know to plug it into the IN jack on the amp. I fold the long bag under the tank and leave enough slack to shoot one of those black truss head screws through each end of the bag to hold it to the bottom of the cabinet. Make sure the bag doesn't hang out the back making the back panel hard to install. Roll that extra up under the speaker. Fasten the reverb cables on the right side as you look at the back of the cabinet and plug them in. IN to IN and OUT to OUT. The jacks on the tank should face forward toward the speaker baffle. This keeps the sensitive OUTPUT jack of the tank as far from the power transformer as possible so it doesn't pick up hum."
Thanks Mr. Allen... . All I needed was those two black oval pan head screws that come with the built-in washer. Can now proceed.













Time to get this part out of the way:

 

[RVA]

Mark the cable you plug into the INPUT jack of tank on other end so you know to plug it into the IN jack on the amp...IN to IN and OUT to OUT.

Wow, good thing you asked. That is counter-intuitive

 

[syscokid]

Part II: Load up the chassis hardware and trannies.

All jacks, front and rear faceplates, pots and knobs, switch, pilot light, tube sockets, trannies, fuse, and a/c power cord... INSTALLED!

Wiring the input jacks outside is way easier than doing it inside:







That's it for today. I could easily finish this today, but I want to spread this out a bit.

I know what? I think I'll play one of my guitars into one of my other amps...

 

[ChasFred]

Some people get to have all the fun, guess I'll go re-arrange my pedal board AGAIN, still not sounding like I want.

I know it CANT be me making it sound like crap.

Looking good syscokid.

 

[syscokid]

I think you made some good choices the copperhead speaker. The 6v6 over 6 L6
In this case less is more . My Blackheart lil giant is one 12ax7 and one 6v6 tmb only
no gain although it does have a 9db boost switch . Glad you have the patience and skills to get this done
and could do it in a day is pretty cool I might try for a month or two and still never get it done right
or burn down the frickin house trying .

There was no other option for the 10" Eminence Copperhead speaker. If I wanted the Chihuahua with an 8" or 12" combo cab, then his only offering would have been a WGS 8C or a WGS 12C. All three of these speakers are so suppose to have the "American Vintagy" vibe. I'm sure they are all nice speakers, and I trust Mr. Allen on what he has to offer.

Yeah, the 5 to 6 watts output is what I want with the 6V6. Since the trannies are "oversized", I will always have the option to go to 10 watts by sliding in a 6L6 or EL34. But I would also have to replace two different power resistors in doing so.