Here you go

Mojotone Brownface Kit..

It's a pretty terrible idea. I guarantee it's a lot more expensive than you think, which is why Gomez and others are out of business. No way you do it for under $1000 if you use half way decent parts (assuming you have a head cab built).

It will also probably won't go right with this as your first go around. It's not as easy as you think.

You might want to practice on a simpler amp build to see what you think about the process. Allen Amps has kits for most of his line and very good documentation according to most people who have built them.

Paul

It seems like the stumbling point in regard to difficulty and simplicity of construction is a lack of documentation on the steps, i.e. "instructions", yes?

As far as cost goes, I realize the parts list isn't cheap but I think the reason amp building of this sort isn't always economically viable is that the labor involved is more difficult to pass on as a cost than the parts themselves. But as a personal hobby build, the labor isn't a factor.

I guess part of the motivation for my query is that the high and climbing prices for this old gear is just distasteful. For such a specific and quantifiable pile of electronic components, it just seems silly. I'm not after "mojo" or vintage scratches (although I do appreciate vintage things in general)--I just want the sound.

And actually, it would be nice to be able to add some features, such as a switchable transformer for lower output. Anyway, thanks all for the input. This isn't a burning project--just something I wanted to field for future consideration.

Just checked the going price for brown faced amps, $3,000 and up is what I found. As noted they are a collection of electrical components, if I was motivated I'd give it a shot. But before that I would seek out somebody with more knowledge and skills building clones, any ideas on that one?

In my one and only surf band the leader played thru that same amp, it had been recapped. Incredible headroom and a sweet tone that you just had to hear. I'm 62 and remember when Black Face and Tweed fenders were not hard to find at all, but this his was the only Brown Face I've ever seen.

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Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 12:53:42

I've often thought the same thing. It's just a bunch of components. Schematics and even layout drawings exist, how hard can it be?

I've built a couple of reverb units and a small tube amplifier and here's what I learned:
1) It's always more expensive than you think. The passive components are mostly cheap, but suddenly you probably need the same components as the vintage amps, and these start getting very expensive. I found postage costs often exceeded the purchase cost of the components.
2) Building a reverb was quite a learning curve for me with a few decades experience of building electronic circuits. If you have no experience, your learning curve will be very steep. Start with something small and get your experience that way. (further expense, of course)
3) Building an amp is a challenge, but it's nothing compared to troubleshooting the thing when it either doesn't work, doesn't work properly, or hums like an angry bee. (My first build had three sources of hum, which was a real test of endurance. I eventually became attuned to the difference between mains hum, hum loops and induced hum). You'll need troubleshooting skills, and equipment. You can ask in forums, but believe me, trying to troubleshoot a home built amp is a very lonely and dark place.
4) Building an amp and getting it working properly is a buzz (as opposed to a hum), then you have to build a cabinet for the thing. This takes ages, and unless your woodworking and cabinet making skills are above average, then it will look like crap. Factor in the tolex and tools you may need, then you really need to enjoy woodworking to like this part.
5) Eventually, with careful methodical work and a bit of luck, you'll end up with an amp that will, at most, be worth the sum of the parts, just. Your time, cost of tools, and parts postage will not be included. A vintage amp is an appreciating asset, that you will always be able to sell and will effectively cost you nothing. And will your home made amp sound like a vintage amp? Sadly, no it won't. (Something to do with the insulation material used in the transformers, apparently. Or cloth covered wire. Or the circuit board material pffft)

If you have the enthusiasm and motivation to build a big vintage amp, then make sure you're doing it because you want to learn how to make big vintage amps, then the cost and time investment doesn't seem so high. If you're doing it because you think you'll save a bit of cash, then have another think. Save some cash, keep a watch out and, as Jake says, sooner or later one will come your way. If you haven't got the patience to wait for one, it's unlikely you have the patience to build one. Better off spending the time learning your guitar.

Hope this doesn't sound too negative, but you asked for advice, and there's my advice.

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

I see that there are a lot of arguments to keep you from building your own amp. Still, I think that it could be a lot of fun, and common sense is great, but progress is made by those who have an interessting idea. You have nothing to lose but some money, and if you get hopelessly stuck you can take it to a friend or a tech to sort it out while you tend to the stuff you can do. Sure, it's not cheap, it's not going to have a decent resale value but if it works it will be worth it.

Last edited: Mar 16, 2018 10:37:50

It's daunting to build from scratch. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I'm with da-ron on this, there's a lot of troubleshooting and tweaking which comes with the turf. There's a learning curve involved and a steep one at that. If I were retired and had no time pressure, then maybe, but as things are, no way.

I've never built a guitar amp, but I have built a number of tube devices, back in the day. Electronics is both a science and an art. You can wire everything correctly and have a device that is useless, if you don't pay attention to lead dressing, etc. You can build something that looks like a showpiece, but one miswired lead or the wrong component can turn it into scrap. It's not for the faint-hearted.

If you truly want to build, start small and learn as you go. A Tweed Champ kit cane had without tubes, cabinet or speaker for about $250. That'll keep you busy for a while. See if you can find a volunteer mentor, a retired tech or a ham radio operator that knows their way around a tube device. Even if you have completed something like a Tweed Champ, you might want to get one more under your belt before tackling the Showman circuit. I'd probably go for the Mojotone Brownface kit next and when that was purring like a happy kitten, then I'd start gathering parts for the Showman.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.