Seb_C

I've built the Ampmaker SE-5a. 5 watts with an EL84. Good kit, good supplier, went together really easily and was perfect first time. Five watts is only going to be about 1dB louder than four in reality, and I think this would be okay for very small gigs - but it won't stay clean. I used a Weber Silver Ten alnico - very nice speakers. I now run the amp with very small mods and a NOS 6AQ5 output tube (like a mini 7 pin EL84/6V6 hybrid) with a NOS 12AT7 instead of the 12AX7 preamp tube. Less gain, less volume, probably barely 3w, sounds sweeter - but not giggable IMO.

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1355915847' post='1904309'] Errr, no you can definintely DIY mic pres that far outsrips the quality and reliability iof anything with a Behringer sticker on it. It just wont be cheaper I'm afraid:- [url="http://www.seventhcircleaudio.com"]http://www.seventhcircleaudio.com[/url] [url="http://www.soundskulptor.com/"]http://www.soundskulptor.com/[/url] [url="http://www.fivefishstudios.com"]http://www.fivefishstudios.com[/url] [url="http://www.hamptone.com/index_old.html"]http://www.hamptone.com/index_old.html[/url] All of which will completely blow away said behringer unit. And hurt your wallet a lot more I'm afraid [/quote] Read what I said carefully. "At this end of the market". OP is talking about a Maplin kit that costs "about a fiver". DIY mic pre for a fiver that is going to be good enough to be worthwhile and reliable enough to gig, with the prices you pay when you're buying ones and two of parts? No chance. It will be a waste of a fiver. I'm well aware of what can be built for sensible money. I'm well aware of the exceedingly high quality DIY out there. I built my main valve amp. I've designed and build effects pedals from scratch (no kits). Hell, I've built an analogue synthesiser. But for ultra cheap you cannot compete on price with the bottom end Chinese stuff.

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1356018632' post='1905810'] No, not at all, it's just the internal radius routing on the top side, is smaller, the headtsock thickness will be, and is, the same. The reissues, and even the original Telecaster basses have a much slower radius, which shows the walnut cap as much more elongated. Hope this makes sense, it just drops away from just past the nut, much sharper, less smooth than the newer ones. This profile was used, i believe, until the rosewood came in, in '59. The neck is approx 22mm at the 1st, and 12th frets (Tape measure used, as i don't have a micrometer, which would be more precisie obviously). nOt sure how that compares with my original, I must check, but i would bet it's very similar, it certainly feels the same. It's certainly not a V-neck like my '56, or super slim like my '58. Not a baseball bat either, like many say about the early P's. In my experience, thats a bit of a myth anyway, I've played clumpier necked Telecasters than the early P's I've played.. [/quote] That makes perfect sense, thank you 22mm sounds nice. Re: baseball bats, I have heard more about early Telecasters with 1" necks.

next question: deep radius headstock scoop - is the headstock thinner as a result of this, or is there more meat on the back of the headstock to compensate? How thick it the neck at 1st and 12th frets?