Ampmaker PP18 DIY kit test 2 with modded Fender Mexico + Custom Shop '54

[milkyBK370]

Nice demo. I'm building the PP18 at the moment.



[rafport]

@milkyBK370 thank you, it is an old video... maybe i'll post something better sounding than this. It is a wonderful amp, maybe better amp i own from various (and some pricey), and during this time it ever worked perfectly for me. Anyone tried it says "wow". Combine it with a good cab :) And have nice times building it!

[MegaRichandfamous]

@rafport

Hi i'm building the SE5a first..did you do this?

How easy is the PP18?

I 've also bought one of Chris's cabs built to my specifications- wonderful workmanship

:-)

cheers Ade

[rafport]

@MegaRichandfamous No i never build but i really love the SE5 model, maybe in future i order the kit and try to build one. PP18 is not so tricky anyway, i guess same as your as it has something more but even something less (pots for example). I did my ugly cab to myself because i want to build all my amp with hands, and to save some money because i was not so sure to reach the goal to build a well sounding amp :) Maybe post something and link me when your baby is built and ready to rock!

[milkyBK370]

@rafport Almost finished it. A little bit of wiring to do then it's time to power it up... :-)

[rafport]

@milkyBK370 yeah let's rock! do all tests with attention, if for unlucky some mistake somewhere it is pretty risky for transformers and tubes. the guide is pretty good on this. if all values are in the right range, welcome on this mapmaker product :D let me know

[Kitarist88]

Can you please make another video of this amp using some pedals and stuff?

Did you oly use low input here?

Thanks!!! :)

[brutalaxxe]

how many green back's is that amp going through?

im just curious as i am looking into getting one of those kits but the with the amp being an 18 watt amp i know that sometimes having a low watt amp going into a higher wattage cab it doesnt always push the speakers to there full potential and can sound nasty!

and your sound is amazing :)

[rafport]

@brutalaxxe thank you. the amp is in a cab with a single 12" greenback speaker. it is rated 25w so it will be sufficient for pp18 amp (even if greenback start to crank easily and it is not more than sufficient for this one). with a 212 cab you will crank less the speaer but you've improved dynamic and usually more bass and clarity. for a 412 maybe this head is not enough loud to crank speakers, anyway it is louder that it seem (tried even with very heavy hands drummers without need ot other w)

[brutalaxxe]

@rafport thank you for the reply! this has helped me loads as i have decided that when i get this amp maker kit i will be purchasing a ''Harley Benton G212 Vintage Cab''. As it comes loaded with 2 celestion vintage 30 speaker''s which like you said should have more clarity and distort less! allowing for cleaner tones :)

[rafport]

@brutalaxxe very good. vintage 30 are high efficiency speakers, with same volume should be quite louder than other speaker and with minimal breakup (greenback are opposite, low efficiency not so loud and with an easy breakup in the distortion of the signal). you should have a very loud volume with that :) taste for speaker really depens on style, anyway the hb 212 is a good cab with an incredible price (i thinked about buying one) so you did a good deal!

[socccero]

nice amp! Can I buy it from you? =) JOke ! reALLY nic amp!

[rafport]

@socccero is very nice :) when you build some musical instrumentation, is very rare you would separe! anyway the building is quite easy and is quite cheap too, so can be a good try for a first tube amp

[sonofkikkoman]

this is such a great amp, so dynamic! i would have ordered the kit but they said that it's getting an update so i would have had to wait for like 2 months so i ordered a Madamp A15Mk2 instead and i'm pretty pleased with it. I already have a marshall jtm 30 combo but this sure is something different. I have a 2x12" v30 cabinet with madamp and it sounds very nice but the sound get's kind of compressed when full. Maybe it's just the bias.

[rafport]

@sonofkikkoman compliments for the amp. if it has a sort of test with expected value (the ampmaker kits had) you should notice it the bias is correct for your amp

[DavidColledani]

Hi!

I made the same amp and it sounds worse than yours. I'm using a 2x12 cabinet with '77 G12 Hs and a standard '82 JV squier SSS.

Maybe I have to switch to greenbacks? Or just one greenback?

[rafport]

@DavidColledani hi David, i tried with g12h and are awesome speaker (i would buy some) so it is not that the problem. try to describe how it sounds worst, what is the problem, i try to aid you if i can. pp18 is a great amp, so if it doest play well i fear there is someting not working good

[brucey39]

Hi. Does it have enough clean head room for a small club or pub gig.

[rafport]

@brucey39 it is quite loud, i guess it is sufficient for those use and you can play in the first mid of volume knob, where overdrive is limited and has a great headroom if the pickup isn't with very high output (with aggressive humbucking start to overdrive very soon)

[Kitarist88]

Also what kind of speakers did you use here?

Cant wait for some pedal demo with this amp!!!

I'm thining about building it to have it as to demo effects amp :D :D

Do you think there are some easy mods to make it a little bit creamy?

Thanks!!!

[rafport]

i need some time to do it, as it is a bit loud even attenuated and i cannot play lately at home in the hours i can play loud. trust me, this mic tone is absolutely worst that the real one (for example in the vox video the tone seem much better... this is not!). if you has the skill to build, this can be an handmade marvel. if you have not, be sure to conquest some skills before (build something smaller and low voltage, like pedals). consider it is quite risky, you need to be careful

[Kitarist88]

Thanks for a nice reply!!!

I already built some pedals and stuff so it probably wont be hard.

Do you know any mods for it?

Thanks!!!

[rafport]

i dont know any mods because i felt absolutely perfect like this, but it shuld be easy as it is the marshall 18w architeture and you can find tons of info on the net. there is an official forum for builder of this amp, you need to subscribe to read post if i remember well :)

[Kitarist88]

can you please make a video with some pedals

Thanks!!!

[rafport]

give me a bit of time (i'm busy with other project) and i'll try to do some good video of this marvelous amp with some overdrives and distortion pedals

[Kitarist88]

Also how does it sound with pedals (Overdrive,Delay,Reverb...)

[rafport]

it play marvellous, maybe i post something in a next time. i intend show the amp tone for aid someone who want buy this kit (i searched before order and i cant find anything on you tube) so a classic strat and just the amp :)

[Kitarist88]

Yea please make a video with some pedals and high input!!!

Thanks!!!

[grebbington]

How come your power indicator LED appears to be flashing?

P.S. nice job, I've just finished the SE-5A build myself

[rafport]

i never noticed on this flash, is something related of webcam i guess in real it seem normal :)

[Kitarist88]

Does the amp have the same amount of gain as the real 18watter also how much is the tone different from the real 18watter (british 18watt)

Thanks!!!

[rafport]

i never tried an original baby bluesbreaker so i cannot reply, i can say just i love this head and is more dynamic and "rock" as i can ask :)

[orangedrink]

great demo. just wondering, im going to puck up the yamaha audiogram 6 tomorrow, what do you think of it? any latency issues?

[rafport]

i' ve used just a bit, but i havent notiiced any problem. as you see here i use with a di box and there is not "chorus" effect and it will be if you mix two font and one has some latency respect the other one

[roswellj12]

some sweet playing. Brilliant tone. Can I ask how you find the yamaha audiogram to work with? thinkin of gettin one myself but concerned about the lag some people talk about

[rafport]

i feel confortable with my audiogram, is small, usb powered. i've noticed any lag using it (i use with macs). it work well with mics and other inputs. i'm satisfied :)

thank you for compliments anyway!

[kball69]

alright ^^ where is the link for making this? and the playing is tight :)

[rafport]

the link is on the info in the video (i cannot link in comment or my message will be deleted), anyway you find easily even on ampmaker keyword. you can find a pdf with a step by step guite for building, so you can see difficult, pieces and work. thank you for plaiyng :)

[kball69]

thanx amigo ^^

[Kinescoop]

Nah, well, that made me want to beg for a link to the sound sample :)

At least, my full congratulations! Where is this "soul" comin' from? Amp, fingers or heart?

[rafport]

thank you :) i think always most of tone come from fingers, if you wont use insane amount of distortion and effect (and i really like naked tone, guitar and amp). but this amp play very well, and aid me to seek for my picking. anyway usually we ear most fingers, for this reason testimonial are great guitarist and product in their hands plays insanely good :)

[soundwrks]

Sounds amazing.

[rafport]

thank you!

[phildas]

Where are you hiding raf!??! You are missing in this video!

[rafport]

ahah better for me avoid show my face :) and i wanna show my self made cab!

[phildas]

THe Best EVER!

amazing! brings out the sober side of you.

[rafport]

thank you!

[pastorkev777]

Sweet demo you should buy and make the wf-55! I live in the U.S. and am trying to figure out what model would cost to ship and buy! Also cool little amp that I want top hear! -PK

[rafport]

ahaha i wanted to do too, i'll build for sure in a next time. i'm sure it will play marvellous like this baby :) and i am sure Barry will put other kit in a next time, and i'm so in love with amps... you post a reply when i was still putting subtitles :D