How To Build a British JTM 45 Plus

[D4NI3LSCR43M]

How much does it cost to make this amp?

[D4NI3LSCR43M]

@D4NI3LSCR43M Also is this a kit? and if so where do I find this kit?

[TubeDepotTV]

@D4NI3LSCR43M - the kit can be purchased from our website, tubedepot(dot)com.

[TubeDepotTV]

@D4NI3LSCR43M - this kit starts at $795 USD ea.

[blackcorvo]

I love how he just runs his hand over the knobs and puts everything at 10.

[TubeDepotTV]

@blackcorvo - yes ... it is a wonderful way to play the JTM45+

[aaadimas]

have you ever build a twin reverb or deluxe reverb? lemme see the videos if there's any

[TubeDepotTV]

@aaadimas - I don't have build videos for either of those amps.

[MrAleksa12345]

can you post me the schematic?

[TubeDepotTV]

@MrAleksa12345 - send me the email address you want the schematic sent to. My email address is: tech(at)tubedepot(dot)com.

[chrisrlamb]

Fantastic sound.

[TubeDepotTV]

@chrisrlamb - It is such a great sound ... especially in person. And the amp takes pedals wonderfully.

[TheEnglishAthiest]

All very fine, but does it go to 11?

[TubeDepotTV]

@TheEnglishAthiest - I can get faceplates engraved with 11 on them ...

[TruthSurge]

Great vid! Very interesting. yeah, the ole western shootout scene. hahaha

can you tell me the cost of the kit? Just curious.

[TubeDepotTV]

@TruthSurge - The head kit is $795 USD, the combo kit is $995.

[TruthSurge]

@TubeDepotTV Thanks.

[MrRadjevic]

Awesome video, thank you for posting :)

[TubeDepotTV]

@MrRadjevic - we are glad you enjoyed it.

[CircusHerse]

Is the master volume you added a post phase inverter master volume?

[TubeDepotTV]

@CircusHerse - I install the standard Marshall style 2204 master volume here (following the treble control) although I have the directions on installing the post phase inverter style master volume if you would like them. The cost is the same with either master volume, I just included the easier one to install as standard with the kit.

[richiewichie]

wow!! awesome! What is the feedback switch for???

[TubeDepotTV]

@richiewichie - the JTM45, the Mk II, and the 2204 all used differing levels of negative feedback. And because the responses are so dramatically different, I decided to make the three choices selectable. That way the customer can decide which selection suites his / her playing style best.

[matt23nyc]

You guys make it look so easy. Great work! I plan to get this kit at some point. My biggest fear is screwing something up though.

[TubeDepotTV]

@matt23nyc - the manual is pretty straight forward, I don't think you would have a trouble. Download the manual and review it to see how easy it is.

[BoogieEngineer]

Can you add an fx loop? I never know how we can gig without an fx loop.

[TubeDepotTV]

@BoogieEngineer - an f/x loop could be added rather easily.

[viewervideo011242234]

Where can I get a hold of that diagram shown at 12:11?

[TubeDepotTV]

@viewervideo011242234 - send me an email - tech(at)tubedepot(dot)com - and I'll send you the diagram. Or, you can look and see if it is posted on the product page (pdf download) on our website.

[MrJANTJE123]

yes thanks for the video keep it up!!!

[TubeDepotTV]

@MrJANTJE123 - you are welcome ... we are just keeping driving the creativity of our fellow musicians.

[MrJANTJE123]

@TubeDepotTV thanks .. well i'm a electrician so this is verry handy for learning

ps i'm dutch and some words are copied for google transelate so i hope you understand it!!

pps you are also welcome

[BriansProjects]

Rob always looks like he's having a ton of fun while he's building these kits

[TubeDepotTV]

@BriansProjects - I have an enormously good time. I built three of these kits this time ... I told my boss they were needed for "R&D". The first prototype has crazy switches all over it for testing different options. The best options ended up in the final kit. I'll probably have to part with two of these eventually, but not before they get broken in really well.

[Zylstra555]

What fun! Thanks for sharing.

[TubeDepotTV]

@Zylstra555 - we are glad to throw in some entertainment.

[DJ1812]

A Mesa Boogie Mark Series Kit would be Great!

[TubeDepotTV]

@DJ1812 - I think I'd run into some trouble will Randall Smith of Mesa, although the kit would would be nice.

[DJ1812]

@TubeDepotTV Did you have to ask Marshall and Fender for their permission to offer these Kits?

[TubeDepotTV]

@DJ1812 - Neither Marshall nor Fender have kits ... nor do they have patents on these designs. These are open circuit designs available for anyone to use and modify.  This is a TubeDepot kit ...

[ChrisVGuitarist]

@DJ1812 Yeah, the Legendary Mk 1 yea that would be sweet!

[jjlwis]

holy crap that's awesome!

[TubeDepotTV]

@jjlwis - we were so loud at the end, we were overdriving the microphone ... it was great.

[humofdarkness]

YEAP !!!

[TubeDepotTV]

@humofdarkness - make that double "yeap"

[ChrisVGuitarist]

THAT IS ONE BADASS PAUL REED! Nice amp as well... Could you guys go through an amp and explain how everything contributes to making the amp work, if I want to make my own home made amp?

[SpaceGhosty33]

@ChrisVGuitarist agreed

[TubeDepotTV]

@ChrisVGuitarist - I love this idea. What amp would be a good choice to explain?

[TubeDepotTV]

@ChrisVGuitarist - This is a great idea, what amp would be a good choice to explain?

[ChrisVGuitarist]

@TubeDepotTV Well I'm am an American Clean sound fan so maybe a '65 Twin? or the Deluxe Tweed that you made would be awesome to see as well.

Thanks!

[TubeDepotTV]

@ChrisVGuitarist - we have the Deluxe Tweed already. The next amp will probably be something similar to a Deluxe Reverb or Vox Cambridge ... something with reverb and 20+ watts.

[dyakel101]

@ChrisVGuitarist Thanks! I love that guitar!

[TableWolfMusic]

@ChrisVGuitarist I didn't realise that was a PRS! It certainly did have as nice cut away. As for the electronics, the best way to learn this stuff is to get a kit and build one. You'll soon memorize the basic purpose each component and their locations on that turret board once fully occupied. Most satisfying. I'm tempted by these kits too. Beyond that, hit wikipedia for the physics.

I wish they did FX pedals like wah wahs or tube compressor distortion units. The first being more likely I guess.

[PRSguy94]

@TableWolfMusic Build your own clone.com has some awesome kits for vintage, vintage modified, and completely unique circuits.

[TableWolfMusic]

@PRSguy94 Ok, thanks for letting me know. As for amps, I still like the look these tubedepot kits.

[PRSguy94]

@TableWolfMusic I was talking about effects pedals. And I too, have a deep desire for a TubeDepot amplifier kit!

[TubeDepotTV]

@PRSguy94 - Hey, I have a deep desire for one of these JTM45+ kits to take home and play on a regular basis. At present, I have three of these as prototypes and they all reside at the shop .. except for the occasional "road test" they get. I think I will do more road testing in the next few weeks.

[TableWolfMusic]

@TubeDepotTV Would be great to see some testing in the videos in terms of showing a demo for different sounds on the amps like that 3way feedback switch you mention elsewhere in the comments. Maybe even in conjuction with one of those BYOC clone pedals mentioned by yourself and PRSguy94. You guys in the comments rock!

[TubeDepotTV]

@TableWolfMusic - BYOC has a great selection of distortion pedals with endless modification options. And the feedback switch on the amp is really cool. There are two additional unmentioned switching mods that I really like, the mid boost switch and the slope resistor switch. The schematic has them listed, but the manual doesn't ... at least not yet.

[PRSguy94]

@TubeDepotTV I'd be "road testing" those every moment of spare time I had! And building them, and testing them, and modifying, and enjoying the amazing tones that only a true vintage style amplifier can provide.

[TubeDepotTV]

@PRSguy94 - I plan on road testing and more modifications as we get through the holidays.

[PRSguy94]

@TubeDepotTV If it's not confidential or a secret would you mind telling? KT66 tubes as opposed to EL34?

[TubeDepotTV]

@PRSguy94 - either tube is fine. I chose the EL34 for the kit (I like the way the sound) but these can easily be changed to KT66 (or any other 6L6) tubes. The 6L6 tubes have a tighter low end response, are more dynamic (clean) but with a "blocky" sounding distortion. The EL34 tubes have a warmer midrange, weaker dynamic punch but a very musical distortion. In either case, hearing the differences between these two power tubes requires having the amp turned up quite loud.

[PRSguy94]

@TubeDepotTV Very true. If I was building the amp I would try and be as true as possible to the original tube compliment. KT66 tubes just have such a unique tone. Many people don't know this but the KT66 was a big part of Jimi Hendrix's sound. More bass than an EL34, more mids than a 6L6. Ton's of headroom, a good example being the Monterey Pop festival songs.

[TubeDepotTV]

@PRSguy94 - The KT66 is a great tube. Marshall was using EL34's nearly exclusively in their UK amps by the late 60's. In the USA, the Marshall's were being installed with 6550 tubes which have their own unique tonality. The Chinese KT66 (Sino brand) is the most authentic looking KT66 being produced today. Any one of these tubes will work in this kit and each will impart a different tonal response.

[PRSguy94]

@TubeDepotTV I think it's a little bogus that the american distributors were putting 6550 tubes into the amps just because there was a "high failure rate". But I quote Ritchie Fleigler "These things were not used to play surf music!"

[TubeDepotTV]

@PRSguy94 - Where as the EL34 has only 25W dissipation, the American 6550 had 42W! The 6550 tube gave Marshall amps a different sound ... a perfect backdrop for the burgeoning punk scene's musical statement. The Ramones, The Stooges, heck any band that played CBCG in the early - mid 70's, they all used 6550 loaded Marshall's. The 6550 is loud, angry with more rumble and thankfully much more reliable than the EL34. Good thing since Punk has never been easy on equipment. All hail the 6550.

[PRSguy94]

@TubeDepotTV My point was that just because the Marshalls used the EL34, the EL34's we not the reason that the amps were failing so much. And if you've got the time, what's your opinion on the new Tung-Sol KT120? Good, bad, crazy stupid?

[TubeDepotTV]

@PRSguy94 - In a heavy handed approach, Korg (the US distributor for Marshall at the time) installed the 6550 in place of the EL34 in an effort to reduce the main cause of warranty claims ... tube failure (which by the way, is still the number one failure item in tube amps today). Warranty claims dramatically reduced, but the tonal response of the amps changed. Send me your KT120 questions to my email, that way I can share documentation regarding the tube - tech(at)tubedepot(dot)com.

[TubeDepotTV]

@TableWolfMusic - Build Your Own Clone (BYOC) is an excellent resource for effects pedals and such. He's effects are easy to build, easy to modify, and easy on the pocket book.

[AdalbertoSalazar]

Nice !



[TubeDepotTV]

@AdalbertoSalazar - I built three prototypes ... one of them has switches all over it for testing all sorts of crazy combinations. The final kit has the best of those selections.

[fafkes]

Great to see you're back guys! 

[TubeDepotTV]

@fafkes - we had this kit on the back burner for several months ... we just wanted to have it in place for Christmas.

[Howtotutorialz1]

Great job men !

[TubeDepotTV]

@Howtotutorialz1 - thank you, thank you very much

[Howtotutorialz1]

@TubeDepotTV You're welecome ; )

[opus1956]

Sweet!



[TubeDepotTV]

@opus1956 - the sound is equally sweet ... like honey to one's ears ...