Re: Twins/amps in general $$$

[Mike Curtis <wd6ehr@xxxxxxxxxx>]

> 
> I'd say that rather than the other more collectable amps being overpriced 
> the less desireable amps i.e. silverface, Gibsons, or Ampegs are 
> underpriced and great bargains that won't last forever.  have you looked 
> at the price of any decent point to point hand wired paper bobbin 
> transformer tube amp lately?  They start around $1500 and average over 
> $2000.  There's a lot of skilled labour in these amps and it aint cheap.  

I've oftened wondered exactly how much hand wiring contributes to the sound. 
A properly designed and SHIELDED multilayer PCB could feasibly be designed
with just as good (or maybe even better??) electrical characteristics.

As far as mechanical characteristics, though, hand wiring is far superior to
PCB construction.  It is far more tolerant of physical vibration and abuse,
heat, etc., than the usually quite fragile printed circuit boards.  I've had
plenty of amps apart (of both types), and the hand wired stuff virtually
always looks like it weathered the storm better than its PCB counterpart.

Too bad someone doesn't put out a Heathkit type of electronic kit for building
your own musical instrument tube amp.  It really wouldn't take a lot in the
way of design to make it easily assemblable.  In fact, they could easily
incorporate a panel meter in the design to measure plate current and various
voltages for final check-out and troubleshooting.  and you'd get a GREAT
education out of it!  Point to point handwired circuits are well suited for
kits.

 --  mike curtis
wd6ehr@xxxxxxxxxx