Tube Amplifier Building WEEKEND SEMINARThis seminar consists of three consecutive days. The next open session runs Friday - Sunday, October 22 - 24, 2010. Class meets each day from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Click here to enroll in this seminar.
This seminar is designed to accommodate students unable to attend our weekly courses due to schedule conflicts or proximity to Chicago. This three-day seminar is an intensive workshop that covers all aspects of our weekly Tube Amp Building Workshop.
This is the ideal seminar for anyone working as a guitar technician, roadie, music store employee, touring musician or for anyone interested in working on instruments and amplifiers. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to all students who complete the course as well as handouts covering the topics discussed. Enrollment is limited to 9 students.
- The course instructor is Ian Schneller,
owner/luthier of Specimen Guitar Shop. All
classes are held at Specimen located at 1240 N.
Homan Ave. in Chicago, Illinois. Click here
for a map.
- Click here to see a video feature and article about this class on the Premier Guitar web site.
- SEMINAR DESCRIPTION
- This workshop will teach the fundamental construction skills necessary to assemble and properly wire a Fender-style tweed tube amp or 18-watt Marshall. Utilizing amp kits, students will build their own amp all under the helpful eye of the instructor. Students have the choice of building one of the following amps: Tweed Champ (10-watt), Tweed Deluxe (15-watt), Tweed Bassman (50-watt), 50-watt Tweed Twin, 100-watt Tweed Twin, Marshall Combo (18-watt), or Marshall Head (18-watt).
- The kits are supplied by Mojo Music. The parts
included are excellent quality and the cabinets
are pre-assembled and beautifully covered in
authentic tweed fabric (or authentic Tolex for Marshall) . Every aspect of the kits
is as faithful to the original design as
possible. Each kit comes with its own schematic
and layout diagram (there are no assembly
instructions included). Click here
for more information about the kits.
This workshop will be divided into part lecture, part demonstration, and part hands-on training. Over the duration of three days, students will observe stages of the kit building process and then carry out the work on their own amps under the supervision of the instructor.
While this is not a design class per say, students will obtain a foundation level understanding of the way a vintage tube instrument amplifier functions, stage by stage. Students will also learn the craft of point-to-point wiring and how to modify a circuit to shape its tone by changing component values. Moreover, by building an amplifier, students will begin to develop the diagnostic skills necessary to troubleshoot and repair other amplifiers.
- The legendary circuits used in this workshop are the same ones that have made true “Tweed” era amplifiers so revered among musicians. These amps are bullet-proof workhorses that are easily serviced, modified, and maintained. Through this workshop, students will discover the beauty of cloth-covered wire, heavy transformers, chassis-mounted components, and finger-joined pine carcasses.
- Click here to visit Mojo's web site and read more about the kits and their contents. Students of this class receive a discount off the kit prices listed on Mojo's web site.
- A Note about Amp Kit Selection: It is strongly recommended that the beginning student build either a Champ or Deluxe as these circuits have fewer connections and are more straight-forward. For students who have a bit more experience wiring and soldering, or who are willing to spend extra time working at home, the higher-powered models are appropriate (e.g., Bassman, 50-watt Twin, 100-watt Twin, etc.).
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Workshop Materials and Supplies
The school will provide each student with their own individual workstation and have tools available for use. Students can select which kit they will be building from the list below. The workshop fees listed below include the class fee and the kit fee. Payments for both the class and the kit will be made to Specimen at the time of registration and all kits will be shipped directly to our shop.
- Tool Kit
- Students may also purchase a personal set of tools selected by the instructor. The purchase of these tools is recommended if extra-curricular work is desired during the workshop or for continued studies. Click here to learn more about the tools and how to purchase them.
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Accommodations, Transportation, and Meals
Public transportation to the school is possible via the CTA. There is also plenty of street-side parking in front of the school and bicycles are welcome.
The school is located in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood on the west side of downtown Chicago. While there are plenty of hotel choices in town, you can click here and find suggestions about accommodations nearby the school. If anyone is interested in sharing accommodations with another student, please provide the school with contact information that we can forward to interested parties.
Those students flying into O'Hare can take the CTA Blue Line subway right from the airport. This line goes to downtown Chicago but has stops in neighborhoods near the school and some of the accommodations we have listed here. There is also CTA transportation from Midway Airport to downtown Chicago via the Green Line train.Lunch will be provided each day. All other meals are not included.
Seminar Fees:
Tweed Champ - $1236 ($551 kit/shipping + $685 class) - Tweed Deluxe – $1426 ($741 kit/shipping + $685 class)
- Tweed Bassman – $1769 ($1084 kit/shipping + $685 class)
- 50-watt Tweed Twin – $1800 ($1115 kit/shipping + $685 class)
- 100-watt Tweed Twin – $1847 ($1162 kit/shipping + $685
class)
18-watt Marshall Head - $1547 ($862 kit/shipping + $685 class) - 18-watt Marshall Combo - $1780 ($1095 kit/shipping + $685 class)
- Registration:
- Registration is easy. You can register via Paypal, credit card or personal check. Click here to register.
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Amp Transportation: Shipping or Flight Case
Students who wish to ship their amp back home can leave their amp with the school at the end of the seminar. The school will wrap and box the amps carefully and order a UPS pickup. Students must pay all shipping fees prior to the end of the seminar. Shipping fees will be calculated based on destination and package dimensions.
Feel free to call or email us if you need help deciding which amp model is appropriate for your needs—773.489.4830 / ian@specimenproducts.com