Tube Amp Building Weekend Seminar
This seminar will teach the fundamental construction skills necessary to assemble and properly wire a Fender-style tweed tube amp or 18-watt Marshall tube amp. Utilizing amp kits, students build their own amp all under the helpful eye of the instructor.
SEMINAR DESCRIPTION
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 se, 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.
This is an ideal seminar for those working as a guitar technician, roadie, music store employee, touring musician or for anyone interested in working on instruments. Useful handouts will be provided and a Certificate of Completion will be awarded to all students who complete the course. Enrollment is limited to 8 students.
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). For first time builders, we strongly recommend the Tweed Deluxe kit. It is the perfect level of involvement for the three day seminar. If you are a first time builder and have your heart set on one of the higher-powered models, simply bear in mind that some additional hours may need to be logged to complete the build.
The legendary circuits used in this seminar 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. Our kit prices include shipping to the school and the kits Mojo makes for our school include upgrades to certain better quality components and more sensible features. Also the school pre-drills all the chassis and motherboards to prepare them for the seminar.
NOTE: We are combining this seminar with our Hi-Fi Stereo Tube Amp Building Seminar. By combining these seminars, students have the opportunity to learn/observe both traditional point-to-point construction and the classic Fender/Marshall motherboard construction. All the tenants of lead dress (wiring) remain the same regardless of what method is used.
Workshop Materials and Supplies
The school will provide each student with their own individual workstation and all necessary tools. 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.
Optional Tool Kit
Students may choose to purchase a set of tools used for amp building and repair. These tools have been personally selected by the instructor from a variety of sources. The purchase of these tools is recommended if extra-curricular work is desired during the workshop or for continued home studies. Click here to learn more about the tool kit and how to purchase one.
WORKSHOP FEE
Tweed Champ – $1,186
Tweed Deluxe – $1,376
Tweed Bassman – $1,719
50-watt Tweed Twin – $1,750
100-watt Tweed Twin – $1,797
Marshall 18-watt Head – $1,497
Marshall 18-watt Combo – $1,730
OPTIONAL TOOL KIT FEE
$293
DATE
Feb 10, 2012 - Feb 12, 2012
TIME
Friday - Sunday
10:00am - 5:00pm
DURATION
3 days
SPACES FILLED
Full
INSTRUCTOR
The course instructor is Ian Schneller, owner/luthier of Specimen Guitar Shop.
LOCATION
All classes are held at Specimen located at 1240 N. Homan Ave. in Chicago, Illinois. Click here for a map.
Student Feedback
Click here to read student feedback about our school.
Mail In Registration
Please download this form if you want to register for a class by mail.
Accommodations, Transportation, and Meals
The school is located 9 miles west of downtown Chicago. Click here for a list of suggested accommodations near the school and transportation options. Lunch will be provided each day. All other meals are not included.
