Graduation Day - The Tubelab Simple SE project begins...

[Dusty Chalk]

Heck, I don't even like kids, and even I'll say she's a cutie.

[JBLoudG20]

There is very little chance I'd drop kick the Lily Monster.

[swt61]

Thanks Mike, that was the runner-up for the Xmas card.

I have to see the winning pic if that's just the runner up! She is absolutely adorable!

That amp is looking pretty damn sweet too!

[n_maher]

Well, I wouldn't say the winner is better really, just a bit more subdued so it made a better card. I love that picture and lobbied for it to be the card. There's a whole series of them with some pretty funny ones in it. I'll upload more, assuming the power stays on, the lights just started dancing again. And not in a "damn that was some good whiskey" type of way.

[naamanf]

Looking awesome Nate! And the amp doesn't look to shabby either Maybe one of these days I will get around to making a nice tube amp.

[guzziguy]

Definitely. In another thread, I mentioned that Nate was one of the few amp builders I'd commission to make me an amp. I was only half kidding. If I was employed and thought Nate would happily do it, I would. He does great work.

Oh yeah, Lily is really cute too.

[n_maher]

You guys are too much, between the Lily and amp compliments it's enough to make a guy blush.

Last night I got the last of the chassis mounted parts installed. The lights only dimmed 3 times. Given the steady-state of the power last night I'll probably shelve the Simple until at least the weekend to concentrate on other things that need immediate attention, namely a couple of beta22's.

[Dusty Chalk]

So you're saving up for this, right: Banner Backup?

[Augsburger]

Thanks Mike, that was the runner-up for the Xmas card.[/QUOTE]

Don't tell me you used the picture that follows Lilly!

You should use Lilly's picture with the caption " Whooo hoo Santa brought me a new tube amp"

She is very cute BTW.......

[n_maher]

I had a profoundly crappy day at work and as such when I got home it seemed ill-advised to work on a project for someone else that could end up being thrown and relative high speed into a wall. So, with those qualifications the Simple was about the only thing heavy enough to prevent hurling. I set about wiring it up in simple triode mode which took about 2hrs. About 10 minutes ago I flicked the switch and it's still here, I'm still here, and Joanna Newsome sounds pretty outstanding. Pics tomorrow, although they're pretty boring unless you like internal wiring shots.

[cetoole]

I had a profoundly crappy day at work and as such when I got home it seemed ill-advised to work on a project for someone else that could end up being thrown and relative high speed into a wall. So, with those qualifications the Simple was about the only thing heavy enough to prevent hurling. I set about wiring it up in simple triode mode which took about 2hrs. About 10 minutes ago I flicked the switch and it's still here, I'm still here, and Joanna Newsome sounds pretty outstanding. Pics tomorrow, although they're pretty boring unless you like internal wiring shots.

I fucking LOVE internal wiring shots, post away!

[Voltron]

Wow, nice finish to a crappy day! You are becoming a god of DIY, dood.

[n_maher]

You are becoming a god of DIY round hole cutter techs, dood.

FIFY

Semi Finished Overall

Upskirt Overall

Ground Central

Shielded Input Wiring

The "No Electrolytics Zone"

Still need to wire up the pot but that can wait. Also, need to figure out if I'm just going to set it and forget it on the recommended output setting (cathode feedback, ultralinear mode) or if I want the hassle of switched settings for both. That too can wait until next year.

[Augsburger]

Wow that is beautiful! I have no idea what I am looking at but I certainly appreciate well laid out and clean work. Perhaps if you hadn't become a DIY fiend you could have become a thoracic surgeon, in another life. Then instead of drilling holes though metal cases you could be ..... oh never mind

[n_maher]

I'm pretty sure some shade of hammered gray. I like the black on gray motif that the trafos create and while I was originally thinking of painting it black I think I'll go for the contrast this time.

[swt61]

Very nice Nate! I like the hammered Grey too.

[Dusty Chalk]

Grey == "light black", hence, I approve as well.

[Augsburger]

I vote for hammered bronze. I know you are a conservative kind of guy so that is why I didn't suggest red or copper. It will look cool regardless of the color.

[Salt Peanuts]

I like the gray/black contrast - does the paint you're using give you hammered feel as well as the looks?

[n_maher]

I like the gray/black contrast - does the paint you're using give you hammered feel as well as the looks?

Only if applied in a non-ventilated space. Honestly, I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to paint it unless I decide to temporarily heat one side of the garage so the paint can cure. I'm not really upset with the way it looks right now, I just wished I'd taken a bit more care during fabrication so that I could have just left it as it sits with no concerns.

[luvdunhill]

I vote for wood veneer

[n_maher]

I vote for wood veneer

There may be trim pieces already in the works.

[n_maher]

Pretty sure I'm not going to paint it for a good long time.

and the obligatory tube glow shot.

[Salt Peanuts]

Looking great, Nate! I especially like the tube glow pic.

Incidentally, is the knob in front for volume?

[n_maher]

Thanks Haj, nothing like a tripod and 13 second exposure to make tube glow shots properly. And yes, it is essentially an integrated amp with an alps RK27 on the front end. I was originally going to use the PEK potentiometer that I had for this project but it didn't fit in the chassis after I'd installed the pcb. Woops!