Wilder Classic Classic (our version of a plexi clone) Build

Wilder Amplification · 10-31-2009, 06:48 PM

Here's a build I've got on the bench at the moment. '69 era circuit, using a Metro Dagnall clone and the Metro 1203-80-MS power transformer with high/low voltage HT secondary. 95% of the chassis wiring is complete...I've already built the board and just need to complete the chassis lace-up before installing it.

These go to...11.

MajorNut1967 · 10-31-2009, 07:57 PM

Damn thats beautiful! Real fine work, great twist work on the Filiment wires and great right-angle runs.

poeman33 · 11-01-2009, 06:44 AM

And it goes to eleven!

HOT TUBES 70 · 11-01-2009, 11:07 AM

yes , very clean work !!!
its great to see that kind of attension to detail .

Wilder Amplification · 11-01-2009, 01:57 PM

Thanks for the compliments. Lead/wire dress is key in these things to ensure a noise free amp and the reason why I never rush an amp build. I have a 3-4 week build time on all amp orders and the primary reason why is so that I can take my time and ensure that wire dress is done properly. Some of the most annoying problems like hum, oscillation, etc can be eliminated by simply taking the time to do proper wire dress.

This is one of the things I love about building point to point wired amps...done properly, point to point can look like a real work of art.

I see a lot of guys who order an amp kit, and they're so excited and ansy to get the amp fired up and running so they can hear how it sounds and end up with a rats nest wiring job all because they rushed the build. Their excuse is always "Well I'm a beginner and it's my first one", yet to me this is an invalid justification because I've seen complete beginners do some pretty immaculate wiring jobs on their first build. Why? Because they weren't in a race...they didn't rush the build. They asked lots of questions and they took their sweet time making sure that they got it 100% right first shot go. The whole "There's never enough time to do it right but always time to do it over" mentality never made sense to me...take your time and don't rush it, and you'll end up with a bitchin' sounding amp with no noise/oscillation issues. If you're unsure of something, don't hesitate to ask questions. One thing that also helps...don't work on it non-stop until you get it running. You'll get delirious and you start rushing it toward the end. Work on it for a couple hours, then take a break from it. Focus and take your time, it's not a race.

Even as a beginner, you know what proper wiring should look like. So if your wiring does not look as good as you know it should, try something different. Practice soldering some scrap parts together before you attempt an amp build. And let the connection itself melt the solder...don't use the iron to melt it. Leave the iron on the connection point to heat it up, then apply solder to the connection while keeping the iron on the connection to keep it hot and the solder will flow right onto the connection. Once you've applied enough solder, THEN take the iron away. Solder flows to wherever the heat is...so if the connection is not hot enough, solder will not flow onto it. Keep the iron on the connection until the leads of the parts that you're soldering together are hot enough to melt the solder, then apply solder to those parts while keeping the iron on them until enough solder has flowed onto the connection.

HOT TUBES 70 · 11-01-2009, 02:43 PM

so all your amps look like this inside i take it !! i love that look ...

thrawn86 · 11-01-2009, 04:03 PM

Wow Jon! Your work is just as intricate as your articles. Looks great

Wilder Amplification · 11-01-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOT TUBES 70

so all your amps look like this inside i take it !! i love that look ...

Nah...only the amps going to customers who don't piss me off look like that.

*sarcasm*

Seriously...yes, I take a lot of pride in my workmanship. I simply can't put my name on it unless it looks like that.

Thanks Thrawn!

MartyStrat54 · 11-01-2009, 05:49 PM

Good stuff Jon. Real solid craftsmanship.

MajorNut1967 · 11-01-2009, 08:44 PM

Yes Jon "well done!"
+1

T-Bird · 11-02-2009, 12:11 AM

Hi Jon.

That looks great.

Like You said, a "rats nest" wiring is a PITA to diagnose for hum, oscillation and random interference. Done properly (neatly), troubleshooting any wiring is a breeze if necessary at all.

Regards
Sam

Apostle Tone · 11-02-2009, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilder Amplification

Thanks for the compliments. Lead/wire dress is key in these things to ensure a noise free amp and the reason why I never rush an amp build. I have a 3-4 week build time on all amp orders and the primary reason why is so that I can take my time and ensure that wire dress is done properly. Some of the most annoying problems like hum, oscillation, etc can be eliminated by simply taking the time to do proper wire dress.

This is one of the things I love about building point to point wired amps...done properly, point to point can look like a real work of art.

I see a lot of guys who order an amp kit, and they're so excited and ansy to get the amp fired up and running so they can hear how it sounds and end up with a rats nest wiring job all because they rushed the build. Their excuse is always "Well I'm a beginner and it's my first one", yet to me this is an invalid justification because I've seen complete beginners do some pretty immaculate wiring jobs on their first build. Why? Because they weren't in a race...they didn't rush the build. They asked lots of questions and they took their sweet time making sure that they got it 100% right first shot go. The whole "There's never enough time to do it right but always time to do it over" mentality never made sense to me...take your time and don't rush it, and you'll end up with a bitchin' sounding amp with no noise/oscillation issues. If you're unsure of something, don't hesitate to ask questions. One thing that also helps...don't work on it non-stop until you get it running. You'll get delirious and you start rushing it toward the end. Work on it for a couple hours, then take a break from it. Focus and take your time, it's not a race.

Even as a beginner, you know what proper wiring should look like. So if your wiring does not look as good as you know it should, try something different. Practice soldering some scrap parts together before you attempt an amp build. And let the connection itself melt the solder...don't use the iron to melt it. Leave the iron on the connection point to heat it up, then apply solder to the connection while keeping the iron on the connection to keep it hot and the solder will flow right onto the connection. Once you've applied enough solder, THEN take the iron away. Solder flows to wherever the heat is...so if the connection is not hot enough, solder will not flow onto it. Keep the iron on the connection until the leads of the parts that you're soldering together are hot enough to melt the solder, then apply solder to those parts while keeping the iron on them until enough solder has flowed onto the connection.

+100

My 2nd amp build was a kit and I took the time to do it as neat as I could. In hind sight, there are palces where I should have used more twist ties like you did. I wish I would have left myself more wire for my V3 heater to place it farther away - mistake on that part.

Your amp is a good looking build for sure.

Don't mean to highjack your thread but this is the inside of my kit just before putting in the trannies

Not as neat as yours, but I followed the original design as close as possible.

JohnH · 11-02-2009, 12:49 AM

I hate such neat wiring! (cos it makes the gadgets that I build look so bad! - I start neat, and then I want to tweak the design, and again etc, until it is a mess).

The only thing I have with such craftsmanship in its construction is an old english 12 channel mixer, by Carlsbro. It's from about 1979and I renovated it for our band. Now those things could really be a rats-nest, but it is so beautifully wired by the good ladies of northern england, that I hope I haven't defiled it.

Fine work Jon!

John

MajorNut1967 · 11-02-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apostle Tone

+100

My 2nd amp build was a kit and I took the time to do it as neat as I could. In hind sight, there are palces where I should have used more twist ties like you did. I wish I would have left myself more wire for my V3 heater to place it farther away - mistake on that part.

Your amp is a good looking build for sure.

Don't mean to highjack your thread but this is the inside of my kit just before putting in the trannies

Not as neat as yours, but I followed the original design as close as possible.

This look very Dumble inside and Howard isn't a real neat freak.

Apostle Tone · 11-02-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MajorNut1967

This look very Dumble inside and Howard isn't a real neat freak.

Maybe he's not. I guess he may be more of a "Let's get 'er done" sort of builder. Either way, many of his amps sound great.

MajorNut1967 · 11-02-2009, 10:17 PM

I like that all Aluminum Chassis, looks like you hand punched yourself? Also that open framed choke, how many Henries, DCR and max mA.?

Wilder Amplification · 11-02-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MajorNut1967

I like that all Aluminum Chassis, looks like you hand punched yourself? Also that open framed choke, how many Henries, DCR and max mA.?

Actually no, the chassis is a CNC cut from Metro. The choke is a Mercury Magnetics 3.3H with 75 ohm DC resistance and 100mA current handling.

10-31-2009, 07:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
MajorNut1967 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Pacific Posts: 710	Re: Wilder Classic Classic (our version of a plexi clone) Build Damn thats beautiful! Real fine work, great twist work on the Filiment wires and great right-angle runs. __________________ MJN1967 aka BA (Bad Attitude) 1968 model 1987 50watt. A Baby Major (Half-Power) I built from the ground up. JTM 45 Clone combo Ground up build. JCM 800 Clone Ground up build. Custom Built Warmoth Strat 75' Fender Tele-Deluxe '70 style strat custom build w/Custom Shop 69's PU's

11-01-2009, 06:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
poeman33 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 432	Re: Wilder Classic Classic (our version of a plexi clone) Build And it goes to eleven! __________________ --------------- Marshall JCM2000 DSL50 Avatar Vintage 4x12 cab Fender American Deluxe HSS Strat Ash body

11-01-2009, 11:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
HOT TUBES 70 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SASKATOON Posts: 1,675	Re: Wilder Classic Classic (our version of a plexi clone) Build yes , very clean work !!! its great to see that kind of attension to detail . __________________ MARSHALL 6100LM MARSHALL 1960A W/-G12H 30's CUSTOM BUILT 2X12 W/-V30's "MARSHALL" - only the best will do !

11-01-2009, 02:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
HOT TUBES 70 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SASKATOON Posts: 1,675	Re: Wilder Classic Classic (our version of a plexi clone) Build so all your amps look like this inside i take it !! i love that look ... __________________ MARSHALL 6100LM MARSHALL 1960A W/-G12H 30's CUSTOM BUILT 2X12 W/-V30's "MARSHALL" - only the best will do !

11-01-2009, 04:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
thrawn86 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Far Nor Cal USA Posts: 426	Re: Wilder Classic Classic (our version of a plexi clone) Build Wow Jon! Your work is just as intricate as your articles. Looks great __________________ Drivin' faster in my car... 02 DSL 401-Ei's 02 1960b 02 Gibson LP Studio Silver 03 PRS Santana SE Holy Grail reverb Originally Posted by J. Robert Oppenheimer "We knew the world would not be the same."

11-01-2009, 05:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
MartyStrat54 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Formerly Phoenix, now north of KC Posts: 2,583	Re: Wilder Classic Classic (our version of a plexi clone) Build Good stuff Jon. Real solid craftsmanship. __________________ MARTY 2009 Gibson Explorer-Hell Raising Machine 1989 Fender Strat Plus USA 2008 Fender Tele USA 2004 Schecter Elite w/DiMarzio's TSL100 with custom 4x12 cab. TSL122 with Man 'O War Speakers. TSL602 #1 with JBL D123 Speakers and 602 #2 with Altec 417 Speakers. "Oh so sweet my friends." DSL401 #1 with Red Fang Speaker and 401 #2 with JBL D123 Speaker. Tubes: Let's just say they are NOS that kick ass.

11-01-2009, 08:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
MajorNut1967 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Pacific Posts: 710	Re: Wilder Classic Classic (our version of a plexi clone) Build Yes Jon "well done!" +1 __________________ MJN1967 aka BA (Bad Attitude) 1968 model 1987 50watt. A Baby Major (Half-Power) I built from the ground up. JTM 45 Clone combo Ground up build. JCM 800 Clone Ground up build. Custom Built Warmoth Strat 75' Fender Tele-Deluxe '70 style strat custom build w/Custom Shop 69's PU's

11-02-2009, 12:11 AM	#11 (permalink)
T-Bird Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Finland (Northern Europe) Posts: 155	Re: Wilder Classic Classic (our version of a plexi clone) Build Hi Jon. That looks great. Like You said, a "rats nest" wiring is a PITA to diagnose for hum, oscillation and random interference. Done properly (neatly), troubleshooting any wiring is a breeze if necessary at all. Regards Sam

11-02-2009, 12:49 AM	#13 (permalink)
JohnH Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wollongong NSW Posts: 640	Re: Wilder Classic Classic (our version of a plexi clone) Build I hate such neat wiring! (cos it makes the gadgets that I build look so bad! - I start neat, and then I want to tweak the design, and again etc, until it is a mess). The only thing I have with such craftsmanship in its construction is an old english 12 channel mixer, by Carlsbro. It's from about 1979and I renovated it for our band. Now those things could really be a rats-nest, but it is so beautifully wired by the good ladies of northern england, that I hope I haven't defiled it. Fine work Jon! John __________________ DSL401 8412 cab Crate Powerblock 1 x 12 Vintage 30 cab '76 Shergold Masquerader '93 Les Paul Studio '83 Roadstar

11-02-2009, 10:17 PM	#16 (permalink)
MajorNut1967 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Pacific Posts: 710	Re: Wilder Classic Classic (our version of a plexi clone) Build I like that all Aluminum Chassis, looks like you hand punched yourself? Also that open framed choke, how many Henries, DCR and max mA.? __________________ MJN1967 aka BA (Bad Attitude) 1968 model 1987 50watt. A Baby Major (Half-Power) I built from the ground up. JTM 45 Clone combo Ground up build. JCM 800 Clone Ground up build. Custom Built Warmoth Strat 75' Fender Tele-Deluxe '70 style strat custom build w/Custom Shop 69's PU's

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