Aluminum oxidizes immediately on contact with air. You would have to apply the paint with the abrasive pad to prevent that from happening. I hope this works out for you, but it's a lot easier and consistent if you just clean it with dishwashing soap, then spray it with an etching primer before the color coat. The Dupli-Color brand is available at auto parts stores and has never failed me.crgfrench wrote: ↑Thu 12/24/20 3:55 pmThanks! I used 2 coats of gloss black Rust-oleum "2X ultracover paint+primer". Then 2 coats of the same, in gloss white. Next up, 2 coats of Sunrise Red Rust-oleum Gloss Protective Enamel. I think the first primer coats will be OK, as I basically hand-etched the chassis with a scotchbrite pad and acetone right before applying the first coat. Put it this way: there was no oxide layer on this chassis when the first primer layer went on. Fingers crossed...
Van Halen Tribute Amp
Moderators: JMPGuitars, zaphod_phil, Daviedawg, Graydon, CurtissRobin, colossal
- TriodeLuvr
- Frequent poster
- Posts: 616
- Joined: Tue 10/16/18 11:19 am
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
1 x
- crgfrench
- Frequent poster
- Posts: 827
- Joined: Fri 04/27/18 3:02 am
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
Quality of chassis paint job ...similar... I'd say, to EVH's quality of Frankie paint job. Looking pretty cool.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
5 x
- JMPGuitars
- Super Duper Admin
- Posts: 3968
- Joined: Tue 09/18/12 8:00 pm
- Location: South Central, MA
- Contact:
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
Definitely looks cool. If you ever do something where you want cleaner edges, try green Frog Tape instead of the standard blue painter's tape.
3 x
'I installed a skylight in my apartment yesterday... The people who live above me are furious.' - Steven Wright
Modern Ground Schemes
Soldering Technique
B+ Voltage Reduction
Amplifier Tools & Parts Info
Web Design: DolceVittoria.com
Guitars / Amps / Effects: JMPGuitars.com
(anti)Social: Facebook · Instagram
Items for Sale
Modern Ground Schemes
Soldering Technique
B+ Voltage Reduction
Amplifier Tools & Parts Info
Web Design: DolceVittoria.com
Guitars / Amps / Effects: JMPGuitars.com
(anti)Social: Facebook · Instagram
Items for Sale
-
- Unrated
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sat 11/09/19 8:55 am
- crgfrench
- Frequent poster
- Posts: 827
- Joined: Fri 04/27/18 3:02 am
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
Got some hardware installed
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
6 x
- crgfrench
- Frequent poster
- Posts: 827
- Joined: Fri 04/27/18 3:02 am
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
I was having trouble shimming the Floyd Rose...
...I mean, the power transformer.
Found a cool solution!
...I mean, the power transformer.
Found a cool solution!
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1 x
- Bieworm
- Verbose Moderator
- Posts: 2305
- Joined: Mon 02/10/20 8:24 am
- Location: Belgium
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
Now you can charge extra when selling the amp.. legit !!!
1 x
"THIS should be played at high volume..preferably in a residential area"
- Bieworm
- Verbose Moderator
- Posts: 2305
- Joined: Mon 02/10/20 8:24 am
- Location: Belgium
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
What would you have done if you only had a 100$ Bill? Folded it over and over until the right thickness was reached?
1 x
"THIS should be played at high volume..preferably in a residential area"
- crgfrench
- Frequent poster
- Posts: 827
- Joined: Fri 04/27/18 3:02 am
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
Wiring the heaters today.
Here is a pre-solder gutshot, with 2 of the 3 can caps installed and the bias circuit laid out. There are 4 ground points: 1) the mains earth ground next to the IEC jack, 2) the preamp bus ground above the first preamp tube, next to where the input jack will be, and 3) the power ground star next to the bottom-mounted can cap, and 4) a bias ground point on the power tube socket bolt, next to the bias trimpot.
Here is a pre-solder gutshot, with 2 of the 3 can caps installed and the bias circuit laid out. There are 4 ground points: 1) the mains earth ground next to the IEC jack, 2) the preamp bus ground above the first preamp tube, next to where the input jack will be, and 3) the power ground star next to the bottom-mounted can cap, and 4) a bias ground point on the power tube socket bolt, next to the bias trimpot.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
4 x
- crgfrench
- Frequent poster
- Posts: 827
- Joined: Fri 04/27/18 3:02 am
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
Heater wiring came out nice & tidy
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
3 x
- crgfrench
- Frequent poster
- Posts: 827
- Joined: Fri 04/27/18 3:02 am
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
I would have taken that Benjamin to the bank, bought 10 rolls of quarters and searched through them all for a 1971 quarter. That’s what gives the special frankenmojo!
2 x
- crgfrench
- Frequent poster
- Posts: 827
- Joined: Fri 04/27/18 3:02 am
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
Time to get soldering, now that the cabinet’s done.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
4 x
-
- Unrated
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sat 11/09/19 8:55 am
- crgfrench
- Frequent poster
- Posts: 827
- Joined: Fri 04/27/18 3:02 am
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
I put this amp on the back burner... the PT touches the speaker frame when installed in the combo cabinet, so I was "thinking about it" and moved on to other projects in the meantime. One possible solution might have been to front mount the speaker instead of rear mounting it. It's a mojotone custom tweed deluxe cabinet with an extra 1" of depth but apparently I needed 1.5". Unfortunately this cabinet has speaker mounts that can't be reversed for front mounting, so I've kind of been waiting to get another cabinet with front mount studs, while considering other alternatives. Another option would be to use a 10" speaker instead of the 12", but that eliminates the EVH Celestion that I actually want to use. Maybe I'll just make it as a head and 1x12 cab... Sorry for the lack of updates this past year.
3 x
- Bieworm
- Verbose Moderator
- Posts: 2305
- Joined: Mon 02/10/20 8:24 am
- Location: Belgium
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
What are you working on now? I'm in the process of building an Ampeg B15 fliptopcrgfrench wrote: ↑Sun 07/03/22 7:38 pmI put this amp on the back burner... the PT touches the speaker frame when installed in the combo cabinet, so I was "thinking about it" and moved on to other projects in the meantime. One possible solution might have been to front mount the speaker instead of rear mounting it. It's a mojotone custom tweed deluxe cabinet with an extra 1" of depth but apparently I needed 1.5". Unfortunately this cabinet has speaker mounts that can't be reversed for front mounting, so I've kind of been waiting to get another cabinet with front mount studs, while considering other alternatives. Another option would be to use a 10" speaker instead of the 12", but that eliminates the EVH Celestion that I actually want to use. Maybe I'll just make it as a head and 1x12 cab... Sorry for the lack of updates this past year.
1 x
"THIS should be played at high volume..preferably in a residential area"
- TriodeLuvr
- Frequent poster
- Posts: 616
- Joined: Tue 10/16/18 11:19 am
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
Man, that really sucks. I had an interference problem with the 36W I built too. A shield covering a row of electrolytics on the top side smacked the speaker frame when I tried to install the chassis. I was able to fab a slightly different shield on my small metal brake and solve the problem, but it was a real close call. Considering how difficult it can be to plan for things like this in advance, I'm surprised I ever get anything finished. Hope this works out OK for you.
Jack
3 x
- crgfrench
- Frequent poster
- Posts: 827
- Joined: Fri 04/27/18 3:02 am
Re: Van Halen Tribute Amp
I've been building some LM-386 based amps-in-a-pedal that I call "Fat Bastard". Just about finished prototyping them -- I taught myself Eagle and designed PCBs for them which has been a lot of fun.
Also starting work on a version of a Vox AC30/Matchless DC30 for a new customer who's in a band with an old customer I built a 36W Fullerwell 1x12 combo for. Going to get back to the EVH amp this year, hopefully!You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
2 x