Hi guys,

I've viewed pictures of your DIY tube amps (gorgeous) and listened to a few locally. Sometime down the road I'd be interesting of giving one a shot myself.

Do any of you have recommendations for a nice, not overly complicated sounding DIY tube amp that would be good for a first timer? What kind of cost in parts and materials am I looking at here? If you could point me in the right direction for where to find info on them, I'd be most appreciative.

I apologize if this post is more apt for the DIY section.....but figured you tube guys would be my best bet.

-JB

I would suggest Bob Danielak's "Darling" amp. The schematic is dead-easy, B+ is a modest 260-270, parts are cheap and easy to find, and there is a little club around the units too, so you get a bunch of friends out of the deal too. ;)

Uses a single 1626 output tube per channel. OPTs from a SE 6BQ5 console amp will work fine. Tube rectifier not required, but of course optional.

Bob published the schematics a few places. You should be able to GOOGLE it right up. I built two channels on these little chassis units I pulled out laboratory voltage regulators, and used them for a number of months. I swapped out a few OPTs and liked some Chicago units a lot. I just used them with a variable supply, and never finished a real supply for them. Another project for my retirement... hah.

Happy soldering,
Tubino

Try this on for size: http://www.diyparadise.com/Darling.html

Then there is always the Bottlehead Paramours that come as a complet kit with instructions and a support forum.
http://bottlehead.com