Rob Rob Deluxe Vibe

[Scout]

I decided that the best way to really understand amps would be to put one together from scratch.


I went to Rob Robinette’s amp site and decided I would build his Blackvibe design variant of an AB763 Deluxe Reverb minus the reverb so basically a Vibroverb circuit with 6v6 power tubes . It’s slightly different than the Deluxe Reverb circuit but at a lower output than a 6l6 amp, I generally use reverb pedals anyway and I’ll make it a head cabinet because I can.


I got a chassis from eBay ,a circuit board from Hoffman amps and the transformer set from DigiKey, that was the expensive part of this project, about $300 so far.


One channel with volume, bass, mid, treble,master volume and presence pot , the holes were there so why not.
I had bought some Ohmite resistor boxes years ago filled with carbon comp resistors so I thought I’d try them out after I confirmed that they were within spec, of course. The bulk of them were very close to their rated specs, I can see how far and fast they drift after being in circuit for a while. If they’re too noisy I’ll change them out but I do have a high tolerance for imperfection

]

Soldering , soldering , soldering
I also opted for a multi-tap OT.



I made it neat but not obsessively so, I only fucked up a few times so not too much unsoldering. It was a good way to learn about an obsolete technology.


I think that’s it, I have to build a cabinet for it and power it up. I didn’t count the hours but it took longer than I expected, still beats vegging out in the evenings.

[antisymmetric]

I decided that the best way to really understand amps would be to put one together from scratch.

Good call, I need to do the same. Thanks for sharing.

[Scout]

My pleasure, I’m a visual learner for sure. I understand the schematic but the theory is easier as a build.

Plus, you get a new amp!

[DaddyDom]

So beautiful, congrats.
When. I look at the undersides of the QUAD amps etc., I am so moved by the neatness and general cable-tidying neatness.
I wish I could do it but I am the world's messiest solderer.

[OffYourFace]

Nice!! I've been meaning to build the 6L6 and Reverb version. My favorite AB763 Fender is the Pro Reverb so it'll be a stripped down version of that: 1x12, one channel and no tremolo.

[Scout]

Thanks, appreciate the feedback. I had a Pro Reverb, man it was the loudest amp I ever owned.
I don’t know why but I ended up moving it on. I have a 6L6 amp now and was looking at the Robinette
site when I saw this one and decided to go for it, I think you should build the one you want.

[Nudger]

Thanks for posting.
Highly motivating, been toying with the idea of building a 40w ish blackface for a while.. time to get my finger out!

[MayTheFuzzBeWithYou]

Very nice and motivating indeed!
Maybe I‘ll get to that point soon too. But the prices for the kits (and cabs) at TAD and Mojo Tone always turned me off.
I always wanted a lower wattage showman or Bassman.
But now I already own a Bandmaster and a 68 custom Princeton (with a Bassman tone stack) - so maybe „the one in the middle“ aka the Deluxe (Reverb) would be the ticket to go. Or a Vibro Verb/Vibro King.

[walterwiseman]

Great thread and similarly motivating. I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a long time and the price of the kits was also one of the major factors putting me off, so it’s great to see someone show how straightforward it actually is to roll your own. I currently have a Bassman 100 head which is great but I’d really like to do myself a lower wattage head, maybe a Princeton.
Really interested to see the cabinet and hopefully hear the amp once it’s all together.

[Scout]

I'm glad it's a motivational post, that's what I was hoping it would be.

It was surprisingly easy without the reverb and trem circuits but different
enough and easily modified to be a lower wattage head, seemingly
everyone's favorite. I shelved it for now because I got a Traynor YGM-3
and an Ampeg Gemini VI in the last two weeks for short money that
need a little love, I'll be sure to update with the cab when I get it done.