It’s also worth having a solder sucker on hand for those inevitable “Oh, darn” moments. Wire strippers, nippers, various pliers, and screwdrivers are assumed. In addition to a good soldering iron (at least 40 watts, but preferably 60 or 80 watts), you’ll need a multimeter to test connectivity and resistance – preferably one with alligator clips (if you don’t know what a multimeter is, reconsider going any further).
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But if you have a couple of DIY effects builds under your belt and are looking for a new challenge, the MOD 102+ is a great choice. If you’ve never soldered components, a stomp box kit would be a better starter project.
Some skills and equipment are necessary to build this kit. The filter caps, while not the most expensive available, are more than adequate for this type of amp and are not destined to split apart or short out. To economize on space, a nifty three-position toggle puts the amp on standby or “on.” Likewise, push/pull potentiometers add functionality to the Bass, Treble, and Volume controls, giving each an added “boost” by switching in capacitors. A high-quality Hammond 269EX power transformer and P-T31 single ended output transformer are supplied. A single, cathode-biased EL84 is the power tube, and one ECC803 is the preamp tube both are mounted on top of the chassis. The MOD 102+ is based on the Gibson Les Paul GA-5 circuit combined with a British-style Class A output section.
There’s even a nice chart identifying the various resistors by their color banding.
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Nothing is taken for granted, right down to instructions on how to file off the chassis paint around screw holes (to ensure grounding) and tips on how to best position the nuts for easier attachment of tube sockets. Unlike many amp “kits” (which are little more than a box of components, a layout, and a legal warning not to electrocute yourself), MOD Kits does not assume that you have a degree in electrical engineering. This 8-watt, vacuum-tube practice amp is beautifully laid out in its simplicity and the step-by-step assembly instructions are both thorough and encouraging.
If so, then MOD Kits’ 102+ just might be the “gateway” amp build. Contact: A good friend jokingly remarked that building tube amps is the legal equivalent of taking opiates – instantly gratifying yet highly addicting.