Help, I'm new at this

[Xander8280]

Just "finished" my first build. Bassman variant. Plug it in, turn power on, and status light comes on, blows fuse, and weird chemically smell/bubbling noise is heard(not through speakers but audioable from the chassis).

Is this a tell tale sign that the transformer is fried? Did I burn a capacitor?

Any help would be great

[Xander8280]

The PT is very hot. I'm guessing it's fried. I have a back up PT, because I wanted to make two heads.

[martin manning]

The transformer may still be ok, but it's likely that you have a wiring error. Check your wiring against the schematic carefully, especially in the power supply section, and I suggest building a light bulb limiter (see sticky). If you can determine where the smell came from you may have a clue, but a hot transformer will emit an odor. Look for burned components (discolored, bubbled surfaces). What model Bassman is it?

[armillary]

+1 on the power supply wiring being at fault. A power capacitor installed with the polarity reversed or with too low voltage rating could cause your symptoms. It's quite possible the fuse saved your PT as long as the fuse was the right rating.

[Invertiguy]

Was the transformer new for this build, or was it a junk box pull from something else that just happened to be useful? IF it's new, I'd check all your wiring first before blaming the transformer. If everything checks out, then check the transformer for shorted windings with a battery and a neon bulb. IF it's a used pull, still do the same, but knowing that the likelihood of transformer failure increases drastically with age and use, especially if it's made with paper and varnish, both of which will eventually become brittle with age and heat and possibly develop cracks and flake off, leading to shorts and a dead tranny.

[labb]

Too late now but you might want to read this:

http://www.paulrubyamps.com/info.html#FirstPowerUp

[Jerryz1963]

Just "finished" my first build. Bassman variant. Plug it in, turn power on, and status light comes on, blows fuse, and weird chemically smell/bubbling noise is heard(not through speakers but audioable from the chassis).

Is this a tell tale sign that the transformer is fried? Did I burn a capacitor?

Any help would be great

in my experience, the electrolytics "hiss" when they blow. the seal gets damaged and the pressure vents.

The "bubbling" makes me think that noise was your PT. I took out a PT when a diode went bad and that's the sound it made, along with the small. Don't hate the messenger, but I'm guessing your PT is toast.
FWIW, I have used many old transformers even from the 50s and, except for two failures that were NOT the transformers fault, I have had no problems. They seem to hold up quite well.

I'm pretty good at figuring out problems if you have a schematic.