So, this is basically just a lot of soldering and wire bending. A lot.
I expected to be able to understand what made a tube amp tick by the end of this, but really, I don't. Maybe one day, but this project was really just an exercise in planning and spacial awareness...
Anyway, after studying the layout for a number of days, I made my own parts list. As my parts arrived, I ended up with loads of bags of resistors, caps, wire, etc etc etc... The first thing I wanted to do was get my feet wet by wiring up the turretboard...
The tools I used throughout this project are as follows:
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A variety of pliers (small, medium, large), wire strippers (variable), wire cutters, dental mirror, scissors, various screwdrivers, soldering iron, monkey wrench, knife. Small cable ties are also VERY handy. I can't emphasise how important the right tools for the job are. If you regularly fiddle about with electronics or your guitar, it's handy to have your own tools and they last forever (usually!)...
Here is the turretboard wired up and soldered:
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The white stuff along the wires is PVC tubing of 1mm diameter, which (in my head) will limit the amount of noise induced into the circuit. Not necessary but whatever, it was really cheap.
Important parts:
1. Assemble the turretboard "dry" first off. Don't solder until you are happy with where everything should be going and connecting.
2. Make as many "dry" connections to a point as you can anticipate before you try to solder. This holds true throughout the build, as de-soldering is tricky and I often ended up burning my fingers (not good).
3. When bending leads, appreciate how the weight of the component will sit it between the points.
4. It is important that a solder joint is mechanically strong and holds, even before it is soldered... this ensures the joints longevity.
Some people might not know this, so for their sake: the copper wire along the top of the turretboard (TB) fits into holes on the underside of it that are also parts of the turrets. It acts as a common ground point which will eventually go to Earth.