Design question - How to make amp porn visible?

[engels]

I'm interested if anyone has an idea of alternative chassis structure which makes the amplifier guts visble? I always suffer because the most interesting part is inside and you need to open everything in order to see the beautiful resistors and capacitors (Showing the tubes is good but not enough).

It should probably involve some transparent plexi or mesh panel to avoid killing. I'm also looking for something reasonably durable - hi fi is nice but what about bass amplifiers?

Photos are welcome!

[agent.5]

glass?

[d2134]

Something like this?
http://www.tubelab.com/Simple45.htm

[DigitalJunkie]

I have an (ongoing) amp project that I wanted to put in a glass chassis,but cutting,and drilling glass might be pretty tricky. I wonder if any glass-shops would cut/drill glass to size for me?

[Simpleton]

Acrilyc is tougher and easier to work with than glass, plus you can have the same look, providing you have a protective layer over it so it doesn't scratch so easily.

[leadbelly]

Originally posted by DigitalJunkie
I wonder if any glass-shops would cut/drill glass to size for me?

From my long-time landlord experience, I can tell you that they can do whatever you want! Prices are also surprisingly cheap for thin glass, but shoot up quickly with thickness.

EDIT: I should have added that I also would go with acrylic, as it cheap and easy to machine, the only trick is to clean up the edges with a torch.

[PRNDL]

Check this out

http://www.gibson.com/Products/Amplifiers/flash/360.swf

Also, wouldn't this be voyeurism (instead of porn)?

[jaymanaa]

I did this crossover on Lexan. Just takes a little more time. Jay

[jaymanaa]

Here's a pic of it in the system.

[tubelab.com]

I made the clear Lexan amp that was shown a few posts prior to this one. I have a few suggestions. Use a polycarbonate material instead of Plexiglass or Acrylic. These are sold under the trade names Lexan, Hyzod, Tuffak etc. Polycarbonate has a higher melting point than Plexiglass. Plexiglass will deform over time from the radiant heat produced by the tubes. I know this from experience. Polycarbonate is also much harder and resists scratching. That amp is over two years old and still shows very few scratches. It has been dragged all over the place in the trunk of my car, and taken apart numerous times for "experiments".

Polycarbonate remnants can often be found for reasonable prices on Ebay. Search for any of the trade names listed above. I have seen listings for Lexan with a clear scratch proof coating that is used for counter tops and bullet proof windows.

That Gibson Amp is cool, and I just have to make one like it, only bigger!