Any good tube amp kits for a first attempt?

[Boscoe]

I'm thinking of making a tube amp with a nice design in mind, I don't want anything that powerful only about 10W p/ch because I don't want to be able to see the transformers. So are there any decent kits out there? I've seen a few on ebay from china but they look a bit dodgy to me and seen as I don't know anything about tubes I wouldn't know how to judge either!

Oh yes and in the UK if possible!

Thanks
Boscoe

[cjkpkg]

A few come to mind...
1. Tubelab SimpleSE Simple SE board You can purchase your board from tubelab.com via paypal - many here have built it incuding me...
2. Check out Tom McNally's Amps There are many types of amps he builds both P2P and with PCB's...lots of ideas for chassis layout etc here.
3. There are many dynaco ST35 and ST70 kits around with PCBs.
4. The Get*SET*Go [google it] is interesting with some mods to convert it to use a DHT like a 300b or 2a3

[6L6]

Elekit makes some very nice product for the money - ELEKIT WEB World::Product Catalog

Also, if you have the ability to do some metalwork (because that's always the tricky bit), scratchbuilding something like the Bevios Valley amp, Red Light District amp, or something on the Tubecad site really isn't that hard. There are plenty of people on this site who will happily answer whatever questions you might have!

[Gobble]

How about the RH84 build? Is that a good one for a beginner? I was considering that one.

RH 84 - Tube Audio ...... RH DESIGN

HTH

[Boscoe]

Okay thanks guys, but where can I buy THIS one or at least find some prices?

Gobble I think the one you linked me to is too big.

[boywonder]

Eli's El-Cheapo, Poinz' EL34 (or 6V6) Music Machine, Gingertubes Baby Huey, SY's RLD (already mentioned), Tubelab's Simple SE (already mentioned), Tubelab Simple P-P, Boosehound labs 6V6....

The Tubelab projects have circuit boards available; the others are P2P builds.

[6L6]

Can you buy Elekit direct from Japan?

TubeDepot has them for sale here in the US -
Kits - HiFi Tube Amp

Perhaps they can ship... BUT you have 220v mains voltage. Japan and US have 100-110v.

It does not seem to have a universal power transformer...

[6L6]

I still vote for scratchbuilding something - if you can do the chassis work, or find someone who can help you with it - once the chassis is done, the circuit is really very simple.

[levelfive]

As 6L6 wrote: Elekit TU-879S (if is not a lot expensive for you).

Here is a super instructions guide (6 pages with photos):
6moons audio reviews: Elekit TU-879S

PS: But PSB-styled kits are the wrong way (IMHO), point-to-point wired designs seems to me as the better way to start into the DIY-tube amp magic. Just my five cents

[Boscoe]

I still vote for scratchbuilding something - if you can do the chassis work, or find someone who can help you with it - once the chassis is done, the circuit is really very simple.

Yes I can do the chassis and I would prefer to do something like this just need the PCB making that's all.