Works for me:
My first scratch build (with a lot of help) the plywood mock-up was more a proof-of-position for the pieces; the design was already proven. It also removed aesthetic temptations from the layout. The meters were shown to be a conceit.
The eventual layout, dictated by the dual-mono character:
Once done, I went on to add to the final design what had been an intended theme from the time the 45 tubes were chosen, a reminder of antique radios.
Please excuse the dust😀
I like a well constructed classic tubeamp like yours and sgerus´s. It requires a fine sense of proportions to work though. The volume and proportions of the base should be harmonic, and either balanced by or contrasting the tubes and trannies. Actually I liked your plywood prototype better for these factors. The Transformers larger volume is given more space so the tubes balance it better there. Also the base seems more square and lighter.
Well thats my two cents anyway, to balance out yesterdays wild ideas.
Well thats my two cents anyway, to balance out yesterdays wild ideas.
Well, we've just graduated design 101 and are taking the next course... But that's where it starts to get tricky! Preferences come in a lot more than right and wrong. It's easy to make something look bad.
I personally hate the steampunk stuff! What's the point?!? Celebrate a horrible choking black lung disease ridden time in our history? As far as the aesthetics of it, it's overly complex for no reason (a lighter w/ 20 gears on it?). Have you seen the steampunk cell phone? Might look good in a gallery, but I wouldn't want to use the thing! You'd probably cut up your face. (but, the style seems to bet getting popular so Im probably in the minority here)
I do like the slick mid century sci-fi looking gear, but again, I can see where others would think the black gages and knobs and aluminum panels is stark and dated.
Also, I'm guessing industrial designers would want to design things that will look dated in 5 years time, so people buy the next one!! (sorry, trying to be funny, not a personal shot or anything!!)
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yeah, and don't forget we're talking about objects w/ a useful function.. not purely art.
as art, sure I can see where some would like that complex steampunk stuff, but these are things that you use potentially every day!
as art, sure I can see where some would like that complex steampunk stuff, but these are things that you use potentially every day!
Don’t forget the coolosity factor. Also some people have a sense of humor, using steampunk stuff is funny, look at that PC screen.😀
Now this is a good discussion; there are several established styles of designing tube amps. Aluminium ss look, gray or black with dials and utilitarian engineering look, untreated aluminium chassis pulled-out of a guitar-amp look, wooden base and alu. top classic look, deep gloss black and chrome and lots of tubes look. I think all of these are beautiful if they are well proportioned and with a good eye for detail. But I wanted to challenge your creativity and sense of product semantics a bit. There are lots of ways of expressing the qualities of amplifiers by doing things with materials and finishes. It will help our wives appreciate our abilities and increase pride of ownership. I totally agree that Steampunk often lacks authenticity and staying power as a style. It is often applied instead of integrated with function. But some of it is well integrated with function, interesting and thought provoking.
How about a game?
Lets think about what type of chassis aesthetic best fits the characters of different tubes and topologies
How about a game?
Lets think about what type of chassis aesthetic best fits the characters of different tubes and topologies
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The wood with alu plate I find fits great with single ended tubes 45/2a3/300b/EL34 etc. And most EL84/EL34/KT88/300b etc pushpull too. Even if it is very common. It's not common in your average family home and I continue to find it attractive. But I can understand why folks think it is boring.
Here is by the way Kudret's Seth one of my favourites because of the copper hammerite and zebra wood.
But for my GM70 SE amp...I am leaning towards a tower type setup.
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Bas,
very nice and classic... and with individual touches because of the zebra wood and hammerite..
Though I am with trondareo in terms of proportion: The top plate is way too thin and the wooden frame a bit too small... it doesn't look as if it can take the weight of all those transformers 🙂
How about this one for a wood classic...?
My first effort -->C3G headphone amp with 8mm top plate, no visible mounting bolts, root veneer over cherry wood. Psu to the left please, signal incl. output caps to the right.
very nice and classic... and with individual touches because of the zebra wood and hammerite..
Though I am with trondareo in terms of proportion: The top plate is way too thin and the wooden frame a bit too small... it doesn't look as if it can take the weight of all those transformers 🙂
How about this one for a wood classic...?
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
My first effort -->C3G headphone amp with 8mm top plate, no visible mounting bolts, root veneer over cherry wood. Psu to the left please, signal incl. output caps to the right.
So how is it mounted? Or do you let the weight of the transformers do the work (gravity)?
Unfortunately it seems your picture was too large in kb size. So all we now see is a thumbnail? Have you got a picture that is slightly smaller in kb size?
Maybe the link works now...?
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
The top plate is tapped from underneath (that's why it is 8mm) and then screwed to "mounting blocks" inside the woodden frame.
Yes it does! Wow that looks amazing....almost unreal. Like it has been rendered by a computer. Do you have shots of the other side?
It is very real... 😉 though I also do CAD rendering (see my post at the beginning of this thread).
Underside looks like that
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An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
That is kind of the current status after many changes and tweaks (being a beginner then I had hum issues because of my wiring, later I replaced all e'lytics with MKP, put Oscon in the cathode and so on). Sounds quite nice now with, and C3G in triode mode is veeery fast and sweet in the highs without being overly bright.
A beautiful blend of classic and modern styles, you use the traditional composition of wood and alu sheet and then remove all ornament, except for excellent attention to minimalist detail. The only thing that bothers me about it is the cramped position of some of the transformers.
An inspiring work
An inspiring work
One thing no one has mentioned yet is the look of iron. Good looking tubes and good looking iron makes a good looking amp, that is, if you don’t mess it up with the chassis. No jewelry needed. Some individuals, like most animals, are always attracted to shiny surfaces though.
A discussion about aesthetics is a silly thing anyway, entertaining maybe but totally useless. No democracy here, either you have it or you don’t.
Same with discussing music… pointless. Either you get it or you don’t.
One thing I love about science is that it either works or it doesn’t. 🙂
A discussion about aesthetics is a silly thing anyway, entertaining maybe but totally useless. No democracy here, either you have it or you don’t.
Same with discussing music… pointless. Either you get it or you don’t.
One thing I love about science is that it either works or it doesn’t. 🙂
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I disagree. Yes we all have our different viewpoints, but this thread has provided me with several new ideas. Granted my skills to implement them may be lacking, but like most endeavors need practice.
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