I enjoyed building my 8600 so much that I've been on the lookout for the next victim and recently came across an 8804 for a price i couldn't pass up. So, following the guidance of the always brilliant Mr. Dave, I've started working on this beauty. I figured I'd memorialize in a separate thread so anyone can see what I've done and learn from it (and likely learn more from my mistakes... haha).
To start with, this is how she showed up:
Pretty good but oh lordy, did it stink of cigarette smoke. It was like a wave when I opened the box. After humming a hawing for a few days, I decided I wanted to do a reflective surface (inspired by Dynaco amps). I did my 8600 that way but made the decision late in the process when the build had started. That was a PITA so I decided to strip the chassis down to scratch and start fresh. (I also like to build things up from nothing when I can it forces me to really lean in and learn.)
After a few hours of hand sanding and some Mother's aluminum polish. Not quite the reflective surface I was hoping for but not bad. I realized later that I should have started with a lower grit and used the orbital sander on it, at least to start with. I'll remember that for the next one.
Transformer had a few chips and some start of surface rust so it got a fresh coat of flat black. Here it is reinstalled with the sockets back in as well. Going to use Dave's suggestion of SS rectification.
And the heater wiring going in. I have a bunch of 12ax7's here so I'm going to re-wire it for those.
Next steps:
- OPT have been ordered from MPS, should have those in early June
- Mouser order should be here by Wednesday
- Like the last build, I'm going to bring the PS caps under the chassis. I just don't like the look of the can caps, especially not right in front and I have the right nichicons aleady.
- Probably going to skip the pilot light on this build, I find it obtrusive on the 8600 even with the brightness dialed down. You can tell when the amp is on anyways..
- figure out what I want to do to cover the unused holes in the chassis. I have a few ideas swirling, nothing solid - yet.
Finally, a picture of the (mostly) finished 8600. Apropos of nothing, I just like this photo.
To start with, this is how she showed up:
Pretty good but oh lordy, did it stink of cigarette smoke. It was like a wave when I opened the box. After humming a hawing for a few days, I decided I wanted to do a reflective surface (inspired by Dynaco amps). I did my 8600 that way but made the decision late in the process when the build had started. That was a PITA so I decided to strip the chassis down to scratch and start fresh. (I also like to build things up from nothing when I can it forces me to really lean in and learn.)
After a few hours of hand sanding and some Mother's aluminum polish. Not quite the reflective surface I was hoping for but not bad. I realized later that I should have started with a lower grit and used the orbital sander on it, at least to start with. I'll remember that for the next one.
Transformer had a few chips and some start of surface rust so it got a fresh coat of flat black. Here it is reinstalled with the sockets back in as well. Going to use Dave's suggestion of SS rectification.
And the heater wiring going in. I have a bunch of 12ax7's here so I'm going to re-wire it for those.
Next steps:
- OPT have been ordered from MPS, should have those in early June
- Mouser order should be here by Wednesday
- Like the last build, I'm going to bring the PS caps under the chassis. I just don't like the look of the can caps, especially not right in front and I have the right nichicons aleady.
- Probably going to skip the pilot light on this build, I find it obtrusive on the 8600 even with the brightness dialed down. You can tell when the amp is on anyways..
- figure out what I want to do to cover the unused holes in the chassis. I have a few ideas swirling, nothing solid - yet.
Finally, a picture of the (mostly) finished 8600. Apropos of nothing, I just like this photo.
