Are hand wired amps worth it?

Some purists argue that amplifiers whose circuits are hand-built by means of point-to-point construction will always sound better than amps built using mass-produced circuit boards, known as PCBs. But PCB-based amps, if carefully designed and built, can actually perform better than hand-wired amps.

What is point-to-point wiring in an amp?

Point-to-point wiring is the term given to a style of construction where the components are mounted on the tube sockets and/or terminal strips, and the connections between components are then hand-wired together to complete the circuit.

Are PCB amps bad?

Copper traces that crack—a frequent criticism of PCB amps—are the result of poor mechanical design and cost cutting. When a poor design fails, PCB amps in general get a bad rap—not just the badly designed ones. PCB layout and material selection in audio design are as much an art form as the circuit design.

Are Supro amps point-to-point?

This was built from a Watts Audio Supro Model 24 Kit. It is point-to-point wired on thick phenolic turret-board.

Are victory amps hand-wired?

We use meticulously hand-wired tag boards where we feel that method offers the biggest tonal benefits, alongside printed circuit boards where they make most sense. We never compromise on components, from caps and resistors, pots and switches, right through to our custom designed transformers.

Are Tone King Amps PCB?

This is the last of the all Hand-wired (HW), point-to-point (PTP) construction Imperials made by Tone King. The new Imperial (Mk II) line uses a hybrid approach: hand-wired, but on a PCB board. The Tone King Imperial Amp recreates the tone and vibe of a vintage Fender amp and builds upon that even further.

What is point wiring?

A method of connecting electronic components in a microphone, preamp, amplifier or any other piece of equipment in which each component is directly soldered to a tube pin or solder lug or jack.

Can PCB amps be repaired?

PCB’s are hard to repair: A tube amp is meant to be repaired–it not a disposable piece of equipment. If you want an amp that will last a while get one that is hand-wired. PCB construction is usually done save labor and cost so manufacturers rarely use high quality boards or consider the serviceability of the amp.

Are Tone King amps PCB?

Are Supro amps hand-wired?

They’re definitely not hand-wired. I’m pretty hit or miss with the Supro RI stuff.

Are victory amps good?

These are compact pedal-style amps. They are the most popular line that Victory produces and offer a great alternative to more traditional amps. All of the amps produced by Victory are designed, tested, and produced in the United Kingdom as their branding suggests.

What’s the difference between a printed circuit board and a point to point AMP?

“Printed circuit board and point-to-point amps have several main differences,” he says. “One good thing about point-to-point is that you can use big polyester caps and decent-sized resistors. These components also have a big influence on the sound of the particular amp you are trying to make.

What was the point to point Fender made out of?

Point-to-point actually covers a variety of different construction methods. Fullerton-era (pre-1986) Fenders used an eyelet board: a flat piece of fibreboard with rivets punched into it and the components soldered into the rivets. However, the valve bases and front- and rear-panel components were all wired by hand.

How many guitar amps does Trinity amps make?

Trinity Amps Inc. custom builds, point-to-point, vacuum tube guitar amplifiers and offers them for sale at reasonable prices. They are played by over 1000 musicians in over 32 countries and on every continent! Our hand built amps have been enjoyed by some very notable musicians.

What’s the difference between PCB and hand wired amps?

As well as these two distinct routes, you’ll also sometimes see a blend of both technologies side by side. High-end products such as Tone King’s Royalist or Marshall’s Astoria use quality printed circuit boards for consistency, with hand-wired valve bases and switches for enhanced reliability.