SOT: Melbourne Amp Techs?

Toney · September 23, 2004, 03:50:58 AM

Yeah, that Terry seems like a good bloke.
He let me sell back a Casino to to the store after I found I just couldn't use it at stage volume. eeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhh (feedback)
Been very kind with small and profitless Gibson bits too.
Nevertheless, as a group we are taking it up the proverbial pooper when it comes to effects prices.

vdm · September 23, 2004, 03:55:01 AM

hahaha yeah that's so true.. i guess that's what we have DIY for eh :lol:

and i'm still looking for a local supplier of nice die cast boxes..... i just cant stand the dick smith/jaycar boxes with the holes in the tops of the boxes.

maybe i can pick something up next year when i go to hawaii and vancouver...

trent

moritz · September 23, 2004, 04:10:20 AM

Quote from: vdmhahaha yeah that's so true.. i guess that's what we have DIY for eh :lol:

and i'm still looking for a local supplier of nice die cast boxes..... i just cant stand the dick smith/jaycar boxes with the holes in the tops of the boxes.

maybe i can pick something up next year when i go to hawaii and vancouver...

trent

Regarding those boxes...
Jaycar actually also sells the boxes without the holes in the tops (much like Hammonds, except they're not Hammonds) and i think they cost roughly half as much as the ones with the holes for similar sized boxes.

Toney · September 23, 2004, 04:23:02 AM

OK, when I first found this site (only a few weeks ago) and asked about Aussie suppliers, someone suggested Wiltronics in Ballarat.
Apparently they are v. cheap and I think they have Hammond boxes.
Don't head that way often but I'm sure they have a site.

moritz · September 23, 2004, 05:18:57 AM

Quote from: ToneyOK, when I first found this site (only a few weeks ago) and asked about Aussie suppliers, someone suggested Wiltronics in Ballarat.
Apparently they are v. cheap and I think they have Hammond boxes.
Don't head that way often but I'm sure they have a site.

Dunno if it'd warrant the petrol to drive to Ballarat though -unless you were going there anyway.

I've found Dick Smith to be quite reasonable price wise...
16mm pots are about $1.90ish;
good quality jacks (mono & stereo) under $2
chicken head knobs - 90 cents;
BOSS SD-1 style knobs - about $1.30ish
DC power jacks - just over $1;
decent Boss sized aluminium enclosure - roughly $7 to $8...

Jaycar is also good. They have quite an extensive selection (larger selection that Dick Smith), i mean, thery even sell vacuum tubes! (12AX&'s, EL34's, 6L6's). Jaycar is cheaper than DS for some things and more expensive for others (1.2 meter length heat shrink tubing starts at like $1 -much cheaper than DS)... they also have a fairly good choice of enclosures.

Toney · September 23, 2004, 05:34:15 AM

Yeah, went into Jaycar this arvo and got the bits for RUBY practice amps from Run off Groove.
Gonna make one for me and one for my vague Bass player buddy.
They turn out so small size wise that I'm gonna put them in some novelty enclosures.
I'm thinking tobacco tins at the moment.....

moritz · September 23, 2004, 05:49:42 AM

Awesome! The enclosures are deffinately the "funnest' part of DIY stompboxing IMO...

Paul Perry (Frostwave) · September 23, 2004, 07:14:23 AM

Any Australian DIYer should have the Jaycar and Altronics catalogs, at least.
As far as music stores go, unless you are wanting something new, the place is the Music Swop Shop, Elgin St. Carlton. All the stuff there (except strings) is sold on consignment from other musicians. Plus there is a very good guitar repair guy with a workshop upstairs.
And, you can try out the Frostwave gear there, and get inspired to go home & DIY it! Yeah!

Toney · September 23, 2004, 07:36:49 AM

I dunno , heard that Frostwave guy had some controversial ideas.......well funk me!.......(kidding)

Paul Perry (Frostwave) · September 23, 2004, 10:04:52 AM

The cool thing about the Swop Shop is, seeing they have over 100 guitars and a few dozen amps at any time, if you are trying out fx you can probably find a rig something like you have at home!

Toney · September 23, 2004, 10:51:43 AM

Am a frequent botherer of Brian and Jeremy!
They have the sweetest gear. In fact it has to pass the standard of decent playable-ness to even be there cause they have no brands to push or promote. I'm a fan.
A stoned muso told me you used to once had a workshop there yourself!
heh :wink: heh....

Stu · June 28, 2005, 10:12:46 PM

I've been making pedals for the last 5 or so years... another thing to add to the above list is Rockby //www.rockby.com.au which is 5 minutes or so from Springvale Jaycar (near Monash Uni), found them useful as they have rare bits and pieces and sometimes their prices are way below Jaycar/DS, they also have a special bin that has turned up some gems, (very cheap TL072s and caps).

Jaycar's diecast aluminium boxes are perfect as an enclosure and the stompswitches (DPDT) are there too.

Stu

loscha · June 29, 2005, 01:38:57 AM

I got a cheap and nasty BBD delay unit from Rockby a few months back, for $35. It was great, had a few inputs in it. It was, however, old old stock, and all the pots were scratchy. But, it was "warm" and had "mojo" or something.

They also do an interesting Drum Machine.

You have to go on Friday or Saturday morning when the clearing room out the back is open. 28pin IC sockets for $2 a tube!

Paul Perry (Frostwave) · June 29, 2005, 10:20:56 AM

Loscha, what was inside the Rockby drum machine? I couldn't really justify buying one just to open it up.. but curiosity is killin this cat

loscha · June 29, 2005, 09:39:23 PM

http://users.tpg.com.au/reveng/arista-drum-machine.gif
http://users.tpg.com.au/reveng/arista-sm200.jpg
http://users.tpg.com.au/reveng/arista-dox.gif

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SOT: Melbourne Amp Techs?