My Turn!  Highly inspired by Hywelg.

See thread "My first amp project" for details.  Here is a link to a more complete picture album: https://picasaweb.google.com/117432438929768760203/MichelSCeriatoneHRM?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLL866_VopzgmwE&feat=directlink

HRM-100 Chassis Kit + C-Lator kit
Warehouse Garage (ET-65 and Vet30 speakers) from Steamco Music
Cabinets from GabKits (Stage Craft Gear)

I bought a TC Electronic HoF reverb.
I think my pedal board may soon lose a distorsion pedal (I like that of the HRM so much).

I think there are very good advises here.  I agree with comments from Jeff and 212.  However, I just completed my first amplifier build following similar experiences (pedals, smaller projects and... an airplane).

The key with a larger project is to get organized and see it step by step.  As an example, I saw the footswitch connector and associated switches as a one evening project. Same with transformer wirings.

The main challenge is not soldering wires.. really, it is to be able to see what is coming next and avoiding conflicts.  Otherwise, you end up undoing and redoing or messing up the wiring. I do have some wires in my project that cross in a way that I would have liked to avoid.  This is probably where previous amp. building experience is a big plus.

I focused on quality…  not being a technician, I wanted to avoid debugging as much as possible… I did some mistakes that were discovered at later stages in the project (like wrong resistance at one place, a two mixed wires).  Prior to connecting AC, I printed a new copy of the layout and looked at each part one by one (corrected two more mistakes).   Then, all worked with no bug! Yes!

Do not be in a hurry to start soldering (I did my first solder probably 4 hours into the project). Build a stand, organize the parts, prep the chassis then mount the voltage regulator and bracket reverse and start there.

I posted some lessons learned under a different thread… have a look at this.

It took me about 50 hours to build mine.  With the personality I have, this was intense and I did not sleep well as I was always visioning the project (at work, during family dinner, in my sleep, etc.). I did the build in one week.  Of course, if one is more relaxed, it would be a nice project to do over a month.

Thanks!

First guitar amplifier build, but not first project... I built a series of guitar pedals; from plans and from kits.  I also built and aicraft with a fairly complex electrical system (http://mthobby.pcperfect.com/ch601).

First, thanks for posting detailed pictures of your build process.

The newer new ones are Zinc plated... no need to scratch paint off anymore as the chassis is conductive

I used blue Loctite on most screws.  For those that I did not, I just applied nail varnish to identify those nuts. (I think some have both Loctite and varnish).

Initially,  had a background noise problem.  I spend a couple of hours inspecting all my solders, the parts, the wiring, wearing nitrile gloves and poking with a ceramic screwdriver.  The only thing I found was the chassis being microphonic between V1 and V2... I replaced an EH 12AX7 and the noise went away...  

I just finished building a HRM and a C-Lator that I received a week ago; actually, not quite, the cabinet is arriving on Monday.  I am amazed by the quality of the kit and by the support that Nik provides....  I thought I would make this a new hobby and build more kits, but upon listening to my new amp, I think I won't use anything else for a while.... this is a great amp! 

This has been a fun, but not relaxing experience... could not sleep until completed! ;-)  For any new builder like me, here are some advises I picked from others and that I discovered from wrong doing.

1. Start with the C-Lator;  I did the reverse, but this would have helped me to start simple and then apply the learnings to the beast.
1.5  Build a stand.... this is invaluable for working on the unit, saves time and protect your investment.
2. Despites pictures that show pots mounted rigth at the beginning, resist the temptation to install any knob until everything that go underneath is installed. (start with the fuse holder, then the voltage regulator, the tube mounts and everything that go on the bottom).
3. There is a nice way  of mounting the input jacks... mount them outside the chassis, solder everything and bring them back in.
4. Do not install the trannies until there is nothing else that you can do.  You avoid a mess of wires and the weight when manipulating the chassis.
5. What worked for me is that I downloaded Ceriatone pictures as well as the pictures from James Alber, CaptainBackfire and PeeMonkey on my iPad... I refered to that for the entire build process
6. Use Ceriatone's forum... I did not have to ask questions, but answers are here for almost anything. (Like the reversed manual OD switch behavior that apparently is the way it is).
7. Do not apply the half power mod.... I tried it and as I read on various forums, this is not worthwhile (does not lower the volume much and reduce tonal characteristics).  Removing the switch all together would make much more space to work inside and enable a cleaner setup.  I finally removed it and inserted a plug in the hole.
8. Inventory your parts on a sheet before you start... this helps avoiding mistakes and saves time of searching for parts (note that I succeeded to mix up a 22M resistor with a 1M one --- must have been tired --- and I discovered that at the very end of the build)
9. For the two boards that are installed right on the bottom (with an insulation board), I installed a nylon washer on each attachment point to act as a spacer between the two boards.

Thanks to all that contribute to the forum!

Michel

https://picasaweb.google.com/117432438929768760203/MichelSCeriatoneHRM?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLL866_VopzgmwE&feat=directlink

Thanks for posting your build pictures.  I noticed early that you used a Dremel to remove paint at grounding points.  The chassis is painted?  Did you remove a lot? (start grounding posts, pots, switches,...)  We cannot see it in the following pictures. 

I cannot wait to receive my HRM100 kit... I just learned of a delay this morning.

While searching for a kit amp, I noticed your layout diagrams are being used by quite many people and some of them are using the layout in a very bad way (poor techniques, bad components, etc.).  I believe that these files could be put into a section that requires registration.  For example, I built an aircraft from plans and Zenith Aircraft has a "Builder Resources" section on their web site.  To get access, we must have purchased plans or a kit and obtain a user id from Zenith Aircraft.   

Alternatively, the docs could be stored on this forum site (at least, there is identification required).