NAD - KT88s = joy

[goroth]

Edit: pics of finished amp and a quick write up on page two. Demo will get done in the coming week.
Rad!! Title updated to reflect the fact that the amp is here and it's massive!!


Spurred on by the caps starting to crap out in my current amp (Lab Series L11), and all the help I got in this thread I checked out a few manufacturers for a custom amp. I didn't want a recreation of any existing model (otherwise I would have just bought one of them), nor an amp for the Klon set, and I didn't want to have to mortgage my apartment to pay for it. So I had a look at Laboga, Ear Force and A-wai Custom.

I went with A-wai Custom, for a number of reasons, but mostly because Arnaud seemed really tuned in to what I was trying to get across when I was talking to him, and he'd obviously an appreciation for rock and metal and stuff, which was important.

Started chatting in the middle of April, things firmed up in the beginning of June and he started building a couple of weeks back. He has been super clear on everything, responsive, and (thus far haha) has held all deadlines and indications of completion times for the various stages in the process perfectly, which has been rad.

SO - the aaaaaamp!

In short -
2xKT88
Bass, middle, treble, depth, presence
Volume
Bright switch (this is so never getting used but whatever)
2 speaker outputs (parallel) swtichable ohmage
Pentode/triode switch

The aim is to build something that is super clean and that goes like this when it sees a fuzz pedal, and that goes like this when it sees a shit ton of pedals.

Without further ado, here is some pr0n, from the concept stage to where we are as of yesterday.

A-wai Custom mockup (slight changes were made to this)

A-wai Custom chassis

A-wai Custom - white is radder

A-wai Custom - White jewel LEDs are good. Also, turn the pic upside down and check out the "on" position of the standby switch. So much cheese!

A-wai Custom - mmm... wiring

So in summary...

[Holy Schnikes]

Looks sweet dude, congrats! Custom amps are exciting gear purchases for sure!

My Dunwich is very similar, 2xKT88, depth (rotary FAC), bax EQ with treble, bass and mid shift, mode, and presence controls. Rear has pentode and ultra linear toggle as well. Gorgeous full cleans, lots of solid low end, good low-med gain if needed. A perfect pedal platform amp.

[THEBEERHAMMER]

Oh great why dont we all go out and get white amps now.

[THEBEERHAMMER]

I CAN NEVER HAVE ANYTHING

[Holy Schnikes]

Bro, I sold my white Orange awhile back so that's one less white amp floating around ILF.

[THEBEERHAMMER]

Srs though congrats on your order. Purchasing a nice amp was the most influential gear decision ive ever made.

[skullservant]

So awesome!!

[colin]

Looks great! Similar to what I'd get if I were to order a custom amp as well.

[hbombgraphics]

dude, that looks awesome
super pumped for you

[goroth]

Thanks dudes! Will keep this thread updated with photos and (eventually) sounds. It's hard to say but I'd guess my gear tastes have been shaped a fair bit by ILF, so thanks for all the gear help and knowledge over the past year or two.

[hbombgraphics]

the lab series you had was solid state right?
did you contemplate going that route?

I am curious because sometimes I really love solid state amps

[goroth]

Yep it's solid state. It's awesome and eventually I will recap it. I was initially looking for solid state, but there isn't a lot of higher end stuff out there, and I've come to the point where I don't want to pay for features I won't use. And I wanted a head which ruled out the Roland jc amps.

Then there's the reliabity and weight factors for solid state, so I really looked hard at it.

But I'll roll with tubes again. Sound wise, I feel that there is a subtle chimey-ness that I've got out of tubes but not solid state. Probably a combination of presence (Lab Series doesn't have a presence knob) and some slight additional harmonics due to clipping. The lab series clips really, really nicely, but doesn't give me that sparkle sound that my other tube amps have.

[hbombgraphics]

I hear ya. I am enjoying having tubes again. Bit I miss the response of solid state
when I played out I used two amps.

[behndy]

holy shits that's beautiful. NICE.

[goroth]

Thanks behndorz! It felt kinda stereotypical for a swede to order something minimalist, and black and white, but I love it.

I hear you hbomb on the solid state - that was one of the things I was clear with: I didn't want any "power tube sag" and I wanted a tight bass. We'll see how it goes.