A new British all valve amplifier has been created ...
The beginning on the drawing board.
A turret board in the making on my work bench.
Turret boards made and ready for poulating with components.
Introducing
The Icon 18
Designed in house and built by hand, in Dorset, UK.
The plan was to build an all valve amplifier with a clean, low distortion, wide audio spectrum response. (Want distortion? ... Use a pedal!).
The first thing to do was to decide on the output valves to use, design an output transformer that has a flat response between 20HZ and 20kHZ with a power rating of at least 18Watts.
No problem, I designed a suitable multi-wound transformer with excellent properties to match the 6V6GT valve pair and got to work designing the chassis. Made out of 3mm soft Aluminium sheet and folded where required, to form an open box. Next to punch the holes required to fit the components, valve holders and transformers. Manufacture the turret board, populate the board and fit it all together ...
A case ... I use a new Tweed case that houses a 1 x 12 Celestion Copperback loudspeaker, ensuring ample head room and an excellent 1960s sound of clear and penetrating thunder, when required.
Finally the front panel was designed then printed with black script on a gold background. The Union Jack is printed on the front panel as well.
Turret boards populated.
Chassis made and ready for holes and fixings to be marked out.
Chassis ready for components to be fitted.
Going together very nicely indeed.
Turret board fitted and ready for the artwork and controls to be fitted.
Chassis is fitted and looking nice.
Needs a tidy up.
That's better. All components are mechanically fixed before soldering onto the turret pegs. A guarantee of ensuring reliability and no dry joints after a few gigs.
Worked first time and sounds awsome.
On soak test before customer collect the iCon 18, conceived and produced in Dorset by hand.
This is one of ony two to be produced, adding to the collectability and value. Each amplifier, from start to finish, takes around 28 hours to complete.
User notes
The Icon 18 is equipped with Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass, Volume, Curve and Power On/Off with a Pilot lamp.
Point to point wiring using only the highest grade components and internal fusing protects the High Voltage lines. Capacitors are rated at 105°C ensuring an extra long life.
Mostly, self-explanatory, but the Curve control gives a little extra. Clockwise rotation increases upper frequencies, and anti-clockwise increases lower frequencies. Very useful when swopping your Strat for a Tele, for instance.
The mains IEC socket, is a Mains Interference Noise Filter, with a fuse next to it. The mains socket is situated behind the rear cover, towards the left of the chassis as you look at the rear of the speaker.
There is a Speaker Jack Socket to allow for other cabinets to be plugged in, as the Icon 18 is designed to cope with more than just your Lead Guitar.
NEVER use any Valve Amplifier without a Loudspeaker connected, as permanent damage may occur that will not be covered by any warranty offered.
Location
Weymouth, Dorset
DT4 8HX
Hours by arrangement
Contacts
+44 7502331520
info@jonsnell-electronic.net
