A new amplifier is being 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 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 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 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.

Turret boards populated.

Chassis made and ready for holes and fixings to be marked out.

Chassis ready for components to be fitted.

Going to gether 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 guaranteed 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.