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Torres has now been successfully running Training Courses for the last year. There have been four in London and two in Ayr. The course is designed to teach how to construct a point-to-point wired valve amplifier. The course content is continually reviewed to improve the running of the programme, the learning experience and the fun factor.
The course is generally 3 days, all project based and including talks on relevant background in electronics, valve technology, circuit testing, safety etc. Course members choose which amp they want to make from a wide range on offer. The aim is to completely construct an amp under expert instruction. At the end of the course, the student will possess a customised, hand-built, point-to-point wired amp of high quality - all at a very reasonable price.
Courses will have a maximum of 6 trainees ensuring enough individual guidance can be given. Barry Vyse, who is an electronics expert and has been building amps for many years, will be running the course.
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Reviews
The most important thing is to select a suitable project. There is a huge range of amplifier kits to choose from, with multiple options, so you really can design your perfect amp. However, take care not to be too ambitious. You must get the most out of the teaching time. Experience has shown that one needs to focus on learning the basics. Get the electronics right and at first build the core model from which your amp derives. Having mastered the ground skills you can then go on to add extras like reverb, effects loop etc if required. You should leave the course with a fully working amp, but for some projects you may have homework to add extra features. You will have learnt the skills to do this work and support is always on offer.
Your amp will be housed in a pine, dove-tailed cabinet. A carcus to accept your amplifier is provided on the course, and instruction is given on how to complete this. There is not usually time to finish the cabinet on the course. If you would rather purchase a fully made up cabinet we can provide this to your requirements.
The appropriate manual is sent out before the course and we recommend that beginners read Inside Tube Amps. Beginners can also be sent a practice kit to try some soldering etc before the course.
From time to time 4 days can be arranged for advanced projects or to allow you to build your own cabinet. With the Twin Channel amps you will be expected to have prepared your board under remote supervision prior to the start of the course. The expectation is to have the amplifier working on both channels but additional stages like channel switching or installation of effects would be carried out in your own time.
Courses are currently available in two locations.
1. Scotland - Torres is very excited to have teamed up with Bailey Guitars, who have been successfully running guitar-building courses for many years. The amplifier courses will be using their facilities in South Ayrshire, Scotland. See www.baileyguitars.co.uk. Click picture1, picture2
2.
London – A great workshop location in Dulwich South London
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location |
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| 5-7 September |
Ayr |
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| 11-13 October 2008 |
London |
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The first step is to decide which amp to build. A Hude range is on offer, check out the table below and then talk to Barry about project suitability. The course members buy their selected amp kit for a 10% discounted price (which additionally includes some partially prepared assemblies for help on the course). Lots of options are available on each amp eg. line-out, power soaks, different cabinet covering, change of speaker etc.
There is then a course fee which covers use of all tools and equipment and expert tuition. 3 days for £237. The working day is around 9.00 - 19.00 with 1 hour for lunch. We hope the participants will enjoy our social meal times with lively debate and discussion.
On our Scotish course at Baileys, full board is available at the the very reasonable rate of £45 per day.
In London lunch, snacks and dinner is provided at £15 per day. We can then put you in touch with local B&Bs.
If for some reason the amp is not completed during the course, support will be given to ensure it is finished.
A deposit of £150 is required when you book, with the balance due at the start of the course.
Course Cost = kit cost + Tuition + Board
New - One day follow-up sessions now available covering maintenance, modifications or fault finding. Individual £150 or small groups at £100 per day. Call to arrange.
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Torres Valve Amps - Kit Costs |
| Single Ended Class A Amp
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| Amp |
Major Components |
Amp Characteristics |
discounted kit price £ |
| Tiny Tone Tweed |
Single-ended, Class A,1W practice amp with 296mm chassis and black Tolex cab and 8 inch speaker |
Specially designed for full valve tone at low volume - clean tone with controlled compression |
218 |
| Tiny Tone Marshall |
Single-ended, Class A,1W practice amp with 296mm chassis and black Tolex cab and 8 inch speaker |
Specially designed for full valve tone at low volume - more Marshall-like compression |
232 |
| Tiny Boxer |
Single-ended, Class A, 5W amp with 296mm chassis and black Tolex cab and 8 inch speaker |
Classic Champ-like clean sound with valve rectifier |
259 |
| Boxer |
Single-ended, Class A, 5W amp with 296mm chassis 1x10 flat pack black Tolex cab & Jensen C10R speaker |
Classic Champ-like clean sound with valve rectifier |
302 |
| Big Boxer |
Single-ended, Class A, 6L6/10W amp with 296mm chassis 1x10 flat pack black Tolex cab & Jensen C10R speaker |
Classic Champ-like clean sound with valve rectifier |
305 |
| British Boxer |
Single-ended, Class A 5W. 2 x 12AX7 preamp valves,1 x EL84 output valve. 1 x 12” Celestion G12M Greenback. Dovetail jointed, solid-pine cab, hard wearing tolex and vintage grille cloth |
Marshall version of the Boxer. Straight-forward but great sounding amp from clean to real British crunch. |
396 |
Boxer Plus model KT12
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Single-ended, Class A, 5W amp with 388mm chassis 1x12 flat-pack black Tolex cab & Jensen C12R speaker |
Clean ringing tones with controlled compression, normal and high gain inputs with volume, gain, master and full set of tone controls, valve rectifier |
374 |
| Boxer Plus model KT12R |
Single-ended, Class A, 5W amp with Reverb on 450mm chassis in 1x12 pine flat-pack black Tolex cab with Jensen C12R speaker |
Clean ringing tones with controlled compression, normal and high gain inputs with volume, gain, master, reverb and full set of tone controls, valve rectifier |
463 |
| Boxer Plus model KT66 |
Single-ended, Class A, 15W amp on 388mm chassis with 1x12 flat-pack pine black Tolex cab & Jensen C12R speaker |
Clean ringing tones with controlled compression, normal and high gain inputs with volume, gain, master and full set of tone controls, valve rectifier |
370 |
| Boxer Plus model KT66R |
Single-ended, Class A, 15W amp with Reverb on 450mm chassis in 1x12 flat-pack pine black Tolex cab & Jensen C12R speaker |
Clean ringing tones with controlled compression, normal and high gain inputs with volume, gain, master, reverb and full set of tone controls, valve rectifier |
463 |
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Single Channel Amp
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| Amp |
Major Components |
Amp Characteristics |
discounted kit price £ |
| British Invasion, 20W |
2xEL84, 20W, class A/B, push-pull, single channel amp on 388mm chassis with 1x12 flat-pack pine black Tolex cab & Jensen C12R speaker |
British Vox-like tone, normal and high gain inputs with volume, gain, dual master and full set of tone controls, valve rectifier |
449 |
| British Invasion, 50W |
2xEL34, 50W, class A/B, push-pull, single channel amp on 388mm chassis with 1x12 pine flat-pack black Tolex cab & Celestion Vintage 30 speaker |
British Vox-like tone, normal and high gain inputs with volume, gain, dual master and full set of tone controls, valve rectifier |
515 |
| Royale, 20W |
2x6V6, 20W, class A/B, push-pull, single channel amp with reverb, on 450mm chassis 1x12 pine flat-pack Vintage Tweed cab & Jensen C12R speaker |
Classic, clean Fender-like tone, normal and high gain inputs with volume, dual master, reverb and full set of tone controls, valve rectifier |
536 |
| Royale, 50W |
2x6L6, 50W, class A/B, push-pull, single channel amp with reverb, 450mm chassis, flat-pack pine 1x12 Vintage Tweed cab & Celestion Vintage 30 speaker |
Classic, clean Fender-like tone, normal and high gain inputs with volume, dual master, reverb and full set of tone controls, valve rectifier |
567 |
| Texas Thunderbolt, 20W |
2x6V6, 20W, class A/B, push-pull, single channel amp with reverb, 450mm chassis, 1x12 Vintage Tweed cab & Celestion Greenback speaker |
Vintage Bassman-style amp - normal input is vintage Fender, gain channel heavily over-driven - effectively a non-switching twin channel amp. The amp features normal and high gain inputs, separate volume and gain controls, full set of tone controls, reverb, dual master and valve rectifier. Speaker is Celestion vintage 30. |
539 |
| Texas Thunderbolt, 50W |
2x6L6, 50W, class A/B, push-pull, single channel amp with reverb, 450mm chassis, flat-pack pine 1x12 Vintage Tweed cab & Celestion Vintage 30 speaker |
Vintage Bassman-style amp - normal input is vintage Fender, gain channel heavily over-driven - effectively a non-switching twin channel amp. The amp features normal and high gain inputs, separate volume and gain controls, full set of tone controls, reverb, dual master and valve rectifier. Speaker is Celestion vintage 30. |
580 |
Thunder Bass
120W |
4x6L6, 120W Bass Amp. On 569mm chassis. Flat-pack pine black tolex head cab |
Flexible Bass Amp of Bassman type. Independant twin inputs, sep vol control. Full tone control, bright & midboost functions. Buffered effects & dual master |
459 |
| Tweed Deluxe 5E3 20W |
2x6V6 20W . 1x12 ready built vintage tweed Fender style cab with top controls. Jensen C12R |
In all essential features this is a reproduction of classic Fender design |
519 |
| Torres Bassman 5F6 Twin 50W |
Classic 2x6L6. Ready built vintage tweed Fender style cab with top controls. Twin 2x12 with Jensen C12Rs. |
In all essential features this is a reproduction of classic Fender Bassman 5F6A. It’s LOUD. Twin inputs normal and bright each with our volume . With Celestion G12 Vintage - this is an extremely light amp at only 16.8kg |
552 |
| Torres Bassman 5F6 4x10 50W |
Classic 2x6L6. Ready built vintage tweed Fender style cab with top controls. 4x10 with 4 C10Rs |
In all essential features this is a reproduction of classic Fender Bassman 5F6A. It’s LOUD. Twin inputs normal and bright each with our volume |
608 |
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Twin Channel Amp |
| Amp |
Major Components |
Amp Characteristics |
discounted kit price £ |
| Super Texan, 20W |
2x6V6, 20W, class A/B, twin channel amp with reverb, Fx, 569mm chassis, flat-pack pine 1x12 Vintage Tweed cab & Celestion Jensen C12R speaker |
Classic pre-CBS type twin channel amp with 20W, 2x6V6 output section. Standard features include valve rectifier, foot-switchable channels, normal and higher gain inputs, full tone controls on both channels, lead and dual master, reverb. Also features parallel Efx loop with blender, Tweed cab with Jensen C12R speakers. |
648 |
| Super Texan, 50W |
2x6L6, 50W, class A/B, twin channel amp with reverb, Efx, 569mm chassis, flat-pack pine 1x12 Vintage Tweed cab and Celestion vintage 30 speaker |
Classic pre-CBS type twin channel amp with 50W, 2x6L6 output section. Standard features include valve rectifier, foot-switchable channels, normal and higher gain inputs, full tone controls on both channels, lead and dual master, reverb. Also features parallel Efx loop with blender, Tweed cab with Celestion vintage 30 speaker. |
709 |
| Super Texan, 40W |
4x6V6, 50W, class A/B, twin channel amp with reverb, Efx 622mm chassis, flat-pack pine 2x12 Vintage Tweed cab & twin Jensen C12R speakers |
Classic pre-CBS type twin channel amp using 40W, 4x6V6 output section. Standard features include valve rectifier, foot-switchable channels, normal and higher gain inputs, full tone controls on both channels, lead and dual master, reverb. Also features parallel Efx loop with blender, 2x12 Tweed cab with twin Jensen C12R speakers. This is a most flexible amp; the power can be reduced to 20 Watts with removal ot two output valves and to 10 Watts with substitution of 6K6s for 6V6. |
741 |
| Texas Boogie, 20W |
2x6V6, 20W, class A/B, twin channel amp with reverb, 569mm chassis, flat-pack pine 1x12 Vintage Tweed cab & Jensen C12R speaker |
Classic twin channel amp using 20W, 2x6V6 output section. The amp features clean Fender-style normal channel and contrasting over-driven lead. Standard features include valve rectifier, foot-switchable channels, normal and higher gain inputs, full tone controls on both channels, lead and dual master, reverb. This particular amp is a special with 6x6V6 output valves cathode biased for the warm tones characteristic of class A. Also features parallel Efx loop with blender, Bright switch on clean, fat and presence on lead, 1x12 Tweed cab with Jensen C12R speaker. |
648 |
| Texas Boogie, 40W |
2x6L6, 50W, class hi-A/B, twin channel amp with reverb, Efx, 569mm chassis, flat-pack pine 1x12 Vintage Tweed cab & Celestion vintage 30 speaker |
Classic twin channel amp using 40W, 2x6L6 output section. The amp features clean Fender-style normal channel and contrasting over-driven lead. Standard features include valve rectifier, foot-switchable channels, normal and higher gain inputs, full tone controls on both channels, lead and dual master, reverb. The amp is cathode biased for the warm tones characteristic of in class A. Also features parallel Efx loop with blender, bright switch on clean, fat and presence on lead, Tweed cab with Celestion vintage 30 speaker |
723 |
| Texas Boogie, 40W |
4x6V6, 35W, class hi-A/B, twin channel amp with reverb, Efx,622mm chassis, flat-pack pine 2x12 Vintage Tweed cab & twin Jensen C12R speakers |
Classic twin channel amp built using 40W, 4x6V6 output section. The amp features clean Fender-style normal channel and contrasting over-driven lead. Standard features include valve rectifier, foot-switchable channels, normal and higher gain inputs, full tone controls on both channels, lead and dual master, reverb. The amp features 4x6V6 output valves cathode biased for the warm tones characteristic of class A. Other features include parallel Efx loop with blender, bright switch on clean, fat and presence on lead. This is a most flexible amp; the power can be reduced to 20 Watts with removal ot two output valves and to 10 Watts with substitution of 6K6s for 6V6. 2x12 Tweed cab with twin Jensen C12R speakers. |
741 |
| DM2000, 20W |
2xEL84, 20W, class A/B, twin channel amp with reverb, Efx, 569mm chassis, flat-pack pine 1x12 black Tolex cab & Celestion Vintage 30 speaker |
Classic Twin channel amp with the British 'Marshall' tone using 20W, 2xEL84 output section. Standard features include valve rectifier, normal and higher gain inputs, foot-switchable channels, full tone controls on both channels, lead and dual master, reverb & parallel Efx loop with blender. The kit has 1x12 black Tolex cab with Celestion Vintage 30 speaker. |
648 |
| DM2000, 50W |
2xEL34, 50W, class A/B, twin channel amp with reverb, Efx, 569mm chassis, flat-pack pine 1x12 black Tolex cab & twin Celestion Vintage 30 speaker |
Classic Twin channel amp with the British 'Marshall' tone using 50W, 2xEL34 output section. Standard features include valve rectifier, normal and higher gain inputs, foot-switchable channels, full tone controls on both channels, lead and dual master, reverb & parallel Efx loop with blender. The kit has 1x12 black Tolex cab with Celestion Vintage 30 speaker. |
723 |
| DM2000, 40W |
4xEL84, 40W, class A/B, twin channel amp with reverb, Efx, 622mm chassis, flat-pack pine 2x12 black Tolex cab & twin Celestion Vintage 30 speakers |
Classic Twin channel amp with the British 'Marshall' tone using 40W, 4xEL84 output section. Standard features include valve rectifier, normal and higher gain inputs, foot-switchable channels, full tone controls on both channels, lead and dual master, reverb & parallel Efx loop with blender. The kit has 2x12 black Tolex cab with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers. This is a most flexible amp with option of removing two output valves for power reduction to 20W |
741 |
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