Mount Discreet Components on a Guitar Amp Motherboard

I made this instructable at TechShop Detroit.
The website link is here:

www.Techshop.ws

This is the third in a series of Instructables showing how to construct a hand-wired guitar amplifier.

In my last instructable, I finished up the process of making the motherboard for the amp, and now it is time to populate the board.

For this Instructable, I will use:
The Motherboard I made in the previous instructable
Soldering Iron
Solder
Solid-Core wire (cloth wrap)
various capacitors and resistors
Amplifier Layout and Diagram
multimeter

Step 1: Start putting it all together

The best way I have found for assembling the motherboard is to start from one end and follow the diagram exactly in order. It is important to stay organized so that you do not accidentally miss a piece or get components mixed up.

For this build, there are really not that many components, but for more modern guitar amps with higher part counts, you can have hundreds of components! It can be tough to keep organized.

Following the diagram, the first part I needed to install was a capacitor. These are polarized and can be tricky. This particular cap had the end crimped and a + side marked at one end. Using the diagram, I determined the correct position.

I first straighten the legs of the component.

Then I line it up where it belongs on the board.

Next, I make 90 degree bends to allow the legs to fit into the eyelets of the board.

Finally, I bend the legs over on the underside to keep the part in place.

Comments

[gigin]

Nicely done, looking forward for next step, Cherrs

[KrushIndustries]

Thanks! I should be putting the next step up soon! It will be the layout and cutting of the chassis using a waterjet.