Amp Modification || Custom Circuit Board and Wood Burning (DIY)
The Goal...
Turn my old amp into a work of art. For all the years I've been performing, I've always had my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe as a reliable workhorse (well, mostly reliable). This year, though, I wanted an upgrade.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/inaumkk0ni0xv44/IMG_0385.jpg?dl=0)
Instead of spending +$1000 for a new amp, an expense that crushes my ability to save money, I harnessed my local community to create a beautiful piece our of my worn out Hot Rod.
Getting Started
After pulling the insides out and collecting all of the screws in a plastic bag, I bought a heat gun and used it to pull all of the glued tolex off of the chassis. There was a lot of glue leftover, so I borrowed an electric sander from a friend and sanded it down until it was squeaky clean.
![IMG_0346.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmYt8cRpcw9k2P321L8srqCiXgUWgnPXZyDKZrF2eDUjYc/IMG_0346.jpg)
The guts of the amp went to a local amp maker. We decided on a schematic: a Bassman style circuit with a voicing switch and a contour knob. Because I was giving him a chassis to work with, he only charged me $400.
The sanded amp went to a local artist and friend. She drew up sketches on the amp and sent me pictures. I gave her the go-ahead, and she started burning.
![IMG_0360.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmUKaJTV2PdWM6Rj3Z6YTxDjSSSuJC7VzTpseCX7xSKMcY/IMG_0360.jpg)
After the burning, she bought three different colors of wood stain and painted inside the burn marks. This is the result of the completed amp.
![IMG_0366.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmc7vaMWbkXVZQ1vZVdoVRrggegkuTrsjz9KxtRtUXhD31/IMG_0366.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/czg7gx76oeb15a6/IMG_0375.jpg?dl=0)
Final Thoughts
Total cost = $750. It's completely custom, sounds amazing, and is a one-of-a-kind piece of art. Keep it local, support the creative people in your community!
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/sv7hmhg11gm6tft/SR%20tiny.png?dl=0)
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