Bottlehead Forum

General Category => Kit Assembly Service => Topic started by: Paul Birkeland on November 13, 2018, 07:14:33 AM

Title: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on November 13, 2018, 07:14:33 AM
Here are some photos of various BH kits that I have built for myself and other folks with some of the finishes and wood species that I stock.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on November 13, 2018, 07:15:24 AM
Here is my favorite color combination: walnut and wrinkle black. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on November 13, 2018, 07:19:23 AM
The silver and copper vein powders are also a popular choice. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on November 13, 2018, 07:27:46 AM
For a more wild look, wrinkle red and wrinkle blue give lots of contrast. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on April 29, 2019, 10:56:19 AM
Another walnut/black Crack rolling off the line.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Deke609 on April 29, 2019, 01:59:45 PM
The amp looks great.  Bu what really caught my eye was the cool wallpaper.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on June 19, 2019, 10:32:56 AM
A customer came to me and wanted a Crack built that more or less matched his Victrola phonograph.  The wood for these was listed as "red mahogany", and it did indeed look like actual mahogany, so I purchased a piece with good straight grain and some red dye and made a red base that looks quite similar.  The top plate is done in gold vein to give it a bit of an antique look.


...My fingers are still red in a few spots.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Jamier on June 20, 2019, 06:54:32 AM
PB,

     do you rabbit with a router bit (with a bearing) or do you do it on a table?

Jamie
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on June 20, 2019, 07:28:36 AM
I can do it either way, but it's far easier to setup on a table saw.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: oguinn on June 20, 2019, 07:49:16 AM
PB - Do you have any interest in submitting any of these to the gallery site I built? You're not quite the typical DIYer, but the goal is to show people what is possible. No pressure, obviously, just thought I'd offer.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on June 21, 2019, 04:19:10 AM
I'll have to get setup with some external image hosting.

-PB
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: oguinn on June 21, 2019, 04:25:50 AM
Sure thing. A couple people have either emailed pictures or uploaded them to Imgur. Once they're there I just grab them and host them locally on my site, so a longer term solution isn't super necessary.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 13, 2019, 09:34:23 AM
Here's a black Crack I just completed.  The owner wanted the base to match some other components and furniture with a black ash finish, so I built a base out of ash and soaked it in black dye over the course of about a week.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: grufti on August 13, 2019, 09:50:45 AM
Great look. Well done, Paul.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Doc B. on August 13, 2019, 09:51:09 AM
Nice one!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: oguinn on August 13, 2019, 10:21:34 AM
Is it the case that you built and glued up the base, then just left it in the dye for a week? Or were there multiple soaking sessions? I've never used a dye before but I'm considering something different for the Kaiju/BeePre (and eventually Eros). I've been staining and finishing a scrap piece of alder over the past week to see what I want but haven't found anything I liked yet.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 13, 2019, 11:57:27 AM
If I could have made enough dye to submerge the wood, I would've considered it!  Instead it was a brush application several times a day for many days until it didn't get any darker.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: oguinn on August 13, 2019, 12:43:19 PM
Got it. My biggest issue is getting the tung oil finish to look right. I've done it correctly one time and the other times have been disappointing.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: jtori on August 14, 2019, 01:33:14 AM
Here's a black Crack I just completed.  The owner wanted the base to match some other components and furniture with a black ash finish, so I built a base out of ash and soaked it in black dye over the course of about a week.

That looks awesome!

Joe.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: mcandmar on August 14, 2019, 05:55:48 AM
Here's a black Crack I just completed.  The owner wanted the base to match some other components and furniture with a black ash finish, so I built a base out of ash and soaked it in black dye over the course of about a week.

Lovely job Paul, especially that wood base.  A quick tip for the screws, dip the heads into some Birchwood Casey Perma Blue and they will instantly blend in.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: jgarr4714 on August 14, 2019, 07:44:50 AM
Love that black finished Crack.  Woodworking has been my main hobby for years and I have had good luck at ebonizing oak and ash with a simple process. Obtain some black dye from a woodworker’s store, a water or alcohol base dye works equally well, but may have to re-sand if the water base raises the grain.  Apply 2-4 coats of dye, let it set for at least a day then apply a standard black stain (like Minwax ebony).  As a finish coat rub in some Tried & True varnish oil, the more coats you add the glossier it gets.  Adding the standard black stain helps pop the grain and give it an ebony like appearance.

Jim G.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on June 19, 2020, 10:25:31 AM
Here is a Kaiju I built for personal use.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Deke609 on June 19, 2020, 10:59:27 AM
Now that's a fine looking amp. I like the combo of black metal with deep brown wood sides.

Very nice, Derek
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: oguinn on June 19, 2020, 12:30:40 PM
Are those covers sitting over the regular transformers or are there custom parts i there? If it’s the former… where can we get those?
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on June 19, 2020, 01:11:45 PM
Yes, they are covers that fit over the transformers.  No, they will not work on a stock Kaiju plate.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Deluk on June 20, 2020, 01:08:43 AM
Touch of the Quad II's there. Very smart.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: tsingle999 on June 22, 2020, 06:04:29 AM
A lot of nice builds Paul! you are busy!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on June 22, 2020, 06:29:38 AM
A lot of nice builds Paul! you are busy!
That's at least partially your fault!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on June 29, 2020, 07:32:57 PM
And a purple Crack.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Doc B. on June 30, 2020, 06:12:25 AM
I didn't have much faith when I saw that purple heart lumber. I stand corrected, that looks really nice!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on July 21, 2020, 07:36:40 AM
Here is a green Stereomour II that I just completed for a customer.  It is setup with a 4 pin balanced headphone jack up front for driving power hungry headphones off the speaker outputs.  The customer opted for the DC filament upgrade to keep it super quiet, as well as the shunt regulated driver supply. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Deke609 on July 21, 2020, 08:20:06 AM
Very nice.  45 or 2A3 (or both)?  Either way, I think the purchaser will be very happy.

cheers, Derek
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on July 21, 2020, 09:39:22 AM
It's built for 45s.  Both isn't an option on the S2.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: thebellowsfold on August 28, 2020, 10:56:39 AM
Hello

  I have a S.E.X kit that I have 1/2 assembled that I need to get done.  I don't have a space to work on it anymore is this something you can help me out with?
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 28, 2020, 11:29:44 AM
Yes, you can e-mail me at pb(at)bottlehead(dot)com and we can discuss this further.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on October 28, 2020, 08:10:42 AM
This is a Crack with a green vein top and walnut base I just finished.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Tom-s on October 28, 2020, 11:09:51 AM
@PB could you explain how you got the top finish / color done? It looks very cool!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on October 28, 2020, 11:13:44 AM
A powder coating gun and an oven!

For powders with any kind of metallic particles, the Harbor Freight gun is pretty decent.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Tom-s on October 28, 2020, 11:24:37 AM
I feared so. Out of my league for now! Looks to be worth a try on the next project. Truly inspiring builds PB.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: jtori on January 09, 2021, 03:55:49 AM
All these builds look fabulous, Paul!  You're an engineer, artisan and artist!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on February 05, 2021, 01:51:45 PM
Eons ago (August), I put in an order for the chassis and input transformers for a super customized BeePre, and the input transformers finally showed up!  This particular customer wanted two balanced inputs as well as balanced outputs, so I had to use an 8P3T switch in order to switch each set of XLR jacks into the input transformers, then to either switch between the input transformers or the one set of unbalanced input jacks.  I made this similar in size to one of the BeePre 2 prototypes I made some years ago and powder coated it black, then installed MonAmour transformer covers over the power transformers. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: johnsonad on February 05, 2021, 03:26:17 PM
Holy smokes!  That looks great, nice work PB! Congrats to the new owner!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on February 05, 2021, 03:29:25 PM
I couldn't quite talk him into the remote like yours has. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: johnsonad on February 06, 2021, 12:31:14 AM
That ladder attenuator is the bees knees. You should post a photo of my build here too.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on February 06, 2021, 05:40:02 AM
Sure thing!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: johnsonad on February 06, 2021, 05:49:07 AM
And another for good measure :) 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on February 26, 2021, 01:11:48 PM
Here's a BeePre I made for a local customer.  He wanted the sound of the decked out BeePre 2 that I loaned him, but something physically a lot larger with a remote, meters, etc.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on February 26, 2021, 01:12:50 PM
Here are some more shots.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: 2wo on February 26, 2021, 05:01:33 PM
I love the industrial look of the front panel...John
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Thermioniclife on February 28, 2021, 10:03:38 AM
Another sweet Design. Hey PB I'm considering one of those Khozmo series motorized attenuators. Did you bother to measure the quiescent and operational current of this unit, if so can you expound?
And also what are your thoughts regarding this unit in general?
Thanks,
Lee
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: johnsonad on February 28, 2021, 10:07:04 AM
Nice work PB! That's a really cool looking BeePre!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on February 28, 2021, 12:28:23 PM
The Khozmo didn't seem to draw much as far as I can remember.  I did run it on a bench supply to see what it wanted in terms of minimum voltage and to be sure the motor wasn't pulling a ton of current.  Arek will answer your questions if you send him an e-mail (be sure to mention that I sent you, as I bug him a lot!).

At its essence, this is functionally identical to a BeePre 2 with all the upgrades, and swapping it out for Doc B's BeePre 2, the differences were nice and subtle, as they should be!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Thermioniclife on February 28, 2021, 01:37:46 PM
Thanks PB, It looks like a quality unit. The only thing that scares me is the un-godly length. I scaled it using your photo as best I could
and I make it at between 5.375-5.5 inches in length. I have an upcoming project that I would like to use one of these.
 I will contact Arek for the details. As always PB Thank you.
Regards,
Lee
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on February 28, 2021, 02:46:22 PM
Yeah, that sucker is really deep.  I added a standoff to support the top plate right behind it, but also considered the possibility that I would need to physically attach the attenuator back there if it didn't feel stable. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Deke609 on February 28, 2021, 04:11:02 PM
@PB and anyone else with a motorized volume control - Is there any labelling that indicates the motor manufacturer?  I'm trying to figure out a diy way of attaching a 15 deg. step motor to a Seiden rotary switch that also allows for manual switching.  No luck yet - it would help if I knew what such a gizmo was called (assuming they exist for retail purchase). Hoping that I'm just not doing the correct search. 

cheers and many thanks, Derek
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on February 28, 2021, 04:29:50 PM
They are stepper motors.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Deke609 on February 28, 2021, 04:48:27 PM
Thanks. I meant the manual override bit. Don't know what that's called.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on February 28, 2021, 04:52:34 PM
You can rotate a stepper motor slowly with your hand and it shouldn't cause problems.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Deke609 on February 28, 2021, 05:14:32 PM
Many thanks.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on April 23, 2021, 01:51:30 PM
A local customer approached me a while ago about building a kit for him, and we went back and forth for a while before coming to the conclusion that what he really wanted was a fully upgraded Stereomour with a remote control.  In order to do this, I had custom top, front, back, and bottom panels made, and I shrunk the top panel to a 10x10 in the process since the controls and jacks all moved off the top panel.

I cut the wood base down and used my scroll saw to remove enough material to get everything tucked in there.  It was a very tight fit!  Standoffs in the corners and along the side edges hold the top and bottom panels together. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: 2wo on April 23, 2021, 05:03:17 PM
That is gorgeous!...John
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: johnsonad on April 26, 2021, 01:28:14 AM
Wow, I really like that build!  Great job PB!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Karl5150 on April 29, 2021, 07:54:40 AM
At some point we will no longer be amazed by the beauty of the custom work that comes off your bench...just not yet.
Karl
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on April 29, 2021, 08:17:44 AM
I'm currently testing the weight limits of the bench with a pair of these sitting on it.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on May 11, 2021, 12:38:49 PM
This is a pair of Paramounts I just finished built from kits purchased from the first run!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: johnsonad on May 11, 2021, 05:29:06 PM
Those Paramounts look great!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Karl5150 on May 12, 2021, 02:16:15 AM
The finish on the bases highlights the grain beautifully.
Karl
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: canonken on July 31, 2021, 04:26:32 AM
Wow, some awesome custom work!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on October 11, 2021, 11:16:28 AM
A completed Moreplay.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Doc B. on October 11, 2021, 11:35:16 AM
That would look and sound great with MonAmours.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Chris H on October 11, 2021, 11:43:19 AM
I'd never seen this thread before - wish I had when I was trying to decide on a finish.
That red mahogany and gold vein on page 1 (2 yrs ago!) is stunning.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on October 11, 2021, 12:40:38 PM
I'd never seen this thread before - wish I had when I was trying to decide on a finish.
That red mahogany and gold vein on page 1 (2 yrs ago!) is stunning.
It was a stunning PITA though!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Chris H on October 11, 2021, 11:02:30 PM
I bet - hope your fingers aren't still red
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: canonken on October 12, 2021, 02:39:03 AM
The suffering improves the sound quality  ;D
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: pechelman on October 12, 2021, 05:09:18 AM
I bet - hope your fingers aren't still red

Or orange ;)
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Clover on October 12, 2021, 09:09:41 AM
So... what is the best way to paint the screws and other various bits that I keep spotting in these beautiful builds?  The wife vetoed my original build idea of walnut and hammered copper.  The test came out rather orange.  I'm into some of the black and even the gold finishes shown in this thread but the little details like the heads of screws are giving me a little pause. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on October 12, 2021, 09:42:02 AM
I stock black stainless screws. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Doc B. on October 12, 2021, 09:47:53 AM
Just punch holes in a piece of cardboard, stick the screws in the holes and shoot the heads with black spray paint. I have done this many times when black screws were not available in the size I needed.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Clover on October 12, 2021, 10:38:23 AM
Thanks guys.  I give the cardboard a shot tonight. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: larcenasb on September 08, 2022, 06:15:35 AM
Wow, just found this thread....some really amazing work here, Paul! It's cool to see how customized you can make things, especially the retro-looking chassis and the ones with a remote control.

Have you worked on any cool custom projects in 2022?
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 08, 2022, 09:55:03 AM
I haven't been able to talk anyone into a highly customized kit in a little while. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: larcenasb on September 08, 2022, 01:20:49 PM
"Talk anyone into" haha. Hope to see something here soon though :)
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Alonzo on September 10, 2022, 04:34:38 PM
Really...I guess that depends on your definition of "a little while"...

Whatcha' got brewing???
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 10, 2022, 04:47:31 PM
I did have a local guy who wanted to bring his Paramours by for repairs.  You never really know what you're going to get with old Paramours.  Sometimes you get the old Speco 70V transformers and Triad plate chokes, and sometimes you get loads and loads of Magnequest iron.  This pair is stuffed to the gills with MQ iron and the owner would like something that he can pass down to his kids to use, so I'm going to convert them into a single chassis with a remote to make things user friendly. 

Otherwise it's all the normal stuff around here for now!
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Alonzo on September 11, 2022, 04:41:11 PM
I resemble that remark  ;D still have some MQ sitting in boxes myself.

The T20 you made is playing great at my daughter's house.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 12, 2022, 04:31:28 AM
I have certainly given some thought to making a clone of that amp for myself, even down to the exact same colors.  The lack of proper plate chokes has prevented me so far though ;)
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on January 19, 2024, 06:02:46 PM
I finally talked someone into getting a fully custom Moreplay with a remote!

This was built on a custom metal chassis powder coated with Super Rootbeer from Prismatic Powders.  I used the venerable JV-8 remote attenuator module which can be bought as loose parts which allows for any attenuator impedance to be stuffed into it that you want.  A couple of glass side panels and a well ventilated bottom panel rounded this one out. 
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Paul Birkeland on January 31, 2024, 01:41:18 PM
I finished up a BeePre and a Kaiju this week stuffed with V-caps and Mundorf caps, a remote attenuator, and custom metal enclosures powder coated in Stealth Charcoal.
Title: Re: Kit Assembly Gallery
Post by: Karl5150 on February 01, 2024, 07:13:28 AM
It is nice to see your talent for aesthetically pleasing custom builds once again on display. Well done.
Karl