BYOC TMB18 Manual

1
Build Your Own Clone
TMB18
Kit
Instructions
(Revision 1.0)
WARNING!!! HIGH VOLTAGE!!!!
Tube amplifiers contain high voltage that can cause injury and even death. Please use extreme caution and common sense when
building this kit. Do not attempt to do anything to your amp while it is plugged in other than take voltage readings as necessary or
actually playing an instrument through it as it was intended.
Don't just turn the power off!!! Always unplug the power cord from the socket before working on your amp!!! The mains supply can
still electrocute you AND the power filter capacitors can still retain a charge powerful enough to kill you. Always unplug the power
cord from the socket before working on your amp.

2
DISCLAIMER
Build at your own risk!!! BYOC, Inc. is not liable or responsible for any damages, injuries, or deaths that may incur from or while
building this kit. It is your own responsibility to follow proper safety precautions. Never attempt to build, modify, repair, or perform
any sort of maintenance on your amplifier while the power cord is plugged into an AC power source.
BEFORE BUILDING, READ THIS INSTRUCTION FILE IN ITS ENTIRETY.
Warranty:
BYOC, Inc. guarantees that your kit will be complete and that all parts and components will arrive as described, functioning
and free of defect. Soldering, clipping, cutting, stripping, or using any of the components in anyway voids this
guarantee. BYOC, Inc. guarantees that the instructions for your kit will be free of any majors errors that would cause you
to permanently damage any components in your kit, but does not guarantee that the instructions will be free of typos or
minor errors. BYOC, Inc. does not warranty the completed kit as a whole functioning unit, nor do we warranty any of the
individual parts once they have been used. If you have a component that is used, but feel it was defective prior to you using it,
we reserve the right to determine whether or not the component was faulty upon arrival. Please direct all warranty issues to:
[email protected] This would include any missing parts issues.
Return:
BYOC, Inc. accepts returns and exchanges on all products for any reason, as long as they are unused. We do not accept partial kit
returns. Returns and exchanges are for the full purchase price less the cost of shipping and/or any promotional pricing. Return
shipping is the customer’s responsibility. This responsibility not only includes the cost of shipping, but accountability of deliver as
well. Please contact [email protected] to receive a return authorization before mailing.
Tech Support:
BYOC, Inc. makes no promises or guarantees that you will successfully complete your kit in a satisfactory manor. Nor does BYOC,
Inc. promise or guarantee that you will receive any technical support. Purchasing a product from BYOC, Inc. does not entitle you to
any amount of technical support. BYOC, Inc. does not promise or guarantee that any technical support you may receive will be able

3
to resolve any or all issues you may be experiencing.
That being said, we will do our best to help you as much as we can. Our philosophy at BYOC is that we will help you only as much
as you are willing to help yourself. We have a wonderful and friendly DIY discussion forum with an entire section devoted to the
technical support and modifications of BYOC kits.
www.byocelectronics.com/board
When posting a tech support thread on the BYOC forum, please post it in the correct lounge, and please title your thread
appropriately. If everyone titles their threads “HELP!”, it makes it impossible for the people who are helping you to keep track of
your progress. A very brief description of your specific problem will do. It will also make it easier to see if someone else is having or
has had the same problem as you. The question you are about to ask may already be answered. Here is a list of things that you should
include in the body of your tech support thread:
1. A detailed explanation of what the problem is. (Not just, “It doesn’t work, help”)
2. Photo that clearly shows your circuit board.
3. Photo that clearly shows the tube-side of inside of the chassis.
4. Photo that clearly shows the inside of the front of the chassis.
5. Photo that clearly shows your wiring going from the circuit board to the pots and any other switches (only if your kit has non-PC
mounted pots and switches).
6. Does the indicator light come on?
Also, please only post photos that are in focus. You're only wasting both parties' time if you post out of focus, low-resolution photos
from your cell phone.
Credits: Written by: N.W. Kenning & K. Vonderhulls; Artwork & Photography by: N.W. Kenning & K. Vonderhulls
Revision Notes: None
Copyrights: All material in this document is copyrighted 2015 by BYOC, Inc.

4
TMB18 KIT
INSTRUCTION INDEX
Parts Checklist…………………………………………………page 5 - 7
Assembling The Chassis and Wiring Chassis Components…page 8 -
45
Potentiometer
Wiring………………………………..………..page 44 – 54
Input Jack
Wiring……………………………………………..page 55 - 59
Terminal Strip
Wiring…………………..…………………….page 60 - 69
Populating the Circuit
Board……………..…………………..page 70 - 80
Wiring (Tube
Side)…………………………………………….page 81 - 102
Wiring (Potentiometer side) …………………………………page 103 -
112
Turning Your Amp on for the First Time……………………page 113 -
115
Diagrams and
Schematic……………………………………...page 116 - 119

5
Parts Checklist for TMB18 Kit
Resistors:
1/2watt Metal film:
4 – 820 Ohm (Gray/Red/Black/Black/Brown)
2 – 8.2K (Gray/Red/Black/Brown/Brown)
1 – 22K (Red/Red/Black/Red/Brown)
1 – 33K (Orange/Orange/Black/Red/Brown)
2 – 56K (Green/Blue/Black/Red/Brown)
2 – 68K (Blue/Gray/Black/Red/Brown)
6 – 100K (Brown/Black/Black/Orange/Brown)
5 – 470K (Yellow/Purple/Black/Orange/Brown)
2 – 1M (Brown/Black/Black/Yellow/Brown)
2watt Metal Film:
1 – 100 Ohm (Brown/Black/Black/Black/Brown)
1 – 2.2K (Red/Red/Black/Brown/Brown)
1 – 8.2K (Gray/Red/Black/Brown/Brown)
5watt Metal Oxide:
1 – 1.5K (Brown/Green/Red/Gold)
10watt Wire-wound:
1 – 150 Ohm (Large rectangle says ‘10W150’ on body)
Capacitors:
1 – 500pF (Black with ‘500’ on the body)
1 - .0022 axial leaded film (says ‘222’ on body)
2 - .0047 axial leaded film (says ‘472’ on body)
5 – 0.01uF axial leaded film (says ‘103’ on body)
1 – 0.022uF axial leaded film (says ‘223’ on body)

6
2 – 1uF/63V Electrolytic
1 – 16uF/450V Electrolytic
1 – 22uF/450V Electrolytic
1 – 100uF/50V Electrolytic
1 – 32+32 Electrolytic (Really big with three terminals)
Potentiometers:
2 – A1M (Bass, Master Volume)
1 – B25K (Middle)
1 – B250K (Treble)
3 – A500K (Volume, Tone, Volume)
Hardware:
1 - Chassis
1 - Circuit board
4 - Circuit board standoffs w/matching screws and nuts (M3 size thread)
1 – Rotary Switch
2 – ON/OFF SPST Toggle switch
8 – Knobs
3 - 9 pin tube sockets w/shield
3 - 9 pin tube socket w/spring retainer
5 - Audio Jacks
1 - Indicator Lamp
1 - 6' 3-conductor power cord
1 - Power cord socket
2 – Power cord socket screws (small black screws)
1 - Panel mounted fuse holder
1 - Mains Fuse (2A Slow-Blow)
1 – 3-lug terminal strip
1 – 6-lug terminal strip

7
2 - Rubber Grommets
1 - Capacitor Retainer Ring
2 - #8 screws (Output Transformer mounting)
4 - #8 lock washer (Transformer mounting)
6 - #8 nuts (Transformer mounting)
3 - #8 Internal lock washer w/ Solder terminals
1 – ½inch #4 screw (Terminal Strip mounting)
1 - #4 nut (Terminal Strip Mounting)
1 - #4 lock washer (Terminal Strip Mounting)
23 - M3 screws
1 – M3 nut
2 - Wire nuts
Wire:
3’ – Green 18AWG or 22AWG
4' - White 20AWG
4' - Black 20AWG
5' - Yellow 20AWG
4' - Brown 20AWG
1' - Red 20AWG
1.5' - Bare Bus
Tubes:
3 - 12AX7 or ECC83
2 – EL84 or 6BQ5
1 – EZ81
Transformers:
1 – Power Transformer (Classic Tone™ 40-18035)
1 – Output Transformer (Classic Tone™ 40-18037)

8
Assembling the Chassis and Wiring Chassis Mounted
Components
Step 1: Add the two rubber grommets.

9
Step 2: Add transformers. Orient the power transformer so that the red and yellow wires are pointing towards the back side of the
chassis. Orient the output transformer so that the red/blue/brown wires are pointing towards the power transformer. Use #8 screws,
nuts and lock washers. Note: The power transformer already has screws installed in it. Use the terminal washers instead of regular
lock washers on the 2 power transformer screws on the right side.

10
Step 3: add the preamp tube sockets. NOTE: these sockets are different from the 3 other 9-pin sockets for the power and rectifier
tubes. These will have a base for the shield cover to connect to.
Crimp pins 4 & 5 of the preamp tube sockets together with a pair of pliers before mounting to the chassis. DO NOT do this to the pow e r / r ecti f ie r
tube so c k ets .
Close up of spring retainer attached to power/rectifier tube socket.

11
Mount the preamp tube sockets to the chassis (green arrows). Use M3 screws. The red arrows indicate the 9 pin
power and rectifier tube sockets.

12
Step 4: Mount the power and rectifier tube sockets/spring retainers indicated by the green arrows. Use M3 screws.
Step 5: Mount the 32uF+32uF multi –capacitor using the capacitor clamp ring indicated by the red arrow. Mount the clamp ring to
the chassis using M3 screws. Insert the capacitor into the clamp ring. Tighten the clamp ring by adding an M3 screw and nut.

13
STOP!
Before going any further, inspect the 32uF+32uF capacitor
to make sure the lugs are NOT touching the chassis. If
they
are, twist the capacitor a little until there is clearance. If it
is too close for your comfort, twist the capacitor a
little
until there is clearance. DO
NOT
continue if there is a chance the lug will short against
the
chassis.
Be aware of the clearance when wiring the capacitor to
avoid any sort of high voltage short.

14
Step 5: Attach the rear plexi panel. BE VERY CAREFUL. These plexi panels are very fragile. Use ½inch #4 screw for rear plexi
panel as shown
Step 6: Attach the two terminal strips to this screw. Use a #4 nut and lock washer to secure .

15
Step 7: Add the rest of the rear panel parts. Use the small black flat head screws for the power cord socket.
Step 8: Add the front plexi panel. Add the Switches and lamp to hold it in place. Orient the toggle switches so that the “ON” side is
facing up

16
Step 9: Add the rest of the front panel parts. Orient the potentiometers and jacks like the photo above, and be sure
of their values.

17
VERY IMPORTANT!!! If you are using a 120VAC power supply, you will use the BLACK/WHITE power
transformer wire. If you are using 240VAC, you will use the BLACK/RED power transformer wire.
Step 10: Cut and cap the black/red (or black/white if you are in a 240VAC country), and yellow/white wire. Insert the Green/Yellow
wire to the upper ground solder terminal, and the Red/Yellow wire to the lower ground solder terminal (red arrows). Do not solder
these yet. More wires need to be inserted into these solder terminals. You will solder them later.

18
Step 11: Twist the red wires together and place them into pins 1 and 7. It does not matter which red wire goes to
which pin. Solder both connections.

19
Step 9: Twist the yellow and white wires together and place them into pins 4 and 5. Make sure the white wire is in
pin 4, and the yellow is in pin 5. Solder both wires.

20