Why Handwired is Better
I talk to a lot of guys who play tube amps, and I’ve been talking to these guys for a long time. These days, most tube amp players are struggling with a difficult situation: Amps are getting more expensive, but they’re not getting better. Most amps are mass-produced, and cost-effectiveness is king. Which is why when you open up an amp from one of the major brands, you’re likely to see a lot of green PCBs in there.
I can already hear the chorus of players saying that there’s nothing wrong with PCB amps, so let’s jump to the reality: PCB amps are fine… until something goes wrong and you have to replace most of the amp because one component fried the whole board. Last week, I had to have a difficult conversation with a gentleman because his 2000 Mesa Triple Rectifier blew a filter cap and roasted half of the main board.
So, why is handwired better? If the amp in the above scenario had been handwired, the damage caused by that blown capacitor may have been confined to the capacitor itself, or maybe a tube and a couple of resistors. A pretty simple fix instead of buying a new amp.
Another reason handwired is better? Unlike a computer controlled machine, I inspect every single solder joint in every amp that I build. Each joint is high quality for maximum signal transfer and durability. And instead of flimsy circuit board traces, we use only military grade Tefzel coated wire for our amps.
So, does a handwired amp actually sound different? Not really. The way an amp sounds is based on its components and how well they are assembled. An amp will not sound noticeably better simply by virtue of it being handwired. The real value in handwiring is the time and attention that goes into building an amp that will— with very basic maintenance— last forever. The reason old amps are still running today is not because they were better in some mysterious way. They were simply built to be repaired indefinitely.
So, the next time you think that a handwired amp seems crazy expensive next to a $600 amp from China, keep in mind that your handwired amp will likely outlive you if you take care of it. While that $600 amp will likely be in a landfill by the end of the decade. For info about maintaining your amp, go here.