OK, so whats the deal? I've been reading alot of you guy's posts and references to "clone" amps...Swain you have a Ghia clone?...etc...I know about Ceriatone, but are there others? Is the attraction cost or improved circuit design or both? I would love some advice in this direction...particularly on the Ghia clone...

What are your favorite amps? Clone amps kinda fall into 2 broad categories:

(A) "Authentic" copies of famous amps; or
(B) Amps that imitate authentic copies that have been modded

Generally, the "good old days" of amp building included lots of innovation, but somewhat lacking quality control. I'm also not sure anyone in 1968 ever thought anyone would be playing Marshall Plexis forty years later and consequently, they didn't necessarily worry about road worthiness. Because a lot of those amps are now very expensive collector's items that aren't really suitable for dragging to a bar or loading on a truck, amp builders have started building amps that match the circuits with the "best" of the variations of the design (which is why they all sound different), are very road worthy, and have great quality control.

In the cases where the original amps haven't (yet) been bid out of the range of the equivalent cost to clone, there isn't any real incentive to clone those amps even if they are desirable. the Supro Thunderbolt is a perfect example. A great hand built clone would retail for as much or more than an original with a cleanup.

well, recetly I've been lusting after a lower watt EL84 type of thing ...in the Ghia/ AC15/low watt marshall type of thing...something I could push a little...

Well I'm the one with the Ghia clone. I have to warn you it's pretty loud! I also built a 50-watt plexi circuit using 6v6's to cut the power down. Well it might have on paper but it's still way too loud for me (sounds GREAT though, see www.mhuss.com for the circuit). As for the Ghia clone, the schematics are not available out there, but it's directly based on the Hammond AO-35 reverb amp. Since I bought one of those on ebay a few years back, I chose to make a Ghia thang. It sounds terrific but I badly messed up the wiring and an amp tech had to sort it out for me. With me, cloning an amp is because I'm handy with soldering and building stuff and I enjoy projects AND because I'm poor and can't afford to just buy nice gear. Furthermore being in Canada, good used gear doesn't show up nearly as often, so you have to make do. It started with an Allen kit (tweaked BF Twin Reverb clone) which turned out amazing and that was it, I'll be a DIY-er for the rest of my days! I have a lot to learn but the results are worth it. Heck all the classic amp schematics are public domain, and the Internet offers up rare gems that you could never find any other way. And last but not least, the whole boutique market started out with individuals saying "I can build that but better". Why not me? I can learn how these things work. Is that enough reasons why to clone?

Swains got one too...I know about the "major ""clones"/"clone +'s" ...I'm kinda thinking of some under the radar kinda stuff that some of you have gotten ahold of, and are noteworthy...

Mine was built by a friend in Memphis. He builds all types of amps. Great work, great tones!

I've got 3 of his amps, currently. The "Ghia", a Deluxe Reverb styled amp, and a "Marshall Style" 18 watter. The Marshally one is a 2 channel amp, with a GREAT Master Volume. One channel is a "Mini-Plexi" type sound, with a Volume and a 3 way tone switch. The other channel has 2 Volumes and Bass, Mid, and Treble controls. You can use an A/B switch to switch between inputs on it. It's a 112 Combo. As is the Deluxe styled amp. The Ghia is a head, with a 112 Marshall Cab that has a 16 Ohm Celestion "Anniversary" speaker of some sort.

I will try to get some clips up, soon. Plus, I'm wanting to go see him about a new amp. Maybe something totally different, fo me. I don't know what, quite yet. But, he usually has about 100 amps on hand, to check out. A very serious "Hobbyist", for sure!

I have a Princeton Reverb Clone. I don't know who built this thing, but it sounds great. I bought it used off some guy...