UralTone NOS TOASTER Deluxe tube amp kit (all NOS tubes) 2023

UralTone Nos Toaster Deluxe is a tube amplifier kit that extensively uses NOS components, which sonically moves in the middle ground between Tweed Deluxe 5E3 and Blackface amplifiers.

• Output: 10W
• Tubes: 2x NOS USA 6AG7, 3x NOS USA 12AV7, 1x NOS CCCP 5C4 (5Y3)
• Normal channel volume, Boost channel gain, treble, bass, middle, headroom
• Speaker output: 4, 8 or 16ohm

More info and pics:

en.uraltone.com web-site

Step-by-step instructions:

en.uraltone.com/blog/uraltone-nos-toaster-deluxe-build-guide/

The chassis is the same as in the 5E3 Tweed Deluxe, but the circuit is very different. The power stage is based on the 1930s American 6AG7 metal-shell power tubes. Surprisingly, the nearly hundred-year-old pipes work excellently in the guitar amp and nicely fit the Nos Toaster series's recycling philosophy. These tubes were manufactured in America in the 30s when the quality of tubes was at a really high level. There are hardly any applications for these tubes these days, so availability is good, and prices are low.

The phase shifter corresponds to the traditional Tweed time cathodyne circuit. The pre-amp has three amplification stages implemented with 12AV7 NOS USA double triodes. The pinout of the tube is the same as with 12AX7 / ECC83, but the electrical specs are different. Like 6AG7, these have good availability and price. And the quality is that great old 60s USA production.

The low input uses only two amplification stages, so the pre amp roughly corresponds to the amplifiers of the Blackface era. High input adds one gain level, which increases the gain and adds more distortion and earlier compression.

Like traditional amplifiers, the device sounds best when the volume can be slightly higher. Even though the high input stage has its own volume control (gain), the best distortion world is not achieved with the pre-amp alone, but you get there when you let all stages (including the power amp) slide to the threshold of distortion at the same time. With gain and volume at max, you can reach those beautiful Neil Young -style sounds. 

The best distortion is therefore achieved at higher volume levels. For this reason, we have added a Headroom adjustment to the power amp, which drops the operating voltages of the device and thus lowers the power of the amplifier (headroom) and lowers the distortion threshold. Under normal conditions, we recommend keeping this adjustment at full (normal position) or almost full. This way, the sound is often the healthiest and tastiest. In other positions, you can use the "trial and error" method to get great and different distortion sounds.

The NOS Toaster Deluxe is, therefore the sum of Blackface and Tweed amplifiers, which distorts tastefully and very traditionally.

NOS toaster Deluxe represents the values ​​of the NOS Toaster family: it uses components that have been waiting in warehouses for tens of years and thus makes it possible to build a fine-sounding amplifier with a slightly smaller environmental load.

Capacitors

We have chosen slightly different style but very high quality NOS capacitors for the signal path. Power amp has Vitamin Q NOS USA Militari Paper in oil (PIO) capacitors. These are perhaps the most sought-after audio caps of all time. The pre amp has one Vitamin Q, one Philips Chicklet coil and a few Soviet NOS Polyester capacitors. The electrolytic capacitors are all newer. The power source uses German F+T coils and the cathodes are RIFA (Sweden) and Panasonic axial coils.

The above-mentioned selection has been carefully selected to suit exactly this circuit. Is there any other amp in the world built in 2022 that uses non-Chinese capacitors this widely?

Tubes

The Power amp and pre amp tubes are NOS USA production. Both 6GA7 and 12AV7 tubes are still available at a reasonable price. If you compare 6V6 and 12AX7 tubes (which would also work in this circuit), the price difference is around €65 vs €450 (calculated with RCA tubes). The rectifier is a Soviet 5C4 made for military use, which loosely corresponds to the 5Y3 in terms of performance.

Resistors

NOS Toaster Deluxe uses Japanese carbon composition resistors. For safety and usability reasons, the power supply uses the most modern resistance types.

Transformers

The mains transformer is custom-made in Italy, and the output transformer comes from the Hammond factory in Canada.

The metal case is made in Finland, like our other chassis.

The mechanical parts are all high quality. E.g. Korean Belton stocks, Switchcraft Jackets, etc.

Summa summarum: All components are of very high quality and largely of Western production. 

The kit contains all the necessary parts to build a working amplifier, except for the wooden case or the speaker.

We publish additional instructions for several of our products in the blog section of the pages:

The blog also has general articles about construction, so it's worth browsing through the articles more extensively before starting the project.

Combo case and speakers

The dimensions of the Nos toaster Deluxe's ​​metal case are the same as those of the 5E3 Tweed deluxe, meaning that 5E3 cases can be used with the Nos toaster.

As a speaker, you should choose a full-bodied and warm-sounding speaker, because, like Blackface amplifiers, the tone circuit is quite bright. A WGS Blackhawk or a similar AlNiCo speaker with a sturdy construction is suitable for such an amplifier.

Mods

Well, it's easy to mod the NOS toaster if you want to tune the sound in a slightly different direction from the standard circuit. For example, tone stack editing is easy and a good helper is the Duncan Tone Stack Calculator.

If you want to change the tube type, you can first try any ECC83, ECC82, ECC81, 5751, 12AY7 tube or their derivatives. The power amp can be rewired to a 6V6 tube if 6AG7 availability decreases (we doubt it) or if you want to try a more traditional Fender tubes for other reasons. Transformers are completely suitable for 6V6.

If, however, you want a 5E3 sound, the whole amplifier can be modded for 5E3 circuit, because the metal case, tube sockets and transformers are the same.

How difficult is this set to put together?

This kit is great for a first tube amp project.

It takes 1-3 days to build the device carefully. Care and concentration are everything. 

Can I get support if needed?

All product prices include technical support. Support for building kits is unlimited via email. It is difficult to provide support over the phone, so we hope to contact you by email () or via the contact form on the website. There is no possibility to provide technical support in our store (the kit support people do not work in the store).

What supplies are needed?

For construction, you need a working soldering station and high-quality solder. Needle-nose pliers and screwdrivers. A multimeter is useful when making final measurements.

What does the set include?

The price includes all necessary parts to build the amplifier. Does not include speaker or wooden case.

What do I get for the amount I paid?

You get a great-sounding boutique amplifier that will last at least the next 100 years at a really low price. At only a fraction of what the cheapest decent tube amplifiers cost, less than half of what robot-assembled error-prone Chinese amplifiers cost, and also less than the combined list price of the components used in the kit.

You can get unlimited technical support by e-mail!

Warning: DIY is very addictive