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We do. Unlike many "boutique" amps that are made in China or contracted out to 3rd party job shops, every Texas Tone Amp is designed and built by hand in our Austin, Texas workshop. We don't make the raw materials; we source components with respected vendors, many to our specifications. Every schematic diagram, layout diagram, parts list, nameplate and logo design, social media post, and all assembly is performed in-house, using a Quality Assurance "Build to Print" method for error-free work, guided by NASA soldering standards for vibration and temperature extreme environments.
We choose our vendors very carefully and constantly update our parts inventory to make sure that we only use parts that not only will provide great tone, but last. A career in electronic distribution (RCA, GE, Mallory, TRW, etc.) and Quality Assurance processes prepared me for how to select the best parts available. This is where I also learned the Build to Print method.
We use as many commercials off the shelf (COTS) parts as possible, with careful selection to ensure great tone, high quality, and longevity. Ask your favorite amp tech - there are well-known issues with some easily available and low-priced parts.
Cabinets are made in the USA to Texas Tone Amps specifications by a high-quality cabinet shop. Likewise, the USA-made chassis are replica-style chassis that we have to modify to make them worthy of a Texas Tone amp. Logos, control panels, and nameplates are made by professionals in those fields, many in Austin, Texas, to Texas Tone amp specifications.
Carbon composition resistors are well-known to increase resistance as they get hotter, and they absorb moisture and drift. Many good techs always replace these with metal oxide or other more stable components, as we do.
Click for Component Selection Info
We build these amps to last! We prefer turret boards. Why?
Our MIL-I-25768/27 FR/G10 Turret board are the preferred for vibration and heat resistance. How do we know? NASA-STD-8739.3 was created by people who build for high vibration and temperature swings. We are not familiar with other amp builders who do this; most turret board amps that we've seen are built using what NASA calls "unacceptable" methods. We also use aerospace MIL-Spec wire for the same reasons - it holds its shape, resists high temperature, and solders like it was made for that purpose (it was). Air and Space craft must be reliable in extreme conditions, and we use the same techniques on Texas Tone products to ensure that your Texas Tone Amp will be, too!
Texas Tone Amps are designed to eliminate extraneous noise. Amp hum is typically caused by poor grounding (design) and/or poor layout (design & build). Hiss is typically caused by poor quality components, layout, and/or build. Not all resistors and capacitors are the same! Some are in the signal path, but many are not. Some areas of a tube amp are more sensitive to noisy components that others. Poor quality capacitors cause hum, or worse. Poor quality resistors cause noise or poor performance. This is why we're so choosy.
Carbon film resistors are a good compromise between classic carbon composition resistors that drift with heat and age, and ultra-quiet metal film resistors. We use metal film in noise-sensitive circuits such as the input stage due to their extremely low noise. We also use 1-Watt resistors where other builders use 1/2 Watts, again, due to lower noise and higher performance. For resistors that see heavier loads, we use 2-Watt resistors instead of those 1/2-Watt version in all those amps from the 1950s an 60s (and most clones and kits).
We use MIL-Spec shielded cables for many sensitive signal circuits to cut down on noise and interference, along with MIL-Spec wire and resistors. Why? Low noise, vibration resistance, and high temperature resistance.
See my article on How to Build a Low Noise Tube Amp
As a builder of custom tube amps, we do not offer trade-ins. We can assist in helping you re-sell your old amp.
Texas Tone® tube guitar amplifiers are warranted, to the original purchaser, against defects in workmanship.
Resistors, controls (potentiometers), capacitors, jacks, wires, cables, and circuit boards, are warranted for one year from the date of the original purchase by the original owner.
Please see our Warranty Policy and Terms.