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Amplifier recommendations.

Sounds good 530 ! I am also a big fan of BBi I am still on his waiting list to send him my Varmint tube amp ! Many people here don't thing highly of him , I have seen him do tons of quality work and I personally respect him . I have spoken with him twice on the phone and I get at least 1 email per month letting me know he has not forgotten about my box . I have found the relay it needs but it has some other work done to it and my local tech doesn't want to touch it lol I have been on the list almost 6 months but I have a feeling it will be worth the wait !

Let us know how your search pans out buddy !

73's Brian
Yeah although his site says he's not talking anymore orders. Recently joined his FB pages and tried messaging him on FB recently, no answer yet but not trying to hard until i have enoough to buy one. I'll most likely call when I'm really ready. I read and watched from alot of researching and he seems to be the one for builders, to me anyways. It's going to be around tax refund time and will keep informed. Thanks WINKDOGG, and all others as well. Great information.
 
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With enough relays and coax you could rig an 8 pill up with a 4/8 switch. The better thing to do is reduce the drive. The more crap you add gives you more opportunity for trouble. A simple relay failure could cost you some pills.
Yeah, like I said not a deal breaker. Narrowed it down to a sweet 16 with hg's but also like the BBI straight 6 or 8 transistor amps, without all the fancy lighted fans. LOL! He has a nice basic one he builds. Also like Davemades but not to sure yet, saw a couple things, still researching.
 
Looking for a new amp for the mobile. Looking for suggestions for a straight 6 or 8 transistor amp for 11 meters.
Fatboy does actually build a good amp and can add the biasing for SSB. Or if you have s ton of time BBI ( Box Builder of Idaho) is hands down best in the business. However over a year wait time. And as always texas star is certainly a good viable option. I've heard plenty of fatboy amplifiers on ssb and I've thought they always sounded excellent. That's my 50 cents worth for you.
 
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Fatboy does actually build a good amp and can add the biasing for SSB. Or if you have s ton of time BBI ( Box Builder of Idaho) is hands down best in the business. However over a year wait time. And as always texas star is certainly a good viable option. I've heard plenty of fatboy amplifiers on ssb and I've thought they always sounded excellent. That's my 50 cents worth for you.

Actually I would say the builders that are/were "the best in the business" have either passed away or are no longer building. Not really too many options anymore.
 
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There are still plenty of options. Carl Built X-force is back in business. Dave Made clones are back in business. Hopper and Fatboy are still building. Texas Star.
 
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X-Force and Fatboy had a decent share of the market for the last 15-20 years. I don't see anything on the web for either now actually having something for sale.
 
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Hopper states on its Facebook that it is currently taking orders for Fatboy amps. Carl former X-force builder has a current website. They are both in business right now.
 
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Clean ham amps with proper bias and filtering that covers all the bands except 11 and 10 meters will always be available. A licensed ham or a future prospective ham that may eventually want the best of both worlds will mod them to also cover those bands. IMO the choice is simple. Stay clean and avoid the nasty class C splatter boxes unless you want to draw attention to your neighbors and everyone else.

Another issue: A direct keyed amp instead of having RF sensing delays IMO is the only way to go on SSB. That’s one consideration most CB marketed amps leave out. Keep in mind if you're a SSB user, it will be up to you or someone else to mod the radio and amp combo the correct way. Constant relay clatter on SSB is unacceptable in my book.
 
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"IMO the choice is simple. Stay clean and avoid the nasty class C splatter boxes unless you want to draw attention to your neighbors and everyone else."

Everyone agrees with you except for the fact that clean ham amps are not free and are expensive compared to the nasty class c amps. That is the main reason people don't buy the expensive clean ham amps, because they are too darn expensive. The post above listed for sale clean ham amps and some are going for $4k or more. I could buy a car for that.
 
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Hopper states on its Facebook that it is currently taking orders for Fatboy amps. Carl former X-force builder has a current website. They are both in business right now.

I see, yea I don't do facebook so no wonder I'm not finding an actual web site with completed amplifiers ready for sale.
 
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Take a look at Carl's site: https://carlbuilt.net/
Take a look at Hopper's site: https://hopperbuilt.com/
Take a look at Dave Made's site: https://davemadeamps.com/ or http://www.davemade.mobi/
Take a look at GI Joes: http://www.gijoeselectronics.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=112
Take a look at Wizard Built: https://www.wizardbuilt.com/
Take a look at Custom CB: https://customcbradios.com/Texas-Star-CW-Transmiters-C157470.aspx?sid=2348
Take a look at Hornet: http://store.lesterscustoms.com/hornetamps.html
Take a look at CB World: https://www.wearecb.com/10-meter-transmitters-en/

If you are willing to risk the pre-owned market take a look at these
-Nothing but linears: Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/430384820441039/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
- Donkey Stomper Products: https://www.facebook.com/groups/232765557573457/
- 3 Made amps: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3madeamps/

Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/sch/1500/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=amplifiers&LH_TitleDesc=0

This list goes on and on.

Actually, this very thread has a dozen or so websites and places to buy completed amps. They are available at the click of a mouse. It doesn't get any easier to buy an amp.
 
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