My friend built the same valve amplifier I did.  The Neurochrome “Damn Good 300B”.  Since this is a special amplifier it needed a special case.  I experimented contouring wood on other projects with good results, and thought it would be a perfect fit.  An organic case for an organic amplifier.

The goal was to keep it simple.  Let the wood and amplifier do the talking.  On the electro-mechanical side I fabricated a mechanism so the volume knob doubles as the on/off control.  The only indicator is for power delivered by a flush Lexan rod with an LED behind it.  I don’t turn so I asked my good friend Croxton in beautiful ME if he would turn some knobs….. again.  He turned the zebra knob for another project.

I used Adobe Illustrator to layout the  rear and top panel locations for the valve sockets, transformers, etc.   I sent the file to a water jet company for cutting the 0.09″ T6061 aluminum.  I polished it and sent it out for nickel plating.

I used the King Arthur Tools “Holey Galahad” disk on an angle grinder.  This roughed out the contours.  A Festool RO90 sander smoothed things up after that.  I applied a Belhen Qualsole shellac using the french polishing technique.

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