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This page is a list of DIY audio gear projects for those with intermediate to advanced skills in electronics.
DIY gear can save you a lot of money in the long run, given that you have the time to invest.
Guitar amps and accessories
(the following two effects could also be used in studio settings)
Weber ReVibe: all-tube reverb and vibrato unit
Weber Tore-Vibe: all-tube reverb and tremolo unit
Many all-tube Weber amplifiers
Analog Guitar Pedals: pretty much any design can be DIY’d. It’s fairly easy to do custom designs too. I’ll have more info on sources for generic parts and enclosures soon. Check out some stuff I’ve done here in the meantime.
Studio Stuff
Aurycle Condenser Mics: they have kits for tube, FET, and multipattern mics all probably from Chinese manufacturers, but you can always sub in higher-quality parts like the RK-47 to build mics that allegedly rival Neumanns.
1176 FET Compressor: less than $1000 after build!
Useful Studio Tools like ReAmp boxes, DI units, impedances selectors, etc. Very affordable.
JLM MONO Mic Pre: JLM also has many other kits, but they are either very expensive, are designed to integrate into larger products, or do not come with enclosures.
Gyraf Audio has a lot of info for pro audio DIY projects, but be warned: this is true DIY. There is no up-front cost for anything because the parts are sourced from many different distributers. Be prepared for some serious digging, and make sure you know what you want before you commit to any project.
Refurbish/Rebuilds
MCI Guitorgan: a replacement of the original internal synthesizer for a modern USB control unit; MIDI compatibility. Occasionally you can find these on eBay for a good price when the internal organ circuitry is fritzed (which is good, because that’s all going to be taken out anyway).
Vintage tube amp power supply rebuilds: if you have a vintage tube amp that has a 2-prong power cable, the power supply needs to be rebuilt today. These old amps can sound great sometimes, but they pose a pretty serious shock hazard when used with other powerful equipment in poorly wired mains grids.
Custom Guitar Rewiring: stuff like adding coil splits, wiring for series/parallel, adding switches, replacing pots, etc. is all pretty easy.
Component Replacement: replacing the passive components in vintage equipment—especially replacing the electrolytic caps—can really bring gear back to life and solve intermittent problems and extend the life of a product.