Dear customer, we would like to inform you about an extraordinary opportunity for you and your company: customized electrical schematic design by SB-LAB. We know how important it is for you to have a flawless electrical system that meets your specific needs and maximizes your capabilities. That’s why we are here to offer you a tailor-made design service that meets your every request.
Why rely on SB-LAB for the design of your electrical schematics?
- Experience and expertise: With years of experience in the field and extensive knowledge of electrical technologies, SB-LAB can offer you cutting-edge, optimized, and highly efficient solutions.
- Complete customization: Whether you are an enthusiast or a large company, our personalized approach ensures that each schematic is designed specifically for you, taking into account your needs, specifications, and preferences.
- Quality and precision: Our attention to detail and meticulous design process ensure that each schematic is produced with the highest accuracy and quality, guaranteeing excellent results.
- Comprehensive support: We don’t just provide you with the schematics. We are here to offer our professional support, answering your questions, solving potential issues, and providing continuous assistance throughout the entire realization process.
- Confidentiality and security: Your privacy is fundamental to us. You can count on our total confidentiality and the security of your data and sensitive information.
Whether you need a custom amplifier or any other tailor-made tube-based electrical solution, SB-LAB is here to turn your vision into reality.
Don’t miss the opportunity to obtain professional and high-quality electrical schematics. Contact us today to request the design of your schematics and discover how we can help you achieve your goals. Remember, custom design is the first step to success! Choose SB-LAB and unleash your full potential.
Why are the schematics on the website blurred?
Since March 2020, new projects have been introduced on my website in the sections “Projects for Everyone” and “Readers’ Works”. These projects include “premium” electrical schematics, which appear blurred when clicked. You are probably wondering why I made this choice. First of all, I would like to point out that my website is a professional business. However, my personal passion has always been present and over the years I have freely shared my knowledge by publishing original, unpublished schematics. I tried to avoid the usual copies of 1960s schematics, which are reproduced without any innovation, as well as trivial basic-level circuits. My schematics have been developed specifically to be used in combination with the transformers I sell on my website, which you can purchase directly from me. They have been optimized to guarantee the best quality result. My hope was that people would appreciate this generosity and decide to purchase my transformers to build these projects (and many did). Unfortunately, however, some took advantage of my knowledge for free, building the projects using transformers purchased elsewhere, maybe just to save a few euros. Moreover, more than once I have received requests for free assistance in assembling such projects with transformers from other suppliers, or I have been asked why the circuit did not produce the results published on my website (which cannot be achieved using transformers different from the ones I recommend).
In addition, I have faced the problem of Chinese websites mirroring mine, copying all the content. I fear they will start selling amplifiers based on my schematics, using poor quality components. For these reasons, I decided to make the online schematics unreadable. Anyone interested in building a specific project will receive a readable copy of the schematic via private message, but only together with the purchase of the corresponding transformer set.
However, I would like to emphasize that “premium” also represents a service I offer. If you want to build an amplifier or preamplifier with specific features, I can provide you with a customized schematic and the related set of transformers for assembly. So, if you have an idea or a schematic you would like to make real, but perhaps you don’t have the time, willingness, or skills to do it, you can rely on me. I will be happy to help you realize your project.
Costs and procedures to obtain a premium schematic
If the project is already available on the website, the cost to obtain the schematic is €50, in addition to the cost of the transformer set required to build it. I do not provide the schematic alone without the purchase of the transformer set. You can purchase both components or none.
If the project is not yet available on the website, I am open to your requests. You can ask for a custom schematic, for example for a power amplifier with specific tubes and design requirements. The project draft will first be tested in a simulator and then a complete schematic will be made, from which the necessary transformers will be calculated. I will provide you with a detailed quotation for the transformer set and the schematic (the schematic will always cost €50). If the quotation is not accepted, it will not be possible to purchase only the schematic. The complete purchase of the transformer set together with the schematic is required.
Schematics created only through simulation can be considered 95% reliable, but they cannot guarantee perfection or the absence of flaws, since they have not been tested in real practice. Further optimizations may be required to fix minor issues arising from imperfections in real components, couplings, oscillations, noise, etc. Moreover, specific issues may arise from the assembly performed by the person building the project. Therefore, it is assumed that the customer who purchases the premium schematic and the transformer set has the necessary skills and tools (tester, oscilloscope, function generator, variac, dummy load) to understand and manage such minor issues, which may require small modifications to the schematic itself. SB-LAB is naturally available to provide support by email or to review the customer’s assembly in order to solve such issues and bring it to completion successfully.
Third-party design and prototyping
SB-LAB offers a wide range of design, prototyping, and third-party production services for tube audio equipment. I have advanced skills in using KiCad software for printed circuit board (PCB) design. I can create the custom PCB, prototype it, and build the first sample of the device, which will undergo rigorous bench performance and functionality tests.
In addition, I can provide the 3D export of the PCB in STEP format, which is essential for any external CAD designers who want to build a chassis or case for the device. This allows for better integration between the PCB and the external design of the final product.
The cost of this type of work is €30 per hour, bearing in mind that the time available for production and assembly activities is limited by my ongoing professional workload. A preliminary evaluation will be required to determine the feasibility and time commitment necessary for the specific project.
It is important to note that while I can handle small productions and custom assemblies, the tasks required to obtain CE certification for the product are the responsibility of the commissioning company. CE certification is essential to ensure compliance with European safety and conformity standards, and the responsibility to obtain it will lie with the commissioning company.
SB-LAB already has experience in designing and prototyping tube audio equipment for external companies, including guitar and bass heads, amplifiers, and preamplifiers of various types. Unfortunately, due to confidentiality agreements, I cannot show photographs of the devices built. However, both individuals and companies interested can contact me to discuss their specific needs and evaluate possible collaboration.
Legal Notice
The premium schematics, available for purchase together with the transformer sets for the realization of the projects presented on this site, are subject to copyright. They are provided exclusively for the personal use of the individual customer for hobby purposes. It is strictly forbidden to disclose or make public in any form, either printed or digital, the premium schematics without my prior authorization. Furthermore, it is not permitted to use the schematics for commercial purposes of any kind without my explicit consent.
It is strictly forbidden to obscure, delete, or render illegible the notes located in the lower-right corner of the project sheets. These notes are an integral part of the schematics and must be kept intact.
Schematics created at the exclusive request of a private customer remain the property of SB-LAB. SB-LAB reserves the right to use such schematics for other people or companies; only companies can request confidentiality for projects. Unauthorized use of the schematics will be prosecuted according to applicable laws.
Please note that premium schematics are provided without any guarantee of operation, since correct functioning depends on the technical skills of the buyer, who is responsible for assembling them in the best possible way. It is up to the buyer to check that no mistakes have been made during assembly and to possess the necessary equipment and skills to build the circuit; in this regard, see the disclaimer.
Nevertheless, SB-LAB is committed to offering assistance, to be agreed upon on a case-by-case basis, should the customer encounter difficulties during the assembly process. It is understood that the assistance provided will be at SB-LAB’s discretion. Please carefully review these legal provisions. Unauthorized use of premium schematics or violation of the above conditions will result in the application of appropriate legal measures.