Most people who build their first tube amplifier kit at Amp Camp arrive with the same concern: they've never soldered before. Or they soldered once, years ago, and aren't sure it counts. Or they've watched videos, read the manuals, and still aren't certain they can do it without making an expensive mistake.
By the end of the day, every one of them has gone home with a working amplifier.
That's not an accident. It's the point.
What Amp Camp is
Amp Camp is a supervised tube amplifier build workshop run by Secret Chord Analogue at a purpose-built facility in Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. It runs on the third weekend of most months, with mid-week sessions available by request.
The premise is straightforward: you choose an amplifier kit, you come to Wentworth Falls, and you build it. All tools and materials are provided. Lunch is sourced from one of our favourite local eateries. Expert guidance is available throughout. The facility is air-conditioned, wi-fi equipped, and fully wheelchair accessible.
You leave with a fully built and tested amplifier. That's the guarantee.
The format
Every Amp Camp day begins the same way, regardless of which amplifier you're building: a short course in soldering.
This isn't a formality. Soldering errors account for the majority of build failures in kit construction — not component mix-ups, not misread schematics, but poor joints: cold solder, insufficient heat, or too much solder applied too quickly. The soldering course is practical rather than theoretical. You make joins, you look at them, you understand what a good joint looks and feels like before you apply that knowledge to a component that costs money.
With soldering established, construction begins. Elekit kits come with English-language build instructions that are clear enough to follow independently — but at Amp Camp, you also have quick-reference location guides that accelerate component installation, and the kit components are pre-sorted and arranged before you start. The effect is that what could be a source of confusion becomes a methodical, satisfying process.
No electricity is applied to the circuit until all checks are complete. Safety is not an afterthought.
A typical Amp Camp day runs at your own pace. Most builders complete their amplifier within the day. Some take a little longer on specific stages; the guidance is there when it's needed, and there's no pressure to move faster than is comfortable.
What you can build
Elekit TU-8400 — compact single-ended stereo power amplifier. EL34 through KT170, active automatic bias. The most versatile and accessible kit in the range. A natural starting point for first-time builders.
Elekit TU-8450 — tube preamplifier with MM/MC phono stage. Pairs naturally with the TU-8400 to form a complete tube system. Build both over a weekend: preamplifier on Saturday, power amplifier on Sunday.
Elekit TU-8550 — full tube preamplifier with integrated phono equaliser for moving magnet cartridges. All signal pathways handled by tubes throughout. Pairs especially well with the TU-8900.
Elekit TU-8900 — single-ended 300B/2A3 power amplifier. The most celebrated kit in the range. Optional Lundahl amorphous core output transformer upgrade. Three five-star reviews from builders who have completed it at Amp Camp and at home.
Elekit TU-8888 — push-pull monoblock power amplifier. Two units required for stereo. Approximately 60 watts per channel through a Lundahl LL3733 output transformer. For builders who want maximum output power with genuine tube character.
SpotFire SE5 — Australian-designed single-ended EL34 power amplifier. 5 watts per channel, headphone output, Bluetooth, NFB switch. A solderless variant is available for those who prefer not to solder at all.
SpotFire PR5 and SpotFire Rock Star Guitar Amp are also available for Amp Camp builds. Contact us to discuss.
The residential option
Amp Camp is in Wentworth Falls — an easy day trip from Sydney, and a destination in its own right for those who want to make a weekend of it.
Falls Lodge sits next door to the workshop. It accommodates up to six people and includes a full Secret Chord Analogue hifi system: tube amplifier, turntable, and full-range single-driver loudspeakers. If you're planning to build a preamplifier and power amplifier over two days, an overnight stay at Falls Lodge turns a practical schedule into something considerably more enjoyable — an evening between sessions spent listening to your own records on a complete tube system, ahead of the second build day.
Accommodation bookings and rates are through Falls Lodge directly:
What builders say
The most recent Amp Camp feedback produced three observations worth sharing:
"It would be possible for practically anyone to complete a high-quality kit supplied by Secret Chord Analogue."
"The listening experience of a tube amp is enlightening; coupled with efficient full-range speakers, it becomes truly amazing."
"Being able to ask general questions regarding set-up and configuration was extremely helpful."
That last point matters. Amp Camp is not just a build session — it's also an opportunity to talk through speaker matching, system configuration, tubes, and everything else that surrounds the amplifier you're building. Those conversations happen naturally over the course of the day, and they often prove as valuable as the build itself.
Practical details
Location: Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains, NSW. Easy day trip from Sydney. Disability parking and wheelchair access provided.
Schedule: Third weekend of most months. Mid-week sessions available by request. Minimum two weeks' lead time. Bookings confirmed on receipt of payment.
Transport note: A completed preamplifier and power amplifier together can exceed 10 kilograms. If you're not driving, we can arrange shipping to your home address — metropolitan freight is typically around $30.
What to bring: Enthusiasm. Everything else is provided.
How to book
Contact us to discuss your project, confirm a date, and arrange payment. We're happy to talk through which kit suits your system before you commit — speaker sensitivity, room size, and what you're connecting are all worth a conversation first.
Prefer not to build? Our kit build service means you can own any amplifier in the range, fully assembled and tested.
Written by Stephen Price, founder of Secret Chord Analogue. Amp Camp is a Secret Chord Analogue experience held in Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains, NSW.
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