Wow, what an adventure indeed!
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You forgot the “may cause cancer” bit for California 
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Lead solder indeed. I used it because Bottlehead recommends it as much easier than lead-free or silver solder. However, soldering doesn’t vaporize metals. It makes a “burning electronics” smell from the rosin. Lead has minimal toxicity in metal form – it’s much worse when vaporized. Lead paint and water pipes were the norm for a long, long time. The pipes become safe as calcium forms a crust over the surface. Don’t lick or eat old paint.
I’m not concerned much by the Crack (after shocking myself repeatedly on another tube amp and learning my lessons). However, newbies are notorious for destroying tubes. There’s a love-hate relationship with tube amps in the electric guitar culture. They love the sound but hate the maintenance and fragility.
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Back when I was an install tech, I used to have to solder many (as in hundreds and hundreds) of XLRs on to cables in free air. Back then I just used to hold the cable and connector in one hand, soldering iron in the other and the solder in my mouth.
Everyone kept telling me I was poisoning myself but still always sent me because my method was a lot quicker 
(My profile pic is actually a color photo, it’s just the lead poisining that has made me grey)
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That brings back memories.
Sometimes when setting up a customer I would have to make modem or printer cables on site. My modus operandi was to place the connector in a desk drawer and hold the drawer closed with my knee and use my hands for the solder and iron.
Free air sounds harder, don’t know if I would have pulled that off.
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Everything comes with the California “may cause cancer” sticker
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I think your quotes “” were one word off…… “California may cause cancer” 
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Considering I’m in Oregon, I’m trying to be as nice as possible when it comes to California
I am too but having lived in California for years (my family all still lives in the LA area) …. I’ll take full blame.
If I were rich I would still live in San Diego…it’s just too damn expensive. That and ….
California may cause cancer
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As a New Yorker I dream of finding a good reason/situation to end up on the West Coast… my road trips there really sold me on wanting to have access to that regularly, with great weather year round.
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My last comment without taking this too far off topic. I spent three years at 32nd st naval base in San diego, so I know how it expensive it was once upon a time. We get people from Washington and California moving to Oregon as Oregonians move east for cheaper land. Go figure. Management of our state is poor to say the least.
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Keeping us off-topic briefly, sorry: I’m with you, I’d be delighted to relocate from NJ/NY to CA. I’ve visited CA quite a few times (but not enough!) and I spent a glorious summer there. My wife’s a Cali girl, from the East County of San Diego, and she longs to return, some day.
Back on-topic, sort of: part of the appeal for me are the fun-filled places for those of us in this hobby, from the Source AV to Rosson Audio and Schiit, and I’m sure many more, all being located there. Do Audeze and Dan Clark Audio have setups where you can go and check out their headphones?
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Schiit Modi Multibit is back in stock:
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including nickel and DIDP, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm.
For more information visit www.p65warnings.ca.gov.
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I bought one from that guy on Etsy a couple years ago, and it was the best purchasing experience I have ever had online. James sends you pictures of the build as he goes, and is a master. I did not want to mess with building my own, and wanted a BHC so I went with James. If you don’t want to build one yourself, and don’t mind paying a little extra, this is what you can get. I actually sent James pictures of my Sapele Aeolus to match the finish and he did a killer job.
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OOOOOH, would you mind sharing the link?
He puts my skills to shame, and you’ll likely have solid resale value too.
Builder link for @elliot:
He also will do a tweaked edition with upgraded parts throughout.
Blue Alps Pot 100k Upgrade: $25
or
Audio Note Pot 100k Upgrade: $60 (recommended)
Mundorf MCap 100uf 250v Upgrade: $130
or
Mundorf EVO Oil 100uf 350v Upgrade: $170 (recommended)
Choke CX-7: $25 (recommended)
Cree Diode Mod: $15 (recommended)
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Cool! So you order and have it shipped to him and then he charges the listed price on Etsy for the work? Seems that’s the case and honestly a seemingly smart move for a first tube.
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Yes, his fees are for assembly, painting/wood finishing, and/or parts upgrades. You pay for the kit SEPARATELY. I thought of going that route but decided I should do two things in life:
- (Re) learn to speak Spanish
- (Re) learn to solder
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If you need help with the first, let me know.
The second… well… can’t help ya there. I am about as handy as my infant.
My last name is hispanic and I don’t speak Spanish so right there with you… Ended up with fluency in French instead? There’s logic there somewhere.
Anyways, back on topic - glad to see @generic and @Wes_S can back me up on the ready-built Bottlehead claim. I’m always confused when people write off BHC due to lack of handiness when I’ve seen so many Etsy listings, but thought maybe I was missing something. Glad to see people have had good experiences with it!
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