Alright, after a few days' of doing my homework on the tutorial section, I'm back with more newbish questions
The amplifier is coming along well, just have to navigate the maze of wires from 3 different pots, two different phono lines, and 4 different switches. Tested everything for continuity, so far everything is solid.
I have to thank you two, you have created an insatiable interest in me for this stuff. I've spent the past few days designing endless circuits with valves and transistors, things that probably don't work the way I think they will but with time, I hope to be in your position one day, lecturing some newbie on obvious mistakes!
Right now I'm still trying to visualize the transistor as a triode valve minus the heater, it helps my confidence a lot when the object of consideration is a clear glass cylinder that can be studied and not a black square of mysteries and black magic (I don't really understand what goes on in there).
I'm going off to my first year of college in about two weeks so it shouldn't be too hard to pick up on some second- or third-hand electronics texts and maybe even a friend who can sit down with me on the stuff.
Also, I have a basic multimeter and old-school valve-driven oscilloscope, so with a little bit of experience, I should have the basic tools to do what I want to do.
While I'm in college and when I have a bit more confidence with my circuits I will end up rebuilding this amplifier anew, but with multiple valves and a completely homebrew circuit. Purchasing power supplies makes it easy on me experience wise, but doesn't allow me to have the satisfaction of a circuit 100% made by me.
Would either of you mind if I PM'd you to work on the electronics stuff as I work through it? The hardest part about teaching myself, I've found, is the hesitation in not wanting to start experimenting for fear of doing something wrong and having later things built on incorrect knowledge.