DIY? How to get feet wet?

I would sugegst finding a kit project that most people recommend for a beginner, sich as the Bottleheads or Hagerman stuff. Get a decent soldering iron and good solder. I would also recommend a decent multi-meter. Then just go for it. Read up on the mods and changes that others have done, then consider which ones you might want to incorporate for yourself at this early stage. You can also do them later if you want, but it will cost more to go that route.

Expect to have problems, and expect to learn a lot as you trace them down and fix them. Then expect a huge pride of ownership thing to occur, and the itch to move on and play with something else.

Enjoy,
Bob

Take a peek at diyaudio.com they have an amplifier section there. You can learn about kits that people have built, what they sound like, and mistakes to avoid.

The Bottlehead Seduction really is pretty easy to build. The instructions are step by step and easy to follow. Even if you screw it up, there are plenty of people who could fix it, so it's not like it could never be used if you mess it up. The Bottlehead forum on their website is EXCELLENT for help. The Bottlehead community is wonderful for advice. BTW, the Seduction is MARVELOUS!!!

Find someone local who can review your work before you power on the unit. That may save you some frustration.

I made my first diode AM radio from scratch when I was 11. If you can read, you can do it. I don't know how young you are. But if you are in your early teens, it is a good idea to get someone watch over you too.

I just built the winsome lab mouse amplifier, very easy to build and sounds great to boot. All you need to know is how to work a solder iron. I suggest just practice on a old pc card.