I've owned 2 solid-state carvin sx amps, the overdrive sounds great turned to 7 or 8 with the blues switch turned on.  The clean channel I don't really use too much. I would like to make a similar amp with one channel and lessen the overdrive to that "sweet spot". I used to have a job soldering circuit boards for a living years earlier. I think it would be a fun and challenging project.  I'm sure there's a lot to learn, I've looked at the several schematics for that amp and it's just pages and pages so I'm not sure which one (or more) to reference.  I don't want to launch the space shuttle, just make a decent one channel amp (head), and a solid state is even more satisfying since most amps are tube.  Any advice, references, etc.  I'd appreciate.  I'm not in a giant hurry or anything.  I'd like to do this slowly, carefully, and accurately. 

So i have dave hunter's book about building tube amps...im still studying all of this stuff and trying to digest how to make an amp...ive made guitars before and saved a lot of money doing it myself and now id like to make the jump to amps...also i just ordered a vox pathfinder 15r which im stoked about getting soon!  a few questions:
are solid states less expensive to make compared to tube amps?...you dont need tubes obviously and i dont know about the pt and the ot, if theyre are in solid states...
where do i start studying how to make ss amps?  books?  this site of course...
i used to work for a living assembling and soldering curcuit boards so i know some basics about grounding and soldering and a little schematics...
also look at this board....it came from my central air unit, had to get it replaced...anything useable on it?  or should i just 86 the thing?  thanks...thats all the questions i can think of now...