hi! there,
i have little knowledge about electronics, but with the desire of having my own selfmade amp is so much fulfilling.
my first project was a distortion and lucky i made it work and it sounds great. now, i'm trying to built an amp. the easy way or should I say for beginners.
need support! anyone who has an idea on how to start?
thanx
i have little knowledge about electronics, but with the desire of having my own selfmade amp is so much fulfilling.
my first project was a distortion and lucky i made it work and it sounds great. now, i'm trying to built an amp. the easy way or should I say for beginners.
need support! anyone who has an idea on how to start?
thanx
Get in touch with Guytronix, they have a few kits. They are excellent on customer support and those little extras that make for a really unique kit. Chassis work is first rate!
Cyclotronguy
Email them as:
sales@guytronix.com
Cyclotronguy
Email them as:
sales@guytronix.com
And visit www.ampage.org and look for kits at the sponsored links scattered about. Places like Mission Amps and Weber VST come to mind among others. The site is devoted to guys building their own, whether from scratch or from kits.
It looks like that the guy didn't mention if he wants it tube or solid state... Go for SS, boy. Tubes are hard and dangerous (see the safety lines thread in the "tubes" forum).
And please, make clean one channel SS and add stompboxes. Do not try to make that project that is listed at
http://sound.westhost.com/project27b.htm
'cause it is a SS meant to be overdriven.... Plain BAD brittle sounds... Build a clean amp! And add your stompbox before it.
And please, make clean one channel SS and add stompboxes. Do not try to make that project that is listed at
http://sound.westhost.com/project27b.htm
'cause it is a SS meant to be overdriven.... Plain BAD brittle sounds... Build a clean amp! And add your stompbox before it.
I'd be tempted to aggree with the contibutors who've recomended kits - as a beginner you can't really go wrong.
For a general amplifier, I've had good results from a "SalesKit" kit, which produced a bridged amplifier from the 2 halves of a TDA2004 (stereo power op-amp), delivering 20w into 2ohms. However, whilst I'm sure you could get hold of the chip, I don't know if you could get the kit outside the UK.
If you don't want to build from a kit, then I would recomend using a power op-amp - designing discreet amplifiers is hard, and even using an existing design they are far more complicated than op-amp designes. The TDA2050 is a 35w IC that I've had success with in the past, it only requires a few external components (a circuit is suggested on the datasheet), and can be bridged easliy for higher power.
I have constructed a workable guitar/multipurpose amp using a pair of these for the power end, and OP275GP's as preamps (although I'm no guitarist, and can't say whether it is really any good ;-).
I believe you said you allready have a distortion pedal made, but overdrive can easily added by including a [switchable] pair of diodes back-to-back in the feedback path of your preamp (an idea I think I first saw in a book by R.A. Penfold). Seems to work quite nicely.
Finally, I've got to agree with the preveous post: Valves are surely too much bother for a first-time amp, besides, you've got to leave something for you next project haven't you??
All the best
TOMi
For a general amplifier, I've had good results from a "SalesKit" kit, which produced a bridged amplifier from the 2 halves of a TDA2004 (stereo power op-amp), delivering 20w into 2ohms. However, whilst I'm sure you could get hold of the chip, I don't know if you could get the kit outside the UK.
If you don't want to build from a kit, then I would recomend using a power op-amp - designing discreet amplifiers is hard, and even using an existing design they are far more complicated than op-amp designes. The TDA2050 is a 35w IC that I've had success with in the past, it only requires a few external components (a circuit is suggested on the datasheet), and can be bridged easliy for higher power.
I have constructed a workable guitar/multipurpose amp using a pair of these for the power end, and OP275GP's as preamps (although I'm no guitarist, and can't say whether it is really any good ;-).
I believe you said you allready have a distortion pedal made, but overdrive can easily added by including a [switchable] pair of diodes back-to-back in the feedback path of your preamp (an idea I think I first saw in a book by R.A. Penfold). Seems to work quite nicely.
Finally, I've got to agree with the preveous post: Valves are surely too much bother for a first-time amp, besides, you've got to leave something for you next project haven't you??
All the best
TOMi
Please, don't suggest diodes as clippers for guitar distortion... all we guitarists want is not "distortion"... is sweet overdrive from a tube amp... The only way to archieve it is to use a well designed stompbox (that is more than just an opamp and diodes...) or go digital. Many modelers out there, try Line6 stuff and tell us.
Yes, the power opamp are a very good option. I would suggest the LM3886, high power and hi-fi sound. If you feed it from a decent guitar preamp you obtain pro-level results (at least I do that thing this way)
Enjoy!
But there are also easy tube projects out there, maybe for a beginner is just a safety issue to avoid them.
Yes, the power opamp are a very good option. I would suggest the LM3886, high power and hi-fi sound. If you feed it from a decent guitar preamp you obtain pro-level results (at least I do that thing this way)
Enjoy!
But there are also easy tube projects out there, maybe for a beginner is just a safety issue to avoid them.
For a basic small SS amp, the TDA2040 and others of that family are ubiquitous. It is easy to use and not expensive. The data sheet shows all the circuit you need. It is a whole power amp in a five legged chip.
For preamp, a plain old vanilla 4558 op amp works fine. If you need more than the two stages in it, add another 4558. I think high performance op amps are wasted on a guitar amp.
I agree that clipping diodes provides distortion the same way McDonald provides dining. it is not pleasant. "There. It has distortion. Now eat your dinner." "Awwwww, Mom."
I wouldn't be so quick to poo poo a tube amp. I takes a bit more work, especially making the chassis, but a basic Deluxe, bassman, or even a CHamp clone is not a complex amp and it sounds good. Amd it is a "real" guitar amp rather than a practice amp. Ther are numerous kits available for tube amps. Probably more than SS amps.
If you have never built something, I think a kit is a good way to go. It already has done all the detective work for you. And you won't get halfway through the project and discover, "Oh, I never realized I would also need..."
For preamp, a plain old vanilla 4558 op amp works fine. If you need more than the two stages in it, add another 4558. I think high performance op amps are wasted on a guitar amp.
I agree that clipping diodes provides distortion the same way McDonald provides dining. it is not pleasant. "There. It has distortion. Now eat your dinner." "Awwwww, Mom."
I wouldn't be so quick to poo poo a tube amp. I takes a bit more work, especially making the chassis, but a basic Deluxe, bassman, or even a CHamp clone is not a complex amp and it sounds good. Amd it is a "real" guitar amp rather than a practice amp. Ther are numerous kits available for tube amps. Probably more than SS amps.
If you have never built something, I think a kit is a good way to go. It already has done all the detective work for you. And you won't get halfway through the project and discover, "Oh, I never realized I would also need..."
Enzo, what "poo poo" stands for? I think "to avoid"?
IMHO kit tube amps are a great deal. But If the guy was my son, I don't think I will suggest him such a project. Think about it:
- much more chassis involved. You may end up (if you haven't made metal working before) with an unusable piece of alluminium, full of bad-made holes everywhere. Instead, for a chip amp I suggest an old PC power supply. Plenty of them out there, and cost is zero. So you can practice making amps out of them, instead loosing 100$ on a pre-made chassis.
- the guy may not have the experience in soldering, component layouting, mains wiring, heat precautions, and other thing. And to ruin a $5 chip amp is better than to ruin that tube sockets or that expensive output trasformers (remember that only in USA you get tube sockets and transformer everywhere! If I want one in Italy, I have to order it from the States. Bad situation)
- Ok, you've wired your tube amp like said on the intructions. But when making them, the producer lost a step in the process. You end up with an anode connection on a pot. You put 100$ of tubes in, you power it up, you fry all the tubes and probably kill yourself. Bad idea.
Ok? just my thoughts, after all.
IMHO kit tube amps are a great deal. But If the guy was my son, I don't think I will suggest him such a project. Think about it:
- much more chassis involved. You may end up (if you haven't made metal working before) with an unusable piece of alluminium, full of bad-made holes everywhere. Instead, for a chip amp I suggest an old PC power supply. Plenty of them out there, and cost is zero. So you can practice making amps out of them, instead loosing 100$ on a pre-made chassis.
- the guy may not have the experience in soldering, component layouting, mains wiring, heat precautions, and other thing. And to ruin a $5 chip amp is better than to ruin that tube sockets or that expensive output trasformers (remember that only in USA you get tube sockets and transformer everywhere! If I want one in Italy, I have to order it from the States. Bad situation)
- Ok, you've wired your tube amp like said on the intructions. But when making them, the producer lost a step in the process. You end up with an anode connection on a pot. You put 100$ of tubes in, you power it up, you fry all the tubes and probably kill yourself. Bad idea.
Ok? just my thoughts, after all.
Not so. Tubes and associated parts are not hard to find in Italy and the EUGiaime said:
http://www.audiokit.it/ENG/Frames/Introduction1.htm
http://www.diyparadiso.com
Bit too much hyperbole there.
For any thinking individual with a passion to build something, and the patience to learn how it's done, it won't be a problem. Awareness of potential dangers and patience are the most important aspects of learning something new, so armed with these a novice should have no difficulty. And people around here will usually answer any 'help me' posts if someone is unsure.
Heila Brett! Thanks for the links: I really didn't know them. Prices are good!
I agree totally with you about starting learning building a tube amp. These are my beliefs too.
At this point, I can only suggest for www.ax84.com
If the guy shows he's alive and tell us what do he think about tubes...
We're open everyday for answers!
I agree totally with you about starting learning building a tube amp. These are my beliefs too.
At this point, I can only suggest for www.ax84.com
If the guy shows he's alive and tell us what do he think about tubes...
We're open everyday for answers!
Giaime, "poo poo" is an American slang phrase that means to dismiss or to speak negatively about.
The boss poo poo-ed my suggestion. The boss spoke negatively about my suggestion.
I told my friends I didn't want to fly because a falling space ship might crash into the plane and we should go by boat. My friends poo poo-ed my concern.
poo poo is also children slang for poop or feces. I think the terms are related. SOmeone poo pooing my idea is essentially calling it poop.
(Sorry, I originally had a bad word there and the system censored me, so I changed it)
I think a simple solid state amp may be a better choice for an absolute novice, I just didn't want to dismiss tubes without discussion. Building something requires more than circuit knowledge, there is also just the part about using tools, handling materials, sourcing parts and so on. A kit reduces a lot of the tangential stuff. But is someone has already spent some time on the workbench, he may be readu for something a little more complex.
The boss poo poo-ed my suggestion. The boss spoke negatively about my suggestion.
I told my friends I didn't want to fly because a falling space ship might crash into the plane and we should go by boat. My friends poo poo-ed my concern.
poo poo is also children slang for poop or feces. I think the terms are related. SOmeone poo pooing my idea is essentially calling it poop.
(Sorry, I originally had a bad word there and the system censored me, so I changed it)
I think a simple solid state amp may be a better choice for an absolute novice, I just didn't want to dismiss tubes without discussion. Building something requires more than circuit knowledge, there is also just the part about using tools, handling materials, sourcing parts and so on. A kit reduces a lot of the tangential stuff. But is someone has already spent some time on the workbench, he may be readu for something a little more complex.
I built a few amps arround the LM3886 (2 guitar and one Bass amp) and they sound really quite good....You could simply buy a Lm3886 chip amp kit and throw a good Pedal in front of it or even a simple tube preamp....My Main LM3886 amp has a 3 band active tone controll with 2 seperate OD stages that can be enabled or disabled...It sounds very good and is quite loud.....
Cheers
Cheers
Do you have a layout or schematic for this I can look at? I purchased the LM3886 boards from chipamp.com to build a guitar amp but most of the stuff I can find about chipamp boards is all related to home stereo stuff.
Any info. greatly appreciated.
Hey , Um ... sorry , My computer crashed about 6 months ago and I lost most of my layouts and schematics .... I have a layout for a Tube guitar preamp that runs off of 12V , it has lots of features but it is a pretty complicated project and there is a lot of off board wireing and it is a difficult PCB to etch at home,
I am useing it to build a 2 channel stereo Guitar amp right now and throwing a 5 band EQ after it into a Stereo TDA7293 Kit with speaker protection , it is my most complex project to date , it has 18 Knobs and 11 switches and takes up a 6U case ....
I can send you the PCB layout , a wireing diagram , and stuffing guide , but I can"t post it because it is a copy of a comercially available kit and I don"t want to get in trouble for posting copyriteted artwork ... you might be better off just buying a kit somewere or just throwing a pedal in front of the chip amp ....
Cheers
I am useing it to build a 2 channel stereo Guitar amp right now and throwing a 5 band EQ after it into a Stereo TDA7293 Kit with speaker protection , it is my most complex project to date , it has 18 Knobs and 11 switches and takes up a 6U case ....
I can send you the PCB layout , a wireing diagram , and stuffing guide , but I can"t post it because it is a copy of a comercially available kit and I don"t want to get in trouble for posting copyriteted artwork ... you might be better off just buying a kit somewere or just throwing a pedal in front of the chip amp ....
Cheers
- Status
- This old topic is closed. If you want to reopen this topic, contact a moderator using the "Report Post" button.