Need recommendations for DIY small guitar amp

bst · 8th June 2011, 12:08 AM

I'm not a musician, but have several long-time friends who are. I'd like to build some small (<5 watt) practice amps to give as gifts. I've looked at many sites recently, but the more designs I see, the more I realize how little I know.

I've built and restored more than a few hi-fi amplifiers, but know nothing about guitar amps. I have no idea what 'crunch' or 'chime' refer to, nor what makes an amplifier 'bluesy' as opposed to 'metal'. All I know is that I have a basement workshop filled with parts, and the desire to build some really nice little amps that will be appreciated by guys who've played guitar for four decades.

I've looked at some of the projects on AX84, as well as numerous variations of Fender Champs and Princetons. I'm intrigued with Boozhound Labs' BHL-15. My goal is a little self-contained amp and speaker package in a small portable cabinet, which can be used in a residence without irritating the neighbors.

If any of you can recommend a simple all-tube design which fits this description, I'd appreciate your insights -- especially if you're a fifty-something serious amateur player, who still gets the urge to play some classic licks from John Mayall to Eric Clapton, or Duane Allman to Buddy Guy, at one o'clock in the morning.

nigelwright7557 · 8th June 2011, 12:32 AM

Crunch is how much distortion the sound has.

A guitar outputs a fairly mundane sine wave and doesnt sound good so musicians quickly found out that valve amps overdriven gave a much richer sound.

Before I could afford a valve amp I used a "soft limiter" that gave a similar distortion to a valve.

Nothing beats the sound of a valve amp being overdriven.

costis_n · 8th June 2011, 07:14 AM

My first - and only - guitar amp project was an AX84 P1 (look it up under Classic Projects). It was meant for a classic/blues guitarist friend of mine. The guy plays mostly clean, with a mild crunch. He LOVES the sound.

Following his advise, I used a Jensen C12R speaker. Small speakers sound "tinny" he said. The result is a lively, chimey sound with "depth". Really sweet. Want some crunch? Up the volume a bit. I ended up replacing the pre valve with a 12AT7, cause the break up was a little too early for him. He LOVES the sound. Also with this thing you really hear differences when replacing valves. Sovtek=early dirt, ugly sound, Telefunken=too trebly, Ei,RFT=well balanced tone, Chinese=guano.

Generally, you need a decent box and a good 12' speaker, and you have a very sweet sounding thing that makes nice music. A cheap speaker will compromise the sound and in the end it won't be worth your effort. So, maybe it's not a cheap gift. It's a well thought out amp with its own special sound.

Doz · 8th June 2011, 10:34 AM

Try this one...

Single 6V6 Guitar Amplifier Project

Cassiel · 8th June 2011, 12:37 PM

The Bluesman guitar amp

Bobs tube type guitar amp page

costis_n · 9th June 2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassiel

The Bluesman guitar amp

Oooh that looks sweeeeet.... I wonder how it would work with a GU50...
must.... resist....

scott17 · 9th June 2011, 01:16 PM

I recently built a 5F1 copy and bought the transformers here:

Transformers for Tube Amps

Very reasonably priced and they sound just fine.

dsavitsk · 9th June 2011, 04:58 PM

This at least fits the not annoying the neighbors criteria: http://www.ecp.cc/mini_guitar_amp.html

Cassiel · 10th June 2011, 02:14 AM

Your neighbors may be happy but you won't. I'd rather play unplugged than hear my guitar through that speaker. The presence of that lovely Gibson adds insult to injury - she deserves better. The volume knob at 3 is OK for a Champ-like amp; you will be happy and the neighbors won't bang on the walls or call the police. I like pocket-sized amps though but only if they are cute:

JJS.at : Electronic Projects : Class A Subminiature Amp

freestompboxes.org • View topic - "Superfly" - submini tube version of Doug H's Firefly

People like to play these with 4X12 cabs. Oh the irony. Oh the contrast.

tinitus · 10th June 2011, 02:34 AM

simple tube pre with a chip amp ?

8th June 2011, 12:08 AM	#1
bst diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2005	Need recommendations for DIY small guitar amp I'm not a musician, but have several long-time friends who are. I'd like to build some small (<5 watt) practice amps to give as gifts. I've looked at many sites recently, but the more designs I see, the more I realize how little I know. I've built and restored more than a few hi-fi amplifiers, but know nothing about guitar amps. I have no idea what 'crunch' or 'chime' refer to, nor what makes an amplifier 'bluesy' as opposed to 'metal'. All I know is that I have a basement workshop filled with parts, and the desire to build some really nice little amps that will be appreciated by guys who've played guitar for four decades. I've looked at some of the projects on AX84, as well as numerous variations of Fender Champs and Princetons. I'm intrigued with Boozhound Labs' BHL-15. My goal is a little self-contained amp and speaker package in a small portable cabinet, which can be used in a residence without irritating the neighbors. If any of you can recommend a simple all-tube design which fits this description, I'd appreciate your insights -- especially if you're a fifty-something serious amateur player, who still gets the urge to play some classic licks from John Mayall to Eric Clapton, or Duane Allman to Buddy Guy, at one o'clock in the morning.

8th June 2011, 12:32 AM	#2
nigelwright7557 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Carlisle, England	Crunch is how much distortion the sound has. A guitar outputs a fairly mundane sine wave and doesnt sound good so musicians quickly found out that valve amps overdriven gave a much richer sound. Before I could afford a valve amp I used a "soft limiter" that gave a similar distortion to a valve. Nothing beats the sound of a valve amp being overdriven. __________________ http://www.murtonpikesystems.co.uk PCBCAD40 pcb design software.

8th June 2011, 07:14 AM	#3
costis_n Tinkerer diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2008	AX84 My first - and only - guitar amp project was an AX84 P1 (look it up under Classic Projects). It was meant for a classic/blues guitarist friend of mine. The guy plays mostly clean, with a mild crunch. He LOVES the sound. Following his advise, I used a Jensen C12R speaker. Small speakers sound "tinny" he said. The result is a lively, chimey sound with "depth". Really sweet. Want some crunch? Up the volume a bit. I ended up replacing the pre valve with a 12AT7, cause the break up was a little too early for him. He LOVES the sound. Also with this thing you really hear differences when replacing valves. Sovtek=early dirt, ugly sound, Telefunken=too trebly, Ei,RFT=well balanced tone, Chinese=guano. Generally, you need a decent box and a good 12' speaker, and you have a very sweet sounding thing that makes nice music. A cheap speaker will compromise the sound and in the end it won't be worth your effort. So, maybe it's not a cheap gift. It's a well thought out amp with its own special sound.

8th June 2011, 10:34 AM	#4
Doz diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sat Down	Try this one... Single 6V6 Guitar Amplifier Project __________________ "To err is human.. to make a real balls-up requires a computer"

9th June 2011, 01:16 PM	#7
scott17 diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Jamaica, NY	I recently built a 5F1 copy and bought the transformers here: Transformers for Tube Amps Very reasonably priced and they sound just fine. __________________ Single-Ended Tube Amp Kit


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

8th June 2011, 12:37 PM	#5
Cassiel diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Madrid	The Bluesman guitar amp Bobs tube type guitar amp page

9th June 2011, 04:58 PM	#8
dsavitsk diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chicago	This at least fits the not annoying the neighbors criteria: http://www.ecp.cc/mini_guitar_amp.html __________________ http://www.ecpaudio.com

10th June 2011, 02:14 AM	#9
Cassiel diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Madrid	Your neighbors may be happy but you won't. I'd rather play unplugged than hear my guitar through that speaker. The presence of that lovely Gibson adds insult to injury - she deserves better. The volume knob at 3 is OK for a Champ-like amp; you will be happy and the neighbors won't bang on the walls or call the police. I like pocket-sized amps though but only if they are cute: JJS.at : Electronic Projects : Class A Subminiature Amp freestompboxes.org • View topic - "Superfly" - submini tube version of Doug H's Firefly People like to play these with 4X12 cabs. Oh the irony. Oh the contrast.

10th June 2011, 02:34 AM	#10
tinitus diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005	simple tube pre with a chip amp ?

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