I guess I joined late in this. I found that a chassis can be very inexpensive if you use baking pan or loaf pan from the kitchen. Like this:
Amazon.com: Chicago Metallic Non Stick Mini Loaf Pans, Set of 4: Kitchen & Dining
Well, that's my contribution now.
Amazon.com: Chicago Metallic Non Stick Mini Loaf Pans, Set of 4: Kitchen & Dining
Well, that's my contribution now.
Here is a 2 watt guitar amp I built for my son about 2 years ago using series string AA5 type radio tubes. I used an isolation transformer and a real small audio transformer as you can see. Tubes used are 2 12AT6's, 50DC4 and 50C5. I did not design this amp, a fellow radio collector did. Its as simple as you can get.
Sal
Sal
How's the hum?Here is a 2 watt guitar amp I built for my son about 2 years ago using series string AA5 type radio tubes. I used an isolation transformer and a real small audio transformer as you can see. Tubes used are 2 12AT6's, 50DC4 and 50C5. I did not design this amp, a fellow radio collector did. Its as simple as you can get.
Sal
Ive been reading most of this thread with great interest, and I love the spirit of the competition. unfortunately being a child of the late 70s I have little experience of valve/tube amps besides my dean markley signature 120 head. If i were to try and make a simple amp with SS, im sure i could do a rough and ready class A, but despite their similarities, and simple designs, I could not do the same with tubes.
So respect is due. I have a little Kustom practice amp with a 6-8" speaker thats crying out for a simple tube amp conversion. This is one competition I would love to have been able to enter, but im happy building one of the designs, or maybe the winning one if its simple enough for my poor brain!
So respect is due. I have a little Kustom practice amp with a 6-8" speaker thats crying out for a simple tube amp conversion. This is one competition I would love to have been able to enter, but im happy building one of the designs, or maybe the winning one if its simple enough for my poor brain!
sorry for the off topic but I am a n00b re: this stuff, I happen to have a dozen 12A?7s and 4 EL84s (and a couple EL34s) where can I find schematics for guitar amps using these?
http://mhuss.com/18watt/schematics/18minwatt.gif
http://mhuss.com/18watt/schematics/18wattLite2b.gif
Lite II Build
18 Watt LiteIIb "Baby Will"
https://taweber.powweb.com/store/smokeII_schem.jpg
https://taweber.powweb.com/store/smokeII_layout.jpg
https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_weber.htm#SmokinJoe
If I did the build with parts I already own (some vintage) but make a documented list of the parts, made sure they are all readily available and within budget, will this qualify to be a part of the 'comp?' I'm gonna build it anyway because I want to follow the project and try to teach myself something, but I don't really have the spare money to purchase new parts right now.
I'm new to this, and built the MTA-1XE that Mr. Tubekit sells as my first ever build. He helped me via email a lot. I must say that I'm happy with it. I'm intriqued by the mention of the four tube design you mentioned with reverb and such for under $100. I want you to let me know when that is ready for prime time. I am about ready to do another build.
You may want to wait to see whose design wins this challenge.Although I think only George (Tubelab) will provide PCB's for others. So if you're not an experienced solder slinger Tubekit's and Tubelab's amps will be your only options.
I'm watching, and waiting. I don't need a lot of options, just one good one would suffice! There are a lot of pages to this thread, and I'm unsure of when this challenge is supposed to end. I'm not sure if I could follow only a schematic at this point. I seem to get confused over the simplest things, of course I have no experience with schematics, not totally understanding what I see. We'll see what happens as it goes along. It appears that the thread has cooled off somewhat in recent days. Maybe people are losing interest? Thanks for tolerating my simple minded interjections in this subject. I would just like to see this continue, and be able to use something from it. I find it all fascinating!
One thing to remember: Having the tube already on hand hardly saves you any money. Tubes are about the lowest price part of a tube amp. You can buy a 12AX7 for $10 but a transformer costs between $30 and $50. You'll need two transformers. Yes there are cheaper way but you want to build from tested schematics where many amps have been built. This $100 amp thread is currently for people who want to be pioneers with a new amp. For your fist try, build a known design
The EL84 and EL34 are associated with Marshal amps. Select a Marshal amp that you like then look up the schematics for it.
Amp Archives/Marshall/Schematics & Layouts/Marshall Amp Schematics
Also as was said there is also AX84.com - The Cooperative Tube Guitar Amp Project with many new design amps mostly based on those tubes. Good web based suport group
I think it ends on Octuber 15th (2011) which is Global Handwashing Day BTW. LOL.
I can't speak for others but my interest lies right now somewhere else. It seems people has been slowly dropping off, looking for other projects. Like resolving employment issues and family matters and whatnot. Others probably just got tired - this thread is too long. It doesn't help, either, that the creator of this challenge seems to be missing. Is this thing still alive?
I would love to work on some of the designs I posted but I am doing house renovations and have winter coming around the corner deciding my priorities. I might get an amp in but I have no problem with being late and adding my contribution afterwards. I look at this more as a place to post my ideas rather than a competition. The common thread is the low-buck-ness (hows that for a word) of the amp and there will be different ways of achieving that. I am hoping to show what I can do with a 70V transformer and I want to get the switchable PI thing going to see how the different configurations affect the sound. Hopefully useful information well after the 15th.
