Another NOOB hits the Web

[SNAILDARTER]

Just wanted to say Hi. I just found the site today and had to sign up - no lurking around - just jump right in.

I haven't had time to search around much, but I stumbled into the site looking for a nice clean relatively low power tube amp I could build. Here's what I have in mind.

I have some high efficiency speakers - both Electrovoice - that I want to drive for both general stereo playback and for playing some guitar or keyboard through. I've got a set of 12C's that I bought in the late 70's, and then believe it or not a friend who had built up the 15A's gave me his components (the boxes were too big for the livingroom, wife wanted them out, ..... ) so I re-built some cabinets for these and they're a killer set of PA's. Anyway - that gives you an idea of my age - college in the late 70's. Both of these are 8ohm, and are about 100db 1watt, 1 meter efficiency.

I'm thinking I want a nice clean amp - for my guitar I have a VOX Tonelab to give me Amp and Cabinet simulation - so I don't need the poweramp to provide a lot of color. I can feed the amp line level signals either directly or from my mixer if that helps anyone out there with input stage characteristics.

Well - That's WAY too much for an opening - I'll start snooping around but if someone knows of a good thread or two to start with please post a link in here.

I live in Portland Oregon and would love to find an experienced local DIY'er who could help 'mentor' me through this project.

[planet10]

Welcome...

For PA wprk you are going to want something tough and if you are using it for gigs some power -- if its just a practise rig in your basement some of the hifi amps under discussion would probably do the trick... there is a good thread going on an EL84 SE (certainly qualifies for low power & sweet sounding)

dave

[SNAILDARTER]

Well I can assure you its not for gigs - I don't have the chops for that (yet), or the time. Music is a jealous mistress. So it will start out in the music room and most likely stay there. I'm looking for good moderate levels - classic rock/jazz-funk-blues. Sometimes a friend who plays bass comes over and it is great if he can just plug into the PA as well so I need some headroom. I was thinking of 20-35W with the speakers I have.
If I need really loud I have a Mackie amp that works great.

Thanks for the starting thread - That may be the way to get my feet wet.

Anyone else out there with other recommendations?

[planet10]

Originally posted by SNAILDARTER
I was thinking of 20-35W with the speakers I have.

That is actually a medium large power amp in tube terms... small is 2-5W

something like a PP EL34 sounds like it would do you -- 10W in triode biased in Class A, about 35 W in AB.

dave