Looking for a fairly simple Hi gain tube pre amp project

jackasspenguin · 31st May 2012, 04:00 PM

I'm interested in a schematic and or complete plans to build a 12ax7 hi gain tube pre amp for guitar applications. My intentions are to stick something into a small chassis and use as a foot controlled pedal of sorts to drive my Fender Super Reverb made circa 67. I may perhaps build two of them to have a 2 channel clean, and dirty output.

This is my first post here. Hope to enjoy the site!
Cheers!
Johnny

Merlinb · 31st May 2012, 04:39 PM

Take a look at the projects at AX84.com - The Cooperative Tube Guitar Amp Project

Alvis · 31st May 2012, 04:54 PM

Here's a "Soldano" preamp. Those AX84's don't quite get there.

Soldano Preamp : DIY Fever – Building my own guitars, amps and pedals

Alvis · 31st May 2012, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlinb

Take a look at the projects at AX84.com - The Cooperative Tube Guitar Amp Project

lol, are you the "Merlin" mentioned in my link?

SY · 31st May 2012, 05:00 PM

Although he was too modest to mention it, MerlinB is the author of a book that will answer your question and many more. Highly recommended.

http://www.amazon.com/Designing-Tube...8483622&sr=8-1

Alvis · 31st May 2012, 05:21 PM

Too cool.

There are lot's of sound clips for the AX84 HO online and a few sound clips of the Soldano at the bottom of the page I linked.
You can get a pretty good idea to the differences in tone by the videos.

Dragondreams · 1st June 2012, 07:24 AM

The Real McTube (Fred Nachbaur) might be of interest. I've built a couple of these as pre-amp boosters into my valve guitar amps. They sound great, as well as being a relatively simple build (with a lot of scope for tweaking).

The Real McTube II

Keysy · 7th December 2012, 03:14 AM

I am no expert and it seems a bit crazy to question anything in the Real McTube but why does he bother to rectify the heater circuit? Can't I just run one secondary of the 12V AC to pin 4 and the other to pin 5/ground to supply the heater?

Dragondreams · 7th December 2012, 08:04 AM

Hum.

On Fred's page he actually states:
"This results in a significant reduction of AC hum as compared to the original "Real McTube", which used AC to directly heat the tube's filaments."

DF96 · 7th December 2012, 09:41 AM

Instruments & Amps???

31st May 2012, 04:00 PM	#1
jackasspenguin diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2012	Looking for a fairly simple Hi gain tube pre amp project I'm interested in a schematic and or complete plans to build a 12ax7 hi gain tube pre amp for guitar applications. My intentions are to stick something into a small chassis and use as a foot controlled pedal of sorts to drive my Fender Super Reverb made circa 67. I may perhaps build two of them to have a 2 channel clean, and dirty output. This is my first post here. Hope to enjoy the site! Cheers! Johnny

31st May 2012, 05:00 PM	#5
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicagoland Blog Entries: 1	Although he was too modest to mention it, MerlinB is the author of a book that will answer your question and many more. Highly recommended. http://www.amazon.com/Designing-Tube...8483622&sr=8-1 __________________ If there's a sucker born every minute, where do the rest of them come from?

1st June 2012, 07:24 AM	#7
Dragondreams diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Normanton, West Yorkshire	The Real McTube (Fred Nachbaur) might be of interest. I've built a couple of these as pre-amp boosters into my valve guitar amps. They sound great, as well as being a relatively simple build (with a lot of scope for tweaking). The Real McTube II __________________ Experience is what teaches us to make a different mistake next time...

7th December 2012, 08:04 AM	#9
Dragondreams diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Normanton, West Yorkshire	Hum. On Fred's page he actually states: "This results in a significant reduction of AC hum as compared to the original "Real McTube", which used AC to directly heat the tube's filaments." __________________ Experience is what teaches us to make a different mistake next time...

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31st May 2012, 04:39 PM	#2
Merlinb diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: York	Take a look at the projects at AX84.com - The Cooperative Tube Guitar Amp Project

31st May 2012, 04:54 PM	#3
Alvis Banned Join Date: Apr 2012	Here's a "Soldano" preamp. Those AX84's don't quite get there. Soldano Preamp : DIY Fever – Building my own guitars, amps and pedals

31st May 2012, 05:21 PM	#6
Alvis Banned Join Date: Apr 2012	Too cool. There are lot's of sound clips for the AX84 HO online and a few sound clips of the Soldano at the bottom of the page I linked. You can get a pretty good idea to the differences in tone by the videos.

7th December 2012, 03:14 AM	#8
Keysy diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2011	I am no expert and it seems a bit crazy to question anything in the Real McTube but why does he bother to rectify the heater circuit? Can't I just run one secondary of the 12V AC to pin 4 and the other to pin 5/ground to supply the heater?

7th December 2012, 09:41 AM	#10
DF96 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2007	Instruments & Amps???

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