Diy Orange guitar amp

[thepentium]

I decided recently to build my first tube amp, as I have been learning about them and have been DYING to try the stuff out. Well a project presented itself. My solid-state guitar amp isn't cutting it anymore and it's time to upgrade to a tube. The tone just doesn't work anymore.

After doing some research I decided an Orange AD30 was probably my best bet if I went from schematics.
http://users.telenet.be/orangefg/OFG...angeAD30_1.pdf
http://users.telenet.be/orangefg/OFG...angeAD30_2.pdf
But there are a lot of unknowns in these schematics....
And I have yet to find the right power supply.
Do you think its a good idea for a newbie to up and run with a project like this? Or would a different amp be better? What I'd really like to do is design one from scratch, how easy is it to do that?

[Eli Duttman]

JMO, get some building experience under your belt with a proven design, 1st. There are enough "gotchas" in the build to get past, without worrying about design flaws too. A tubed line stage for your music playback setup is a good place to start.

The 2nd PDF you linked has PSU circuitry. It uses the GZ34/5AR4 as the B+ rectifier. JJ (Slovakia) is currently making decent 5AR4s.

The signal circuitry uses an ECC83/12AX7 as a Schmitt phase splitter. IMO, that's not such a good choice. With its high gm and low Rp, the ECC81/12AT7 is better suited to that job and the difference in gain is small.

I'm NOT a guitar amp maven. Hopefully, the dudes who are will join in this discussion.

[Tom Bavis]

You might want to start with a simpler practice amp - look at AX84.com for some ideas. Then decide if you want to make a bigger one...

[thepentium]

hmm..

Do you think theres a simpler vintage guitar amp that would be a better choice?

I really wanted one with a two channel preamp, I suppose that could be custom designed in though.

[aletheian]

I would recommend starting with a simpler amp with a Single ended output stage... that way you avoid the whole hassle and expense of the PPP output stage like the schem that you posted, and you can avoid the hassle of the LTP splitter too.

Either copy a fender champ, or build the P1 kit at ax84.com. There is more throubleshooting advice and online forum help than you could ever read in a lifetime at AX84, and you can move up to a more complicated kit after you get the P1 build under your belt. And you can always re-use tubes, psu caps, pots and trannies for future builds.

[Sherman]

Originally posted by aletheian
I would recommend starting with a simpler amp...

Either copy a fender champ, or build the P1 kit at ax84.com. ...

I second that. I've built a few hi-fi tube amps and just built my first guitar amp. I used the P1 schematic for the output stage and the P1 Extreme for the preamp and tone stack.

It was very simple to build with easily available parts. I used a transformer 'set' from Triode Electronics that included a 325-0-325 PTX, a 4 Hy 90mA choke and a 5W SE OPT. The whole set was about $65 or $70.

It is not only a good first guitar (or tube amp in general) build but is likely one that you'll enjoy and keep!

[thepentium]

really... hmm.. I'll look into it.

Thanks guys! As usual, you guys rock the house...

[jerishi]

another suggestion is the fender 5e3 circuit. There are kits available (with much online documentation/support) and it's a GREAT little guitar amp using a 6v6 push pull output.