Gday Cassiel,
HaHaHa I was waiting for a bite.
I think you forget to remember that the challenge is about a $100.00 amp & not "Edited Sound" like in the link you posted.
I bet those guitars would sound very ordinary with very little equipment & no editing.
I am not knocking anyone who has ambiton but reality is reality!
I didn't hear him play out of an amp that was under $100 though????
I can record something through a proper amp & edit it to give whatever sound quality you want.
That's cheating though for the challenge & I don't want to go there.
Speaking about not editing sound, I can't ever remember hearing someone live that actually sounds good without massive audio editing or a lot of effects, or in the recording studio?
Even Jimmy Page etc sounded like crap without the studio editing, give anyone a plain old amp WITHOUT effects & they sound ordinary, now add reverb, footpedals etc etc etc & they sound like guitar gods.
I saw a video clip of Carlos Santana playing on a small practice amp once & without all his gear even he sounded very ordinary, now plug him into a million dollars worth of equipment or the recording studio & presto, guitar god.
I took my little amp to a jam session last night & have 3 sold already without any reverb or effects whatsoever.
If the Challenge was for a top quality sounding amp without a price tag then you would see some very high quality sound come from the members of the forum.
But when you have to make do with under $100 & can't edit the sound then that's a different story & is a big challenge.
Now if we can change the rules & edit the sound so we can hear the real sound of the amps then we will hear some very different sound.
I don't know about anyone else but the way I have to record takes away a lot of natural sound.
By the time it goes through the mic & then through the soundcard in the computer, it does require editing to bring back the natural sound but that's cheating as mentioned before.
By the way I don't need to sell my guitars anymore but they do sell themselves. I now only make three or four a year, no need to sell anymore.
I agree with a comment made earlier that you can't hear an amp by noodling around on a guitar that's for sure.
Cheers
They may trip over their own egos, but they are both far better guitar players than most of us. I saw them both with Kenny Wayne Shepperd on the original G3 tour about 15 years ago. Didn't convince me to go out and buy either of their CD's, but I did buy some KWS music. Kenny has come cool cars too.
I guess I don't want to win that bad.....
When I was 17 I could play guitar. When I was in my 40's I couldn't play any more, but I could punish my neighbors. I haven't played for more than 10 minutes a week in about 15 years, but....I have all new neighbors so it's time to annoy them. No, I'm not about to hire a guitar player. I have spent far too much money on this game already, so "I WILL POST A LINK to ME playing!"
Got to get the dang thing working right first.
Lets remember the statement that started this thing:
When we decided that we would be looking at amps with a $100 parts cost the original poster replied:
As I once said "WANNA BET?"
I am looking for the best amp that can be made for $99.99999 for THIS challenge. It is coming along slowly. New power transformers arrived today since the old one didn't like feeding 45 VA through 8 diodes. I did the proper Tubelab thing and got a bigger transformer.
While waiting for the new transformers for Amp 2.1, I decided to take the dead remains of AMP 1.0, resurrect it from the dead, and summons up the spirit of Mad Man Muntz to rid the carcass of all unnecesary components. The 5 tube amp (AMP 1.1) now has 3 tubes, makes 2 big watts of power when fully saturated and does a little over a watt cleanly. It does not slam into saturation but transitions into distortion gently and doesn't sound nasty when fully cranked. It is a big step above a "MINIMALLY USEABLE TUBE GUITAR PRACTICE AMP" and the total parts cost WITH a PC board is under $45. About $40 if PTP wired. ALL parts prices are from Mouser, Digikey, AES or ESRC.
Spkr Cabs
My speaker cab and driver for prototyping amps is ;
Dean Markley 10" cab
with C3212 12" driver with neodymium magnet from Altronics.
The 97dB sensitivity means it works even for 1/2 watt amps.
They are on special every so often for $99
Slowly replacing all my guitar and bass amp drivers with this model.
Nice clear sound - easy to monitor tweak of amp circuit - and the weight saving is significant.
Cheers
JimG
My speaker cab and driver for prototyping amps is ;
Dean Markley 10" cab
with C3212 12" driver with neodymium magnet from Altronics.
The 97dB sensitivity means it works even for 1/2 watt amps.
They are on special every so often for $99
Slowly replacing all my guitar and bass amp drivers with this model.
Nice clear sound - easy to monitor tweak of amp circuit - and the weight saving is significant.
Cheers
JimG
Attachments
Dr Z MAZ Jr 18 Watt 2x10 combo amp demo with Kingbee Tele - YouTube
That being said, proper miking sure does not hurt. Bet you he could make any $100 amp sound good.
Igor: It lives...
6AK5 preamp, 6AK5 triode cathodyne, 2x 6AK5 pp output.
Newbie safe power supply from 9vac 1amp wall wart ($20) thro 12v6/240 transformer ($10).
0.33-5watt 100 volt line tfmr for output ($9.50).
Output 2v5 pp clean - 5v0 pp harmonically enriched (distorted ) - into 8 ohms.
Loud enough for the bedroom thro my 12'' speaker (see previous post).
Money left for a nice bottle of red.
Now for the tone tweaking.
JimG
6AK5 preamp, 6AK5 triode cathodyne, 2x 6AK5 pp output.
Newbie safe power supply from 9vac 1amp wall wart ($20) thro 12v6/240 transformer ($10).
0.33-5watt 100 volt line tfmr for output ($9.50).
Output 2v5 pp clean - 5v0 pp harmonically enriched (distorted ) - into 8 ohms.
Loud enough for the bedroom thro my 12'' speaker (see previous post).
Money left for a nice bottle of red.
Now for the tone tweaking.
JimG
Attachments
Gday Printer2,
You never know if the soundclip has been edited before posting, bet it has, it's easier to get a good sound from an amp when you have more than $100 to spend.
I think it comes down to personal taste, a little bit country sounding for me that amp.
But that's what it's for by the sound of it, like all things they are application based.
I'm just now working on the little amp & have it a lot cleaner down low as well as being ballsy up top, it's getting there, i'm attempting an all purpose amp which is not easy for the money we have to spend.
I'm an old timer who is stuck on sounds like the links below as well as many others a lot heavier.
Vintage Marshall Amplifier JTM45 PARK 45 TOP MOUNT Plexi - YouTube
Vintage Vox ac30 Serial 8287 circa 1963 - YouTube
Cheers
6AK5 preamp, 6AK5 triode cathodyne, 2x 6AK5 pp output.
Newbie safe power supply from 9vac 1amp wall wart ($20) thro 12v6/240 transformer ($10).
0.33-5watt 100 volt line tfmr for output ($9.50).
Output 2v5 pp clean - 5v0 pp harmonically enriched (distorted ) - into 8 ohms.
Loud enough for the bedroom thro my 12'' speaker (see previous post).
Money left for a nice bottle of red.
Now for the tone tweaking.
JimG
Gday JimG
Looks like it's coming along nicely, let us know when you have a sound clip ready.
Cheers
Now for the tone tweaking.
Nice! I suspect I have everything apart from the valves in my bits box. Any chance of an interim schematic so we can follow your progress?
Igor?
This started out as an exercise using small signal tubes as output tubes - as per the Firefly clones - combined with inexpensive PA transformers.
I looked at self split initially but needed all the nudge (no grunt in these tubes 😛) available so added a cathodyne using Merlin's book
for guidance.
I have a bucket full of free 6AK5 tubes under the bed, and picked up 24x 100 volt line transformers for 10c each on ebay.
This is progress to date.
Suggestions and feedback appreciated.
Cheers
JimG
This started out as an exercise using small signal tubes as output tubes - as per the Firefly clones - combined with inexpensive PA transformers.
I looked at self split initially but needed all the nudge (no grunt in these tubes 😛) available so added a cathodyne using Merlin's book
for guidance.I have a bucket full of free 6AK5 tubes under the bed, and picked up 24x 100 volt line transformers for 10c each on ebay.
This is progress to date.
Suggestions and feedback appreciated.
Cheers
JimG
I know the limitations and what can be done to get a good sound. No reason our $100 amps can not come out sounding good with the proper technique, disagree with you on the editing mind you. The amp sounds pretty much dry. My previous clip with the Fender Harvard was done with a hand held video recorder, can't tell if it was a camera or a video camera, sounds great. Does not sound like it has anything added in it in editing.
Of course personal taste comes into it. I picked that clip because it is a good sounding amp but also because of the 'nothing between the amp and the guitar but a white curly cord' remark. The guy does his recordings to let you know how the equipment actually sounds like. Not my cup of tea but the two clips you posted basically sounds like mush to me (no offence intended). Absolutely no dynamics (mind you, intentional) or nuances left in the sound. But to each his own.
I look at it as different amps will have different flavours. The person picking the amp they want to build will have different options to choose from when we are done. I doubt if there really will be one 'best amp'. It really depends what the person is looking for.
This started out as an exercise using small signal tubes as output tubes - as per the Firefly clones - combined with inexpensive PA transformers.
I looked at self split initially but needed all the nudge (no grunt in these tubes 😛) available so added a cathodyne using Merlin's book
I have a bucket full of free 6AK5 tubes under the bed, and picked up 24x 100 volt line transformers for 10c each on ebay.
This is progress to date.
Suggestions and feedback appreciated.
Cheers
JimG
Looks nice. I tried the self-split into a line transformer (boy am I jealous on your ebay acquire) and have gone to cathodyne also. I have a box full of 6AU6's so I will be watching yours with interest.
The current version of Amp 1.1 that I talked about last night still uses a self split output stage. Yes it costs me some gain and power output but I like the way it distorts. I tried a cathodyne, but with only 120 volts of B+ to play with the PI distorts before the output stage does unless I use some very high Gm output tubes. PI clipping is rather abrupt and doesn't sound too nice.
My current schematic looks similar except I ripped out the PI and added a tone control. Three pentodes, all cheap radio tubes. I have several hundred 6AK5's but haven't tried them yet.
The OPT is a line transformer. That also costs some power and gain since it is rather lossy. I have tried a 70 volt line transformer, and may go back to it once I get the tone sorted out. It could use a bit more gain too since it rocks with the Les Paul, but comes up a bit short when fed with a cheap Squire Strat.
I have not given up on the self split, want to have a switch to change from it to AB. Ground the PI cathode resistor, power tube's bypass capacitor, and go from voltage doubler on the power supply to a bridge to knock down the voltage. If I get a chance I will start stuffing a board with parts tonight. Values may change a bit but I just want to see if it will work. Thinking about putting in some SE options also for the output stage, but we will leave that to later.
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My self split circuit sounds a lot like SE until you really whack it. It is pretty unbalanced for AC due to a 150 ohm cathode resistor and ultra cheap tubes. My OPT is also rather unbalanced and it definitely sounds different when you swap the "plate" leads.
I noticed the unbalance on the transformer. I hooked it up so the winding with more output was driven by the cathode driven tube. It evened out the gain a bit.
Hi djgibson51
Have been reading this thread out of general interest as I'm not a guitar player but love glowing glass!!! I'm thinking of having a go at building one for a friends son who plays.
My question is do you think that your design would work with EF91's instead of the EF95?? They seem very close??
Cheers
Have been reading this thread out of general interest as I'm not a guitar player but love glowing glass!!! I'm thinking of having a go at building one for a friends son who plays.
My question is do you think that your design would work with EF91's instead of the EF95?? They seem very close??
Cheers
Hi Dagwood, I am considering these for the output tubes in the next version. These are hungrier though, needing 300mA for each heater. I will be looking at the Jaycar 12vac 2 amp power pack to supply enough current and give 220 to 240 volts on the anodes.
regards
JimG
(from Hawkes Bay but currently part of the Kiwi colony of Melbourne)
regards
JimG
(from Hawkes Bay but currently part of the Kiwi colony of Melbourne)