I need help on a Simple guitar/vocal pre amp.
- Thread starter Redfoxfur
- Start date
I suppose you're looking for a kit for this - I must admit I'd build it on tagboard, enabling you to modify things later.
Are you intending to have one input which can take either microphone or instrument? Or be able to use the two simultaneously? (mixing preamp)
There are some differences between a mic and an instrument input stage; the guitar input wants as high an input impedance as practical (easy with tubes while, for me the mic input wants an input transformer with a low impedance balanced input (with a break jack for a high impedance mic in case it's required) and variable gain. Equalisers (tone controls) tend to be different, to; the instrument input tends to be flat with the pots "flat out", with massive attenuation at chosen bands, the mic input flat with the pots in centre position with a fixed gain/ attenuation (typically plus or minus fifteen or eighteen dBs)
What was the output of the preamp intended to drive? Tube outputs are typically high impedance (or at least low current drive), although this is easy enough to compensate for.
Any of these details is easy enough to allow for if you are working from scratch; a nice little power supply (stabilised 12 volts, or six if you're intending to experiment with different tubes in the future, and +120 - 160 volts plate voltage), a chassis with a few more b9a socket holes punched than you expect to use, a face plate with the input sockets and controls, tagboard neatly mounted (if possible not blocking access to the sockets), and you can experiment with a minimum of risk; it's almost impossible to make it sound really bad (lots of munufacturers tried, back in the sixties) if the tube's within published conditions, though it may get a little noisy.
Are you intending to have one input which can take either microphone or instrument? Or be able to use the two simultaneously? (mixing preamp)
There are some differences between a mic and an instrument input stage; the guitar input wants as high an input impedance as practical (easy with tubes while, for me the mic input wants an input transformer with a low impedance balanced input (with a break jack for a high impedance mic in case it's required) and variable gain. Equalisers (tone controls) tend to be different, to; the instrument input tends to be flat with the pots "flat out", with massive attenuation at chosen bands, the mic input flat with the pots in centre position with a fixed gain/ attenuation (typically plus or minus fifteen or eighteen dBs)
What was the output of the preamp intended to drive? Tube outputs are typically high impedance (or at least low current drive), although this is easy enough to compensate for.
Any of these details is easy enough to allow for if you are working from scratch; a nice little power supply (stabilised 12 volts, or six if you're intending to experiment with different tubes in the future, and +120 - 160 volts plate voltage), a chassis with a few more b9a socket holes punched than you expect to use, a face plate with the input sockets and controls, tagboard neatly mounted (if possible not blocking access to the sockets), and you can experiment with a minimum of risk; it's almost impossible to make it sound really bad (lots of munufacturers tried, back in the sixties) if the tube's within published conditions, though it may get a little noisy.
I want to start out with one just for guitar. I'm wanting to use the output to go into a solid state amp. It would have only one channel and i would want it to be as simple as possible seeing as i have no experience with this what so ever. I do have all the sockets i would need from some broken amps and a few transformers from a Hammond amp out of an m3 but i doubt those would be useful.
I think the closest you can get to step by step is the ax84 p1 amp at ax84.com . I have not seen a step by step for just a preamp, but you can easily modify the ax84 p1 to be just a preamp by excluding the phase inverter and power stage.
There is a forum at ax84.com that will help with the modifications required to get what you need.
There is a forum at ax84.com that will help with the modifications required to get what you need.
F2-B
I'd suggest Alembic F2-B preamp -
It's very simple, actually it's Fender Twin preamp section as a standalone unit. For power supply you may take two 6V transformers (1A minimum) wired back to back.
If you take two 6V trannies for the PS don't follow the schematics power supply, but do something like this (look at the power supply section) -
(it's something based on the F2-B I've done some time ago and play through it all the time)
if you plan on 12AX7 it's better to use 6.3V (not 12V) heater so you need a proper voltage regulator (like 317, look for the datasheet to see how to wire it).
I'd suggest Alembic F2-B preamp -
It's very simple, actually it's Fender Twin preamp section as a standalone unit. For power supply you may take two 6V transformers (1A minimum) wired back to back.
If you take two 6V trannies for the PS don't follow the schematics power supply, but do something like this (look at the power supply section) -
(it's something based on the F2-B I've done some time ago and play through it all the time)
if you plan on 12AX7 it's better to use 6.3V (not 12V) heater so you need a proper voltage regulator (like 317, look for the datasheet to see how to wire it).
I have the amp out of a Hammond m3, I think its an AO-29. I'm gonna use the sockets out of it, and maybe the chassis for a later project. i believe the transformers are still good. does anyone know anything bout the transformers they put in these things?
they don't say anything on them that i can see but they are pretty dirty. Im wondering if i can use any for the preamp instead of buying a new one.
they don't say anything on them that i can see but they are pretty dirty. Im wondering if i can use any for the preamp instead of buying a new one.
hammo
what tubes was the amp using?
in any case I'd not waste those transformers for a preamp because if that's from a power amplifier it must be capable of much more than needed for a preamp with one or two tubes. My suggestion is - again - two small and cheap trannies. Or - if you wish - buy one 6V tranny for heaters and one 110:220 converter for HT - but make sure it's not an autotransformer.
what tubes was the amp using?
in any case I'd not waste those transformers for a preamp because if that's from a power amplifier it must be capable of much more than needed for a preamp with one or two tubes. My suggestion is - again - two small and cheap trannies. Or - if you wish - buy one 6V tranny for heaters and one 110:220 converter for HT - but make sure it's not an autotransformer.