After having built my own speakers and amplifier for the living room last year and not having any issues with either whatsoever, I feel like building something again.
I want to pickup playing guitar again as well and my current amp is just way too loud for playing when my wife and kids are asleep. My current amp is a Roland Cube 15X which does have a power squeezer that is supposed to suppress it to 2 watts. However, in order to have a nice tone, I still need to crank it further than I would like to so that's why I am looking in to the sub-watt territory. As long as it's louder than the strings, I am satisfied.
I have been searching all over the web and figured the LM386 based Ruby with Bassman mod will suit me just fine. I like Fenderish American voiced amps and can do without an onboard overdrive (that will probably be my next build).
I will be building the circuit on perfboard, it will be my first soldering job on a board. Boards and dip sockets are cheap so I can afford to screw a few up in the process.
If the circuit works with the speaker from my Cube, I will invest in a proper one.
Any input is welcome.
I want to pickup playing guitar again as well and my current amp is just way too loud for playing when my wife and kids are asleep. My current amp is a Roland Cube 15X which does have a power squeezer that is supposed to suppress it to 2 watts. However, in order to have a nice tone, I still need to crank it further than I would like to so that's why I am looking in to the sub-watt territory. As long as it's louder than the strings, I am satisfied.
I have been searching all over the web and figured the LM386 based Ruby with Bassman mod will suit me just fine. I like Fenderish American voiced amps and can do without an onboard overdrive (that will probably be my next build).
I will be building the circuit on perfboard, it will be my first soldering job on a board. Boards and dip sockets are cheap so I can afford to screw a few up in the process.
If the circuit works with the speaker from my Cube, I will invest in a proper one.
Any input is welcome.
Living in apartments for the last 15 years I have been facing the same challenge - tone @ bedroom level volume.
I am really happy with my current setup: 4 watt pp tube amp into 12 inch speaker with the addition of VVR on the power amp only.
It is loud enough for fantasy when the building is empty, but wound back down to quiet room level and still have a sweet sound.
It has only taken 5 years to develop to this stage ��
I am really happy with my current setup: 4 watt pp tube amp into 12 inch speaker with the addition of VVR on the power amp only.
It is loud enough for fantasy when the building is empty, but wound back down to quiet room level and still have a sweet sound.
It has only taken 5 years to develop to this stage ��
Hi,
A cheap low power PA (in the old sense) transformer tagged
into the output will give you various low power output taps.
It will likely work best without the power squeezer.
Much lower than the described taps, due to lower voltage drive.
rgds, sreten.
A cheap low power PA (in the old sense) transformer tagged
into the output will give you various low power output taps.
It will likely work best without the power squeezer.
Much lower than the described taps, due to lower voltage drive.
rgds, sreten.
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A low power tube amp is certainly something that I might attempt in the future but I will do it one step at the time.
I don't think I should be messing with tubes and transformers at this stage. Maybe I will start on a tube overdrive if the amp works well.
I don't think I should be messing with tubes and transformers at this stage. Maybe I will start on a tube overdrive if the amp works well.
I live in an appartment as well and I got used to play at very low power levels, so even at night no neighbors are disturbed.
An amp of 1W (like LM380) would really fit for that job, firing a 6.5 inch speaker like the Jensen MOD6.
An amp of 1W (like LM380) would really fit for that job, firing a 6.5 inch speaker like the Jensen MOD6.
I was planning on getting a Mod 8 but I went to a local guitar workshop today to check if they had any leftovers from amp upgrades. They had a 10" speaker which came from a new Pignose 40W tube amp which I could have for cheap and I could not resist.
Hi,
I don't think you understood my post. No valves involved.
70V 10W Line Matching Transformer
Can be wired up between your amplifier and speaker to give
various maximum output powers with your amp at full volume.
You can use any of the taps for miniscule up to reasonable power.
rgds, sreten.
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You are correct. My comment about tubes was directed to the post above yours. (I should have quoted)
The transformer as power brake is a very interesting solution. I guess the amp will "see" it as a normal speaker load and the transformer will power the speaker a few steps down right?
It's a nice solution to keep in mind. Maybe I will turn the Cube amplifier section into a head to use with my (to be built) cab and put a transformer between it. It's certainly cheap enough to try.
For now, I will be focussing on the diy amp and cab.
I just finished the amp board and played through the bare speaker and I love the tone. Nice warm yet sparkling sounds from my Godin Radiator.
Here it is boxed in:
I had some trouble with sawing the plywood for the cabinet but I finished it anyway. I may build a new one when there is more daylight available. However, the "Seasick Steve Cab" works very well.
My next project will be the Professor Tweed which I will use as a pre-amp (if succesfull...).
I had some trouble with sawing the plywood for the cabinet but I finished it anyway. I may build a new one when there is more daylight available. However, the "Seasick Steve Cab" works very well.
My next project will be the Professor Tweed which I will use as a pre-amp (if succesfull...).
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