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Posts: 125
Location: Dallas | Any of you guys ever built an amp? Any suggestions or resouces I can tap into? |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | well if you are not handy with a soldering iron I would not suggest it, but after saying that you can try craig anderton or do a google search on diy amps. |
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Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | Do you have anything specific in mind? The reason I'm asking is that before starting to design/build you should have a FIRM wish list. |
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October 2002
Posts: 125
Location: Dallas | Thanks, Al & Bru. I'm just thinking about a well made amp with a handsome wood cabinet, between 50 & 100 watts, suitable for both electric & acoustic...and primarily, I want it to be a tube amp rather than solid state. I just don't know where to go for resources. I thought maybe someone here might have endeavored this & have suggestions, thoughts on certain brands/parts being better than others, or know of kits that might include the premade circuitry/tubes. I found a couple of websites that appear promising, but some of that stuff was over my head. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | There are a TON of variations for what you are trying here. I'd say if the "kits" are over your head, maybe go out and find an already built one you like. Class A or A/B... single or multi-stage, stereo or mono, tube preference?? EL34, 6L6, Etc... master volume?? What speakers?? This is just the tip of the iceberg in questions you need to have answers to before you start, unless you know what model you are looking for because you have tried one. All of the above options are why different amps sound totally different from one another.
Maybe start with finding a commercial amp that you just love the sound of... and try to build one. That would be easiest. At that point, you could modify the circuit to taste. Modifying a production model is also a good place to start. Let someone else worry about the design work, and you just modify the components that affect you.
Fianlly, unless you have a large stash of parts, figure the amp will cost twice as much to make as buying a similar one commercially available.
As example... I have been restoring some Ampeg B15N amps. Very simple straight forward amps. The cost of a new set of tubes and two transformers is more than a complete working amp in useable condition. |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Dan Torres produces some interesting DIY kits. He's done a few specials for UK guitar mags that have been quite popular. Check this out
http://www.torresengineering.com/tweeddel5e3k1.html
Forget trying to make a high power tube amp (i.e. over 30 watts) by the time you've sourced the parts, even if you have a contact to buy wholesale, you could buy a name brand for a lot less. Make either an amp for electric guitar or acoustic guitar, they have completely different design criteria and one will compromise the other. |
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October 2002
Posts: 125
Location: Dallas | My sincerest thanks to you guys. What Paul said drums up a question, though. I have wondered what differentiates the acoustic from the electric amp. I know you can't answer in gross detail. The small practice amp I have (Peavey Rage 158) sounds great with my Ovation, and I'm sue would produce the same with a solid body electric. ??? Bear in mind I'm still a baby on pablum here. I would look for simplicity, power, dependability and asthetics (got that covered with my woodworking) in the amp I build. I'm shopping for a Les Paul Studio Model (pre-shortcut series) that I would plug in as well. Thanks again, KD. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Swat, Electric guitar amps are voiced to emphasise midrange & reduce treble. Guitar speakers generally have a fairly limited frequency response, this along with the way the usually basic passive eq is voiced works fine for electric guitar, but an acoustic through most electric guitar amps tends to lack treble response, or have a harsh treble & have too much midrange. Adding a piezo tweeter in parralel with the speaker can help. This is not to say that you can't produce usable acoustic sounds with an electric amp, especially for use in a band situation, it's just that they are not particuarly accurate or natural when heard solo.
Putting a speaker with a wider frequency response into an electric guitar amp doesn't work as it ruins the electric tone.
An acoustic guitar needs an amplifier with a flat, wide frequency response such as a PA system or dedicated acoustic amp. A keyboard amp will also usually do a pretty good job.
If you need an amp do do both jobs you could consider using an acoustic amp for your acoustics & plug your electric guitars into that via one of the many amp modellers like the POD. |
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October 2002
Posts: 125
Location: Dallas | Ahhh, Paul, a very informative answer. You also reminded me of another question I meant to ask: "Why aren't there separate speakers in a guitar amp (midranges, tweeters...etc), like unto an audio speaker?"
I'm thinking of using Celestion speakers.
All of you guys have contributed to shape this whim of mine - so, thanks. KD |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | "Why aren't there separate speakers in a guitar amp (midranges, tweeters...etc), like unto an audio speaker?"
SWat, try plugging an electric guitar directly into a hi-fi system, PA system or recording console and you'll find out. An extended frequency response is unnecessary for electric guitar. Electric guitar speakers have a deliberately limited frequency response, a tweeter would add a very piercing treble, especially with overdriven tones. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Paul summed it up pretty well, but this brings me back to my earlier comment. If you are interested in building one, try many out, and find one you like. Although everything about the differences are true, depending on taste, there are rule breakers. A fender Bassman makes a good guitar amp (depenting on the tone you want) and a great Acoustic/Eclectric guitar amp. Hartke and Eden both put tweeters in their bass rigs, but make terrible guitar amps, but not bad for Acoustic/Electrics. You can use a Marshall for Bass (if you must) and of course it's a great guitar amp, but forget Acoustic/Electric. A Carvin head will actually do ok with an Acoustic/Electric also, but you really have to adjust the EQ a LOT for it. Then there are all the possibilities of mixing amps and speakers.
So as Paul did outline the basic differences, you REALLY need to take a listen to amps you like. For my ears, the best tube amp is a Roland Bolt 60 with a heavy duty speaker (black widow or other). A pair of 6L6's on the output, a 12Ax7 on the input and solid-state tone/eq/loop circuits. But that is just MY ears. |
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October 2002
Posts: 125
Location: Dallas | ........hmmmmmmm...at this point (feeble mind racing at exceeded neuron synapse limits), I'm leaning toward building a beautiful cabinet with a pair of 12" Celestions....and buying a head unit to plug in.... Kinda make me randy to say "headunit".... |
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Do-It-Yourself: Amp
