Tag: amplifier

  • LM386-based “Esteli” demo by Alex Wilson

    an older video, but one i’ve been wanting to post for some time. this is Alex Wilson of Son Cats playing on one of the several cigar-box amps i’ve constructed. this one, in particular, had one of the best sounds during the more work-with-what-is-available days. i thought the video was a great demo of an…

  • TDA2040 Instrument Amplifier

    the need for small and portable amplifiers has arisen mainly by a desire to come up with some sort of all-purpose busking amplifier. here is the first screen shot of the output from the preamp section. the entire amplifier is powering an Eminence Beta-12LTA off of a mere 6V. don’t ask me how. it took…

  • The Esteli: an LM386N-based cigar box amp

    The Esteli: Cigar Box instrument LM386N-based Amp from abram on Vimeo. Here’s the latest in general purpose amplifiers made from reused parts. The enclosure is an old cigar box for which i have quite an affection as an enclosure. I really do love the sound of wood in both the recording process and amplifiers. In…

  • LightBox prototype

    here’s a small battery-powered guitar amp that i’ve constructed from reused parts. the housing is a busted computer power supply (some of which is in the No. 5) as well. i’ve got several options for this little fellow in mind, but, for now, it’s a tiny amp with a mean distortion. lo-fi enthusiasts should contact…

  • No. 5 speaks.

    and what a lovely voice it is. even through a Crate speaker (i’m saving the better speakers for when the testing phase is over). overall, i’d say a success for cheap transformers, Radio Shack parts, and a few pieces taken from a busted computer power supply. audio notes: it was late, and i was annoying…

  • No. 5 come alive!

    like Dr. Frankenstein, it’s about time to bring this little fellow to life… or at least try. the schematic i have is a random luck of the draw internet find, and i have no idea whether or not it will work. however, testing will occur on the work bench soon enough to determine what needs…

  • 5E3: Schematics and Ideas

    I’m hoping this will clear things up for the night. Practical matters have brought about the decision to build a tube amplifier. In this case, I’m going to get a WeberVST kit as not to go it solo on the first attempt. The winner of much debate as to which circuit to start with is…

  • the final layout

    She’s big and bulky, but you can’t ask for too much when you’re dealing with pre-printed PC boards. The 22k resistor in the gain path makes for extremely high output (in terms of headphones). The 100k stereo potentiometer on the output side should make the noise floor a lot lower unless the knob is cranked.…

  • two ears. two channels.

    Double the circuit for stereo. This is a breadboard representation of a single “channel.” Each channel will have its separate PCB with controls. This one lacks a volume pot, but the output was more than enough. 750mW after hooking up the gain path resulted in ripping the ear buds out of my ears in order…