Hey, New to CBG.  I have made a couple so far.  I have a question regarding amps.  I currently make my own pickups (simple piezo).The amp that I use is a cheap, small, FIRST ACT amp that runs off of 9 v batteries.  The setup works very well for the gritty 3 stringer that I made, but im looking for a little less "edge" and "grittiness" when playing my CGB Tenor and cookie tin mando.  Could anyone recommend a different cheap, hopefully portable, amp that would play a little cleaner?

 

I haven't tried out the instruments on a different, nicer, amp, so I do not know if more clarity is possible with the cheap piezo pickups that im using/building.

 

Essentially, I am playing with a cheap pickup, a cheap amp, and a cheap guitar.  What is the best way to clean up the sound a little?

 

Thanks!

Views: 507

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Mark,

Perhaps you need a pre-amp. This will allow you to boost the signal and do a little EQ before pushing that signal into the admittedly-cheap First Act amp. Also, embedding the piezo disc in silicone or hot glue will take some of the edge off.

Lot of people here swear by the little $20-40 Danelectro Honeytone 9V amps (me, I personally don't like their tone). You can get a similar Fender Mini Twin Tweed for about $40, runs off a wall wart or 9V batt; I have one, and like both the clean and crunch tones, plus it has vol and tone controls. Vox, Marshall and others make similar things in the same price range. None of the little amps based on the LM386 chip are gonna sound like a Marshall stack. You can get some amazing tone out of Bruce Zinky's Li'l Smokey 9V belt clip amps ($35-38), but there's no tone or volume control, just straight in.

Why not take your gits in to Hansen's, and ask to try em out on a few of their amps, from tiny to full scale, solid state versus tube? Let your ears decide.

Hey Mark, here's mine...I love it....need charged about every month

http://traynoramps.com/guitar/tvm/product/tvm10/

A friend of mine has the 40 watt version. Wonderful sound plus mike input. It also has low and high impedance settings for the instrument input. I use the high setting when using a piezo.

by far hands down the best of the best of cheap and portable and CLEAN is a pignose 7-100!

40 to 60 bucks and sounds awesome!

 

Try this, you may be surprised.

http://www.radio-guitar-amps.com/

 

 

oily,s right:)

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

Nut

Started by Bill Andy in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Bill Andy yesterday. 5 Replies

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

Latest Activity

Carl Floyd replied to Bill Andy's discussion Copper Hardware
1 hour ago
Glenn Kaiser commented on Glenn Kaiser's photo
Thumbnail

MAY 2024 Take Down Diddley

"Thanks Doug, will do :) -Glenn"
2 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Poorness Studios's video
Thumbnail

Rainbow Stew (low budget cover on cigar box guitar) | Merle Haggard

"A new one for me Kale, and I like it! I always enjoy your CBG covers. Happy Sunday!"
3 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Glenn Kaiser's photo
Thumbnail

MAY 2024 Take Down Diddley

"Clean and simple! Ready for a little Jailhouse Rock. Go for it Glenn!"
3 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #533 - ''Beware of Wife''

"This one is definitely an attention getter Alan! I’m not brave enough to build one like this.…"
3 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's photo
Thumbnail

Decoration on the Spider & Frog

"I like it Andries! "
3 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Mick Tickner's photo
Thumbnail

cbg2.4

"Me too! It’s a challenge to nail everything right out of the gate, so tweak them when you…"
3 hours ago
Poorness Studios posted a video

Rainbow Stew (low budget cover on cigar box guitar) | Merle Haggard

Happy Sunday folks. I've wanted to cover this 1981 Merle Haggard tune for a while and I decided today is the day. Here's a stripped down cover with nothing b...
3 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

On Top of Spaghetti: 3D Printed Cigar Box Guitar

"Thanks and glad you enjoyed this one Alan! Another Slinger requested song and fun to do. I really…"
3 hours ago
Uncle John commented on Mick Tickner's photo
Thumbnail

cbg1

"Very nice!"
4 hours ago
Uncle John commented on Mick Tickner's photo
Thumbnail

cbg2.4

"Yup.  I get it.  A bit ratty, funky much played and much enjoyed."
4 hours ago
Uncle John commented on Mick Tickner's photo
Thumbnail

cbg3.2

"Very handsome."
4 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->