I got the CBG bug in me a couple years back but just recently got one for myself. I did finish up these amps so I will have something now to play thorough.
I went with the Guitar Fuel SD-MAH3 harnesses to make things easier so I wouldn't have to sort through a chip amp build of my own. I built these into a couple of old phonograph cases I had around. The one on the left uses a Jensen P8R and on the right, a Quam oval out of a early 70's console. I was shooting for the old beat up amp look for both but think I may have better hit the mark for the one on the right ;) It was pretty rough to begin with and other than several applications of sealant, I pretty much left it as is. Both sound pretty dang good and I'm pleased at how they turned out.
Now I just have to learn how to play slide without having my wife and kids run from the room.
RC
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They look really good
So far I have made some using the 386 op amp and the little gem circuit.
I have also seen some videos of the guy from red dog guitars using old radios and just hot wiring a conection into the amp already in there, they looked really retro and sounded good to
http://darrenscigarboxguitars.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks! Not sure if these would be too impressive to the audio community at large but guitar guy's actually "get it" and that's appreciated.
I read about that when searching for a good way to go about building one. I also thought about scratch building one of these op. amp, amps myself. Thing is, by the time I sourced out and ordered all that was needed, figured that for a few more bucks, I could just buy a ready to install amp harness from Ty and save myself the headache of soldering on a small board. He's been a super guy to work with and the SD-MAH3 has turned out to be a great little amp. I'm not sure what the output would test at but it's go a lot of get up and go for it's reported 5w. Pretty nice tone also with the right driver.
Yep it a bit fiddly for sure, also can turn into a nightmare with dry joints and stuff for sure.
Still a good feeling when it finally works and yes its always surprising to me that these little amps can quite often get some very nice and usable tones
I found red dogs youtube for you check out these crazy amps made out of old radios
I think there awsome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXYWe0jZ3y0
Dealing with something point to point is much easier on the eyes. Small circuit boards are a more than I want to deal with. Particularly when my iron only has two speeds. Off and incinerate.
That's pretty cool using a old radio like he did there. I may just have to try that sometime. Solid State isn't as bad as potentially deadly as a tube circuit but I still don't think I'd be pokin my fingers around in there like that, though ;)
Very cool looking amps!
Love the old school look!!
Cool old school vintage look! I love em' both. What did you use for the speaker cover fabric?
Thanks! I just used some burlap I found at Joanne Fabrics. I usually wouldn't use something like that for a audio speaker build but sure works well for something like this.
Just so you know, I'm not usually found hanging out at Joanne Fabrics. Not that there's anything wrong with that ;)