Hello all,

 I prefer to do my own research rather than to hound people with questions, but sometimes I just can't find the answer. This is another one of those times. that I can't seem to find the answer to anywhere, so I thought I'd put it to you electronics wizards and beg for an answer. Will the low-z characteristics change the values of caps, pots, resistors, etc., needed to make a good sounding LM386 amp I guess the question is, can you tune an amp to best performance with low-z pickups or other types? Will low-z pickups work well with these setups, or should there be adjustments? 

 Thank you in advance for any help you guys can offer.

Ray

Views: 95

Replies to This Discussion

One question, why did you build Low Z pickups, commonly they’re used for getting fat sounding bass & use an active system? You could use a preamp or a Lo - Hi Z line matching transformer like they use for microphones? Lo Z will always give you lower output, so you’ll  need something to boost & balance it? My advice, more windings on future pickups. You should be alright with a Ruby since it has an impedance boosting buffer in the circuit?

Forgot to add, the Lo Z has nothing to do with the tone of the components, it has to do with impedance & output? Generally you want a pickup with at least a 2K resistance to get proper output? 

 I've done quite a bit of studying on the low-z pickups and how to use a buffer or a microphone connector or some kind of effects pedal with a buffer. I was intrigued after reading about the beginnings of the magnetic pickup and how Les Paul built the first studio LPs with Low-z pickups and how he started doing lots of research on it. Also read how the guitar community pretty much just went the Hi-Fi route. Some people think they went the wrong way and should have gone the other way. I wanted to do some experiments since I am curious about almost EVERYTHING. Mostly though, I chose making pickups from wall-wart wire because of the cost. I just couldn't afford 42 or 43 wire. I have since been given a small unused roll of Remington 42. I twisted a pickup up last night and should be finishing it in the next day or two when I install it in an unassembled guitar. I'll post a sound file on my page when done. I got about 3200 winds out of it before I chickened out and stopped winding. 

By the way, thank you for the help!

Something to take into mind is when Les Paul & Seth Lover were doing their pickup experiments, everything was tube driven, including mixing boards & recording equip, not solid state, like the modern LM386. A lot more power, plus they used output transformers & chokes on most speakers back then, which worked in favor of Lo Z . Did you know there are over 7,000 winds on a Strat pickup, actually between 6,000 & 8,000, depending on what model you get?  I was amazed when I first learned about that? I say build the amp & see what it sounds like, there’s only one way to find out? I have 3 I’m working on right now: a point to point build, stripboard build & perfboard build- lil’ gem, minty & smokey amps. They’re way to easy after you build a few? 

 I hope to someday build a tube amp or two in the future. I have a healthy respect for electricity and won't be rushing into that sort of thing until I get some experience in this. As far as winding counts go, I saw some a while back that had something like 10,000 winds. Staggering. 

Thanks for all the info and good luck on your builds!

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


Discussion Forum

Tribute amps I've built

Started by Tom Hoglund Nov 7, 2022. 0 Replies

LM386 Amp w/ Switchable Clean Channel

Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by BrianQ. May 28, 2021. 1 Reply

Simple 1st Timer CBG Amp

Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by BrianQ. Sep 27, 2020. 25 Replies

Matching Speakers to LM386

Started by Southern Ray. Last reply by Southern Ray Aug 6, 2020. 11 Replies

Suggestions wanted for easy amp build

Started by Southern Ray. Last reply by Southern Ray Jun 15, 2020. 11 Replies

Ruby Amp

Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by Southern Ray May 16, 2020. 27 Replies

Low-Z pickup and components values

Started by Southern Ray. Last reply by Southern Ray May 13, 2020. 6 Replies

Oops

Started by Southern Ray. Last reply by Southern Ray May 2, 2020. 12 Replies

DIY Spring Reverb

Started by Kevin Keating. Last reply by Paul Craig Oct 17, 2019. 4 Replies

TDA2030A Amp

Started by Bama Hound. Last reply by Gary Stenzel Jul 23, 2017. 14 Replies

Home Brew Champ Tube Amp

Started by Scott aka Farmer Ted. Last reply by Paul Craig Feb 6, 2017. 3 Replies

Dual IM386 Chip amp

Started by Paul Craig. Last reply by Paul Craig Jan 26, 2017. 29 Replies

5 Watt Amp Kit (DIY Case)

Started by Walter Haapapuro. Last reply by Gene Jones Dec 7, 2016. 46 Replies

DIY reverb behold - I found this online

Started by Danny B.. Last reply by Paul Craig Nov 2, 2016. 3 Replies

Bass Cabinet project

Started by Murdoc_420. Last reply by Murdoc_420 Jul 15, 2016. 34 Replies

Kalamazoo Model 1 Deluxe

Started by Scott aka Farmer Ted. Last reply by Rick Alexander Jun 20, 2016. 12 Replies

LM386 amp and other stuff

Started by Denis U. Last reply by Denis U May 29, 2016. 19 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
Thumbnail

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

"i See Your ready to Blow away the GRAND STADIUM ! tree strings more of DAR DELIGHT !! Shine Girl !…"
6 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you for the kind comments Doug! Glad you liked the Picture !"
6 hours ago
BrianQ. commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
10 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Dar Stellabotta's video
10 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

" Thank ya again Keith!"
13 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
13 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #527 - ''Led-Zep 2''

"This build really strung you along Alan! Reminded me of all my fishing line experiments; a lot of…"
14 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Diggin’ the slow blues. I like that last pic Andries! Look at all those cool guitars. Yeah!!!"
14 hours ago
Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
16 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
16 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
17 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
17 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 -->