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Comment by St Ginger on September 12, 2012 at 11:45am

thanks Wes.

i didn't want to buy the ruby, trying to do things on the cheap ;) but i might try and find the components to make my own from the schematic.

I've finished the smokey, and tweaked around with the dials for a bit and it sounds ok running with 220uf capacitors. But when the volume on my guitar is turned right up, it gets really, really crackly. Its supposed to overdrive a bit in these circumstances, but i don't think it supposed to be that bad. even when the volume is turned down, the bottom end and low tones are very crackly and have a lot of feedback.

I've you've built a lot of amps, do you have any advice on fixing it? I'm using 220uf caps, like i said, with an 8 ohm, 8 watt, 6 inch speaker (i think, might be a bit smaller). I tried it with a much smaller speaker, around 8ohm, 4 or 2watt, can't remember, and about 3inch. but that was unusably crackly. the same problem as the big speaker, but much, MUCH worse and really tiny.

could it be a problem with the speaker, or a cockup on the circuit. or is it just a messy amp?

i'd really appreciate any help you or anyone else can give :)

Comment by St Ginger on September 11, 2012 at 11:51am

The standard circuit that i was following was incredibly simple, just the chip, 2 caps and some jumpers. theres no reason not to put pots in, but the one i was following just didn't include them. theres a developed version of this amp called the ruby amp (http://www.runoffgroove.com/ruby.html) but i don't have the components to make it. not to mention not having the stones to approach a diagram like that :P i can just about read it, but only just.

Comment by St Ginger on September 11, 2012 at 11:17am

its almost there :D

I want to find a nice heavy box or chest or something to put it all in. something small, but sturdy enough to sound good. the circuit is not quite ready because its still so distorted. i need to fix that, then its good to go