Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: WezV on May 26, 2009, 04:51:22 PM

Title: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 26, 2009, 04:51:22 PM
just put myself a noisy cricket together after juansolo's impressive looking beefy cricket

here it is with my other amps
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/XL801554.jpg)

top of the stack is a Ltd edition vince ray smokey amp thats starting to look pretty tired - but i really like the look of surprise on peoples faces when i plug it into a cab.  the noisy cricket is kinda similar in that respect- but much more controlable and i dont have to worry about tearing the box as i change the battery

it sounds remarkably good and i recommend this a a fun project for anyone looking to do some electronics

There is another hidden amp in there too - the trace elliot cab is holding a champ(ish) kit i made a few years ago.  the speaker is wired directly to a jack socket so i can use it as a combo with the champ or a cab for any of the other amps

here is the back view
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/XL801556.jpg)
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: juansolo on May 26, 2009, 04:57:01 PM
PDT_011

It can't fail to bring a grin to your face when you plug that thing in. The fact that it actually sounds pretty good is a bonus!
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: ailean on May 26, 2009, 09:18:33 PM
You do like your red gear don't you :)

Cool stuff Wez!
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 26, 2009, 09:36:04 PM
once you start something its best just to go with it :)

since i managed to convince matamp to make me the red little rock it seems to make sense to stick with the colour scheme for everything else

my only issue is that when i brought a load of red tolex i brought red levant instead of red basket weave so nothing is actually the same colour as the matamp that started it all :?

oh - and the red idea started because it seemed the easiest way to sneak an amp into the living room, it was going to be a guitar free zone for laura's sanity - but we gave up on that ;)
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: ailean on May 26, 2009, 09:50:08 PM
but we gave up on that ;)

The guitar free zone or Laura's sanity?

Oh, you mean both don't you...  :D
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 26, 2009, 10:00:13 PM
 :lol:

yes, both - although i dont think i would quite get away with a full stack just yet ;)

funny thing is by 2x12 is now in the bedroom - which was going to be the next guitar free zone when the first one failed so badly

ah well, she can have the kitchen and bathroom.   Not a sexist comment by the way - i do most of the cooking anyway, but guitars do not belong in rooms with taps

Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: dave_mc on May 26, 2009, 11:19:44 PM
i've just realised the amp you're talking about is the one with the white knobs. I thought it was the giant one... :lol:

sounds like a nice amp, by the way, that youtube link you posted over at musicradar sounded pretty good, sounds like it has a decent amount of gain too.
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 26, 2009, 11:37:33 PM
well matamp made the one that says matamp in huge letters :P  thats actually quite a small amp itself

for reference the smokey on top of the matamp is fag packet sized and teh speaker is a 12" one- the noisy cricket has plenty of room left in that enclosure but i hate it when things are too cramped

they do sound a lot better than you expect - i havnt tried it as a boost for the matamp yet, that should be fun
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: FernandoDuarte on May 27, 2009, 01:56:55 AM
Nice ones! :D
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Oli on May 27, 2009, 08:07:43 AM
Looks great :) Think I might try and build something like that at some point, cool little project!
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Denim n Leather on May 27, 2009, 03:36:31 PM
Very cool. When is someone from this forum gonna do some clips?!!
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: sgmypod on May 27, 2009, 03:38:37 PM
Did you get the noisy cricket as a kit
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 27, 2009, 04:01:00 PM
my playings too bad for clips but i might be able to persuade someone else to let me film them having a go - at some point

its not  a kit but it uses easy to get parts and i had a guy on another forum etch me the circuit board as he was doing some for himself
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: dave_mc on May 27, 2009, 06:12:34 PM
i might be going insane, but where does the matamp say "matamp" on it in large letters? :oops:
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Denim n Leather on May 27, 2009, 06:27:01 PM
i might be going insane, but where does the matamp say "matamp" on it in large letters? :oops:
It's cut into the metal. Looks quite nice.
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: sgmypod on May 27, 2009, 06:40:10 PM
Is the little rock standard...or been modded
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 27, 2009, 07:13:58 PM
no its standard - other than the red tolex and white faceplate which they did for me

oh, and i swapped the valves out for some NOS ones i had spare from mucking about with the champ kit... basically its a little less gainy than when it got here but much sweeter cleans- but thats what pedals are for (or indeed this noisy cricket which i may try as a boost)


dave - you are blind! :P
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Johnny Mac on May 27, 2009, 08:18:23 PM
Nice bunch of amps Wez. I want a Smokey after you told me they can drive a 4x12!
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 27, 2009, 08:27:14 PM
here is a vid of the noisy cricket for you then johnny

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2178773507860258243

the only annoying thing about smokeys is changing the bloody battery - the cardboard box usually rips
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Johnny Mac on May 27, 2009, 08:34:20 PM
here is a vid of the noisy cricket for you then johnny

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2178773507860258243

the only annoying thing about smokeys is changing the bloody battery - the cardboard box usually rips

Blimey!  :D
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Andrew W on May 27, 2009, 10:58:57 PM
Wow, that sounds great.  I think a trip to Maplin might be in order.  Having looked at the schematic and instructions I think I might be able to build it, the instructions seem very clear which is a bonus for numb skulls like me.
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: dave_mc on May 27, 2009, 11:37:58 PM
dave - you are blind! :P

i still don't see it :lol:
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 27, 2009, 11:59:22 PM
i believe matamps original plan was to have it light up but they never got it sorted.... they obviously hadnt accounted for numpties like you or it would have been a more important design decision :P :)
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Lew on May 28, 2009, 01:33:52 AM
haha, numpty not heard that word in ages

Looks great, mind me asking how much it cost?  8)
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 28, 2009, 09:01:55 AM
the matamp was £300 - it was the standard price for the little rocks but they couldnt keep up producing them at that price and putting it up meant clashing with other amps in the range
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Crazy_Joe on May 28, 2009, 11:54:28 AM
That noisy cricket sounds awesome!
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Denim n Leather on May 28, 2009, 11:55:35 AM
You can get a Smokey in a plastic chassis, also ...
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 28, 2009, 12:07:32 PM
yeah, but that aint as cool as the vince ray artwork on mine
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: _tom_ on May 28, 2009, 12:11:32 PM
i still don't see it :lol:

haha are you serious?
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: sgmypod on May 28, 2009, 12:15:30 PM
could you friend etch any more boards?  if so how much
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 28, 2009, 01:47:07 PM
not sure if you can see this
http://simnettguitars.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1493.0

if not sign up and say hello to the friendly yellow faced moderator  :)
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: sgmypod on May 28, 2009, 01:54:04 PM
ta sent him message
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: gingataff on May 28, 2009, 02:37:20 PM
could you friend etch any more boards?  if so how much

You might not need it, it might be worth seeing if Maplins (or some other supplier) sell the 'universal' IC PCB that's used on the version in the PDF link here http://beavisaudio.com/projects/NoisyCricket/ (http://beavisaudio.com/projects/NoisyCricket/)

That's what I plan to use, although I do have PCB making stuff at home I think this will be even easier. (getting the right FET and op-amp seems to be unusually tricky though)
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: sgmypod on May 28, 2009, 02:41:15 PM
they don't there is one in UK but about same as what that guy charges
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 28, 2009, 02:51:24 PM
just bear in mind that al is just a guy on a forum making a few for fun - so he probably wont want to bother if loads of people suddenly start asking him for them
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: sgmypod on May 28, 2009, 02:52:28 PM
true...is for fun..not business..so yeah may say no..hey ho
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Lew on May 28, 2009, 03:24:48 PM
the matamp was £300 - it was the standard price for the little rocks but they couldnt keep up producing them at that price and putting it up meant clashing with other amps in the range

Sorry,  I meant the cricket  8)
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 28, 2009, 03:32:54 PM
oh right,   i brought components for two of them and some other projects too so i am not sure - but for the basic electrical bits its probably around a tenner
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Denim n Leather on May 28, 2009, 03:35:54 PM
CLIPS!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care if it's open chords. You obviously know one end of the guitar from the other, Wez, so stop stalling and play, dammit!!
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: gingataff on May 28, 2009, 03:45:21 PM
they don't there is one in UK but about same as what that guy charges
PM sent
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 28, 2009, 04:33:59 PM
CLIPS!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care if it's open chords. You obviously know one end of the guitar from the other, Wez, so stop stalling and play, dammit!!

dammit yourself Ben!!!

heres some random power chords and shite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbal3H3SJ28
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Denim n Leather on May 28, 2009, 04:54:14 PM
See, that wasn't too hard, was it? :)

Very instructive and it proved one point for me for sure -- not my thing lol
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 28, 2009, 04:58:35 PM
my guess is it wouldnt be your type of guitar either 
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/stratelemockup.jpg)
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Denim n Leather on May 28, 2009, 05:02:26 PM
Love the guitar! Has a G&L vibe going on.
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: sgmypod on May 28, 2009, 05:07:22 PM
Tele strat...like it
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 28, 2009, 05:07:55 PM
no... stratele
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: Lew on May 28, 2009, 05:18:58 PM
Sweeeet guitar, it needs to be finished in LPB  :D
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: blue on May 28, 2009, 05:27:36 PM
that's the fender wide range humbucker you got, isn't it? 
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: WezV on May 28, 2009, 05:39:19 PM
yep

 i am not sure about colour yet... it might be a satin/pearlesant sage green colour - unless i change my mind
Title: Re: N(tiny)AD
Post by: dave_mc on May 28, 2009, 06:02:41 PM
i believe matamps original plan was to have it light up but they never got it sorted.... they obviously hadnt accounted for numpties like you or it would have been a more important design decision :P :)

ah, that explains it then. i always keep my monitor's brightness down really low, that's probably why i can't see it. :)