DIY Small Amp Suggestions

[ToneMonkey]

I've been hammering down the finer detail of my project guitar and I think I've got it prety much nailed. So now I'm turning my attention to the amp. I'm not going to be able to do anything on the guitar until I move house, but I might be able to squeeze an amp project under one of the sofas.

The guitar is going to be loaded with P90's and I'm after an amp that will deliver a nice old Vox or Fender amp sound. I play guitar like Dave Lister, so I don't need anyone to be able to hear me other than myself, therefore I'm after something around 3-5W. The idea around the project guitar is to keep it all simple, so I don't really need any controls other than one for volume and one for gain or tone.

I fancy breaking out the soldering iron, so I'm after building it myself.  I'll consider anything whether it be a kit or just a set of schematics. Don't mind building the chassis if I need to. Ideally I'd like to make it into a combo with a small speaker cab as I want to keep it as small as possible.

I know there's a few amp guru's around these parts, so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cheers guys

[forestcaver]

Strongly recommend ampmaker...

[Ian Price]

I've never bought anything from him (Barry) but did sell him may Martamp. He's a nice guy and I've heard good stuff about his build kits. Check out youtube, there are some pretty good demos on there.

[ToneMonkey]

Cheers guys. I've already looked at the ampmaker kits but I'm seeing if there are any other alternatives.

[jpfamps]

There are plenty of other kit options, however I the Ampmaker kits have the best instructions.

Some other options are:

http://www.madamp.biz/
http://www.torresamps.com/ (Barry Vyse at Torres is very helpful).
http://www.mojotone.com/ (you can order these through AllpartsUK)
http://www.astonelectronics.co.uk/
http://www.valvepower.co.uk/18w_kit.htm

Alternatively there is nothing stopping buying the bits and making your own "kit".

[darkbluemurder]

The guitar is going to be loaded with P90's and I'm after an amp that will deliver a nice old Vox or Fender amp sound. I play guitar like Dave Lister, so I don't need anyone to be able to hear me other than myself, therefore I'm after something around 3-5W. The idea around the project guitar is to keep it all simple, so I don't really need any controls other than one for volume and one for gain or tone.

That sounds like a single ended amp. Fender Champ or Vox AC4 come to mind. Also check out www.ax84.com for more beginner guitar amp projects.

Cheers Stephan

[ToneMonkey]

Alternatively there is nothing stopping buying the bits and making your own "kit".

That's my thinkning at the minute. I think I'd be fairly happy making the chassis, turret board and other bits in the shed as I want to keep the price down while still getting the best sounding mini amp that I can.

I'll have a good look at the links when I'm back from work.

Cheers again guys........

........ not to sure how I forgot about ax84.com. I'm sure I used to be a member there a few years back.

[jpfamps]

Alternatively there is nothing stopping buying the bits and making your own "kit".

That's my thinkning at the minute. I think I'd be fairly happy making the chassis, turret board and other bits in the shed as I want to keep the price down while still getting the best sounding mini amp that I can.

I'll have a good look at the links when I'm back from work.

Cheers again guys........

........ not to sure how I forgot about ax84.com. I'm sure I used to be a member there a few years back.

Allparts do the Mojotone transformers, which are good quality.

Tube Town in Germany all do some good torroidal mains transformers, which are good value. For example this would be a good choice for a champ-style 5W amp (without valve rec):

http://www.tube-town.net/ttstore/product_info.php/info/p527_Torodial-50VA.html


If you are going to bash your own chassis I would advise getting an ali chassis, as this will be much easier to work. There would no need for the extra strength of steel on a 5W amp.

There are plenty of people selling turret/ eyelet boards out there. We use 3mm PTFE, which very easy to work and electrically the best material to use.

[ToneMonkey]

Cheers dude. I'll look them up. Sadly although I'm now home, I'm still working so I'll have to have a look later.

I had some ali sheet in the shed a while back, but god knows where it is now.

I'll hopefully be heading over to our office in the West Midlands next week and last time I was there I noticed a transformer winding place near the office. I may pop my head in there for a nose when I go over. I highly doubt they'll have somthing suitable but it could be worth popping in for a cup of tea and a chat.

[sgmypod]

Ive helped a mate mod a ampmaker kit very nice amps, I have also had a 5w one from here http://www.astonelectronics.co.uk/valve-amp-kits-tube-amp-kits.html and still own it.....is a great little amp with easy instructions to build, guy is also helpful if you get stuck

[ToneMonkey]

I'm really liking the look of the Torres Tiny Tone. I think the best idea is to get the instruction book (£20) and slowly start to accumulate some parts until I only need the speaker and the transformer, that way I can sneek it past the wife until I can say 'If I buy a transformer and a speaker, I can build an amp..... no dear, not that kind of transformer'.

Sounds like a plan.

[ToneMonkey]

The guitar is going to be loaded with P90's and I'm after an amp that will deliver a nice old Vox or Fender amp sound. I play guitar like Dave Lister, so I don't need anyone to be able to hear me other than myself, therefore I'm after something around 3-5W. The idea around the project guitar is to keep it all simple, so I don't really need any controls other than one for volume and one for gain or tone.

That sounds like a single ended amp. Fender Champ or Vox AC4 come to mind. Also check out www.ax84.com for more beginner guitar amp projects.

Cheers Stephan

I've been doing some more reading and I think you have it 100% right with the AC4, so cheers mate.

I've got the schamtic from here:

http://website.lineone.net/~m0dzo/AC4TVschem.pdf

Although the actual amp is a pcb, I'm presuming I can make up my own turret board. If you can't, can someone stop me before I start to buy the bits  :D