I built my first amp!

[Pierre]

And....



It works.


Yep I was very surprised, but I checked everything again and there was nothing wrong. Some things just... baffle me.

It's a 2W amp with a 6NP1 power tube. It's VERY quiet, so quiet that it doesn't have a clean tone, my guitars are louder. I play it through my Laney's G12T75 Celestion, and it actually sounds very creamy and smooth. Lovely tone, though useless even for practice The output transformer is a hammond 125E I believe, rated 3W and it's TINY. I was expecting it to be a little louder than that. I have to stand next to it even at full volume for me to really hear myself play over the guitar.

I loved doing it and I can sure do it again! It's well fun people.

 

[Sune]

Re: I built my first amp!

So now you can built a bigger version for me, just for the heck of it

 

[DankStar]

Re: I built my first amp!

shouldn't 2 watts be a little louder than that? I mean, companies sell 1-watt amps which are supposed to be as loud as a loud TV or something.

at any rate, congrats! I'm gonna try a low-voltage one soon, from here (Sopht). Maybe the hybrid:

http://www.sopht.ca/mambo/index.php?PHPSESSID=9c9dfec9447e090374d5157c2ce5ed2e

 

[Pierre]

Re: I built my first amp!

Here is what I built:

http://www.madamp.de/g2.htm

 

[fingerace]

Re: I built my first amp!

now that you've taken the small step, take a bigger one!
http://www.ceriatone.com/index.htm

the boards are pre-assembled though!
I am thinking of getting one of those(JTM45)... and building the cab for it myself....

 

[Dave]

Re: I built my first amp!

Congrats-try an 18w Lite IIb

www.18watt.com

 

[mrfjones]

Re: I built my first amp!

try playing it though a 2x12 or 2x10 cab. you will really like th and it will be louder.

congratulations on a working amp

 

[Scott_F]

Re: I built my first amp!

If it has a very very faint volume, you might have an issue inside. IT could be several different things though. Even at 2W, although not overly loud, you ought to be able to hear it without having to stand next to it.

 

[ErikH]

Re: I built my first amp!

Something's not right. I have a 1/2 watt LM386 chip amp here that pushes my 4x12 with ease, it runs on 9 volts. Sounds like it's time to get the meter out.

And congrats on getting it together.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: I built my first amp!

I agree that something is not right if you aren't getting the volume. But that said, the tone on your clips is great! Guranteed this won't be the last build. Even before finishing the first one you are looking to the next build. It's addicting.....

 

[cronnin]

Re: I built my first amp!

People often solder the resistors onto wrong positions. They all look alike, and you always have to double check the values. Maybe you have 100KOhm on the place of 750KOhm...etc.
Give some of your friends to check the values of all the electronic parts, and soldering jobs. (it will take no more than 5 minutes, and you yourself may be overseeing somethng)

Does it have an external output before the power stage?

 

[wixedmords]

Re: I built my first amp!

Potty,

You rock. No bout-a-doubt-it. :bigthumb:

 

[Pierre]

Re: I built my first amp!

People often solder the resistors onto wrong positions. They all look alike, and you always have to double check the values. Maybe you have 100KOhm on the place of 750KOhm...etc.
Give some of your friends to check the values of all the electronic parts, and soldering jobs. (it will take no more than 5 minutes, and you yourself may be overseeing somethng)

Does it have an external output before the power stage?

Yeah I did and everything's perfect. I built it over a year ago and triple checked it all, I just happened to have finished it only a week ago (I FINALLY got the continuity function on my multimeter figured out hehe). I always triple check before plugging anything. I think it's simply that the OT is very wee and the power tube is not a proper power tube, more of a powerful preamp type. As for my friends, I don't have anyone who's even interested in music really It blows.

 

[Artie]

Re: I built my first amp!

I agree with everyone else that 2-watts should be louder than you describe. But if you're happy with everything being "right", then the bright side of this is that you've built a "home-made" version of a Hughes & Kettner Cream Machine. Highly desirable and no longer produced. Kinda like your own version of a Duncan Twin Tube Classic.

Enjoy.

 

[greco]

Re: I built my first amp!

Congratulations man !! You should be proud, it isn't easy to build this type of thing and get it to work.

I'm doing my first build also, but it is slow going due to a lack of time. I'm also not using a kit, which was probably not a wise choice for a first build.

Dave

 

[suislidE03]

Re: I built my first amp!

Yea, congrats on the amp Pierre. I am digging that 2204 amp kit off that site........ and i love fiddling with DIY stuff... hmmm...