After my first cigar box guitar build, which was a lot of fun, I want to build a little cigar box amp. The problem is I am a newbie, and the schematics is pretty heavy stuff for me. So I wondered if you guys had some schematics to recommend, and maybe also explain the basics behind them. I just want to know how to build them by looking at the schematics :)
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I've done hacks too, like gutting a HOneytone and putting in a box. Sounds better that my other one but I'm not as proud of it.
info on runoffgroove.com about building amps , I built the Ruby model from scratch, I enjoyed learning how to read the schematics and resistor codes etc on line. Worked the first time too! If you really want to build the whole thing.
Thanks for helpful tips! I feel bying kits like that is just too easy + im very interested in how they work, and I probably gonna do it like RTZGUITARS (pretty nice amps you got there). But I think i get the schematics now, after some research. Next up is probably figuring out how to add effects etc. to the amp !
I forgot about that... some time ago, I bought a couple of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LM386-Super-Mini-Power-Amplifier-Board-3V-1...
You don't need ALL the parts, as the power plug and the input jack are pointless for our needs., and it works! You'll need a few additional items: 9V battery clip, and some 2-pin connectors with leads...
I've built a few, and it's nice to say I've done it, but for $10, you can buy a board ready to go, just add a jack, battery clip and speaker... hard to beat...
Oh, that schematic above works great, but if you are using a Piezo pickup, you'll need to boost the gain: Either Short Pins 1 to 8, or put a 1k pot on it for variable gain. With a magnetic pickup, you can get some basic distortion that way, too...
You want a bread board they are only $8 at radio shack.
this is a very simple board here I find if you put the chip in bend the tabs over it much easier to solder the wire to the chip without the copper joint then I run the wire through the board and solder the top like this. Looks like a spider on the back .Good luck it take some time.
if your using a TI. 386 all you need is the caps and ground going to the speaker. Voltage input and guitar input so only two caps.
Thanks for answers, I dont get it all, but I think I'll just buy a breadboard and learn by doing !
This will let you do some soldering with something that should work when done. Do a couple and get yourn soldering chops down. Then go looking at schematics. You will have some sort of clue of what you are into. Call it incremental learning.