#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Radio conversion too quiet

I'm trying to convert an early 60's silvertone transistor radio into an amp and ran across an issue. I think I found the lead using a 1/4 jack with loose leads and strumming a guitar. But the problem is it's so quiet! I have plenty of volume with the AM reciever (haven't disconnected it yet, but I can't see any reason that would interfere). I can barely hear the guitar at all through the speaker. Do I have the wrong lead? It's a combination volume and tone pot in one so it's a long cylinder instead of a pancake style.

0 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on May 9, 2015 at 3:20pm

Pre amp would only be needed for a rod piezo. Disk piezos create plenty of signal without one. If its a magnetic pickup, obviously not needed either.

Perhaps rather than hacking the circuit at the potentiometer, you could find the lead that runs from the tuner circuit to the potentiometer. I have a discussion at the top of the radio amp page that shows photos and how I did this on a 1964 Philips am/fm transistor radio. I added a switch which selects either the radio tuner or guitar jack and sends the selected source to the volume pot.

Permalink Reply by Slow Slough Guitars on May 10, 2015 at 9:58am

Thanks, I have a Behringer preamp booster I can try. I was using my Fender as my source so piezo vs rod is a moot point. I like the idea of being able to switch between radio and guitar.

RSS

Welcome to
Cigar Box Nation

Sign Up
or Sign In

Or sign in with: