X1TX Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 Anyone have a schematic or a link to one showing how I can make a mini-amp (like one of those Altoids can amps) power up when I plug the jack in? I know it can be doe as some of those other mini amps do that to eliminate the power switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samba Pa Ti Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 could just build a ruby amp, the power switch could just be a stereo jack with the battery ground on the 2nd lug http://www.runoffgroove.com/ruby.html the ruby amp is based on the smokey amp, (amps in cigarrette packets http://www.smokeyamps.com/ ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X1TX Posted June 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 So the ground for the battery would be the second lug on the input jack? When the jack is inserted it makes the ground path for the circuit. That what you're saying? Yeah, my next after trying the Altoids amp (since I pretty much have all the stuff laying around) would be a Ruby or possibly a Little Gem. Just figured I'd do this one first since it's so simple and I already have everything to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samba Pa Ti Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 yeah it completes the circuit like how a stomp box is wierd, ive never heard of an altoids amp :O lookin around the net it seems the altoids amp isnt designed for use with guitars, not sure how true this is im sure its possible to modify it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X1TX Posted June 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 Altoids amp is here: Altoids amp I think a few folks on here have built them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samba Pa Ti Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 so does it work with a guitar ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnewman Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 That's really just taking the headphone amplifier out of a tape deck and putting it in an altoids can. It will let you listen to your guitar on your headphones but it won't sound all that good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X1TX Posted June 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 Just thought it would be a cheap-o headphone amp to use when I'm not at home. Like I said, I have all the stuff laying around except for the Altoids can. So I figured it would make a cheap and fun little tinker session. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnewman Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 (edited) If I were you, I would go straight to building one out of parts as opposed to cannibalizing other gear. If you want an audio heaphone amp, a common starting point for headphone amps is the CMoy design. There is some good info available here: http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy-tutorial/. If you want specifically a guitar-oriented headphone amp, if I were you I would jump directly to the Ruby. If you can solder enough to put together the cannibalized tape player version, you can build a CMoy or a Ruby. They're not anything fancy, but they're easy to build and I'm sure they'll sound better than the one in a cheap tape player. Of course, neither of these will sound all that good with a guitar either . I've never heard a simple solid state circuit that sounds decent for playing guitar through. If you just want to mess around with it, go ahead, but don't set your expectations too high. Edited June 9, 2007 by jnewman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X1TX Posted June 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Thanks. But mostly I'm doing the Altoids amp as just a tinker project. I'll probably do a Ruby next. I have an old Fender Frontman that died and I may use that to house the Ruby later on. Though I kind of like to make a smaller amp I can carry around so I don't have to drag out the amp and cables somethimes when I just want to mess around. Not trying to build a Marshall clone or anything, I just enjoy the tinkering and this one will cost me nothing but a few hours time (that I wanted to spend tinkering anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnewman Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Fiair 'nuff... good luck with your project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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