How to build a 2 Watt Tube Guitar amp for under $5 in tubes Unique 6CL6 design Cheap tunes 4 Free
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- D-Lab is at it again. This time, How can you build a cool sounding heavy distortion low power amplifier on the cheap. Well, I believe I have hit it out of the park. The 6CL6 tube is a under appreciated tube for audio applications. I fell in love with its response after constructing this circuit. I believe it is the best sounding class A amp I have heard & designed. No need for pedals guys. This little firecracker will amaze you! Please keep in mind this is a concept/Novelty amp. I am constantly exploring options for kit building. IMPORTANT: Make sure to ground pins 5&6 on the 6AV6 tube! I discovered that they can pull in noise. Schematic is being updated. New REV coming out soon.
Wow.. This is one thing I feel society is slowly losing, the skills to build something great with your hands and brains. This amp is wonderful, and for that price.... Bravo
nah dude you couldn't be more wrong. never in the history of modern man has there been a better time to be a tinkerer / builder. Your average hobby person can make things your father could only get through a special order from a factory. I can 3DP a resin cured part in a matter of hours. It take 2 days to get the best soldering iron you can buy and any type of solder I want right to my door. I built a programmed my own drone with zero beforehand knowledge of electronics, soldering, or programming. Took a month of reading and watching youtube videos. Easier now than it has EVER been
I agree with you that it’s easier than ever before, however I get the same feeling as this guy that the general public are slowly losing touch with these skills. Shop classes don’t exist in most high schools anymore (at least in the US) for example. Personally I find it very hard to find certain fountains of knowledge like this man here, Google these days is unreliable for searching the web, there aren’t as many unique websites as there where 10-15 years ago Google keeps the stuff at the top that pays them ad revenue, forums outside of big websites like Reddit are dying. If I’m wrong please tell me
@@quistador7 Not saying the passionate individuals like yourself don't exist, just that the high majority of folks wouldn't know what to do with a hammer and a nail most of the time. Too many middle man jobs, maybe too many people also..
While less people might be building physical items, the access to doing so is still widely available to anyone willing to put the work in. Not to mention that coding is the 21st century type of handyman work. Same type of problem solving that someone like OP would be doing
@@BladeDoomer86 I didn't notice your name when I replied, I love all them witches I saw them a few years back in Boston when they played the middle east with plague vendor, one of the best shows I've ever been too. Lol if I had a buck for every time my band jammed on marriage of the coyote woman I'd probably have more money than Gates
Edit: and a MF DOOM pfp? Don't listen to what everyone else says about u, I think ur alright
That tuning is perfect for showing off the amp's distortion.
You have contributed to my continuing education. As a musician and a music teacher, I thank you. 🎶
How on earth have I yet to find this channel? This is the tinkering musicians DREAM!!!!!!!!
Especially one like myself that loves to rip stuff apart and figure out how it works.
Subscribed!!!!!
Definitely gonna be emailing for these schematics as I feel like this would be a perfect little amp for my home studio!!!
I remember working on the old B&W TV sets using the 6CL6's. Also have some ham gear that uses the 6CL6's.
If you can still find junk all American five radios you can take the amplifier stages out and use the tubes. You will already get the output transformer , you can series wire the filaments out of these tubes you get a 35w4, 12av6, and a 50c5 if you wire these tubes you will get 97 volts you will need a dropping resistor. The plate current or b+ is the 125 volts from the line I would just get an isolation transformer or use a foreign outlet transformer they can be used as a step up or step down . If you step up you will get 240 vac which can be used for b+. If you have 240 volt outlets you can step down to 120. You can also use two transformers to make an isolation transformer just hook the low voltage secondaries together and use both primaries for input and output. These are just tricks to use what you may already have. 73
They can be built as extremely clean sounding. I made 2 SET monos to run two JBL pro compression horns that work best at 0.5w and paired with two 1000w ss monos for the 15' JbL clones. I do the distortion for sax on the input side of the usb interface.
Love the build! Don't worry about the string, guitar players break them all the time.
Hey Terry. Keep a good Looper around that records different guitar licks from Tony. That way you will always have a real good guitar signal to use in your videos instead of you apologizing for not having a guitar player in your videos.
Great!! Ive been looking around for a tiny fully valve amp for a while! Not easy to find!
Great little amp! I'm also working in some small power tube amps, one with a compactron 6AL11, and another one with a 6AV6 and an ECL82, a la Fender Princeton.
Great stuff! Thanks for sharing your talents, D-Lab!
Thanks Terry! I'm saving this one for later!
Great little amp, it might be worthwhile getting a cheap looper pedal. That way, if someone records a few riffs for you, you can demonstrate your amps without needing someone to come in to play.
Someone who goes through ALL the pickups and tone settings, not just grinding with the bridge PU.
That is pretty cool. I need to get into these kind of mini amp builds
Super cool. Where are you sourcing the power transformer, and what is the model/part number?
Summoning another cool design and some good wine well done 👍
Nice little project. Really appreciate the work you put in! Funny sidenote: here in germany none of these tubes are available under 10,- Euro each...
Thanks Terry .You made my Day.
D-Lab boutique amps and effects pedals! Limited editions!
Please name one the Tornado.
I always get a kick out of these 'how to build for under dollar videos.
Of course if a person needed to buy all the parts involved it would cost several times that much. The video creator always has some of the parts on hand and then enumerates the cost of the additional parts they need to buy, usually underestimating those actual costs as well.
The titles of those video are misleading because they always state, 'how to'.. Well, they are not how to videos for other people, and would be more accurately titled, 'How I built for dollars', which would be more truthful, more useful. I do think that people clicking on the click bait title are thinking that they will be shown some secret on how they can save money, and find out they were wrong.
You are absolutely right 👍
I have the same filling in my mind. I was really disappointed when I watched this video
This question probably shows my ignorance in electronics, but here goes. I'm assuming this is US and 120 Volt AC. In Europe with 240 V AC, do we need the first transformer or could you just go straight into the bridge after the fuse? Great project BTW.
Hey Terry, thanks for the awesome video! What kind of transformers do you have in there? Is there a parts list other than the schematic? I'm still learning how to read those.
real nice job
Hey Terry great little build and it seems to be pretty straight forward of a build, can you possibly send me a copy of the schematics I wanna try and build a version of my own, you seem to always come up with some very unique ideas for a lot of builds using general items you have laying around. Thanks in advance for the schematics……Live long and prosperous……..God Speed !!!
start building extreme metal amps on the cheap, that rival or exceed the bigboys!! you are an instant billionair!
Never work on tube amps without a glass of red wine. As Julia Child famously said, "I enjoy cooking with wine. Sometimes, I even put it in the food.”
Could someone point me to the Capacitor PCB ? Thanks. Great little amp!
Ever thought of making some kind of easy build kit for this and shipping to the UK....????
Awesome build
Very cool.
I wonder what a harp would sound like,,,,,
Would you sell them? I'm not a builder but a player,,,,,
Please let me know, great little amp!!!
Not AMPLIFIER Literate and NEW to the Amplifier world. I purchased a 1000 watt Amplifier.. Can i use this AMP for HOME USE? Innocent question. Can you Help? Thanks in advance
If we add more watt let say 5watt where should we make the change....and where shall we put effects loop
I am inspired to poetrification:
"It makes it better if I fill it up;" truer words--never spoken.
Me, looking at empty glass: "Waitress! My drink is broken!"
Would like a schematic.
Should the output transformer be rotated 90 degree? I thought this was needed so it rejects the hum from the power transformer.
How much to buy it?
Hallo sir I'm from India I need out put transformer data turn and core area. And no. For el 84 push pull amplifier
Do you make these for sale? Thanks
@D-lab Electronics do you sell these one off amps on eBay or Reverb? Or private sale? If so please let me know, thanks! Also, thanks for another great vid! :)
Private sale thru YT. This ones gone, but I will be making another
@@d-labelectronics thanks for the reply, so whenever a video posts w a custom build like this, just message you? Or do you keep a list somewhere of what you have available for purchase?
I'm scoping the market for a tube amp made with 12ax7/ 12at7, 6CA7 tube compliment as low as 1watt yet switchable to a high watt to play with drummer and practice that can push a 15 inch speaker. Anyone know anything? Also I want it to focus on clean tone.
Elwood! I know its you....
what are 6cl6's triodes or tetrodes?
Really 😎
Where can go to buy some of your kits? How can we support you?
See d-labelectronics.com
What's that part coming off the Transformer that says "WLO6 Bridg"?
Can anyone explain to me how to go about ordering those Transformers without the part numbers? I've built a 5F1 before but I ordered the Transformer using a part number on the schematic. How do you go about finding a Transformer without the part number?
Time to learn some more chords. If you're coordinated enough to navigate around a chassis without burning things up, you can play a guitar.
Screw the amp...I need that liquor bell! :D
I bought that bell at a Hamfest for ten dollars!
You call that a bell? *This* is a bell! ruclips.net/video/7YEyMLX3sD8/видео.html
Terry - wonderful and beautiful little amp. That distortion does sound unique for sure. I would love to see Tony's reaction. Its ok to break strings, just don't break wine bottles. Excellent my friend.
Your wife is way cool 😎
Excellent re-purpose of a vintage device which is beyond any utilization for other projects. Very Well done !
I have done electronics repair for years and being a guitar player I have always wanted to build my own amp. I have modded amps and guitars but never a full build. I have been looking at mojotone kits but after hearing this little gem I know what I want to do for a first build. Love this channel!
Same here. This is the year I build one
@@srvpoet Same 😎
Im surprised you dont make your own little tube amp kit, for people to buy and build themselves.Using this enclosure
Mate, why don't you make me one & I'll pay you for it. This little beauty will be the Bees Knees here in Auckland New Zealand
Sorry for an off topic question.
I have a Version 1, Yamaha G100B-212 amp and wondering how to drop the circuit housing so I can give a look over to make sure all is good.
It's been sitting in my basement for years and I'm cleaning it all up and want to check the inside circuitry before I fire her up again... Make sure no mice got in there or something
Edit: I figured it out, it just slides out nicely after removing the 4 top chassis screws 🤦.
Yep, I'm an idiot.
Try a harmonica with this amp.....
.......wish to you and D Lab - success in 2022 .
You really need to invest in a looper - an effect pedal ( around $40 used) that one of your friends can record on and you can play it thru any project for demonstration purposes. Absolutely ;ove your videos. Keep 'em comin'.
I agree the distortion is unusual, but I'm not sure it sounds good, maybe a little too fizzy & strident. The tele mat have something to do w/that as they can be very bright. I think you could have a winner w/some tweaking.
Terry I just finished the 3 watt (6aq5) and it sounds really nice, and it didn't cost me very much. Thanks! I like that I can have a hobby that doesn't cost me a million dollars for each amp!
Hey there's a youtube video of Stevie Ray Vaughan playing with a broken string if you want to learn how to deal with that problem.
That sounds like it would make a great little Harmonica amp with that distortion into an little 8 inch Alnico speaker. I was looking for your email.
How much different are guitar amps compared to ham radio/cb amps. I do understand the uses are different but are principles similar?
nice little amp, one question. I see on the schematic that the 6.3 vac is taken to ground with two 100 ohm resistors. I don't see if the 6.3 is even used with these tubes. I am sure it is obvious and I just missed it. I just saw it they link to pins 4 & 5 and then 3 & 4 and 3 & 4. thanks for your videos.
100 ohm is used as a virtual ground .... And as for the circuit, it's just not drawn that they are connected to lamps, so as not to complicate the circuit ... I learned so much looking at experts like Mr. D-lab ... :-)
Next time you have a great player there, get yourself a looper pedal. Have them play some nice variations through it. At times like this one here….plug it in and step on it!
terry hi. could you tell me how to install a headfone jack to a fender frontman 212r please. [ wiring diagram please]
I’d rather buy one you I have no skills like you I stick to what I know which is playing I had one of your 5 watt amps but I gave it to my son
Hi. Nice and simple project. The gain and tone controls are log tipe or linear ones. Thanks
If you keep ringing that bell it won't be long before she is ringing yours!🤣
Dude you need to open a boutique shop!
run a humbucker through it, a Dimarzio Super Distortion... yup
So do you sell kits for amb building!! i'd be very interested..
Great sounding amp you must be flat out on these would you be willing to sell one?
I've been thinking about building Robinette's Micro Champ, but this is intriguing. I'm thinking that power transformer could make it way cheaper - that's the main expense....It sounds dirty AF....Thanks for this!
Clever design considering the old Heathkit cabinet but is very hard to find except maybe at a swap. Sound is very hot and
so good for a class A amp. Time to learn some guitar chords like Colleen Fazio ❤does after working on a build
Terry.😉 Bottle of wine with a straw indeed!🍾😂🤣
Yeah, thought I got lucky and found one on a local online marketplace, but the guy had already sold it on the side and forgot to delete the listing...
Hey Terry, have you considered doing a voltage doubler to get 250V for the plate of that little tube? You could get the lower voltage for the screen from between the doubler's capacitors.
Wow, your guitar playing has gotten so much better, I heard the MC5 needs a player.
Great litle amp... I like it...
One small question (because I'm a noob) .. Can another separate 6.3 v power supply be used, connected in the same configuration? Don't yell at me please :)
6CL6 - is a good tube. It is especially good as an alternative to EL84 PP. The main thing is not to exceed a voltage of more than 300V because of the second grid
Αmazing what 2watts can do!
How efficient is the speaker you're using Terry? It must be around the 100 dB mark?
Great project. I'll be on to it like a flash!
I think I've got all I need in my junk box. 🙂
I built a 1w amp using ecc81 for output tubes, its loud enough to hurt the ears when using a distortion pedal and playing trough a 1x12 cab! Best to install VVR to be able to control the volume for safe levels for the ears.
@@infectionsman
Thanks for the extra info!
These are great projects that can be build easily. Of course I don't have Terry's power supply module, but I will build my own on the same circuit.
I love finding overlooked tubes to use in builds. I commonly use 6CM6, 12AB5 and 12V6 as subs for the ubiquitous 6V6. I generally get NOS tubes for 6-7 each from Antique Electronic Supply. Cheap preamp tubes are a lot harder, though I have paired up a 12SC7 with a 12V6 to make a 5C2 Fender Princeton close and it sounds great. I got both tubes with shipping for about $15. I did have to use seperate transformers for HT and filliment, but I managed to keep the whole build to about $150 including speaker and cabinet.
How would you go about finding the power and output Transformers for his build? I built a 5 F1 before but it had a part number so finding the Transformer was very easy but I am a novice and do not know how to find a Transformer without the part number. What would you search for?
@@cameronstolhand7149 the output transformer is all about impedence and wattage. For this one you need a 7k primary, and the secondary would be whatever speaker you're using. The easiest would probably be a hammond 125 series since they are "universal" transformers. They have a series of 6 taps for the secondary and you choose which to use based on a chart they supply. They come in several different watt ratings for both single ended and push pull. As for a power transformer, you'll just have to browse through manufacturers' websites looking at transformer specs. This project used a 440v center tapped HT winding @30mA and requires about 1A on the filliment. I know the Hammond 269GX is about right voltage-wise, but rated at twice the current. Looking at other manufacturers you might be able to find a closer match.
@@jcool0122 Thanks for the reply. What's that part coming off the Transformer that says "WLO6 Bridg"?
@@cameronstolhand7149 that is a 4 diode bridge rectifier. You can make one out of 4 1N4007 diodes if you have those on hand.
@@jcool0122 Thanks!👍
Nice build! Though the bell was physically painful to my ears (not kidding) Thanks anyway.
Do you sell a DIY kit for this? If so, I would buy one
so if you can build em for 5$ how much to buy one? haha
As an amp builder, Electronics degree... etc... I really love this repurpose desings!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Awesome, thanks Terry. One thing you never mention is what kind of speaker fills your shop cab. Really enjoy these "Do more with Less" builds.
Where do I get starting learning about this stuff? I'm a guitar player and I'm studying mechanical engineering (so I had to take a few electrical courses) and this is so cool. I can recognize all the components in the amp and read your schematic but I don't know how everything would work together in a guitar amp. I'd love to build something like this.
Hi, can you send me the schematics for this?
the Heathkit Hybrid Phone Patch, Model HD-19 is over $100, if you can find one.
Sorry to be a party pooper here. Although I highly respect this pristine project, please allow me to RESPECTFULLY "call snake oil" on some claims :
1- I am not convinced this project can claim "repurpose" as the only thing actually reused from the HD-19 is the enclosure. Such an enclosure still costs around 50 bucks on eBay, so it's not really cheap.
2- One of the hurdles of tubes amp is... tubes availability. Although 6VA6 are cheaper than 12AX7, they are barely costing half of a 12AX7. As you need two of those, it's a wash. So, from a practicality point of view, a single 12AX7 is actually a better bet. Same fo the 6CL6, which cost only2/3 of a g'd'ol EL34. I give you that those have a tendency to burn out fast, so 1/3 saving can be interesting.
so, 2x6AV6 + &x 6CL6 = USD 20, not 5.
I'll try and built it for fun, though!
thanks a lot for this video.
What's the model of the power transformer you used ?
FYI my Euro friends explained to me that the standard for that style of power jack indicates 110 OR 220 volts is acceptable... unconfirmed but every device I checked with that jack says input 120/220V 50/60hz... caveat emptor!
I enjoyed your vid on this two watt guitar amp.I have an idea for you:use an old Califone speaker box that had a 12" speaker.Another speaker box to use would be an old Victor or Bell and Howell.If I could send it to you,I have the cabinet from a '47 Stewart Warner.The cabinet is wood.
Hi I'm from India and watch all you amazing videos. I'm really interested in building a tube amplifier for my Guitar can you help me out with. The 2 watt amplifier circuit diagram and parts required to build one. Thank you .
at $36 the Edcor CXSE5-7K - 5W would be well suited for this, although you'd have to pick just one output impedance 4/8/16. For power the Antek AS-05T160 should work for $29
I commented on the other video, just an update. I'm cooking a 6dt6, @ 450v (300max, 🤣) 2x8ohm drivers and 16r into a 5500 6v6 output so the load resistance is around 22000ohms...no redplate, little distortion at the high-end....wish I had an ocilloscope. This thing is killer!
Plan on starting this build got some real nice vintage 6cl6 but don’t have 33 or 68 uF caps on hand could 2-47 uF caps be used in its place? Would this effect my power supply resistor values..?
Looks like a fun build. It would be interesting to see a build like that using a compactron tube.
Gimmie a call… I wanna come rock that thing! Plus I need to give you that face plate and maybe say… talk about getting my amp fixed lol 😂
What a fun little project! I love the re-used Heathkit casework.
"Bottle with a straw..."..👍🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🍷