Camping Amp

[Jack.Straw]

I'd like to build a 12v amplifier that i can take camping, either powered by the car or a battery pack. I typically play an acoustic guitar with a built-in pre-amp. Can anyone point me to a good schematic?

Thanks!
-Jack

[mikeboone]

I would try the Lectrosonics Maxi Mouse. See attached. Whether or not building it is the best option is up to you. This amp has an internal battery pack and sounds amazing.

I repaired one for a local New Orleans jazz player named John Eubanks. He plays jazz gigs with it mic'd up.

They're hard to come by bit they sound fantastic for what they are.

[Rob Mercure]

Jack,

How complicated do you want a amp to be and how closely do you want the reproduction? The circuit that MB provided is probably a good one but requires lots of experience to reproduce. If you want something simpler there's a circuit using a couple of LM386 chips in push pull that will take you a couple of hours, max, to make which will work pretty with some distortion - I play my acoustic through one occasionally. If you want I'll try and find the circuit. Lastly is you can find a used Crate CR-19 amp - I picked one up for $10 - it will allow you to simply substitute a battery for the power supply. I took a 12V gel cell and added it internally while retaining the existing PS. It's easy to mod and with a little work you can sub a 10" high efficiency speaker for the original 8" one for a better tone.

Lastly if you want to go tube I've got several designs that use either the 26A7 tube made for WWII aircraft radios 24 VDC systems that will work on 12 VDC (twin BPT in one envelope - works better on 24 V though) as well as some using those tubes designed for 12 V plates made in the early '60s. The latter are battery hogs though but would be great for auto use.

Holler at me.

Rob

[Enzo]

SIMpler than a couple LM386s would be a single TDA2030 - a power amp in one 5-leg part. it is the basis for most small practice amps.

Look at circuits for things like the little Pignose, Fender's Amp Can, PV Solo, and others.