Convert Yahama CR-1020 to guitar amp?

[Wildhorse]

I am a young guy no experience at this. is it even possible or worth trying?

[Enzo]

Hi, welcome to the forum.,

First, I'd have to find out just what a CR-1020 even is. A link to information on one would be cool, and especially a schematic.

AH, I see it is a very nice stereo receiver. ANY amplifier COULD be converted to guitar use. But the question is how involved would it be and how difficult. This amp has a bunch of line inputs and also phono inputs. The line level stuff is largely flat and clean.

If it were me, I think I would approach it more like build a guitar preamp, then run THAT through this amp. You could probably pick one input channel to modify, then find all its parts around the large circuit board, and reconfigure it all. But really I think it would be simpler and more successful if you just built a preamp on a smallish board.

[Wildhorse]

Hi, welcome to the forum.,

First, I'd have to find out just what a CR-1020 even is. A link to information on one would be cool, and especially a schematic.

AH, I see it is a very nice stereo receiver. ANY amplifier COULD be converted to guitar use. But the question is how involved would it be and how difficult. This amp has a bunch of line inputs and also phono inputs. The line level stuff is largely flat and clean.

If it were me, I think I would approach it more like build a guitar preamp, then run THAT through this amp. You could probably pick one input channel to modify, then find all its parts around the large circuit board, and reconfigure it all. But really I think it would be simpler and more successful if you just built a preamp on a smallish board.

What about to a PA? Which is what I really need.

[J M Fahey]

*Basically* yes.
Of course, you need to have a perfectly working one first.
It has 2 power amps. You have direct access to them thanks to two RCA jacks on the back, labelled "Main in".
They are close to other 2 RCA jacks labelled "Pre Out" and a switch labelled "On Off" (according to the schematic).
Move the switch to the OFF position, it should mute the internal preamp (so you cease to hear the Tuner or any other "regular" input ) and connect the Main In jacks straight to the power amps.
Yiu can test that by getting a cheap premmade cable : Stereo headohone plug to 2 RCA male plugs (usually red and black).
If you connect said male RCAs to the Main In jacks and the other end mini plug to an MP3 player, you should hear that music through the speakers.
Now that you got yourself two good power amps, you'll need a preamp.
If you dare, you can build Rodd Elliott's one (he sells the PCBs and offers schematic and instructions) *or* you can get into GGG site, which has some Distortion pedals which can be used as Preamps *or* you can get , say, a Marshall Guv'nor/Shredmaster/Jackhammer which is a full preamp in itself *or* get a SansAmp or some multi effects pedal (Zoom 505/POD/VAmp) and use it as preamp and multi effects.
You use your Yamaha as a Power amp.
Or you can get for peanuts any beginner level Guitar amp (typically 8 to 15W) and boost it to 70W or more with your Yamaha.
Now, opening it and modding it to become a guitar amp all by itself, is *very* complex and in practice is not worth it.

EDIT: talk about simulposting
Elektrotanya has the schematic: YAMAHA CR-1020 SCH 1 Service Manual free download, schematics, eeprom, repair info for electronics
Now I see you need it as a PA system.
Well, if you have the Yamaha and a couple Hi Fi speakers (which are very good for voice and acoustic instruments) and you want to connect a couple microphones , you can buy a ready made simple 4 mic mixer for peanuts or for somewhat more, one of those mixers which have a couple Mic inputs and a couple auxiliary stereo channels.
Ebay and Craigslist should offer quite a few for a very reasonable price.
Or visit some local Music Shop.