The Repair Bench: Carvin SX200 Guitar Amplifier
Learning how to troubleshoot electronic circuits is one of the handiest skills anyone can have if they are building or modifying amplifiers or effect pedals. At some point you’ll power-up a circuit and find that it doesn’t work, and then what? For this reason we write “The Repair Bench” section of Guitar Kit Builder about […]
Featured Website: Solid State Guitar Amp Forum
We think many Guitar Kit Builder readers will be interested to check out the Solid State Guitar Amp Forum at www.SSGuitar.com. This is a forum-based website devoted to building, fixing and modifying solid state guitar amplifiers and associated gear. It was started in 2006 and has flourished ever since, with members from all over the […]
Book Review: Solid-State Guitar Amplifiers
Vacuum tube guitar amplifiers get the majority of attention from kit builders and tone purists, and with good reason. Tube amps definitely set the bar for the most highly sought after and classic guitar tones. The much maligned and often misunderstood solid state guitar amplifier has, over the years, become the “ugly stepsister” to its […]
The Repair Bench: Roland Micro Cube
Learning how to troubleshoot electronic circuits is one of the handiest skills anyone can have if they are building or modifying amplifiers or effect pedals. At some point you’ll power-up a circuit and find that it doesn’t work, and then what? For this reason we write “The Repair Bench” section of Guitar Kit Builder about […]
AX84 High Octane 5 Watt Guitar Amplifier
Here’s a nice build of the www.AX84.com High Octane 5 watt guitar amplifier project. The Hi-Octane is a great rock and roll amp in a small package. It is similar to the AX84 P1 project but with an extra preamplifier section for more distortion. The amp features a high gain 12ax7 preamplifier section, a Class […]
Homemade Dual Footswitch for Roland Cube Amplifier
Here’s an inexpensive dual footswitch project using a a candy tin and simple switches. The switch was built for the Roland Cube 30 amplifier as an alternative to purchasing the Boss FS-6 Footswitch, which retails for around $55.00.
Build the Amp Maker PP-18 Baby Bluesbreaker Kit
Amp Maker (www.ampmaker.com) is a Suffolk, England based maker of tube amplifier kits, started in 2005. Their design approach is to make good tone affordable. The Amp Maker line of kits today include: Woodface 55 (WF-55) – Their easiest to build kit, with 4 watts of tweed-voiced tone with a mahogany control panel. The Woodface […]
Build a SansAmp GT2 Clone
The SansAmp is a solid-state device designed to emulate the tone of a vacuum tube guitar amplifier, and allow for patching directly into a studio mixer or stage PA. It was developed by B. Andrew Barta, the founder of the company Tech 21, to meet his need as a performing musician. Barta used his expertise […]
Jazz Bass Guitar Kit from GuitarWorx
Here’s a video highlighting the new jazz bass guitar kit available from Morris Guitar Kits at www.guitarworx.com.au in the style of the Fender Jazz Bass. The Jazz Bass (or J Bass) was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. It is distinct from the Fender Precision Bass in that its tone is […]
Volume Pedal Modification with Redeemer Circuit Buffer
If you use a volume pedal and find that it effects the tone of your guitar, this modification may be just what you need. It uses a handy module made by the folks at Creation Audio Labs. This module, named the “Redeemer Circuit” is a buffer amplifier circuit that eliminates tone loss caused by the […]
