After studying some other LM386 based 1/2watt guitar amplifier designs I noticed that where I had a 10KΩ resistor on the output, all other schematics have a 10Ω resistor there.  I delved a bit further and found that the data sheet also specified the 10Ω resistor, so despite working – I was clearly mistaken. I played around with some other component values, referencing the data sheet, and created a version of the circuit that...

I have been playing with some various circuits to deal with the pre amp stages and effects loops for my miniature guitar amplifier design.  The circuit presented here is a revision of my previous core amplifier schematics. Other than a few component changes, the main difference is that I have added an N-FET transistor (MPF102) buffer to the input stage. This should prevent improper impedance loading on any pedals in the effects loop stage...

Yesterday I discussed using op amps for buffers in the pre amp and effects loop stages of a small LM386 based amplifier.  I had lamented that I had thus far been unsuccessful in working with the MC4558 dual op amp chip which was confusing me since I was having great success with the LN741 single op amp.  I have now resolved those issues, which I believe stemmed from incorrect biasing of the signal due to my own ignorance – the...

Based on my research into using op amps configured as voltage followers, otherwise known as unity gain, I’ve been testing out using one at the return point of the effects loop – this seems like a good idea so far and appears to work OK as well. The idea is the same as using a buffer at the input stage of the amplifier, to prevent loading the effects units on the loop. This is my test circuit as currently breadboarded.  I am...

Following some of my previous work playing around with the LM741 op amp I came up with this alternate design for my previous clean amplifier circuit. I have played with a few variations on fuzz style gain preamp circuits, but I’m still exploring the options, hence the “Work In Progress” section. One thing I learned is that the gain preamp needs to be silenced when running on the clean channel, it will still distort the...

After successfully making a nice clean channel for my amplifier, I set about trying to make a high-gain distortion channel.  This is an approximation of the circuit, which is loosely based on the Marshall MG10 practice amp distortion circuit.  It uses a pair of LEDs as clipping diodes which I thought I would try out.  I’ve seen this method referred to as sounding like a “can of bees” – I can confirm that but would...