DIY

DIY electronics question?

I took a tape recorder and replaced the tape head with a stereo jack from radioshack, so it works as a guitar amp, HOWEVER, it gives me no distortion and sounds like an acoustic guitar, anyone know how to fix this and give it distortion?

First let me congratulate you on your experiment. It’s folks like you who occasionally create their own unique sound.

Unlike guitar amplifiers, tape recorder amplifiers are designed to add as little coloration or distortion as possible.

Perhaps you can get the sound you’re looking for through a footpedal effect.

See if you can track down a copy of Craig Anderton’s old book “Electronics for Musicians”. You might get lucky and find a PDF copy of it online. It will certainly be easier to find tan “The Stopmbox Cookbook” which is long out of print.

I’ve posted some other interesting links below.

Don

noisy cricket by beavis audio d.i.y 1/2 watt guitar amp with built in speaker

Lepai Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply $21.00 This Lepai Tripath-based audio amplifier is ideal for both home and car audio applications. Its small size and clean 20 watt output makes it perfect for most any auto or home audio project or DIY application where space is limited….

Hi-Fi Man EF2A Tube USB DAC Headphone Amp $169.00 The compact EF2A headphone amp from HiFiMan offers a USB input and built in DAC with Burr-Brown PCM2702 chipset for direct connection to your PC. Analog RCA inputs let you plug in a line level source, such as a CD player. A front panel button lets you toggle between inputs. “This $169 little dude will deliver performance of amps twice the price… and if looks are your thing, you’ll certainly be …

Behringer AMP800 Four Channel Headphone Amp $44.99 If you’re tracking more than one musician at a time, or if everyone in a group wants to listen to a playback, you need a monitor distribution system. The compact, flexible AMP800 can power up to eight pairs of headphones and up to two different stereo mixes. Altogether Now Two balanced stereo main inputs and link output. Independent …

Guitar Amplifier Handbook – Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds (Softcover) $14.38 There’s a huge amount of hype and mythology surrounding tube amplifiers in the guitar world. For years, experts have argued over the tiny details of exactly how they do what they do, and how their various components interact. What’s undeniable is that, far more than being just a “loudness booster,” the unique combination of tubes, capacitors, resistors, and transformers in these amps can contribut…

Guitar Effects Pedals the Practical Handbook Book/CD (Softcover) $13.49 Starting with the dawn of effects building and continuing to the present day, this detailed compendium investigates effects pedals and how they can supercharge a guitarist’s sound. Experienced player Dave Hunter offers insight from the top builders and tips on how to get the most from each pedal. The author also dissects chains used by top guitarists in creating memorable recordings. The accompany…

The Tube Amp Book – Deluxe Revised Edition Book and Disk Package (Hardcover) $29.65 The deluxe revised Tube Amp Book edition contains 40% new material, with a comprehensive A-Z section covering all the great tube amp manufacturers, with histories, photos, and information. Amplifier brands include Ampeg, Dr. Z, Fender, Gibson, Hiwatt, Marshall, Matchless, Mesa/Boogie, Orange, Vox, Watkins and many others. Features a CD-ROM with 800 schematic and layout diagrams, from Ampeg to West…