Introduction: Mini Coffin Guitar Amp (on Battery)





(Sorry, I screwed up alot in this video, and battery in amp wasn't full. it's much more louder)
Hi! Welcome to the toutorial of how to make a Mini Coffin Guitar Amp, that plugs directly into guitar, WITHOUT WIRES and  WITHOUT ADAPTER. Its COMPACT, runs on a single 9 volt battery and has BUILT IN OVERDRIVE.

WARNING! This amp is designed for Stratocaster guitar. ( it can fit other guitars as well, but i cant guaranty anything)  :)   (And sorry for my English aswell)


Step 1: Parts You Need

You'll need:
  cardboard ( preety thick)
  a small speaker ( about 1.5W)
  guitar plugg (with a plastic body)
  hot glue
  black paint
  9v battery
  Clip for 9v Battery
Parts for a circuit:

  R1       22K 1/4W Resistor
  C1       10µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
  C2        100nF 63V Polyester or Ceramic Capacitor
  C3        220µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
  IC1       TDA7052 Audio power amplifier IC

That's it.  Maybe you'll need something esle too, but im sure you can find it at home.






Step 2: Circuit

I took circuit form the internet, and changed it a bit.
Circuit is extremly simple and easy to make. and it works perfect.

You'll ask me: Why there is no volume control in the circuit.
As you saw in the video, volume is controled on guitar. It makes the amp it self more compact, more MINI.  
And there is no overdrive switch in the circuit too.
There's no overdrive/ distortion circuit in this amp.
You get clean sound by turning volume on guitar at about 6-7,  and you get overdrive by turning volume control all the way to 10 and overloading the signal, and getting the real distorted sound.  


I haven't got photos of the amp while making it, so the only way to show how it works was to take it apart :(   But it's worth it :)

About the Circut:
 It haven't got PCB. I made it as small as i can. I glued the parts in place with hotglue.


 Here's how wiring should look like. Pic.1

Step 3: Body Parts

Body of The Coffin Amp is in shape of a coffin (obviously)
It made from pure cardboard and glued with hot glue.( Ofcourse you can make it from a plexiglass or something, but i wanted to make it as simple as possible).

On the pic.1 I drew a shape of a coffin amp, and wrote dimentions AS A PROPORTION. Because dimentions depends on size of your speaker.

Then you have check your drawing, if speaker and battery fits in it.   DON'T FORGET that cardboard is thick, so there must be a little gap between speaker/ battery  and the lines of your drawing. Pic.2 

Width can be just to fit a speaker. because the speaker is a biggest part. Pic.3

So at the end you'll have 8 sides of  the coffin case. Pic.4
You have to cut them all out by using exacto knife.

Step 4: Body

So now you have 8 pieces of card board. Numbered from 1 to 8. Pic.1

On the piece #3 you have to cut out a circle for a speaker.  Diameter of cicrle must by a bit smaller than diameter of speaker, so it don't fall out.    Pic.2


On the piece #8 you have to cut out a rectangle for battery changing. Pic.3
You have to cut it very carefully, so that you can use this cut out piece as a battery cover. Pic.4
The hole must be big enough for a battery to put it thru. Pic.5
On #8 you'll also will have to make a hole for a plug. About the plug: in a next step.

On the piece #2 you have to cut out a hole for a switch. Pic.6

Step 5: Plug

For a good balance, plug shoud be attached on the center of a piece #8, but slightly more to a speaker side, if thats possible ( if speaker allows).

To attach plug in a right possiton, i recomend that you:

make a hole for a plug, so that it can go thru it in about 45 degres angle.

Than plug a plug into guitar, Pic.1 and put a card board piece #8 on it Pic.2 . make sure that cadrboard fits well and have a good possition. Pic.3

than glue all together with a hot glue. from both sides for more strenght. and cut of not needed parts of plug. It sould look like this Pic.4


Plug is screwable, so you can unscrew the metalic part to solder all wires to it. and than screw it back.

Step 6: Hotgluing

I recomend to hotglue the body of amp and it's parts at one time. In this case you'll know if something is wrong, if something don't fit in.

At this step I can't help you anymore. Because everyone has different sizes of speaker and stuff. I just don't know what to write about. And, yes, i'm to tired to explain things :)   It's my first Instuctable, so i hope you understand.

If you have any questions just comment, i'll reply.

Step 7: Almost Forgot!

On my coffin amp i  have two supporting parts, so that amp stay at one place and don't dangle around. pic.1.  pic.3.

Those are just two pieces of cardboard glued to amp.
It is very easy to make, so i hope it's don't need any detailed explanation.
Just cut two identical carboard pieces. Measure the distance between guitar and an amp while it's pluged in, and you'll know the sizes of supporting.

Step 8: Paint

If you have finished all of the gluing and you're sure that amplifier ciruit is working, you can start painting your coffin amp.  :)

Mine is very simple. Just dark grey painted, without any drawing on it.
But you can do what ever you want to it. Paint it pink or something :D

I haven't got a normal paint at the moment while I was making my amp. I painted it with a very bad, cheap kids paint :)  Of course you'll need something else.  I highly recomend Acrylic Paint. It is simple as a paint for kids but it will last forever and it's water proof. You can by it in every art shop, or hobby shop, or you can have it somewere at home, if someone in your family ever painted :)

Step 9: Finished!!!...yeah

Yeay, congratulations!! You've made it! (or not)    :D
Thats my first Instructable, and i'm not English speaking, so don't judge to strictly :)

If you have any questions write them to me, or in comments.    if I don't reply in 3-4 days, then put me 1 star for an instructable.

Thank you! good bye! more instuctable hopefuly coming soon :)


(I'll go and try to glue my Coffin amp back together :) )