Portable Guitar Amp with distortion / Bass Amplifier - 9v / LM386 IC

 This is a really simple portable guitar amp project you can complete in an afternoon ; with the parts you need at hand.  I used an old surround sound speaker as my enclosure, and used the speaker.  The unit also has 5 tone settings to allow you to go from clean to gritty. 

NOTE:  if you are thinking about building one of these, see my newest addition first based on the 'Little Gem' amplifier, using a few more parts. It sounds much better.

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Little-Gem-Mini-Amplifier-Guitar-Amp-/

Step 1 Parts List / Wiring Diagram

The diagram below explains this build in detail.  If you want 5-mode distortion, then you simply use the dip switch in place of the SPST switch on the 2.2uf-10uF capacitor. Remember that the speaker you use will make all of the difference in how clean your new portable guitar amp sounds. Mine sounds pretty clean, I achieve this by isolating jacks and components from each other, and I hot glue the audio lines and PCB wiring to avoid leakage. 


Parts List:

Enclosure: I used an old surround sound speaker as my enclosure. You could make this unit into a box and use as a 'head' for speakers in mini-cabinets too. 

9V Battery
9V Battery Clip 
Input / Output Jacks 1/4 Mono 
SPST Switch OR Dip Switch w/ 5 settings
PCB / Board material 

LM386N IC 
8 Pin IC socket (optional)
4.7uF Capacitor
10uF Capacitor
100uF Capacitor
470uF Capacitor

[optional - for multiple distortion modes]

0.01 capacitor
2.2 uF capacitor
00.47 capacitor
4.7uF capacitor
10uF capacitor 

+ higher cap values = heavier distortion

 

Comments

[ghosty37]

Hy, I made it to. It works very well. Thanks.
I replace your dip switch by a rotary switch.

I add volume pot(100k lin.), like in another project I did at the same time.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Distortion-Pedal-With-Stutter-Effect/

What type of speaker did you use?

[jorence]

wat r the voltages of the caps??

[bgondes]

how to make the sound distortion is long?????

[volney]

Great instructable! But how do i connect an on/off switch and LED?

[jimdkc]

This circuit needs no on/off switch. The way the input jack is wired, the ground circuit to the battery is completed when you plug in your guitar. The sleeve of the plug shorts the ring and sleeve connections on the jack. (The input jack is actually a stereo jack, not mono.)

You could put an LED from the + battery terminal, through a current limiting resistor, to ground.

[andrezfen]

i followed your circuit and it is successful. than you capthook :D

[coolguy2015]

for volume control how much k ohms of pot should i use?? reply me plzzz....

[capth00k]

I would suggest building my other model (the little gem) mini guitar amp, as it sounds much better to my ear. Try using a 50K A (audio) PoT on your build.

Peace

Capt.

[Thereyouhaveit]

I completed building it , as a preamp , it sounds so soft when i put it into my power amp :(

[Thereyouhaveit]

as a guitar amp for a passive strat .

[Thereyouhaveit]

Hey , can i use this as a pre amp ?

[morphic cu ion]

can I use MC1458CP1 or OP270GP for this application?

[coolguy2015]

my input is mono, how can i connect it??

[Teburon]

i'm wondering too. how did you solve this? just connect all the grounds together?

[coolguy2015]

yes, i did connect all the grounds and the sleeve of the jack together.

[coolguy2015]

Its working but when i turn the switch, there is no distortion except clean sound.. plzz any one help me......

[Teburon]

did u use 10uF capacitor for the dirty sound? if you only used Switch -> .01uF -> LM386 then you'll only get clean sound

[coolguy2015]

I've used 10uF capacitor

[coolguy2015]

dude i have a 6 volts DC adapter, can i use it instead of 9v??

[brainstromer]

hi there
i have some question
di ineed to use spesifik capasitor
like mylar or elco??
because on my country not all tipe capasitor avalaible
and i don't see "spesific type" on your diagram

sorry for my bad english
thanks bro..

[capth00k]

Just use Radials. Sometimes I use axials. The best 'tone' capacitors are Paper in Oil however. Find those, and you're golden.

[warfighter]

can u pls tell me if it is electrolitic (elco) or normal capacitor
thnx

[capth00k]

Normal Radial / Axial capacitors.

[dan95]

where do i plug the distortion dip switch

[capth00k]

Where the 2.2 uf - 10 uf capacitor is after the 'clean / distortion' switch. To do the 5 tone dip switch just bride one side of the switch as 'negative', and wire em up as shown off the dip switch. If you have more than one on, remember you will be adding (2.2uf + 1 uf = 3.2 uf, etc.) to make unique distortion tones.

Additionally, you can use a rotary switch to do the same thing without having to fuss with a dip switch (cheaper) ; a 12 position rotary switch is perfect for it.

[WALLz]

Powersome! \o/

[Falcore]

It sounds AWESOME!!! I had a similar amplifier with LM386 but I decided to try this as a portable amp for my phone and it has great power and quality...

[capth00k]

Yep, just don't use pins 1 / 8 and there won't be any gain

peace,

K

[Lenny24]

They would be a gain, but it wont be as high as in a Guitar amplifier.
The gain is internally set to 20. if you put a Cap between pin 1-8, the gain would be around 200.

Cool instructable! pls check out my Miniamp! [=
Greetz

[Electronics Blurred]

Can i use a 6Ohm 30W speaker ? (it's tip peak is 60W , but extreme load 80W )

[capth00k]

Haven't tried a 6, or 8 ohm speaker yet, though I've heard of people running 16 ohm 2 x 12's with the Little Gem ... which is also a 1/2 Watt LM386 based amp.

[Electronics Blurred]

Wow ....
How about .... any idea if i can separate the low's to a subwoofer ? (70W normal)
8 ohm subwoofer . all from a spoilt 5.1 .

[capth00k]

Yeah, you could make an MKII (which is 1 watt, ) then put a larger UF output capacitor on the + line to your sub to cut the treble. I would test it first with both, it may not be enough power to drive both. Also just solder in a socket for the output capacitor so you can change the value before you decide on any given one. To make an MKII see my other article here:

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Little-Gem-Mini-Amplifier-Guitar-Amp-/

[Thereyouhaveit]

Sir , it is cheap to buy a 40W x2 Power amp at 40SGD ? ( Might be higher )
And it comes with Heatsinks .

[Electronics Blurred]

I went to my shop and saw variable capacitors O_O .
Never came across them before .
What i'm worried for is ... the subwoofer alone might already overpower a MKII .
As the 5.1 i bought was rated at 300W ... ( I forgot what that 300W means )

[Dlk666]

Hi would it be possible for you to email me a little recording of how this amp sounds? my email is [e-mail]

[capth00k]

Check out the new build , a 'Little Gem' Amplifier powering this build. Has a sound clip and sounds pretty tasty to my ear for what it is.

[capth00k]

 It sounds pretty good. I should have made some recordings, but I gave this unit to a friend whom plays it ; and likes it's tone with both Acoustic / Electric.  The distortion circuit I added is pretty adjustable, so you can get it to sound (OK) distortion wise, but it's no Big Muff PI with tone wicker switch... hehe

[skaternet1]

what is the ohm of your speaker because mine is 3. thx

[capth00k]

I think I used 4 ohms