[sdiy] amplifier diy

[Byron G. Jacquot]

> I'd like to make a small diy amplifier for testing and practicing with
> my synth projects. Are there any schematics or kits someone can
> recommend? Google gives a lot of results for diy guitar amps. Are
> these generally good for synth use too?
> 
> What is the difference anyway? Guitar and keyboard amps are always
> listed separately in any music catalog I've seen.

Guitar amps are often built so they're operating right on the 
edge...using up the headroom to achieve distortion, coupled to a 
speaker with a bit of a bandpass charactersitic, in a mechanically 
lossy or resonant box.  The sum of all of this is what we recognize 
as the sound of an electric guitar.

Keyboard amps are usually more hifi...greater headroom, full range 
speakers, in a more robust enclosure.

Not that you can't play synths through a guitar amp...but the amp 
will contribute it's character.  If that's not what you want, look 
for something more hifi.

I've got a couple sets of small, self-amplified computer speakers 
around, which work alright, especially on the workbench, where things 
may not be too well behaved.  If I toast 'em, they're very easy to 
replace!

Byron Jacquot