Design Review: Amplifier

Planned design For this final project, I am planning on designing and constructing a lunchbox tube amplifier. I am planning on using two 12AX7 preamp tubes and a single EL84 power tube in class A operation to put out approximately 6 watts of power. There will be high and low channels that can be used independently…

Top 5 Constraints: Amplifier

Aesthetics Aesthetically, I’m not quite sure how to approach the project. The amplifier itself will be contained in an aluminum chassis, which I plan to sand and acid etch. Aiming for an industrial look, I want to contain the chassis inside a larger aluminum container of some sort rather than a classic wood cabinet. I’m…

Main Project Inspirations: Amplifier

Steve Albini’s (of Shellac) guitar rig Since this final project has to have a dynamic element as part of its design, I figured I could incorporate one of my interests: guitar amplification. I’ve wanted to build my own guitar amplifier for some time now, and this project gives me the perfect springboard to work on one. In the realm of…

Skills, Personal Aspirations

I have a lot of general “shop” experience – I know how to use power tools and how to work with metal and wood, simply put. This comes mostly out of necessity: if something needs to be fixed, I’d rather do it myself than leave it to someone else. Outside of general DIY experience, I…

Upcycle Final Report: Monument

The final product Preliminary Design and Inspiration For this particular project, I wanted to focus exclusively on the aesthetics of my final product. I had no particular inspiration for what I wanted to do, but I did know what materials I planned on using. In addition, I wanted to incorporate a handful of different aesthetics, those being…

Upcycle Progress

My upcycle project is still in the works design-wise, but a great deal of my design process has centered around the materials that I intend on using. My cheap-o wooden IKEA bed frame recently gave up the ghost, and with its passing came loads of recyclable materials. Primarily, I’m interested in its plywood slats and…

Sunn O))): From Amplifiers to Altars

Sunn O)))’s 2005 drone metal record, Black One(rateyourmusic.com) Sunn O))) (simply pronounced “Sun”) are a peculiar metal band from Seattle, WA, known for their punishing and monolithic drone releases as well as their ritualistic live shows. Their live audio philosophy reads as following: “MAXIMUM VOLUME YIELDS MAXIMUM RESULTS.” Walls of amps line the back of the…