madbeanpedals::forum

Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: gül on March 25, 2016, 04:09:22 PM

Title: Mail Call Ruby Amp
Post by: gül on March 25, 2016, 04:09:22 PM
The LM386-based 9v amp circuit bug has bitten me HARD! I built the Noisy Cricket and the RunOffGroove.com Ruby. Definitely preferred the sound of the Ruby, so I built a few.

I built this Ruby into a Smith-Corona Mail Call enclosure. It's made of Bakelite and it's really cool-looking. I was able to re-purpose most of the existing hardware, including the Pioneer 'lil speaker inside (of course it has an out jack for plugging into a real speaker as well) and the inset potentiometer wheel. I used cloth-covered wire & some Russian paper-in-oil capacitors for the Ruby circuit, just for fun. Lastly, I added a simple Rub-A-Dub reverb just because I personally like built-in reverb on my amps. I didn't bother with a battery snap cuz I figured the Reverb would drain it pretty quickly. I don't use batteries anyway. This is perfect for city apartment rocking.  ;)
Title: Re: Mail Call Ruby Amp
Post by: matmosphere on March 25, 2016, 04:18:48 PM
That's awesome! Nice idea using old enclosures. 
Title: Re: Mail Call Ruby Amp
Post by: gül on March 25, 2016, 04:56:44 PM
Thanks  :D

I'm always scouring thrift stores for cool-looking enclosures... and mojo parts. One day I hope to find me a SAD1024 for my lonely Electric Mistress build. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I find. I have found MN chips, stashes of obsolete germanium transistors and diodes, etc... For me, it's so much more fun to build things out of salvaged parts.
Title: Re: Mail Call Ruby Amp
Post by: selfdestroyer on March 26, 2016, 09:00:15 AM
This is so awesome!
Title: Re: Mail Call Ruby Amp
Post by: gül on March 26, 2016, 03:21:20 PM
Thanks, Cody!
Title: Re: Mail Call Ruby Amp
Post by: Lubdar on March 26, 2016, 03:54:41 PM
That is pure greatness!! Excellent and very stylish looking re-purposing going on in here :)
Title: Re: Mail Call Ruby Amp
Post by: jimilee on March 26, 2016, 05:17:41 PM
That pretty sweet all the way around


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Title: Re: Mail Call Ruby Amp
Post by: Leevibe on March 26, 2016, 05:51:06 PM
Dang that's cool. I need to get out to be goodwill soon. You've just inspired me.
Title: Re: Mail Call Ruby Amp
Post by: gül on March 28, 2016, 03:50:29 PM
Quote from: Leevibe on March 26, 2016, 05:51:06 PM
Dang that's cool. I need to get out to be goodwill soon. You've just inspired me.

Do it! There are untold treasures everywhere. One time I came up on someone's entire workbench contents at my local thrift store. I gots scads of germanium transistors, diodes, and enough silver mica caps to last me two lifetimes. All for $10! And the cashier felt bad even charging me that much "but it's in this nice case"... Yep, the parts came in a beautiful vintage storage case, too.