Headphone Amp+buffer DiY suggestion, for local strat clone

[falcon74]

Hi,

Searched the forum and elsewhere, but with my extremely limited knowledge of electronics, can't figure out which answer would help. What I would like to do is to build a little box, that sits between my Strat clone (a local make) electric guitar, and regular pair of computer headphone speakers, and lets me practise, without disturbing others, but allowing me to hear real amp-like sound emanating from the guitar.

Reading other related posts, I figured that my little box, needs to function as a "buffer" (honestly, I've no clue as to what that means), and then an Amp. I've found few LM386 based circuits, but none of them clearly say if they are indeed what I am looking for. For instance I found the CMoy circuit, good thing that the FAQ clearly states it is not meant as a guitar amp, but not sure how it may function as a headphone amp. Similarly other resources I found were: http://www.runoffgroove.com/ruby.html , http://www.beavisaudio.com/projects/NoisyCricket/ and http://www.minidisc.org/schem.gif.

Any help in figuring out which one of these, or other DiY projects will fulfill my need.

cheers,
F74

[jkokura]

First off, I think you might be misunderstanding what a buffer does...

A buffer changes the impedance of your signal, allowing it to be strong along a long length of cabling. The problem some people seem to encounter (It's debatable) is that too many buffers in a signal chain will take the 'tone' away from you sound. Another problem is that some buffers are known to colour the sound you're producing. In a bedroom practice situation, this doesn't matter in the least.

What you are looking to build for yourself would be a simple headphone amp. There are a few available, and i've built one myself, from General Guitar gadgets. Check out these links, and if you're still needing help, ask any questions you have. Note that these are different projects! One is just a simple circuit schematic, and the other is a full blown project with a PCB and such. I've built the PCB, and it works and sounds fine with my Guitar. I use it for testing and debugging pedals mostly.

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/richardo/practiceamp/headphone.gif?phpMyAdmin=78482479fd7e7fc3768044a841b3e85a
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/projects/15-boostersrouters/73-headphone-amp

Jacob

[Gus]

What you are looking to build might be better to buy.

What you want to build might be a input stage, an amp sim with eq knobs etc, a speaker sim, and the small amp to drive the speakers

Or you could buy one of the  amp modeler/sim headphone driver etc units that are sold.

[falcon74]

First off, I think you might be misunderstanding what a buffer does...

A buffer changes the impedance of your signal, allowing it to be strong along a long length of cabling. The problem some people seem to encounter (It's debatable) is that too many buffers in a signal chain will take the 'tone' away from you sound. Another problem is that some buffers are known to colour the sound you're producing. In a bedroom practice situation, this doesn't matter in the least.

Thanks for explaining the buffer part -- pretty lucid. If possible, I'd prefer a very clean-sound, and getting ambitious (or greedy, as one may see it), something I could pass thru an effects chain (probably, I am dreaming).

What you are looking to build for yourself would be a simple headphone amp. There are a few available, and i've built one myself, from General Guitar gadgets. Check out these links, and if you're still needing help, ask any questions you have. Note that these are different projects! One is just a simple circuit schematic, and the other is a full blown project with a PCB and such. I've built the PCB, and it works and sounds fine with my Guitar. I use it for testing and debugging pedals mostly.

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/richardo/practiceamp/headphone.gif?phpMyAdmin=78482479fd7e7fc3768044a841b3e85a
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/projects/15-boostersrouters/73-headphone-amp

The first URL seems to be pretty much what I was looking for. Shall give it a try. Will need to check the parts availability locally.
The second project seems quite interesting, but would probably reserve that for later, although it looks like the perfect thing.

The pointers are very helpful, much appreciated.

[falcon74]

What you are looking to build might be better to buy.

Agreed. I did find quite a few of those, s.a. --
1. Electro-Harmonix Headphone Amp personal practice amplifier
2. Waves iGTR Headphone Amp
3. C Tech Pocket Rock-It V1 Guitar Headphone Amp
4. Vox amPlug Headphone Amplifier AC30
etc.
However, I'd still like to build something, because --
a) Love things that are DiY, especially if they work as expected. Gives a sense of accomplishment and some learning.
b) May end up saving a little (or quite a bit).

What you want to build might be a input stage, an amp sim with eq knobs etc, a speaker sim, and the small amp to drive the speakers

Given that I do not wish to use speakers, but only headphone -- that too the regular, el-cheapo computer headphone sets, do I need all that ? Couple of head-sets that I have (the $10 variety), have a volume pot on them. So, I'd prefer to keep my "little magic box" as simple as possible. Just a 1/4" guitar lead "IN", a 1/8" stereo (mono fed on both channels) headphone "OUT", with an optional DC power-jack, and a LED to tell me if the thing is ON/OFF.