"Murder One" Submini Tube Guitar Amplifier

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 30 Mar 2009, 14:42

The latest "Murder One" Submini Tube Guitar Amplifier. This one is already SOLD, I'm building a few more identical if anyone's interested in owning one.

briggs · Post by **briggs** » 30 Mar 2009, 17:54

Could you post up the project too?

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 30 Mar 2009, 19:13

briggs wrote:Could you post up the project too?

The Microchip TC1044S is cheaper than a MAX1044 and has a higher voltage rating.

Sounclip: http://www.myspace.com/subminitubeguitaramplifiers

Signal path:

Squier Telecaster Custom (HB) > Murder One (cranked) > 12" / 8 ohm speaker > Shure SM58 > Event Echo Gina 24 soundcard > Wavelab

No other processing.............except when I stomp on the Valvecaster half way through.........you'll know when.

briggs · Post by **briggs** » 30 Mar 2009, 19:26

Very nice, cranking the voltage out of that 1044. What are you getting as a B+? ~70-80v?

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 30 Mar 2009, 19:47

briggs wrote:Very nice, cranking the voltage out of that 1044. What are you getting as a B+? ~70-80v?

Yeah, neat idea huh? The B+ is ~70-80v as you correctly guessed, which is close to the maximum that the 5672 pentode will handle.

briggs · Post by **briggs** » 30 Mar 2009, 21:20

yeah, I like it. I might have a little pop at one of these. I've got a spare reverb tranny lying around. Where are you sourcing your sub-minis from?

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 30 Mar 2009, 21:36

briggs wrote:yeah, I like it. I might have a little pop at one of these. I've got a spare reverb tranny lying around. Where are you sourcing your sub-minis from?

Ebay!

briggs · Post by **briggs** » 30 Mar 2009, 22:05

ahhhh! I'll check it out. Any recommended sellers? How much wattage does this thing turn out?

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 30 Mar 2009, 22:18

briggs wrote:ahhhh! I'll check it out. Any recommended sellers? How much wattage does this thing turn out?

About 1 watt I guess.

This guy for 6111's : http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/w.e.s.- ... omZQQ_mdoZ

briggs · Post by **briggs** » 30 Mar 2009, 22:19

Cheers, I'll start collecting the parts

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 17 Apr 2009, 13:41

Gut shot of the pre-PCB prototype, for those who are interested:

......and a cheesecake shot:

GJonesy · Post by **GJonesy** » 02 May 2009, 00:52

frequencycentral wrote: The Microchip TC1044S is cheaper than a MAX1044 and has a higher voltage rating.

I dont know if this is in another thread but does anyone know if its possible to use "ICL7660SCPA CMOS Voltage converter" inplace of the 1044? theyre pretty cheap at Rapidonline
cheers G

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 02 May 2009, 11:06

GJonesy wrote:
frequencycentral wrote: The Microchip TC1044S is cheaper than a MAX1044 and has a higher voltage rating.

I dont know if this is in another thread but does anyone know if its possible to use "ICL7660SCPA CMOS Voltage converter" inplace of the 1044? theyre pretty cheap at Rapidonline
cheers G

The 7660 lacks the oscillator frequency boost feature which the MAX1044/TC1044/LTC1054 feature. That means the oscillator frequency is within the range of human hearing, ie. it'll whine like a bitch! I've tried it. The frequency boost feature allows the oscillator to run at 50kHz IIR. Your pet dog/bat/mosquito may not be happy but you'll have a good sounding amp.

It is possible to externally clock the 7660 to get it running above the range of human hearing, but the extra circuitry does not make this as neat a solution as just getting the right charge pump for the job.

GJonesy · Post by **GJonesy** » 02 May 2009, 19:19

frequencycentral wrote: The 7660 lacks the oscillator frequency boost feature which the MAX1044/TC1044/LTC1054 feature. That means the oscillator frequency is within the range of human hearing, ie. it'll whine like a bitch! I've tried it. The frequency boost feature allows the oscillator to run at 50kHz IIR. Your pet dog/bat/mosquito may not be happy but you'll have a good sounding amp.

It is possible to externally clock the 7660 to get it running above the range of human hearing, but the extra circuitry does not make this as neat a solution as just getting the right charge pump for the job.

Thanks for clearing that up, this is such a nice build Im going to have to get the parts in!
Think I'll start with a valvecaster first though
cheers G

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 14 May 2009, 23:56

I've had a number of requests for the layout I used. TBH, I was holding off as I planned to retire to the Bahamas on the strength of Murder One sales, but it looks as if i'll be luck to retire to Scunthorpe. So here's the perf layout I used for the first few, and the PCB layout I'm now using. Both are obviously tailored to the enclosure layout I use, and also the size of the caps and the two voltage drop resistors, R4 and R5.

Here's the direct links to the files, as I think Photbucket might resize the PNP

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/967492/MOperf.gif

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/967492/MOpcb.gif

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/967492/MOpnp.gif

Enjoy! It's good to share isn't it?!

Scruffie · Post by **Scruffie** » 15 May 2009, 00:19

It is indeed nice to share, thanks for it Frequency! If I could get along with perf, or could print my own PCB's I'd build this in a shot... let alone getting the submini tubes, transformer... and the money to get these things... but still!

Perhaps with Sub Zero sales on top you'll get too the bahamas... or maybe move up to Skegness.

GJonesy · Post by **GJonesy** » 15 May 2009, 11:42

Frequency-central,
loads of thanks for the layouts etc, theyre great. I know youve mentioned ebay for the 6111 tubes and bluebell for the transformer in the past but could you recommend anywhere else to get these parts in the UK. Ive noticed youre trying out some other submini tubes, are these more readily available?
Should this be another thread?
anyway, many thanks again
G

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 15 May 2009, 15:50

GJonesy wrote:Frequency-central,
loads of thanks for the layouts etc, theyre great. I know youve mentioned ebay for the 6111 tubes and bluebell for the transformer in the past but could you recommend anywhere else to get these parts in the UK. Ive noticed youre trying out some other submini tubes, are these more readily available?
Should this be another thread?
anyway, many thanks again
G

Small Bear now stock 6111's, expensive though. I get all my tubes from far away over the sea!

If you want a ready made PCB, I've passed the files to John Lyons, his work is very high quality, he can be contacted here: basicaudiowv@earthlink.net

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 28 May 2009, 10:34

Murder one featured in Guitar Buyer Magazine![/b][/u]

Well, not exactly featured, Murder One owner stereovoid says..........

...i did write a letter to Guitar Buyer about the interesting people i've met that are making interesting stuff...and they printed it!! its in this months mag, and there is a picture of it!

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 31 May 2009, 08:50

Here's the PCBs John Lyons is making for Murder One. These are .06 thick, 2oz heavy copper.

$15 worldwide, postage included.
Just email John at: basicaudiowv AT earthlink.net
Paypal is best but a Money Order is fine.