Using Car set-up as guitar amp

[teroblacknight]

Hey all, I'm a total newb to the world of amp building and was just wondering if it was possible to use my car amps/speakers as a means of amplifying my guitar. I'm thinking about this because I have a couple of decent hi-fi amps (2 phoenix gold amps both rated at 600w) and 2 MB Quart speakers from the days when they were making good stuff. Is this something that's been done before or at all worth looking into?

-Josh

[phatt]

Hello Josh,
              I''ll Explain this the old simple way,,it's easier to get your head around.
When it all boils down there are really only *2 types* of speakers they being
*High Complience and Low Complience*.(HC/LC)

If the cone has a rubber surround and the voice coil moves in and out a long way with ease then you have HC Speakers. HiFi Woffers, douf douf bass drivers/add some of the surround sound gear to that list.

HC are designed to *Comply* with a specific enclosure box. They don't produce the energy very well without the box. (they can actually destroy themselves if driven hard with no box).
Generally HC are used for Bass drivers in *PreRecorded Music Reproduction*


Music Instrument and Live PA work is mainly covered by LC speakers.
These have no real need to *Comply* with an exact box enclosure (though it can help)
as they have very *Short travel* Voice coils (VC).
Some LC driver cones are so stiff they hardly move even with a big signal.
Looking at the cone edge you will see a rippled edge (often called the spider)
to allow for some cone movement.

So Just like cars.
There are many cars but some have a different purpose.
ie, You would not use an F1 racing car in a mud rally whould you?

All that said there are some (usually older type) car speakers that used LC speakers often for door mounting and like and on the rare occasion you maybe lucky an find a pair that can work well in a small open back box but still it's probably easier to just purchase a real guitar speaker and be done with it.
Have fun Phil.

[phatt]

oop! almost forgot,, For an indepth read go here,
http://www.ssguitar.com/index.php?topic=707.0
I have not read it all but these chaps know more about it than me so you will likely learn more :tu:
Phil.

[awdman]

The amplifier will not make a good guitar amp, it draws to many amps and you would have to create a power supply. The amp itself does not have tone adjustment and is meant to reproduce music as is and probally would not produce the correct harmonix for playing a guitar.

Anthony

[teroblacknight]

Awesome, thanks guys! Where should I go to learn more about the various parts of instrument amps; i.e. speakers, enclosures, amps and preamps?

[awdman]

I would start by reading Teemuk's book http://www.ssguitar.com/index.php?topic=711.0 very useful

I would also start simple and work your way up, maybe do a LM386 amp or some stomp boxes first.

[teroblacknight]

Wow, that book has a wealth of information. I've been thinking about starting with stomps and I was looking into LM386 amps and they look like a pretty sweet deal. Are there any specific LM386 kits you would suggest for starting off? I have no experience yet with working with electronics, so the simpler the better.

[awdman]

I am not sure where your located but check out http://www.runoffgroove.com/ruby.html and http://www.beavisaudio.com/projects/NoisyCricket/
plus there are tips here on this forum, just type in LM386 in the search field.