Hi -- I'm 62 years old and not quite senile. My background is as an experimental machinist and electronics assembly supervisor for the Inertial Upper Stage payload delivery system for the original Space Shuttle program. I am (or was) a NASA-certified and qualified microelectronics solderer.
That being said, my knowledge of esoteric audio electronics is pretty much nil.
I have, kicking around in my dangerously overloaded workshop, a cosmetically-beat but electronically fine Hafler DH-200 power amp, the first American production amplifier to use complementary MOSFETs (8 of 'em) in its output stage. MOSFETs are almost immune to thermal runaway (unlike standard power transistors then in common use in SS amplifiers).
This amp, in stereo form, is conservatively rated at 120W/ch, and bridged to mono at 300+ watts at .005% THD. I've used DH200s in several audio systems, and among the Hafler's characteristics I think would make a bridged Hafler a good candidate for guitar amplification are its high damping factor and excellent slew rate.
My electronically uninformed thinking is that my spare DH-200 might make the basis for a pretty decent guitar amp. Am I full of baloney or is this a feasible project? If it IS a feasible project, what kind, how big, and how many drivers would be optimum for a cabinet driven at this level of power, and what kind of cabinet should I be thinking about?
Another of the million things of which I'm ignorant is how guitar amps produce distortion, reverb, etc., but I was thinking about the possibility of using one of Line 6s higher-end pods as a front end, which would also provide an easy interface to my Mac and Garage Band and WireTap Studio Pro -- I use a Pocket Pod and headphones for practicing without driving my wife to homicidal urges, and even the little pocket cheapie makes some fun noises, so I assume (yeah, I know...) the more sophisticated Pods would provide some great amp modeling and effects.
Anyone have any hot tips, ideas, suggestions (please, be kind) about my ideas?
Thanks for the great forum!
Bart
That being said, my knowledge of esoteric audio electronics is pretty much nil.
I have, kicking around in my dangerously overloaded workshop, a cosmetically-beat but electronically fine Hafler DH-200 power amp, the first American production amplifier to use complementary MOSFETs (8 of 'em) in its output stage. MOSFETs are almost immune to thermal runaway (unlike standard power transistors then in common use in SS amplifiers).
This amp, in stereo form, is conservatively rated at 120W/ch, and bridged to mono at 300+ watts at .005% THD. I've used DH200s in several audio systems, and among the Hafler's characteristics I think would make a bridged Hafler a good candidate for guitar amplification are its high damping factor and excellent slew rate.
My electronically uninformed thinking is that my spare DH-200 might make the basis for a pretty decent guitar amp. Am I full of baloney or is this a feasible project? If it IS a feasible project, what kind, how big, and how many drivers would be optimum for a cabinet driven at this level of power, and what kind of cabinet should I be thinking about?
Another of the million things of which I'm ignorant is how guitar amps produce distortion, reverb, etc., but I was thinking about the possibility of using one of Line 6s higher-end pods as a front end, which would also provide an easy interface to my Mac and Garage Band and WireTap Studio Pro -- I use a Pocket Pod and headphones for practicing without driving my wife to homicidal urges, and even the little pocket cheapie makes some fun noises, so I assume (yeah, I know...) the more sophisticated Pods would provide some great amp modeling and effects.
Anyone have any hot tips, ideas, suggestions (please, be kind) about my ideas?
Thanks for the great forum!
Bart