Uploaded November 2013 | Updated September 2026, 16 hours ago
Using recycled parts from a 1950's Vidor Lady Margarette radio, I built this valve guitar amp powered from batteries. There are subtle differences between guitar valve (tube) and transistor amplification: more obvious when overdriven. I noticed there were no Youtube movies on this topic, @ least when I searched, so it may be a first. The 1950s portable radios used valves, because @ that time transistors, shortly after development, were too expensive. The 1.5 volt filament valve range, designated 'D' were designed for battery radios. They've been useful here and, even if I say this myself, this amp sounds amazing. Output is a megre 270mW suitable for practice. Because 90 volt HT batteries are no longer available, I made up a pack with 10 X 9V PP3s in series. A D type alkaline is used for LT 1.5 volt filament current. I went to Pound Land (called Dollar Store in US) and bought 2 for a £1 PP3s X 5 packs. The amp only consumes about 20mA HT so is a viable project. The 1.5 volt 'D' cell should last long as well because the valves are designed to have a minimum heater current: total 150mA. Valves are DAF96, DAF91, DL94. There's a lot more information on my Web: type 'hoofbags' into Google, and click on Geekiestuff. There, you will find photos of the various stages of construction, as well as a schematic. If the mood takes you, or whatever other motivation you might have, you can build one yourself. A cautionary note: be careful not to cross the HT and LT power connections, otherwise the rare valves will be instantly and irreversibly destroyed. Apologies for my rubbish guitar playing. (o:
Using recycled parts from a 1950's Vidor Lady Margarette radio, I built this valve guitar amp powered from batteries. There are subtle differences between guitar valve (tube) and transistor amplification: more obvious when overdriven. I noticed there were no Youtube movies on this topic, @ least when I searched, so it may be a first. The 1950s portable radios used valves, because @ that time transistors, shortly after development, were too expensive. The 1.5 volt filament valve range, designated 'D' were designed for battery radios. They've been useful here and, even if I say this myself, this amp sounds amazing. Output is a megre 270mW suitable for practice. Because 90 volt HT batteries are no longer available, I made up a pack with 10 X 9V PP3s in series. A D type alkaline is used for LT 1.5 volt filament current. I went to Pound Land (called Dollar Store in US) and bought 2 for a £1 PP3s X 5 packs. The amp only consumes about 20mA HT so is a viable project. The 1.5 volt 'D' cell should last long as well because the valves are designed to have a minimum heater current: total 150mA. Valves are DAF96, DAF91, DL94. There's a lot more information on my Web: type 'hoofbags' into Google, and click on Geekiestuff. There, you will find photos of the various stages of construction, as well as a schematic. If the mood takes you, or whatever other motivation you might have, you can build one yourself. A cautionary note: be careful not to cross the HT and LT power connections, otherwise the rare valves will be instantly and irreversibly destroyed. Apologies for my rubbish guitar playing. (o:
