New GDS Mini-18W

[Graydon]

Guys,

Here is a new 18W amp from GDS Amps. This is based on the Marshall design but has only one channel. It has a 10" speaker (right now a 50W Jensen MOD which surprisingly sounds better than the low wattage MOD 10) The baffle is floating altohugh I may try a fixed baffel in the future.

This amp is going to be released for sale as a complete amp only within a couple weeks. I am sorting out final details of the cabinet right now, and when that is finalized, I will be able to set a price. For now, here are some photos of the first prototype for your enjoyment.

[Graydon]

Here is a rear view...

[Graydon]

This is the obligatory porn shot...

[Graydon]

And there are no French parts in this amp whatsoever!

[AdamK]

Pretty cool Graydon - Is that a faceplate on the rear, or did you letter directly?

Did you do the cab yourself, or is that a Swanson special?

Nicely done,

Adam

[Gabi]

Awsome work there Graydon!

I spotet the dovetailing on the cabinet . Are you going to apply tolex on it?

Also i loved how simple the component board is. Simplicity is the best!

When you have it done, we'll have to advertise it on the front page!

Gab.

[Graydon]

Adam,

I had a separate faceplate made by my lazer guy out of white plastic.

The cab was made by a friend of mine here in town. He's gearing up to make more of them too, so I think we're on our way to "mass" producing these little amps.

Gabi,

Thanks, the cabinet will remain plain wood with a Minwax stain on it. I started with plain black, but in reality, we could do almost any colour we want. The poplar looks pretty nice actually when it is stained.

This prototype is a little rough, but it helped me figure out what things needed to be worked over to get it right.

[fred]

I see you used the Jensen MOD series spearker. Does anyone know how they compare sound wise to the Jensen Vintage series or the Weber Blue Pup?
The price sure is right compared to the Webers.


Fred

[Graydon]

I bought two MODs to try in this amp, the 35w and the 50w versions. I liked the 50W version better but I still think it could be better. I have a pair of Blue Pups and a couple Celestion G10L35s so if they will fit in the cabinet, I'll try them. I am also hoping to try a couple Webers soon as well.

[fred]

Keep us posted on your favorite speaker once you try them all. I'll building a 2x10 combo, but don't know what speakers to get. I'm leaning towards the Blue Pups, but would hate to spend the money if they are not any better sounding. They are around $75 - $85 each. The Jensens are 1/2 that.

[Graydon]

Fred,

I have a pair of Blue Pups in a 2-10 combo cab and they do sound nice. They have the character of the full size blues but they aren't as loud.

I'd recommend them.

[AdamK]

Fred,

I have a 2x10 combo as well, and I put a blue pup and a silver pup in there(both the 30 watt version). I can't compare it to a pair of pups, but I can say this setup is very crunchy. I get a hard hard rock sound with the amp dimed. I think the silver adds a little low end to the curve of the blue.

Sounds outstanding to me.

Adam

[zaphod_phil]

This is a beautiful amp, Graydon! I love that small, neat board.

Is it basically fairly close to a Lite II? How come no Standby switch? Also, what rectifier are you using? When will I stop asking all these questions...? )

+phil+

Guys,

Here is a new 18W amp from GDS Amps. This is based on the Marshall design but has only one channel. It has a 10" speaker (right now a 50W Jensen MOD which surprisingly sounds better than the low wattage MOD 10) The baffle is floating altohugh I may try a fixed baffel in the future.

This amp is going to be released for sale as a complete amp only within a couple weeks. I am sorting out final details of the cabinet right now, and when that is finalized, I will be able to set a price. For now, here are some photos of the first prototype for your enjoyment.

[color=#][/color]

[Graydon]

This is a beautiful amp, Graydon! I love that small, neat board.

Is it basically fairly close to a Lite II? How come no Standby switch? Also, what rectifier are you using? When will I stop asking all these questions...? )

+phil+

+phil+

It is closer to the Lite I than the II. The EZ81 rectifier takes a few moments to warm up so it protects the circuit from high voltage until all the heaters are warm. (How's that for answering two questions at once!? )

Questions are the foundation of progress.

[markh]

I love the form factor, and the board and inside is wonderful. For some reason, though, the shape reminds me of the PA speaker that hung on the wall in my old classroom in grade school!

--mark

[Psalm150]

It does look like some elementary school PA. But I think it's great that you're trying some differnt shapes. That would definitely get some attention at a gig. I think it would look even better in MinWax Honey-Pine!

[Graydon]

It does look like some elementary school PA. But I think it's great that you're trying some differnt shapes. That would definitely get some attention at a gig. I think it would look even better in MinWax Honey-Pine!

We can do that. AAMOF we can finish it in a number of cool colours quite easily. That poplar looks far better than it deserves for being a relatively inexpensive wood.

Thanks for the comments guys. BTW, I had one person who privately offered some constructive criticism about the amp. I'd like to hear that from everyone if you would be so kind. Afterall, I will never know what to improve on it unless someone tells me what they don't like about it. My thick skin can take it, so let me know what you don't like.

Thanks,

[fred]

OK here goes. It is rather odd shaped, and I havn't decided if I like it. If you still get that killer sound out of this small amp that great. I don't know how people feel about a headphone jack, but I like the idea. I have 3 amps and only one has a headphone jack, and there's many times that I just sit in the livingroom plucking away while everyone is watching TV. It's the only time I uses this amp (cheap Fender).

[fred]

What is a '1/4" floating speaker baffle'?

[ColinM]

Thanks for the comments guys. BTW, I had one person who privately offered some constructive criticism about the amp. I'd like to hear that from everyone if you would be so kind. Afterall, I will never know what to improve on it unless someone tells me what they don't like about it. My thick skin can take it, so let me know what you don't like.

Graydon
The wee amp looks sooo cool , and I bet it sounds every bit as good as it looks. Thinking about the live work I do myself, however, I am bound to say that the notion of mounting the controls on the back of the amp is possibly open to question. I have a Mk1 Boogie, and on gigs find myself occasionally having to adjust the reverb or presence levels. It's not always possible to access the rear of the 'backline', and consequently these adjustments can be awkward to say the least. This would be less of a problem in a 'set piece' studio situation, I guess.
Let's face it - all you've got is volume and tone anyway; you may well have all the adjustment you need from your guitar controls/footpedals. You must have thought this all through, as a gigging musician yourself.
I love the sloped front. I use a sloped front cabinet with my Boogie head, and like the 'immediacy' of the sound a lot. It's nice to send the sound where it's needed rather than just making trouser legs flap!
Getting back to the ergonomics; a wee word of caution. About 5 years ago, no less a man than George Massenberg added a fantastic new stereo mic- pre to his impressive range of esoteric audiophile studio kit. Nobody bought it. Why? The phantom power switch was on the rear of the unit. Oops!

I hope this doesn't sound too negative, Graydon - I don't mean it to be. I'm sure that if I saw the amp in the flesh (in the wood?) and heard it, my comments would fade away, evaporate, dissolve into hot gas and quickly be forgotten...
Regards, Colin