Q: So what makes the little amps "tick" ?
A: The audio amplifier in every Sore-Throat Amp is based on the 1458 dual Operational amplifier, or op-amp. It has 8 pins, and fits in a handy socket that is mounted on a small circuit board. It can be replaced by many similar numbers made by different manufacturers. For example, designations can be
LM1458, KA1458, NTE 778a, MC 1458, and MM 4558. They all plug in the same socket, and sound very much the same. Many "guitar effects pedals" use the same chip, so it is very common in the industry.
Q: Whats different about the STGA circuits?
A: The circuit board mentioned above has the chip in a socket, the required resistors to make it function, and one diode. These are "solid state" components that rarely fail. There are no capacitors or electrolytic capacitors on the board. These components are made from chemicals and can cause failure and leakage.
There are no switches, transformers, or connection devices on the circuit board. These things are partially mechanical and will eventually fail. Mechanical devices also cause vibration and movement that can cause premature failure of a circuit board. A sore-throat amp has all chemical and mechanical devices mounted externally from the board, to improve life-span and reliability.
Q: Why do the amps use full -sized 1/4 inch jacks?
A: The 1/4 inch "tip-ring" jack is the standard size for guitars and guitar cables, to directly plug-in, without using an adapter. The 1/4 inch headphone jack is the industry standard for higher quality headphones, like the large over-ear 8 ohm stereo type, or the higher end 150 ohm hi-fidelity type. These work the best with STG amps. People can use the smaller mini headphones with an adapter, but the volume and sound quality will be compromised. The headphone jack is also a TRS or tip-ring stereo type, so it can be used to source two inputs-like a stereo amplifier or a mixer board.
Q: What is the purpose of the RCA Jacks?
A. All STG amps have at least one RCA female connector. It provides access to the output of the first amplifier stage ( the pre-amp). An RCA cable can be connected to it and the other end to a larger amp, or a home stereo, so a player doesn't need a large guitar amp to play at room volumes. The same jack is also an "input" to the second amplifier stage. This can be connected to foot pedal outputs so players can hear a pedal on the headphones. Its a great way to test pedal boards!
A SECOND RCA Jack is being added to some of the newer STG amps, connected to the output of the second amplifier stage( headphone out). This makes it easy to drive a SPRiNG REVERB CAN or a stage monitor amp/speaker. ............................thanx fer askin soo many questions......prof. Edward
Note: the above photo shows the mod-1 mechanical layout of a typical STG amp, with the TRS jack bottom right, and the new 620 Quad carbon composition resistor board on the input jack.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Sales and service availability 2013
This is general information on amplifier availability
Each week, there are headphone amplifiers for sale on Etsy.com and almost every week on Ebay.com
seller name dogtiredradios.
The prices on a standard amp has been lowered , since the middle of 2012, to $ 29.00 US, so more teenagers can afford to get one and enjoy a hand -wired amp that has standard jacks and can be repaired.
I offer free repairs through April 2013 for all amps purchased since June 2012. This gives the buyer more confidence in the product. return post is payed by the buyer, but usually costs less than $2.50 one only.
Amps that have a higher cost, are usually custom built units, with different layouts, may be one of a kind,
or have new features just being offered.
Many Amps are found in Hock-shops/ pawn shops across the US, in various states of repair.
We offer to buy used STA units in any condition if the price is low. Its helps find the lost amps, and some wind up being rebuilt and re-sold. Others are put on display with a story or history if one can be made.
Each week, there are headphone amplifiers for sale on Etsy.com and almost every week on Ebay.com
seller name dogtiredradios.
The prices on a standard amp has been lowered , since the middle of 2012, to $ 29.00 US, so more teenagers can afford to get one and enjoy a hand -wired amp that has standard jacks and can be repaired.
I offer free repairs through April 2013 for all amps purchased since June 2012. This gives the buyer more confidence in the product. return post is payed by the buyer, but usually costs less than $2.50 one only.
Amps that have a higher cost, are usually custom built units, with different layouts, may be one of a kind,
or have new features just being offered.
Many Amps are found in Hock-shops/ pawn shops across the US, in various states of repair.
We offer to buy used STA units in any condition if the price is low. Its helps find the lost amps, and some wind up being rebuilt and re-sold. Others are put on display with a story or history if one can be made.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Serial Numbers -Find the lost headphone amps
Sore-Throat
Guitar Amplifiers, Headphone amp Serial number list. Regeneration from written
records.
1987
to 2012.
25
Years of Distortion, ear wax, and dead batteries. -0=no info yet.
1.
Edwards
reserve
2.
Edwards
reserve
3.
Bjorn
4.
Doug
5.
BRL-
South Dakota
6.
Terry Bay, Guitarist. Salem/
7.
Edward
‘s-good ‘ol # 7. blue box, backpack style, shorting toggle. Custom gain. 3,
stage 1 cap replacements.
8.
-0
9.
-0
10. Kevin ,Oregon.
cough box, back pack.
11.
Susan,
Denver.
12. 2 owners, Briz, Washington.
13. Zack,Salem.
Bill Clark, Salem.
14. Briz, Washington.
15. -0
16. B.Walker, 2 owners
17. Saturday Market, self-serve demo unit. (post
1996)
18. Natalie (Colorado?)
19. Briz,
20. Saturday Market, self-serve demo unit.
21. Ed, Portland.
22.Greenwood
23.Ted, Salem
24. ? sold at Portland Saturday Market.
25. Markus.returned. Tony LaMont, St.Paul, Minnesota
26.Mailed out unit, -0 records.
27. Briz
28.Noble, 0 state
29. Old Rug Lady, PSM.
30. Jeff, Portland.
31. Returned unit ? ,resold.
32.Returned unit, rebuilt, resold.
33. Charles, Salem
34.Rebuilt, resold. ?
35. Briz.
36. -0
37.David, ?
38. -0
39.-0
40. Briz.
41. EEK ! Records Owner, Portland
42. Tim, vintage box.
43. Mark
44.-0
45.-0
46. E.R. Lewis .........sold it 2 somebody?
47. Wayne , Salem.
48.-0
49.Special Series?
50.Mike S., gift to brother.
51.
52.-0
53.-0
54. Built by Albert T. from kit.
55. Tim K, cherry box
56. Tim K. sold at Guitar
Castle.
57. Jack, Keizer,
Oregon. resold
58.Jack, Keizer,
Oregon. resold
59. Jack, Keizer,
Oregon. resold
60. not used
61. Rhonda’s son in Texas.
62.-0
63.-0
64.-0
65.-0
66.-0
67.-0
68.-0
69. Briz, custom yellow face.
70. Briz
71. Briz, sold at PSM.
72.Briz. Big Box, Sucrets
73. stock ? Big box , Sucrets
74. Lynn
at Vintage Plus
75. Standard unit, stock, resold by 2nd party
76.Standard unit, stock
77.Standard unit, stock
78.Standard unit, stock
79.Standard unit, stock
80.Standard unit, stock
81. Custom unit.90 degree slide switch. mod 140a.
82. custom 140c
83.-0
84.-0
85.-0
86.-0
87.-0
88.- Tony in MI- sold on eBay Oriental flower box custom
89.Dave
90.Brian
91. Albert T.
92.Randy Guitarist. “Lady box unit”
93.-0
94.-0
95.-0
96.-0
97.-0
98.-0
99.-0
100.
-0
101.
- to
158 NO List created yet.
159.
Cody G., Salem
160.
-0
160.
-0
161.
-0
162. Tony C. ,Salem
163.
164.
Cynaera L. California.
165.
Cynaera L. California.
166. Lost
Records to # 194.
195.
Cynaera, California.
196.
Cynaera, California.
197.
-0
198.
-0
199.
-0
200.
-0
201.
-0
202.
-0
203.
–
204.
0
205.
-0
206.
-0
207.
2
owners
208.
-0
209.
-0
210.
-0
211.
-0
212.
-0
213.
Sore-Throat
Guitar Amplifiers, Headphone amp Serial number list. Regeneration from written
records.
1987
to 2012.
25
Years of Distortion, ear wax, and dead batteries.
Units
with Serial number starting with small letter “d”. Manufactured in Dallas, Oregon,
after 1998.
d1.
d2.
d3.
Doug A.
d4.
Nathan, New
Jersey
d5.
Belle
d6.
d7.
d8.
d9.
d10.
Kevin
d11.Susan, in Denver
d12.some body in New Jersey
d13.
Zack
d14.
d15.
d16.
Bill
d17.
d18.
Natalie
d19.
d20.-0
d21.
Ed
d22.
Bruce G. ,Salem
d23.
d24.
d25.
Markus, Dallas O.
d26.
d27.
d28.
d29.
d30.
Jeff
d31.
Michael
d32.-0
d33.
Charles
d34.-0
d35.
d36.
d37.
David
d38.
d39.
d40.
d41.
Andrew
d42.
d43.Mark
d44.
d45.
d46.
Luke ? serial # my not be correct.
d47.
d48.
d49.
d50.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The challenge : Try to find the lost headphone amps!
Sore-throat guitar amplifiers were built and sold from late 1987, to 1996, and in smaller numbers from 1999 to the present. Each amp has its own unique serial number, so when we find one we can look up some background info on it.Sometimes we've got the original owner's name , but many have been sold to people who wish to remain anonymous.Although the bulk of the first 100 amps were sold in the Salem /Keizer area, many were mailed overseas to Germany, Europe, and Canada.The style of amps changed often, and were converted to a two-box unit by the time sales were happening at Portland Saturday Market.Believe it or not, the Portland market is the last stop many tourists make ,before hopping on the plane back to whatever country they're from.So off fly the little amps to who knows where!
The other customers at the market were the local musicians , both amateurs and pro.The pro's seemed to hang on to the little amps , using them to sound-check guitars and pre-amp the PA's.But the locals would trade them to their friends, sell em on the street or at the local pawn shop.
So now you know why we are so curious to find out WHAT HAPPENED to all the Sore-Throat Guitar Amplifiers. Can you help us find the LOST headphone amps ? All we want is the serial number and the general location, so we can fill in the blanks on what sketchy records we do have. We also buy-back any and all S.T.G.A.'s that are for sale for a small amount, even broken units.
As we locate the units with interesting stories and backgrounds, I will share the info and the history.
What’s it all about? The Sore-Throat Guitar Amp is like an open source machine-it is meant to be repaired and modified by any user that has the knowledge and ability. All components are standard, heavy duty quality, and can easily be replaced. The integrated circuit amp is in a socket, and can be replaced by over three different numbers and many manufacturers.
In some models, surplus and outdated parts are used to keep the costs low, so layouts and styles vary by part availability. The smallest possible circuit board is used with only resistors and power components that won’t normally need to be replaced.
I build headphone amps all year, now that I set up a new work shop in 2011. These little amps have been shipped all over the USA and Europe and Japan.
It all started in 1988. So its been 25 years of distortion, dead batteries, and earwax.
The best placed to look at whats currently available is www.etsy.com/sorethroatguitaramps .
The next blog post will have the most up to date listing of serial numbers, and bunch more photos.
Input-Gain-Volume, "its a blast".
Sore-throat guitar amplifiers were built and sold from late 1987, to 1996, and in smaller numbers from 1999 to the present. Each amp has its own unique serial number, so when we find one we can look up some background info on it.Sometimes we've got the original owner's name , but many have been sold to people who wish to remain anonymous.Although the bulk of the first 100 amps were sold in the Salem /Keizer area, many were mailed overseas to Germany, Europe, and Canada.The style of amps changed often, and were converted to a two-box unit by the time sales were happening at Portland Saturday Market.Believe it or not, the Portland market is the last stop many tourists make ,before hopping on the plane back to whatever country they're from.So off fly the little amps to who knows where!
The other customers at the market were the local musicians , both amateurs and pro.The pro's seemed to hang on to the little amps , using them to sound-check guitars and pre-amp the PA's.But the locals would trade them to their friends, sell em on the street or at the local pawn shop.
So now you know why we are so curious to find out WHAT HAPPENED to all the Sore-Throat Guitar Amplifiers. Can you help us find the LOST headphone amps ? All we want is the serial number and the general location, so we can fill in the blanks on what sketchy records we do have. We also buy-back any and all S.T.G.A.'s that are for sale for a small amount, even broken units.
As we locate the units with interesting stories and backgrounds, I will share the info and the history.
What’s it all about? The Sore-Throat Guitar Amp is like an open source machine-it is meant to be repaired and modified by any user that has the knowledge and ability. All components are standard, heavy duty quality, and can easily be replaced. The integrated circuit amp is in a socket, and can be replaced by over three different numbers and many manufacturers.
In some models, surplus and outdated parts are used to keep the costs low, so layouts and styles vary by part availability. The smallest possible circuit board is used with only resistors and power components that won’t normally need to be replaced.
I build headphone amps all year, now that I set up a new work shop in 2011. These little amps have been shipped all over the USA and Europe and Japan.
It all started in 1988. So its been 25 years of distortion, dead batteries, and earwax.
The best placed to look at whats currently available is www.etsy.com/sorethroatguitaramps .
The next blog post will have the most up to date listing of serial numbers, and bunch more photos.
Input-Gain-Volume, "its a blast".
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