Monday, October 13, 2014

Here is the NEW BASELINE settings copies, copy-paste and cut! read next page explanation

Sore-Throat Guitar Amplifiers copyright 2014 EAL

STGA
                                                    (You can down load this page, put in WORD, change to 3- columns
                                                         paste the columns, and print. cut out each square. add to set-up schematic                                                                  diagram. )  ERASE this sentance! 
BaseLine      Settings____     
Mounting: FA  PB  GS  SB
Input Main:  NC  EG  PB  EXT
Instrument Vol: . 25 .50 .75 +
RCA 1: NC, In , Out, Monitor
Output TRS: HP,GC ,Ring,ST
Gain Cont: zero,#___,7+ ___
Volume Cont:1,#___, (+) ___
Power:Batt,EXT,OFF
EXT.Device: ____________
ADD:JC  R.iso  AMP  SR
Music : rk.cu.ry.sl.bu.cl.NA

STGA
BaseLine      Settings____     
Mounting: FA  PB  GS  SB
Input Main:  NC  EG  PB  EXT
Instrument Vol: . 25 .50 .75 +
RCA 1: NC, In , Out, Monitor
Output TRS: HP,GC ,Ring,ST
Gain Cont: zero,#___,7+ ___
Volume Cont:1,#___, (+) ___
Power:Batt,EXT,OFF
EXT.Device: ____________
ADD:JC  R.iso  AMP  SR
Music : rk.cu.ry.sl.bu.cl.NA
STGA
BaseLine      Settings____     
Mounting: FA  PB  GS  SB
Input Main:  NC  EG  PB  EXT
Instrument Vol: . 25 .50 .75 +
RCA 1: NC, In , Out, Monitor
Output TRS: HP,GC ,Ring,ST
Gain Cont: zero,#___,7+ ___
Volume Cont:1,#___, (+) ___
Power:Batt,EXT,OFF
EXT.Device: ____________
ADD:JC  R.iso  AMP  SR
Music : rk.cu.ry.sl.bu.cl.NA

STGA
BaseLine      Settings____     
Mounting: FA  PB  GS  SB
Input Main:  NC  EG  PB  EXT
Instrument Vol: . 25 .50 .75 +
RCA 1: NC, In , Out, Monitor
Output TRS: HP,GC ,Ring,ST
Gain Cont: zero,#___,7+ ___
Volume Cont:1,#___, (+) ___
Power:Batt,EXT,OFF
EXT.Device: ____________
ADD:JC  R.iso  AMP  SR
Music : rk.cu.ry.sl.bu.cl.NA










Explanation Key for the NEW Base Line Settings MAP. Easier than it looks!

BaseLine      Settings____                          This page is included in the new amp manuals! 
Mounting: FA  PB  GS  SB
Input Main:  NC  EG  PB EXT
Instrument Vol: . 25 .50 .75 +
RCA 1: NC, In , Out, Monitor          Fill out this form when you make new set-                                  ups- then you can duplicate it!
Output TRS: HP,GC ,Ring,ST
Gain Cont: zero,#___,7+ ___
Volume Cont:1,#___, (+) ___
Power:Batt,EXT,OFF
EXT.Device: ____________
ADD:  JC  R.iso  AMP    SR
Music : rk.cu.ry.sl.bu.cl. NA

                                                Sore-Throat Guitar Amplifiers
                                              Explanation Key for the “BaseLine Settings Map”.

This little document will make it easy for you and your friends to communicate the many uses of the Sore-Throat Guitar Amplifier, and the ability to duplicate operating conditions, mechanical settings, and electrical states.
We receive a lot of feedback from customers requesting “how-to” info and trying to understand why the little amps were designed “different from everybody else’s”.  One map is filled out, attached to a “standard hook-up diagram” and supplied in this manual to enable new buyers to get their amps up and running.
You also get one page of blanks. Make copies of the maps and hook-up diagram blanks, so you can share your discoveries- maybe even make a “music book” for yourself. (or mark “NA” if its not musical!)
All you need is a little practice filling out the settings as you encounter new sounds when you play music. Then share the info with friends who have a STGA rig.
First circle your settings and take notes in Pencil.
When all eleven BaseLines have been marked, use a hi- lighter color to mark over the pencil. This will make a session “etched in stone” and easy to duplicate.
Eventually you will memorize the abbreviations because we kept them simple.
This practice of documented duplication is nothing new- Producers listen carefully while musicians fiddle with their sound. When they hear something great they say “freeze!”- and then a bunch of guys with note books swarm the studio and write everything down-every cable,box,knob,etc.
When its time to record- they can get that same sound.
Read the next column for the definitions.

Mounting: Free Air, Pedal Board, Guitar Strap, Service Bench.
This is important, because un-secured amps can pick up noise from rotating cables and electrical fields. “ain’t tied down-blame y’self”!
Input Main: No Connection, electric guitar, pedal board, external source. The ¼ inch input jack.
So 90% of the time you got a guitar plugged-in, but presume nothing! You can use each pre-amp separately; it may be “NC”, with a sound going to the RCA #1. And, a pedal board cable introduces more sounds than a “clean guitar”.

Instrument volume: most ignored setting. Too low,
& you blame the wimpy amp! Too high, and overdrive distortion crushes every promising note! Guess your percentage, but always check it. NOTE: if you marked "headphones" on output, you may want to mark the 2nd vol.    (+____) with your headphone controls, if they are separate. 

RCA 1:  This Jack works both ways. Input to amp #2 (120X), out from amp #1 (27X) or used as a monitor (not part of sound loop) to hear actual “raw” guitar sound. Jumper cable from yer buddies Pedal output- and you can “Jam together”. ( JC= 1/4 " guitar to RCA Male )

Output TRS:  Head Phone, Guitar Cable, Center Ring, Stereo. The ¼ inch headphone jack. You can plug in a standard guitar-cable-to-a-combo-speaker –amp, but it will work better with a 3 conductor cable, with the “ring” isolated.

 Gain Control: Zero, number, 7+ = the setting of the knob itself. Zero can be used to reduce noise, or #1 will enable “clean” playing, with distortion only on “E” string. Anything higher than 7+ is very amp’ed!
Volume Control: since volume is never really zero, 1 is the lowest, #5 up would be headphone use, (+) is used on spring reverb thangs.

Power: Battery, External, OFF.If the amp has batteries and a +/- supply on the switch, it can only be “off” is one thing is removed.
External Device: could be a spring reverb, stereo amp, or testing/monitoring connection.
ADD: Jumper Cable, Ring isolated, amplifier, spring reverb.     Items added to the sound loop.
Music: Rock, county, rhythm, slide, blues, classical, or Not Applicable- may not be musical sound!

See further explanations on other pages and on Hook-up Diagrams. 

Monday, July 28, 2014

Busy times in Amplifier Land.






Still Building the new pedal model of the Sore-Throat Amplifier, and
manufacturing Terrestrial Coils for the ERSA-1  Space antennas-

You Can read more about the Space antennas in THE RADIO HUNTERS BLOG.
 Audio amps for the portable antennas are smaller than the Guitar amps. and include a diode de-modulator
and an audio caps filter section.

The set up is used for listening to Sun Noise, radio noise bouncing off the moon, locating Satellites, and other hobby uses. If you want to see an ERSA-1 Terrestrial Coil unit, look it up on Etsy.com under sore throat guitar amplifiers.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014



Now building the new Pedal board models, order on Etsy.com, please. 
Thank you -E.




If You have never heard of Sore-Throat Guitar Amps before, here is an overview of the features
1. 1/4 inch jacks, TRS stereo jack on the output- because these amps are HEADPHONE dependent. Change 'phones= change sound.
2. Two 9- volt batteries, because it takes less parts, gets louder, and better BASS sound. Also can be run on 12 volt car battery for emergencies !     These Help keep teens off the streets .  and 

MADE IN U.S.A. Thank you for your help.

3. There are NO tone controls, no filters, no clippers, no scrubbers = you hear what your pick-ups really sound like, and your fret board- makes you wanna learn how to play!

4. We use real 1950's carbon comp resistors, vintage cloth wire, and full size pots- just like expensive TUBE AMPS!

5.     100 % hand built and wired, surplus parts and "Altoid" boxes-

 built like a tank, and Repairable!  
I.C. in socket, you can upgrade/ replace.    
ALSO -free repairs for the first two months ! 
These are 8 ounces, so return post is less than $2.50

6. MORE DiSTORTiON than you will ever want, these are not for "clean" players, so don't even ask !

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Clean Layout on the new pedal board models-see it.

The new pedal Board models of the STGA headphone amps have a different component layout, and a real clean look. There is even more room now for the Injured Octopus circuit board.
And , the on-off switch is on box-2, you can kick it on-or off.OR battery on / external power on.




Friday, March 21, 2014

New Serial Number page for STG amps,PC numbers

Sore Throat Guitar Amplifiers- Help us find the little lost amplifiers.
Serial Number List, Extraction from old records.
Amps Labeled  “PC”, stands for Polk County.
Built in Dallas, Oregon 97338.
Some units sold at Polk County Fairgrounds, some sold at outdoor vending, some units sold on Ebay.com.
Unknown total number of PC models built, found records to #23.
PC’s were typically white boxes/red lids, with plastic industrial potentiometers, plastic bead knobs, late 80’s/ early 90’s logos, 4558 I.C.’s, sealed Chinese aluminum tube Jacks. Some pre-packaged units may have come with blue/white headphones with metallic mid-range drivers. Some units had plastic cable loops bolted- on, some had nylon shoe lace ties for hanging off belts.
Ebay units may have been modified or customized or more-than-one owners.
# List.
PC1.                                               PC 10.                                PC 19. Inbum  ?
2. Rick ST.                                           11. Charles P.                   20. Dennis H.
3.                                                          12.                                   21.
4.                                                          13. David M.                    22.
5. Seg                                                    14. Tye   P.                     23. Ken N.
6. Nick G., VA. 20110                            15.
7.                                                           16.
8. Brian B.                                              17.
9.                                                                         18. Don H

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

headphones are very important + electrical compensation devices

Headphones are very important!
The quality of the sound you will hear is dependent on the type of headphones you plug-in to the sore-throat amplifier.  
TYPE
Over-the-ear headphones are the best, and, if they are eight OHMS type, even better.  These headphones will get the loudest and have the best bass response. Special hi-fidelity headphones that have high impedance of over 100 ohms will produce excellent sound and provide better high frequency response.
Down
Size
If you need to go portable, you can put a 3.5 mm-to-1/4 inch adaptor in the headphone jack, and use the common small 32 ohm headphones. Volume will usually be reduced, but its good enough to use in guitar stores and check out the sound of various pick-ups. Just use a short guitar cable on the input, and the whole thing will fit in your coat pocket.

Hear a Buzz
When you switch to a single-coil pick-up, you might hear a buzz in the headphones. That’s normal, SCPU’s can get electrical noise and over-head light buzz, if they aren’t shielded or too close.  Locating to a different spot in the room might help.

Bass Response Headphones
If you need to play a lot of low “E” string notes, turn the GAIN control down to 20-30 percent, and turn the VOLUME up.  The lows will be cleaner and more up front. Larger strings produce more output in the pick-ups, which makes more distortion. It’s the nature-of-the-beast, ‘cause we don’t use any filters or tone circuits in the amps.
You hear what your pick-ups really sound like, which is why Guitar Tech’s keep STGA’s in their toolbox.


sorethroatguitaramplifiers.blogspot.com
WE LEARNED the HARDWAY over the years to compensate the little amps for dealing with real-life situations of Guitar Players and their Crews.
Here is a list of some of the features, and why they exist.

The “Penniless Rocker” Mono Plug Shorting Resistor: you can plug-in a mono (tip/sleeve ground) guitar cable into the headphone jack (TRS) and the output will not be shorted to ground. OR, spend money on a new 3 conductor guitar cable!

The “Careless Roadie” impedance matcher: a nice L-pad with a 5K resistor to ground, and the 620 Quad carbon composition input set that works well with almost any guitar/pick-up type.
Lets the sound quality through, and keeps the “Signal Path Purists” happy.

The “Mad Scientist” RCA Jack- works as both an input-from another pedal or a spring reverb- and also an output-to a pedal board chain or a computer adaptor.  The gain control will act as a volume/ stage-1 mixer.

“The Vintage Buyer Cloth Wire” is really from the 1950’s- is that “vintage” enough for you?

The “Brainless Battery-Jumper” Protection
Diode- keeps the IC safe from reverse-polarity external power, and bi-polar people! Located on the circuit board.

The “Stupid Consumer” Compensation Resistor: the volume control can be on “0”, but it won’t make the output zero. Saves us from answering angry phone calls. No offense!  

The “Non-Matching Cell Twins” Ballast resistors: if the batteries don’t match, the amp stays stable. For a while…

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Introduction to Sore throat guitar amplifiers, as seen on advertising.

If You have never heard of Sore-Throat Guitar Amps before, here is an overview of the features
1. 1/4 inch jacks, TRS stereo jack on the output- because these amps are HEADPHONE dependent. Change 'phones= change sound.
2. Two 9- volt batteries, because it takes less parts, gets louder, and better BASS sound. Also can be run on 12 volt car battery for emergencies !     These Help keep teens off the streets .  and 

MADE IN U.S.A. Thank you for your help. 

3. There are NO tone controls, no filters, no clippers, no scrubbers = you hear what your pick-ups really sound like, and your fret board- makes you wanna learn how to play!

4. We use real 1950's carbon comp resistors, vintage cloth wire, and full size pots- just like expensive TUBE AMPS!

5.     100 % hand built and wired, surplus parts and "Altoid" boxes-

 built like a tank, and Repairable!  
I.C. in socket, you can upgrade/ replace.    
ALSO -free repairs for the first two months ! 
These are 8 ounces, so return post is less than $2.50

6. MORE DiSTORTiON than you will ever want, these are not for "clean" players, so don't even ask !


Two screws for pedal board rail mounting on new models.
 
Works like new, money back guarantee. 
Additional RCA output jack for connection to a spring-reverb type unit. 
Play your Electric guitar with distortion ! Play in your dorm room!
This a standard Sore-Throat Guitar amp, with standard Jacks, and non-matching boxes.1 of a kind.
These are built like a tank with full-sized Volume and gain controls.
Have the big RED gain knob and a wood bead volume knob. 

Friday, February 14, 2014

New serial number page, check it out

Sore-Throat Guitar Amplifiers
Serial Number List.
Regeneration from written records.

Please Comment or Email to inform us of missing numbers, incorrect records, or updates. We will gladly add your box type, color, or “tech mods.”

We appreciate your help finding the little lost amplifiers!

NEW LIST starting at # 214
These are STA or STGA models only.
Most manufacturing completed after 2012.
Some units not “sold in order” due to customer’s style preference, “old stock” sold years later, returns and trade-ins, and units having more than one owner.

NUMBER

214.                                                                              230. Mike R. ,IL . USA RCA mod. 

215.                                                                              231.

216. Chris. B., Wash. USA, STGA                                232.
                                                                                      
217.                                                                               233.
218.                                                                              234.
219.
220.                                                                              235.
221.                                                                               236.
222. Edward. USA Horizontal Jack display model.             237. Pedal Board model, south Salem
228.

229.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

New pedal board AMPS-face logos-For Sale on Etsy.com

 So here is what the new pedal board style Sore-Throat Guitar Amps look like
Of course, the wood knobs are missing off the front controls,

the left gain would be RED ,
the right volume would be light brown wood grain ,
 I put black stripes on each as indications of settings.

new graphics page for the new manual-actually from early 1990's !

note: this page will fold in half, hot dog style, so the manual fits in guitar cases ,neck position.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Last of the art Logos, bottom jack Amps. Manufacturing switching over to pedals

So this is one of the last ART Logo units to be built, with the jacks on the bottom and the switch in the side.

There are a couple left- overs offered on-line for sale, but we are not manufacturing any more of this style.
Units for sale
You can still get paper logos to match, if you need to repair your front panels.
Looking forward to making the PEDAL BOARD models- you get a better value, and the amp is so flexible.

I will post copies of the new manual pages as they come, Hot off the "press", and you can read about the new features and hook-ups.

The PEDAL BOARD models also have an RCA jack that carries the Hot -Tip output- You can drive a mechanical  Spring Reverb can with it, and leave all the 1/4 inch stuff in place, undisturbed.

I have a "pedal-train style" bare- bones board, and a nice 3- spring reverb can tucked under the works-
never need to disconnect anything.   SEE the old "injured Octopus" circuit board below-
 SEE the new PEDAL BOARD model below- Kick the power rocker battery or ext. power spot !

new STGA manual page-down load a copy for yer amp

Very important note: If you decide to sell or trade your STG amp, please let us know on the email, or the BlogSpot, because of our serial number tracking. Only the original owners qualify for the free repairs and trades, and we like to know the world-wide locations of the little amps. Ask the new owner if he would like to send us his name and info.
Also, if your Amp is damaged, please save all the parts and pieces for us. No matter how extensive, we will give you credit towards a new unit, maybe even rebuild the original. We have had car tires run over amps, and they still worked!
Thank you for your help.
LOGOS—All of the old logos for mod1 and mod2 boxes, and also the 1980-1990 amplifiers, have been used up, and we will not be building anymore amps with the old-style logos or mechanical layouts. There are some left-overs and some returned units that may be available, check out our Etsy.com and EBay .com sites for these. We will sell what paper logos we have in stock, (some people use them to repair front panel damage or to customize their units) but we will not print anymore new. Collectors may wish to obtain a few, Email for availability.

The Other Cool Features in the STG Amps.
Hand-Wired in the USA !
We will continue to include:
USAVintage 1950’s blue/white stripe cloth wire.
USA Vintage 1950’s black stripe telephone wire.
USA White rocker slide switches.
USA Rubber grommet pass-through’s.
PE film tape, silver solder grounds.
USA made carbon-composition resistors (input).
TI and Motorola 1458 I.C.’s
…until our stock runs dry, we can’t scrounge any more, or a real apocalypse destroys the work shop!
It is difficult to impossible to find this kind of quality anywhere, so please support our efforts.
You can purchase these items, and get free post in the Continental U.S.
New and discontinued LOGOS……. $2.00 each
1988-1990’s Newsletters copies……. $ 4.00 each
4-screw connector terminals…………$ 3.00 each
Low noise op-amp I.C.’s w/schematic..$ 3.00 each
Coloring pages for children (!) ………$ 1.00 each
(Some are available on BlogSpot, free download)
New-detector Amps for the ERSA-1 Radio Hunter pistol grips, with 2 finger triggers……$ 28.95 each
Universal Power Module (new mod 4). $14.95 each
(Battery box for Det. Amp/ STGA repl