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Post subject: Tone Monster Mini-Amp harness.
Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 5:35 pm
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I've heard some good things about these Tone Monster wiring harness's.
Electronics for the dummies :lol: ... no soldering required.

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They have some great features for a 9V battery powered amp. I got the mid-range model (SD-MAH3) which includes

- Volume Pot
- Tone Expander Pot
- On/Off switch with 3 overdrive settings.
- 1/4 inch input jack
- 12-15V DC converter jack
- Battery clip
- Ear phone jack
- Speaker clips
- Power on LED.

You just need a speaker and a case, which could be anything really. I like the idea of building it into a guitar case or even an actual guitar. I plan on using an old Bakelite radio case.
I use a little 9V "Smokey" with my cigar box guitar and resonators, so this should be a step up.
It should be a fun build.

Goodonyaz ...Mark.


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Post subject: Re: Tone Monster Mini-Amp harness.
Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:16 pm
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This is the radio that I'm using. It's from the 40s I think, Australian made, doesn't work though.
What do you think Nathan? We actually used to have an electronics industry.

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Post subject: Re: Tone Monster Mini-Amp harness.
Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:19 pm
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You should try to revive that old chassis and make it into a badass little amp.

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Post subject: Re: Tone Monster Mini-Amp harness.
Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:20 pm
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It's beyond my expertise at the moment,but I will save all the original bits.


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Post subject: Re: Tone Monster Mini-Amp harness.
Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:24 pm
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I bet it would be a good fuzz monster.

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Post subject: Re: Tone Monster Mini-Amp harness.
Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:32 pm
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The 9V set-up sounds great through ear phones. I've ordered an 8 ohm speaker (6x4 inch oval).


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Post subject: Re: Tone Monster Mini-Amp harness.
Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:11 pm
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Just a reminder to use extreme caution with those old radio sets, they often fall very far short of modern safety standards. Some used dropper leads, a mains cable with built-in resistance to drop the supply voltage. If you cut the dropper lead off and wire a new mains lead then the over voltage will fry everything. Some units have no isolation transformer and just rectify the mains supply which is horribly dangerous. Some models even operate with a live chassis (although that's mostly old televisions).

tl;dr - don't just plug an old radio in and switch it on!

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Post subject: Re: Tone Monster Mini-Amp harness.
Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:42 pm
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boxbang wrote:
This is the radio that I'm using. It's from the 40s I think, Australian made, doesn't work though.
What do you think Nathan? We actually used to have an electronics industry.

ImageImage

I do know this, and old TVs are great, same with old radios/stereophonics :D

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Post subject: Re: Tone Monster Mini-Amp harness.
Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 3:09 am
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No, I won't be working on this mess any time soon. It doesn't have a power cord anyway. It's worth hanging on to though. These things can go for $500-$700 in working order. So I guess I won't butcher the cabinet, no extra holes or mods. It's cleaned up beautifully.

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The front bakelite knobs will be my volume and tone. All the other holes will be on a back plate.


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Post subject: Re: Tone Monster Mini-Amp harness.
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 12:07 am
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boxbang wrote:
I like the idea of building it into a guitar case or even an actual guitar.


I built a Smokey_Amp replica into my daughters Mini Strat. Very handy and convenient.
Image
Image

It can run off 1 9V battery but I put 2 in for longevity.

So when she pulls up on the volume knob, it turns on the built in amp and bypasses the jack.
Push the knob down and the guitar goes back to being a normal Strat that can be played through an amp.
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