Portable tube amp

Derrick Mau · Post by **Derrick Mau** » 19 Nov 2005 7:54 pm

All of the portable battery operated and re-chargable amps I can think of are all solid state. Is it possible that one can be made with tubes?

If so, I can't understand why companies like Fender hasn't jumped to produce one.
Imagine an amp that is one size larger than the Micro Cube with tubes.

Many are looking for that great Fender sound, good bottom end, and portability.

T. C. Furlong · Post by **T. C. Furlong** » 19 Nov 2005 8:33 pm

If you were to get a Far Outlet, you could take your favorite tube amp anywhere. http://www.galaxyaudio.com/products/PDF2/FOCUTSHEET.pdf

TC

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 19 Nov 2005 9:13 pm

Derrick,
TC's suggestion is the best and most practical way to get a tube sound with battery power.

There are several problems with designing a small battery powered tube amp.
As far as I remember, the best of the battery audio power amplifier tubes was the 3Q5 which only put out 330 milliwatts.
Two of them in push-pull would still give you only about a half a watt.
They must have a filament voltage as well as a source of high voltage, in this case about 90 volts.
Nobody makes battery tubes any more so parts sourcing would be very difficult.
Using modern technology, a battery operated tube amp could be run from a 12 volt storage battery. You couldn't run one from the AA battery pack used in the microcube.
Tube type auto radios used two 6V6-GT tubes and got about 8 to 10 watts output. But they used a lot of power.
It would be possible to modify a Fender Deluxe or to use one of the boutique kits
and replace the rectifier section with a switching regulator to provide the high voltage. You'd still need a storage battery to run it.
There are space and heating problems to try to put a complete tube guitar amplifier in the space of a Microcube.
Much easier to take TC's suggstion to have the inverter and just plug a regular amp into it.
Hope this helps to answer your original question as to why the major companies don't make battery powered tube amps.
Blake
[This message was edited by Blake Hawkins on 19 November 2005 at 09:15 PM.]

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 20 Nov 2005 6:38 am

What Blake says is correct, Derrick. Back when tubes were all we had, they still didn't have a good battery-powered amp. Tubes have filaments (heaters), and most of the power is consumed by those heaters. The demand for a portable, battery-powered amp is quite small. Even with today's more efficient solid-state circuitry, the operating time is only a few hours, and the tone (due to the low power) is pretty feeble.

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 20 Nov 2005 1:27 pm

http://www.lovepedal.com/lovesquarebass.htm

You'll need a speaker for this.

Oops, you wanted a tube, sorry![This message was edited by Bill Leff on 20 November 2005 at 01:28 PM.][This message was edited by Bill Leff on 20 November 2005 at 01:28 PM.]

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 20 Nov 2005 2:35 pm

What you might consider is an electric generater. You power them up by plugging them into the wall or using a solar panel. they are totally quiet. Canadian Tire sells them. Just plug your tube amp into it and boogey.

Derrick Mau · Post by **Derrick Mau** » 20 Nov 2005 2:44 pm

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

T.C., I checked further into the website from the home page to power supply, and the manufacture said the 300S was discontinued.
No word anywhere if a replacement was coming soon.

Does this model have enough power to run a complete P.A. system?

T. C. Furlong · Post by **T. C. Furlong** » 21 Nov 2005 5:11 am

Derrick, you're right. It looks like the Far Outlet is discontinued. If it becomes available again, it could power a small efficient PA system like a small powered mixer with a couple of speakers on sticks type thing.