[[Shizo]]

I've built a portable bass amp using PC speakers/woofer and a 12V motorcycle battery (to match the speakers' 12V/200~850mA DC input).

I have an active bass with a 9V battery inside. Strange thing is, when I played it through the woofer connected to the AC outlet the sound is fine. But when I power it from the battery the sound is distorted at high volumes. Is it because the battery's Amps are too high? What's up?

A cd player or an electric guitar (passive) sound ok but not as loud as the bass. Can I make any changes that would improve the bass sound?

Also with bass, the small speakers are silent, only the woofer produces any sound. Why?

[[Shizo]]

The battery is 4A/10hr rating. Would it make a difference with 8A/20hr?

Does 8A/20hr mean it's putting out 8Amp for 20 hours or what?

So many questions.. my young mind is craving for answers!

[The Insane Lemur]

well, I can't tell you anything about the technical stuff, but thats awesome you built an amp! Once in highschool me and a friend half completed a tube amp for guitar but didn't have anybody with a drill press to drill the chassis, so we got stuck and eventually forgot about it then my sister buys one... I'll have to get around to doing that

[Lunatique]

What prompted you to build your own bass amp? Is it mostly a fun DIY thing or you didn't like any of the commercial options out there?

I'm using a Line 6 LowDown right now and it does the job just fine, since I only use it as a practice amp. For recording I go DI.

[[Shizo]]

The commercial ones that are loud enough cost too much. This one cost me $40 for everything. Oh yeah, and it works now!
I figured out the electrics thanks to Google and my electrician friend.

[Lunatique]

When are you going to visit me in Fuzhou? Our house is almost done, and we'll be back in the States in November, but will be back in late November and should be staying put for a while. The new recording studio is going to be pretty sweet--I went full out on acoustic treatments so it'll sound totally pristine (plus my Klein + Hummel O 300D's are some of the best nearfields available). It's also a comfortable size where I can house all of my gears and instruments just fine, and will probably be at least below 30db in sound isolation, and perhaps lower when the AC is not on.

[[Shizo]]

I don't know, but you can find me on the streets of Beijing this winter. We'll be busking at Wangfujing and Yonganli subway stations. Whichever station's coppers don't kick us out that day.

PS: Oh I got it. You were talking about portable amps in general. I meant battery powered portable amps.

[Lunatique]

Who's "we"? Have you formed a band in Beijing? What kind of music are you guys doing? Why is your website gone--haven't bothered keeping up the registration fee? What are you doing for a living right now? So many questions.

[[Shizo]]

1. Not really a band, just me and my friend. Bands are for pansies.
2. I can't say we "play" one kind of music or another because we haven't really played together yet. We'll play music that sounds good to me.
3. There was nothing to put on my website so I took it down.
4. Right now I'm not doing anything. Living off the fat of the land. Working is for pansies too.

[Sumaleth]

I'm not growing in soil at the moment. Growing in soil is for pansies.
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[watmough]

man, i totally respect you shizo, i wish i had the balls.

[[Shizo]]

Too early to say. My balls aren't nearly as big as they seem to be.
I'll let y'all know.