niwid
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,754
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Mar 31, 2012 13:01:28 GMT
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Odd one this
Ever since I had my first car I've had the idea of plugging a guitar into my car and being able to use it as an amp.
Recently Ive been thinking ive got an old roof rack in the garage, I could get 2 PA speakers and a small mixing desk, attatch them to it, somehow sort power to it, and I could put a whole band through it.
Just wondering, how might I go about powering it? All the equimpent would normally be powered through the mains, so just wiring it into the cars 12v wouldnt be practical, surely?
Plus it would need to be removeable so I could use the car normally.
Any ideas?
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Mar 31, 2012 13:15:55 GMT
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 Something like this?  Three realistic choices for powering it, Generator, inverter or native 12v powered kit. Might be worth looking at a mobile DJ type powered mixer for simplicity. |
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in |
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col
Part of things
wut
Posts: 190
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Mar 31, 2012 13:17:03 GMT
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the simplest way would to just use a standard 12v car mono block amp. a midrange one will put out 400-600w rms. then run the amp straight into a set of passive pa speakers on the rack. you can use a passive mixer and battery / 12v preamps for guitars and mics.
most monoblock amps run at 1 or 2 ohms for peak power, so to get the most out of an amp at 2 ohms, you'll need 2 4ohm cabs in parallel, 4 for 1 ohm.
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Mar 31, 2012 13:19:56 GMT
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I tried something similar in a van I had. Obviously you need ac power to run regular pa gear, which means (expensive) inverters. Inverters are generally not good enough for audio applications though, as the sine wave they produce is pretty shocking - meaning a horrible buzzing sound through your gear. I've just thought though, if you use a passive desk, I can't see why you couldn't use a car amp and speaker system. Designed to run on 12vdc and won't have a nasty buzzy sound. Edit to say: obviously you're still left without guitar amps due to no ac power, but fx pedals could be used to get some kind of tone. Then just plug in the desk. Won't sound good, but would work  |
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Last Edit: Mar 31, 2012 13:24:21 GMT by SamR380
I've got Rovers.
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barty
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,088
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Mar 31, 2012 20:04:55 GMT
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why.....
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Mar 31, 2012 20:46:45 GMT
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Why not, man? Sounds like an awesome way to spend some time tinkering. |
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Mar 31, 2012 21:54:55 GMT
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I agree. And as far as guitar FX goes, there are some awesome things available that do FX and amp/cab simulation (I have a line6 pod and a BOSS thingy.. erm, can't remember. I'll edit it in) so straight from instrument to desk isn't a big worry any more.
Also - I run audio through an inverter all the time with no problems. I get more buzz from the damned energy saving lightbulbs in the house.
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in |
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Mar 31, 2012 22:23:30 GMT
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It's been a long time, but IRC, most amplifiers run at 48v or 60v DC, so car amps are actually a lot cheaper than mains ones, as it's a simple step up from 12v whereas running off the mains requires a power supply, the bigger the output, the bigger beefier and more expensive the power supply needed.
So... We used to buy the components to make the power supplies, then run car amps off the mains to make much cheaper high powered amps, bridge rectifier and a large inductor were the main bits.
So... 12v is the way to go... Update the alternator and battery if you want bug output, diesel engine alternators are the way forward for that.
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I dunno much about guitar amps, but could you plug the guitar into a preamp and then plug that into a mono car amplifier?
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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