Ruby Amp

Here is runoffgroove’s ruby amp: simple practice amp based on the 386
amplifier chip. runoffgroove took the datasheet example for the LM386,
added a buffer in front, and tweaked a few values to come up with
probably the most popular DIY practice amp. Check out the Noisy Cricket
a b c d e f g h i j
and Cigarette amp beavis board projects for similar circuits. Learn more + - + -
about the ruby at http://www.runoffgroove.com/ruby.html 1 1
9 volts + 2 2
1.5MΩ
VR3 3 3
Q1 B1K 4 4
MPF102 (Gain)
5 5
D
input 6 d 6 B10K
6

MPF102
G S 1 C6
7 7 Volume
C1
- 8 220uF Output 3.9KΩ
8 s 8
47 nF VR1 2 U1
R1 R2
1.5MΩ 3.9KΩ LM386 9
B10K
+
5 9

47nF
(Volume) 3 7 R3 10 g 10
4 C4 10Ω
100 nF C7
11 11
47 nF 12 12
in 13 13
Hooking up a Speaker 14 14
This circuit is designed to power an 8 ohm speaker, but will also work on 4 ohms or 16 ohms. 15 15
Because the power output is so low (on the order of 500mW) you can hook it up to just about out 16 16
any type of speaker without worry about damaging anything. 17 17
Using a Guitar Cab 18 18

LM386
The amp sounds best hooked up to a guitar speaker, so if you have a speaker cab, hook it up 19 19 100nf
there. Simply run a ¼” mono cable between the i/o breakout box’s output jack and the input 20 20
jack on your cab. 21 21
Using a Small Speaker 22 22
If you have a small speaker, you can connect it either directly to the breadboard, or if the 23 23
speaker’s wires are too big, use the terminal strip on the main board. Run one wire from 24 24

10uf
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ground on the breadboard to one of the terminal strips. Run the output wire from the 25 25
breadboard to another screw on the terminal strip and connect it as shown below: 26 26

10Ω
27 27
28 28 B1K
- 29 29 47nf Gain
30 30
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breadboard revision: 1.0 ● 28 may 2008 ● © 2008 beavis audio research
ground
output beavis board project