Black Box Model and Power Supply Simulation

So it's been close to a month since the beginning of this project. Part of me feels like I have gotten no where in the last three weeks. But I have to remember I have had to familiarize myself with amplifier models and jargon. I have learned about guitar amplifier classes, common guitar amp vacuum tubes, rectifiers, smoothing capacitors, theory of distortion, theory of filter design, and much more. My professor recommended I begin with power supply design, but as I began my research I realized I had to go through guitar amp boot camp before even begin that.

So! The purpose of this post is to discuss a black box model of what goes on inside a guitar amp. The following scan is a quick sketch I made of the essentials of an amp. By no means is it exhaustive, but I feel it is a good assessment of the basics.

I plan to build a Class A, single ended 10 watts (ish) amp. Probably will use a couple of 12Ax7's and an EL84, or at least cheaper copies of these vacuum tubes. I've read about Class AB Push-Pull designs, but feel it is a bit complex for my first build. An acquaintance and fellow U of M student also encouraged me to use a simple power supply design. No tubes, just a rectifier bridge and a few filter stages. This will save on money and time.

I decided to test a simple rectifying circuit/power supply in PSPICE. Took a while to get the output I wanted, but it seems to be doing what I need it to. I plan to try and implement this circuit sometime this week to see if I can get it to work in the lab.

I have also been studying the schematic for my own tube amp in my current guitar rig. The Epiphone Valve Junior seems to be the kind of amp I would like to build. Only a few stages and a power supply, nothing fancy. I still plan to integrate an arduino into my design, just not sure how yet.

That's all for now. More to come soon.
-Mark