Starting off Small Low watt amps

[morbe]

Some day I will work on High Powered Tube amps but right now I have decided to take everyones advise and start off small. Making Pedals! however Cant I just take the Dr. Frankenstein Approach to building audio electronics? They already sell low voltage solid state pre amp kits. I have one that was built at 7 watts. Why cant I just experiment taking simple tube preamp schematics (pre amp guitar pedals) and instead of placing them in the pedal put in it into a small amp chassis with a solid states amps. And there you have it a 9 volt at .5 amps. That pretty safe right?
I mean wont this teach me more about amps than building pedals?

[newey]

Why cant I just experiment taking simple tube preamp schematics (pre amp guitar pedals) and instead of placing them in the pedal put in it into a small amp chassis with a solid states amps. And there you have it a 9 volt at .5 amps.

You can do so. And if I'm remembering correctly, we had someone post a while back who was doing just that. I'll have to root around in the basement, see what I can come up with.

In that discussion, as I recall, we discussed the types of tubes that could be powered by battery sources. However, I also recall that while 9v would power some, 12v was deemed preferable.

I'm not familiar with the "Frankenstein" kits- are they audiophile stuff? If so, you may want to look more at a guitar-oriented circuit rather than an audio circuit designed for minimal distortion.

Paia Electronics makes rack-sized tube preamp kits which are powered by 12V/500mA wall warts. That's not a recommendation, I don't have any experience with them, just that such things are available.

As far as which will teach you more, I dunno. Experimenting with all types of circuits will help, I would think.