Mark, you made my day!! I am from Johannesburg in South Africa. Brilliant...I had a ASTRUM speaker for years - as well as a cable. I never thought of this siple solution. This is just the solution I wanted for taking with when bargain hunting guitars at pawn shops or when buying from people who wants to meet up in a parking lot. This deserves a sign up to your channel. 🥳😄
I've done this with powered computer speakers and last year I picked up a big iphone docking station/stereo for five bucks and use that as my workplace practice amp. it's got big sound and I don't care what happens to it.
Nice idea! I have a drawer full of adaptors and such. I used them on my computer for recording before I had an interface. I just bought Bias FX 2 amp simulation software last night. I'm an old school amp guy, but I'm digging the sounds I can get with Bias FX. Nice to have both options. I seem to recall you liked amp simulation software.
Thanks! This is an amp of total convenience and cheapness. Got a nephew or grandson? Yeah, this will work and his parents will thank you for *avoiding* loudness and effects ... at least for a while until he can play (or gives up). Got to travel and you hate putting on headphones when you play? Throw a tiny speaker in a bag and go. Want to hear yourself play in the living room. Plug into the same bluetooth speaker you use to stream music and nobody is upset with you for putting another amp in the room! I play clean 95% of the time, so I'm good with it. If you want effects, you can use your phone/computer or buy something like an "Amplug". I'm actually a total amp and fingers guy. I don't mind amp sim stuff, but I don't spend any time with it. I like pushing buttons and turning knobs over swiping! :) Even then, I try to avoid most pedals too. I personally think you're better off with a small set you know how to use to get close to most sounds. For example, with an Overdrive, Delay, and Modulation (chorus or flange or phaser) you're pretty much covered. Add an EQ pedal and Wah and you're really set. Maybe a Noise Gate to keep things clean. The EQ pedal will even allow you to only need 1 guitar at a gig if you know how to use it. Anyway, I've heard good things about the Positive Grid FX Effects. I just didn't get it because it was an iPhone thing early and I've always been on Android. Sounds fun though for sure!
I use the auxiliary input in my Ryobi radio with the cord and adapter just like you use here. It's great for playing outdoors when I'm camping, it's awesome having and electric guitar around the campfire!!!!
The volume on a bt speaker stays audible but minimal due to some factor. If you want considerabley more, add one of the mini-amp plugs e.g. the Vox AC30, to the chain. Since they all have 3.5mm headphone output jack, run the cord out into the BT speaker e.g. Anker Soundcore Motion+, JBL Flip 4, etc, like MZ sez. Louder if u want 2 jam out a bit at the beach, park, forest, campfire etc.
Before I had my first amp we plugged my guitar to our home stereo system. Big ass old-school one with casette players and stuff. But that was like 20 years ago and people don't have those anymore... But I think you could find them pretty cheap.
You want to lug that thing around if you travel? (EDIT: Sorry...that was not meant to sound snarky...it's just an honest question). This is a gift from upon high for those of us who fly a lot for work. Not having to deal with the hassle of carrying a little practice amp along is such a great discovery. I was already carrying a little speaker with me so this saves quite a bit of space and a fair bit of weight in my luggage now.
@@sparky47807 if you get something like the tiny Blackstar Fly 3, it would replace your current speaker (has clean channel and Bluetooth capability) and also has distortion and delay/reverb built in.
What a coincidence, I just built a practice amp exactly like this setup. It just popped into my head when my daughter upgraded her Bluetooth speaker and gave me her old one. I am going to buy a more powerful speaker any day.
They used to make this one kind of guitar with a big hole in the front. Sound would come out with no amp at all! Louder than what that speaker did. Could probably still find one at a garage sale or sumpin?
I hope you can respond despite this being an old video. I wanted to do a proof of concept and try to make one of those kid toy guitars with a built in speaker. The pickup selections works on the amp, but do the knobs work? I’m thinking of installing preamps (adjustable by knobs) into the guitar that the signal would go through the speaker (you mention at the end of the video there’s a way to add effects but I can’t find it no biggie) but I feel like it would only work if the guitar and recognize the changing of the knobs.
I plug in my ipod to my old 100watt output Pioneer midi system ( record player/radio tuner/double tape deck/cd player/graphic equaliser; you get the idea) and play the content through the stereo speakers. No reason why you can’t plug in a guitar too.
Yes, multiple ways. I'm going to publish a follow-up on this shortly. If you want to use your phone, here's one way to do it for Android. th-cam.com/video/ZuTWAqsDj_4/w-d-xo.html
i sat here and watched the whole thing. I'm not sure why, becasue as soon as you showed the little speaker it was instanly clear what the plan was... I stayed for the good vibes and the slightly condesending tone, lol. only kidding
Hey people, if you already have these things at home but can’t spend on a guitar amp, this is a great TEMPORARY solution, but if you don’t (and/or can) just buy an amp please. There is a reason guitar amps exist, things like the EQ and gain controls provide you with great control over your tone and amps themselves give you a better tone than just plugging your guitar straight into a speaker. I urge you to view this as a solution to a problem, not a “cheaper & better” alternative.
Yes of course. This is for people who don't want to spend anything to get started or for people like me who travel constantly, hate using headphones and don't want to bring yet another item on a trip. That's why the disclaimer is shown clearly in the first 5 seconds of the video. Hopefully if someone misses that and thinks that way they'll see your message.
Hi. I'm going to release a follow up video soon. You have a number of options. You can buy an "amplug" (review coming soon) or you can use a smart phone. If you want to do it using an iPhone, you can use iRig. For Android try this link: th-cam.com/video/ZuTWAqsDj_4/w-d-xo.html
@@MarkZabel Mark, any idea when that follow up video might happen? I love your lessons but your DIY tech stuff is great as well. I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us nexed
Hmmm, I've never had it happen. You sure you're not driving them too hard? I do this often and have never blown even cheap speakers. NOTE: I'm not at all suggesting that you replace a normal amp with this. (See the note at the beginning of the video.)
the volume will be low, unless the guitar gas active pup's or there is a pre-amp built inyo the speaker. guitar = instrument level signal. speaker = req.'ed line level signal input
Thanks!! I've been trying to figure this out because I'm going to put K&K pickups on my acoustic guitar and wanted to connect it to my Bose Soundlink speaker. But now you've got me thinking that I can instead connect the guitar to my ipad and use the Garageband App and still be connected by bluetooth to the bose speaker..... Good one!! 😉👍👍
My pleasure. What you describe probably will work (I'm an Android and PC guy, so I'm not 100% positive about Mac/iPhone.), with the possible exception of the Bluetooth. I've often found it adds a tremendous amount of latency in practice. But it's worth a try!
I've done kind of similar thing when I buy a cheap fake Fender Strat as my first electric guitar. What I've done was I plug my guitar cable to DVD player mic input that's connected to my TV (TV acting as audio output 😁). It did produce sound but only clean tone. My stupid teenage ass at that time was disappointed because my guitar sounds very different from what I expect. I expect my guitar to sounds like what Nirvana songs produced because I didn't know about overdrive/distortion thing 🤣🤣🤣🤣.
Hah..!! Takes me back to the 70’s… we’d rig together ANYTHING electronic to hear ourselves playing guitar or bass.. usually the family console tv ..🤣 Much to my Dad’s anger..!😳😩🤣… Good Times..!
Wow a Cable and an amplified speaker I can plug my guitar into it and amplify it wow amazing who'da thunk. I figured you were going to say go to a pawn shop and buy a used amp for 25 bucks
@@MarkZabel No, not that sort of thing, I think my friend here and I where looking for something more along the lines of wiring and assembling an amp with things we already had home instead of going and purchasing an amp kit, not plugging the guitar straight into a speaker and getting a shit tone out of it (not to mention the lack of EQ and overdrive). Anyways, don’t know what I was thinking going into this but if anything, I’ll probably buy an amp kit instead of doing this.
How so? It clearly shows how to assemble a DIY amp for free if you have the spare parts sitting around - which many do, but it's not guaranteed as the title CLEARLY states.
![[FREE] deftones x alternative rock x shoegaze type beat - "silent"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6VWH4lH0yTI/mqdefault.jpg)
why have i been paying actual money for an amp like a chump when i could have just taken my grandparents radio this hole time? this man is a genius
LOL! Thanks! Be careful though ... don't blow out your $500 Bose speakers!!
Mark, you made my day!! I am from Johannesburg in South Africa. Brilliant...I had a ASTRUM speaker for years - as well as a cable. I never thought of this siple solution. This is just the solution I wanted for taking with when bargain hunting guitars at pawn shops or when buying from people who wants to meet up in a parking lot. This deserves a sign up to your channel. 🥳😄
Awesome!
Dude this is crazy. I didn't realize this would work.
That was my first reaction too. "Really?" Then, "Oh yes, right, of course."
Thanks a lot man, I'm a beginner and I was needing an amp, you save my ass. Cheers from argentina
Sure thing.
I've done this with powered computer speakers and last year I picked up a big iphone docking station/stereo for five bucks and use that as my workplace practice amp. it's got big sound and I don't care what happens to it.
What about the overdrive tone?
Nice idea! I have a drawer full of adaptors and such. I used them on my computer for recording before I had an interface. I just bought Bias FX 2 amp simulation software last night. I'm an old school amp guy, but I'm digging the sounds I can get with Bias FX. Nice to have both options. I seem to recall you liked amp simulation software.
Thanks! This is an amp of total convenience and cheapness. Got a nephew or grandson? Yeah, this will work and his parents will thank you for *avoiding* loudness and effects ... at least for a while until he can play (or gives up). Got to travel and you hate putting on headphones when you play? Throw a tiny speaker in a bag and go. Want to hear yourself play in the living room. Plug into the same bluetooth speaker you use to stream music and nobody is upset with you for putting another amp in the room!
I play clean 95% of the time, so I'm good with it. If you want effects, you can use your phone/computer or buy something like an "Amplug".
I'm actually a total amp and fingers guy. I don't mind amp sim stuff, but I don't spend any time with it. I like pushing buttons and turning knobs over swiping! :) Even then, I try to avoid most pedals too. I personally think you're better off with a small set you know how to use to get close to most sounds. For example, with an Overdrive, Delay, and Modulation (chorus or flange or phaser) you're pretty much covered. Add an EQ pedal and Wah and you're really set. Maybe a Noise Gate to keep things clean. The EQ pedal will even allow you to only need 1 guitar at a gig if you know how to use it.
Anyway, I've heard good things about the Positive Grid FX Effects. I just didn't get it because it was an iPhone thing early and I've always been on Android. Sounds fun though for sure!
@@MarkZabel Thanks Mark! Good to know. Makes sense. Thanks for the info!
I might try this with a amp/cab sim.
Good idea!
Hey Mark. Cool indeed! Perfect for travel or just taking it outdoors, anywhere. Very helpful DIY. Thanks! Aloha from Hawaii.
Glad it was helpful!
Im frome Hawaii..big island puna
Great stuff! Now I can practise in the evenings when my oldest kid has left the amp in her room.
Perfect!
Oh god
Are you kidding me right now? This was so simple, I thought you were trolling. I'm about to start making custom amps!
LOL! Nah, it's just to get the job done if you hate wearing headphones.
I use the auxiliary input in my Ryobi radio with the cord and adapter just like you use here. It's great for playing outdoors when I'm camping, it's awesome having and electric guitar around the campfire!!!!
The volume on a bt speaker stays audible but minimal due to some factor.
If you want considerabley more, add one of the mini-amp plugs e.g. the
Vox AC30, to the chain. Since they all have 3.5mm headphone output jack, run the cord out into the BT speaker e.g. Anker Soundcore Motion+, JBL Flip 4, etc, like MZ sez. Louder if u want 2 jam out a bit at the beach, park, forest, campfire etc.
Excellent suggestion!
Will this work with battery powered headphones? I tried with my hyper X but did not work.. Thank you for the diy.
I would think so, but I'm not 100% sure. (I can't stand using headphones to play. Sorry.)
@@MarkZabel I need this for silent practice, this is why I am asking.. thank you.
Hi bro, thanks for your teaching, how can i make a diy guitar solar amp with a photovoltaic panel please?
Thanks. Sorry, I don't know.
Before I had my first amp we plugged my guitar to our home stereo system. Big ass old-school one with casette players and stuff. But that was like 20 years ago and people don't have those anymore... But I think you could find them pretty cheap.
Yeah man!
thanks
You're welcome!
I can buy a guitar amp for $50 that sounds great
You want to lug that thing around if you travel? (EDIT: Sorry...that was not meant to sound snarky...it's just an honest question). This is a gift from upon high for those of us who fly a lot for work. Not having to deal with the hassle of carrying a little practice amp along is such a great discovery. I was already carrying a little speaker with me so this saves quite a bit of space and a fair bit of weight in my luggage now.
@@sparky47807 if you get something like the tiny Blackstar Fly 3, it would replace your current speaker (has clean channel and Bluetooth capability) and also has distortion and delay/reverb built in.
What a coincidence, I just built a practice amp exactly like this setup. It just popped into my head when my daughter upgraded her Bluetooth speaker and gave me her old one.
I am going to buy a more powerful speaker any day.
Cool!
How to make the overdrive?😊
They used to make this one kind of guitar with a big hole in the front. Sound would come out with no amp at all! Louder than what that speaker did. Could probably still find one at a garage sale or sumpin?
I remember something like that.
Will it work without pre amp?
Yes, just like in this video.
it wont work
I hope you can respond despite this being an old video. I wanted to do a proof of concept and try to make one of those kid toy guitars with a built in speaker. The pickup selections works on the amp, but do the knobs work? I’m thinking of installing preamps (adjustable by knobs) into the guitar that the signal would go through the speaker (you mention at the end of the video there’s a way to add effects but I can’t find it no biggie) but I feel like it would only work if the guitar and recognize the changing of the knobs.
Yes, the (guitar) knobs work.
Will it work in my Bluetooth speaker Wking S20?
It will work if the speaker is active and has an input. You'll need a transmitter though if you want to use the bluetooth capability.
@@MarkZabel ok I'll try today and let you know.
can i directly buy 3.5mm to 6.5mm cable
Yes you can. Here's a link. amzn.to/3axTtH8
Hmm? Who knew.? Cool quick hack. Good travel/ hotel hack.
Exactly. Also, a quick gift for a beginner who may not continue. You get a clean sound with stuff you already have.
I plug in my ipod to my old 100watt output Pioneer midi system ( record player/radio tuner/double tape deck/cd player/graphic equaliser; you get the idea) and play the content through the stereo speakers.
No reason why you can’t plug in a guitar too.
Great!
hey Mark what was the bigger speaker you showed????
Hey mk. I don't know. Some LG boombox from 2005 or so. I linked a 40W speaker if you're looking for power.
Can i use as an amp my Bluetooth speaker akai or my old 2.1 pc spekaers?
Possibly.
is their any way to get a distorted sound
Yes, multiple ways. I'm going to publish a follow-up on this shortly. If you want to use your phone, here's one way to do it for Android. th-cam.com/video/ZuTWAqsDj_4/w-d-xo.html
@@MarkZabel Where is the follow up? We definitely want those distortion methods! Rock on, man.
i sat here and watched the whole thing. I'm not sure why, becasue as soon as you showed the little speaker it was instanly clear what the plan was... I stayed for the good vibes and the slightly condesending tone, lol. only kidding
LOL!
Hey people, if you already have these things at home but can’t spend on a guitar amp, this is a great TEMPORARY solution, but if you don’t (and/or can) just buy an amp please.
There is a reason guitar amps exist, things like the EQ and gain controls provide you with great control over your tone and amps themselves give you a better tone than just plugging your guitar straight into a speaker. I urge you to view this as a solution to a problem, not a “cheaper & better” alternative.
Yes of course. This is for people who don't want to spend anything to get started or for people like me who travel constantly, hate using headphones and don't want to bring yet another item on a trip.
That's why the disclaimer is shown clearly in the first 5 seconds of the video.
Hopefully if someone misses that and thinks that way they'll see your message.
hello thanks this is so simple and effective can you help on how to setup for overdrive tone
Hi. I'm going to release a follow up video soon. You have a number of options. You can buy an "amplug" (review coming soon) or you can use a smart phone. If you want to do it using an iPhone, you can use iRig. For Android try this link: th-cam.com/video/ZuTWAqsDj_4/w-d-xo.html
@@MarkZabel Mark, any idea when that follow up video might happen? I love your lessons but your DIY tech stuff is great as well. I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us nexed
Is that Tremonti signature?
Tremonti SE but with the pickups replaced. Great guitar IMHO.
@@MarkZabelZabel Nice... Keep it up. Hey can I use pedals in this method?
where do you plug the 1/8 in. plug in the speaker
Yes
Really cool thanks
You bet, thanks for watching.
What do you mean by a portable speaker. does it power itself.
Yes. Active speaker.
Genius.
Glad you enjoyed!
Been there done that and blew 2 portable $130 speakers. If this was a good idea that worked, the guitar players world would be flooded with them.
Hmmm, I've never had it happen. You sure you're not driving them too hard? I do this often and have never blown even cheap speakers. NOTE: I'm not at all suggesting that you replace a normal amp with this. (See the note at the beginning of the video.)
Mark Zabel down 2 bose portable speakers.
That's a bummer. Again, I've not had any issues with far, far cheaper speakers.
@@MarkZabel in the old days we would regularly blow their fuses plugging high or super low impedance guitars, they do blow for sure
pretty cool.
I know, right? Totally simple. Just don't "crank" it too much.
This is amazing..thanks
Glad you like it!
Lol lol lol. You are a riot!! Very cool and gotta love your style!!!
I try. Thanks!
Bravo
.
the volume will be low, unless the guitar gas active pup's or there is a pre-amp built inyo the speaker. guitar = instrument level signal.
speaker = req.'ed line level signal input
you can also use a guitar pedal and a pair of headphones and play portable
Yes. Me? I despise using headphones when I practice, but many don't mind.
Thanks!! I've been trying to figure this out because I'm going to put K&K pickups on my acoustic guitar and wanted to connect it to my Bose Soundlink speaker.
But now you've got me thinking that I can instead connect the guitar to my ipad and use the Garageband App and still be connected by bluetooth to the bose speaker.....
Good one!! 😉👍👍
My pleasure. What you describe probably will work (I'm an Android and PC guy, so I'm not 100% positive about Mac/iPhone.), with the possible exception of the Bluetooth. I've often found it adds a tremendous amount of latency in practice. But it's worth a try!
I made a non wireless out of old computer speakers when my tube amp died. So simple.
Rocking!
Pretty cool Mark!!
I used this often when I traveled before I bought my Blackstar Fly.
I've done kind of similar thing when I buy a cheap fake Fender Strat as my first electric guitar. What I've done was I plug my guitar cable to DVD player mic input that's connected to my TV (TV acting as audio output 😁). It did produce sound but only clean tone. My stupid teenage ass at that time was disappointed because my guitar sounds very different from what I expect. I expect my guitar to sounds like what Nirvana songs produced because I didn't know about overdrive/distortion thing 🤣🤣🤣🤣.
635mm adapter. I don't think I could get that through my front door 😕
You'd have a few inches to spare. That's *ONLY* like 25 inches. LOL
@@sparky47807 i was thinking cm for some reason, doh.
How about bass
Not sure. Would work, but would be a bit concerned about blowing out the speaker.
nice video, couldn't help to notice the neck on that guitar is huge...............is it a classical electric guitar? just kidding.
LOL! It's the PRS standard "wide thin" neck profile. Thanks for watching!
I did this, it didn’t work and I don’t know why
Hah..!! Takes me back to the 70’s… we’d rig together ANYTHING electronic to hear ourselves playing guitar or bass.. usually the family console tv ..🤣
Much to my Dad’s anger..!😳😩🤣… Good Times..!
LOL!
Nice
Thanks!
Wow a Cable and an amplified speaker I can plug my guitar into it and amplify it wow amazing who'da thunk. I figured you were going to say go to a pawn shop and buy a used amp for 25 bucks
Its not diy, diy is building the thing
Right. Like mining the copper, making the injection molds, raising the cotton, separating the ore, drawing the wire, etc. That's what you mean, huh?
I could respect this a whole lot more if you would have used a cheaper guitar... Lol love prs...
LOL! Yeah, love PRS too. Probably should've gone with a Bullet Squier!
Only works if you’re guitar has a power source
Yes, the speaker needs to be active.
not quite what i was looking for with "diy" in mind...
Mining copper to draw into wire and planting & nurturing trees to make the cabinets. That sort of thing? :)
@@MarkZabel No, not that sort of thing, I think my friend here and I where looking for something more along the lines of wiring and assembling an amp with things we already had home instead of going and purchasing an amp kit, not plugging the guitar straight into a speaker and getting a shit tone out of it (not to mention the lack of EQ and overdrive). Anyways, don’t know what I was thinking going into this but if anything, I’ll probably buy an amp kit instead of doing this.
Does guitar processors work with this Setup?....this is sick maan🔥🔥👍🏻
Yes, they will work.
All you have to do is get a adapter...why prolong this vid?
are you joking this is just plugging a guitar into a speaker
Yes. Surprising how few people know this works.
WTF AHA THIS IS CRAZY
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Bugani 40 Watt: amzn.to/32XX2Uw
3.5mm to 1/4" adapter: amzn.to/3i4pEj4
10 ft 3.5mm cable: amzn.to/3i4pEj4
Guitar: amzn.to/306kMnH
More DIY: th-cam.com/play/PLSVfUQKkNUqbI2GiCnKlJGPeLtfCcweFJ.html
More Gear: th-cam.com/play/PLSVfUQKkNUqb0xIdDxT4yen6QebY_FoLD.html
Mark Z’s Guitar School: mark-z-guitar-school.teachable.com/courses
Clickiest of all the bait...
How so? It clearly shows how to assemble a DIY amp for free if you have the spare parts sitting around - which many do, but it's not guaranteed as the title CLEARLY states.
Really? Lol
Yep.