Systech - Harmonic Energizer [schematic]
- joegore
- Breadboard Brother
Information
Hi folks --
I'm new here, and still have a lot to learn about the protocol — not to mention making stompboxes that don't short out.
But I'm wondering if there's anyone's interested in collaborating on a project to recreate and improve the Systech Harmonic Energizer — a fab distortion/filter effect that rates "Hen's Tooth" status in Analog Mans Guide to Vintage Effects. It's a bit like playing a cocked wah into a fuzz, but more controllable and extreme, especially on high-resonance settings.
I have a battered but functional original, which I played years ago on the Tom Waits song "All Stripped Down" (low-resonance setting) and on the Action Plus song "Jets" (high-resonance). I'd love to see it exist as a nice little stompbox. It's really unique and cool. You can download MP3s of both tracks from the "audio clips" folder at http://idisk.mac.com/joegore-Public?view=web. It appears right at the top of "Jets" and about 45 seconds into "All Stripped Down."
The catch: I'm new at this, and lack the tech know-how to render this effect as a schematic or layout. But if any of the smart folks here are game, I can provide high-quality pics and answer any sonic questions.
Any takers?
Best,
Joe
Best,
Joe
http://www.joegore.com
I'm new here, and still have a lot to learn about the protocol — not to mention making stompboxes that don't short out.
But I'm wondering if there's anyone's interested in collaborating on a project to recreate and improve the Systech Harmonic Energizer — a fab distortion/filter effect that rates "Hen's Tooth" status in Analog Mans Guide to Vintage Effects. It's a bit like playing a cocked wah into a fuzz, but more controllable and extreme, especially on high-resonance settings.
I have a battered but functional original, which I played years ago on the Tom Waits song "All Stripped Down" (low-resonance setting) and on the Action Plus song "Jets" (high-resonance). I'd love to see it exist as a nice little stompbox. It's really unique and cool. You can download MP3s of both tracks from the "audio clips" folder at http://idisk.mac.com/joegore-Public?view=web. It appears right at the top of "Jets" and about 45 seconds into "All Stripped Down."
The catch: I'm new at this, and lack the tech know-how to render this effect as a schematic or layout. But if any of the smart folks here are game, I can provide high-quality pics and answer any sonic questions.
Any takers?
Best,
Joe
Best,
Joe
http://www.joegore.com
- analogguru
- Old Solderhand
Information
For sure.....Systech Harmonic Energizer — any interest?
Why do you wait....I can provide high-quality pics and answer any sonic questions.
Any takers?
analogguru
There´s a sucker born every minute - and too many of them end up in the bootweak pedal biz.
- joegore
- Breadboard Brother
Information
Awesome, guys! I'm out this evening, but I'll take and post some pics tomorrow.
Best,
Joe
Best,
Joe
- toneman
- Resistor Ronker
Information
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anything like the Hadley Harmonic Converger??
https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic ... =converger
BIG discussion on that a bit ago
curious and curiouser
https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic ... =converger
BIG discussion on that a bit ago
curious and curiouser
Tone-to-the-Bone
- chicago_mike
- Tube Twister
This pedal was used by Les Claypool on a couple primus tracks..
I thought it was a fuzz with some kind of eq, where you can "select" the freq's to distort.
I thought it was a fuzz with some kind of eq, where you can "select" the freq's to distort.
Skyline FX 2013
- joegore
- Breadboard Brother
Information
Yeah, Les has one. I used to play with him a lot.
- PurplePeopleEater
- Resistor Ronker
Hi Joe, and welcome. You've definitely come to the right place to get it sorted out. Posting clear photos of the internals (top and bottom pictures of the circuit board, wiring and pot connections, etc) and being available to answer questions about anything that isn't clearly visible is the key to getting a functional schematic. Feel free to ask any questions as well.
- joegore
- Breadboard Brother
Information
Hehehe -- I'm going to enjoy all that "respect" in the few minutes before you realize what a lame-o pedal builder I am.
Okay — I've got audio clips and pics at http://idisk.mac.com/joegore-Public?view=web in the Systech Harmonic Energizer folder. Note that these are large pics — about 8MB each.
The guts look all original, and even I can tell that the circuit looks fairly simple. Not for me — for YOU!
Selfishly speaking, I'd love to emerge from this process with a schematic and a vero layout (I haven't tackled PCB-making yet.)
I'm stoked about meeting you all. Fred Briggs turned me on to the group, which I'd known about, but not realized how cool it was. Aside from all the info here, I tend to share a pretty similar take on the meanings — and limits! — of intellectual property.
I worked at Guitar Player magazine during the ’90s boutique boom, and thrilled to all the cool stuff from Jorge and Zachary and Vlad. The Prescription Experience pedal changed my life. Of course, it took me more than 10 years to realize it was a Foxx Tone Machine. Nowadays I alternate between recording/touring, writing about music, and most recently, working as an near-full time consultant for Apple. (Not sure if it's going to bum people out to talk music software here, but I did lots of work on Logic 8 and created all the amp and stompbox sounds for the upcoming GarageBand ’09.)
After years of collecting, reviewing, and recording with this stuff, it's fascinating to actually learn how to make them go. I've build 50 or 60 pedals, mostly just copying other people's stuff — which I guess qualifies me as a boutiquer. Now I'm at the point where I can usually mimic a $300 boutique box for $30 in parts and $2,000 labor.
Okay — I've got audio clips and pics at http://idisk.mac.com/joegore-Public?view=web in the Systech Harmonic Energizer folder. Note that these are large pics — about 8MB each.
The guts look all original, and even I can tell that the circuit looks fairly simple. Not for me — for YOU!
Selfishly speaking, I'd love to emerge from this process with a schematic and a vero layout (I haven't tackled PCB-making yet.)
I'm stoked about meeting you all. Fred Briggs turned me on to the group, which I'd known about, but not realized how cool it was. Aside from all the info here, I tend to share a pretty similar take on the meanings — and limits! — of intellectual property.
I worked at Guitar Player magazine during the ’90s boutique boom, and thrilled to all the cool stuff from Jorge and Zachary and Vlad. The Prescription Experience pedal changed my life. Of course, it took me more than 10 years to realize it was a Foxx Tone Machine. Nowadays I alternate between recording/touring, writing about music, and most recently, working as an near-full time consultant for Apple. (Not sure if it's going to bum people out to talk music software here, but I did lots of work on Logic 8 and created all the amp and stompbox sounds for the upcoming GarageBand ’09.)
After years of collecting, reviewing, and recording with this stuff, it's fascinating to actually learn how to make them go. I've build 50 or 60 pedals, mostly just copying other people's stuff — which I guess qualifies me as a boutiquer. Now I'm at the point where I can usually mimic a $300 boutique box for $30 in parts and $2,000 labor.
- lolbou
- Old Solderhand
Nice!! Will be easy I think...
Thank you!
edit: for those using vector-based sofwares for PCBs, I attach a modified track side with -almost- linear tracks... In case it helps (I'm sure it will at least help me..)
any info on the PCB dimensions? I'm already tracing it on Inkscape at the wrong scale, will only have to adapt it to make it available...
Thank you!
edit: for those using vector-based sofwares for PCBs, I attach a modified track side with -almost- linear tracks... In case it helps (I'm sure it will at least help me..)
any info on the PCB dimensions? I'm already tracing it on Inkscape at the wrong scale, will only have to adapt it to make it available...
Last edited by lolbou on 22 Jan 2009, 20:07, edited 1 time in total.
- Are you a mod or a rocker?
- Uh, no, I'm a mocker.
- Uh, no, I'm a mocker.
- RnFR
- Old Solderhand
Information
welcome joe! looks like we have another valued member of our wonderful little stain on the stompbox universe.
lovin the waits tune, and pj harvey is one of the coolest females in RnR as far as i'm concerned. must've been very cool.
and of course- i'm lookin forward to seeing what makes this box tick.
lovin the waits tune, and pj harvey is one of the coolest females in RnR as far as i'm concerned. must've been very cool.
and of course- i'm lookin forward to seeing what makes this box tick.
"You've converted me to Cubic thinking. Where do I sign up for the newsletter? I need to learn more about how I can break free from ONEism Death Math." - Soulsonic
Blog-APOCALYPSE AUDIO
Blog-APOCALYPSE AUDIO
- moltenmetalburn
- Resistor Ronker
will these help?
http://www.redhillmetal.com/uploads/SHE ... Copy11.jpg
http://www.redhillmetal.com/uploads/SHE ... ced%20.jpg
http://www.redhillmetal.com/uploads/SHE ... Copy11.jpg
http://www.redhillmetal.com/uploads/SHE ... ced%20.jpg
"The Humans Will Never Destroy Us"
- lolbou
- Old Solderhand
The PCB's traced (I know, easier part of the job )... Still it needs adjustments as regards to dimensions (which I don't know) and drilling hole sizes which looks large to me...
I can add a layer with components but can't really guess all the values (especially for resistors, being colorblind)...
I can add a layer with components but can't really guess all the values (especially for resistors, being colorblind)...
- Attachments
-
- SHE.pdf
- (12.7 KiB) Downloaded 837 times
- Are you a mod or a rocker?
- Uh, no, I'm a mocker.
- Uh, no, I'm a mocker.
- moltenmetalburn
- Resistor Ronker
yours is much nicer than mine lol!
"The Humans Will Never Destroy Us"
- lolbou
- Old Solderhand
Ok, for those with sharp eyes to read resistor values and caps...
Here's the layout (seen from the track side)... The 1N414... diode is not represented since I can't determine its orientation...
Just print and add values, my file can be updated afterwards...
Bonne nuit tout le monde!
Here's the layout (seen from the track side)... The 1N414... diode is not represented since I can't determine its orientation...
Just print and add values, my file can be updated afterwards...
Bonne nuit tout le monde!
- Attachments
-
- SHE - layout.pdf
- (20.07 KiB) Downloaded 561 times
- Are you a mod or a rocker?
- Uh, no, I'm a mocker.
- Uh, no, I'm a mocker.
- joegore
- Breadboard Brother
Information
The PCB dimensions are 3 inches by 5 inches. (Sorry, metric people.)
- lolbou
- Old Solderhand
Scaled!! Don't feel sorry about using imperial units... When I think of all those weird units and 32nds, 64ths of inches, I really appreciate my metrics... Boring but efficient! Imperial is more "poetical" to me, and reminds me of my work experience in England...
- Attachments
-
- SHE - PCB - Scaled.pdf
- (12.44 KiB) Downloaded 536 times
Last edited by lolbou on 22 Jan 2009, 22:16, edited 1 time in total.
- Are you a mod or a rocker?
- Uh, no, I'm a mocker.
- Uh, no, I'm a mocker.