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Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 17 Feb 2010, 17:53
by drewl
Anyone ever build one of these?
I was bored so I slapped one together. It won't work with the 150k resistor from Q1's base to ground no matter what value I tried.
Anyway, I have a test box for trying new circuits I can wire it up to and try it when I get home.

Re: Jordan Bosstone?

Posted: 17 Feb 2010, 18:51
by Dan N
There are several schematics, including a known wrong one. Which did you use?

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 18 Feb 2010, 04:22
by The Rotagilla
Built one, tried both schematics and was underwhelmed. :|

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 18 Feb 2010, 13:45
by drewl
I built this one below

http://schematicheaven.com/effects/jordan_bosstone.pdf
I found another schem with the second transistor a PNP, so I don't know which was the wrong version.
I'll swap Q2 and see.
It's kinda like the EH Muff Fuzz.

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 18 Feb 2010, 13:49
by IvIark
Yes Q2 should be PNP

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 18 Feb 2010, 14:26
by drewl
I tried it out and with the correct Q2 and it works with the Q1 base resistor.
Not that I'll ever use this thing, I've got like a dozen little boards lying around of different fuzzes I've built for the heck of it.
If they sound great, then they get put into a pedal.

Re: Jordan Bosstone?

Posted: 18 Feb 2010, 14:42
by jrod
Dan N wrote:There are several schematics, including a known wrong one. Which did you use?
For clarification, please, is this the known wrong schematic? http://schematicheaven.com/effects/jordan_bosstone.pdf

Thanks!

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 18 Feb 2010, 15:18
by drewl
It seems so.
Q2 should be a PNP with the collector grounded.
With an NPN in Q2 spot it won't work with the 150k resistor from Q1's base to ground.
It works without the 150K, but the waveform is quite different from the correct version.
I haven't tried them out to see what they sound like yet, who knows...maybe the "wrong" version might sound better. :D

Re: Jordan Bosstone?  [schematic]

Posted: 18 Feb 2010, 21:28
by Dan N
jrod wrote:
Dan N wrote:There are several schematics, including a known wrong one. Which did you use?
For clarification, please, is this the known wrong schematic? http://schematicheaven.com/effects/jordan_bosstone.pdf

Thanks!
Yes! That is the infamous wrong version.

AG has the right one: http://analogguru.100free.com/193/schem ... sstone.gif

There is also an earlier Alhambra, California NPN/NPN version with a couple parts that need values: http://users.rio.com/senorris/jordanbt/ ... CA%232.gif

I think it's a great sounding fuzz.

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 18 Feb 2010, 21:40
by John Lyons
I think there are 4 different versions actually.
Or at least I have 4 different schematics for it
that are all different.
Boss tone rules!

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 18 Feb 2010, 21:42
by johnnyg
John Lyons wrote: Boss tone rules!
I completely agree!

It can get very ratty and nasty sounding - it's borderline distortion with the clipping diodes. It's a lot of fun (if you're into the Stooges kind of thing, you should like it a lot). You get weird oscillation with the attack knob (or whatever it's called) dialed fully one way.

I built mine point-to-point using IvIark's layout on here - https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic ... &start=300

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 18 Feb 2010, 22:20
by Dan N
Oh yea, a later Alhambra. Other than the first pot, no mystery parts: http://users.rio.com/senorris/junk/bosstoneCA%3f.gif

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 19 Feb 2010, 10:10
by RnFR
build the one that AG's got on his site. it sounds great.















[smilie=bowdown.gif] STOOGES!

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 19 Feb 2010, 22:18
by drewl
Wow, I think this one's a keeper!
I built AG's, so far just an output pot, with run of the mill 2n3904's.
it cleans up pretty good when the guitar volume is rolled back and produces some great nasty distortion when cranked with nice overtones and bloomage!

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 21 Feb 2010, 21:44
by Alex Frias
I tried several trannies combination and found low hfe ones offering the best sound!

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 21 Feb 2010, 22:26
by Alex Frias
Bu I was talking about the NPN, the Q1, ok?

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 21 Feb 2010, 23:20
by RnFR
Alex Frias wrote:Bu I was talking about the NPN, the Q1, ok?
yeah, 2n222's are good.

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 26 May 2010, 14:41
by fuzzbuzzfuzz
Interesting thread... :D

I have a Bosstone Clone - build around the GGG JBT board and parts-list, identical in every component, however I`m a little disappointment with the sound.... :?

I don`t own an original for comparison, but I`m judging by this JBT on Youtube:



The build I have has none of the thick octave overtones (which I think are very much part of the Bosstones signature characteristics) and seems much thinner soundwise.

Any ideas why? I checked every component and it seems identical to the JBT...strange!

Thanks :o

Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 31 May 2010, 21:23
by mikemaddux
Build it with sag control - great trumpet tones and other stuff


Re: Jordan - Bosstone

Posted: 04 Jun 2010, 03:18
by Alex Frias
Yes, I did it some time ago, just using a 100k pot for the SAG and increase a bit the caps values.



Otherwise in order to achieve more interesting Jordan Bosstone mild distortion tone I prefer to use low gain trannies and keep the original caps values.