Zvex - Distortron  [traced]

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John Lyons
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Post by John Lyons »

(fixed thread heading name)
Has this been covered here?
I found a couple mentions and theories
in the Mastotron discussion but nothing
concrete.
The Videos sounded good, nice clean up and
string clarity.

John
Last edited by John Lyons on 16 Nov 2009, 15:49, edited 1 time in total.

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soulsonic
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Post by soulsonic »

It would be interesting to see how close it is to the Box of Rock, or it's actually something different.
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~arph
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Post by ~arph »

Mr. ZVex himself allready told us it is the Box Of Rock minus the boost stage.
Only alteration I believe is a switch for the output cap..

I see no need in tracing. Unless it sounds totally different, I haven't listened to it. Might be a marketing trick to keep us from tracing it :horsey:
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John Lyons
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Post by John Lyons »

And then possibly the gain switch drops a stage?
I'd still be curious to see under the hoop just for
the sake of science.

John

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Mich P
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Post by Mich P »

"I'd still be curious to see under the hoop just for
the sake of science."
Me too any inside pics maybe ?
Mich P.

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dajm
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Post by dajm »

I saw a post from ZVex on another forum where he said that the Distortron is electrically identical to the Box of Rock's "distortron" or "rock" side when the Distortron's sub switch is on '3' and the gain switch is on 'low'

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John Lyons
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Post by John Lyons »

Yes but who knows really? Who's got one?

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madbean
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Post by madbean »

dajm wrote:I saw a post from ZVex on another forum where he said that the Distortron is electrically identical to the Box of Rock's "distortron" or "rock" side when the Distortron's sub switch is on '3' and the gain switch is on 'low'
Based on that I'd say that the sub switch is probably the input cap, and the gain switch probably switches an sho stage in and out (static boost) :hmmm:

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culturejam
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Post by culturejam »

John Lyons wrote:Yes but who knows really? Who's got one?
You can buy 'em used all day long for $120 on TGP right now.

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John Lyons
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Post by John Lyons »

That would be assuming I had $120 to spend on one :D

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Mich P
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Post by Mich P »

Intersting option from ShortScaleMike :

"I think it's quite clear that the Distortron is just the Overdrive side of the Box Of Rock (3 cascaded SHOs and some filtering + tone control) with a three way subs switch which messes with probably the coupling caps between stage 1 and 2. I would guess the hi/low gain switch just shorts one of the SHO stage source resistors to ground."

Mich P.

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Mich P
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Post by Mich P »

Hi,
Just in case if anybody
got something new about this one.
Inside pics, switches wiring or schem ?
Thanks.
Mich P.

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nooneknows
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Post by nooneknows »

On Guitar Player it got an editor pick

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Post by bumblebee »

If you notice on the BOR it actually says "Distortron Engine" (not Distortion) so it seems like a no brainer to me that it is just the distortron side of the BOR plus switches of course.

Image

Same concept as how the mastotron is identical to the woolly mammoth except for the impedance pot and subs switch and transistor change from 2N3904 to 2N2222.
I so dislike the modern digital world that I need to use semi-digital effects to emulate the analog world of cassette, VHS, and vinyl.

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John Lyons
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Post by John Lyons »

Huh...seems like it....

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Post by bumblebee »

I'd still like confirmation myself too though...
:hmmm:
I so dislike the modern digital world that I need to use semi-digital effects to emulate the analog world of cassette, VHS, and vinyl.

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John Lyons
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Post by John Lyons »

Someone here's got one surely.
(not that I'm calling you shirley :lol: )

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Post by dune2k »

*bump*
Any updates? I'm especially interested in the 2 switches that only the Distortron has (Gain Lo/Hi and Subs 1/2/3).
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Post by TAZIDORE »

Hi !
I'd like to know how to include the 2 switches (Gain Lo/Hi and Subs 1/2/3).
Maybe someone can help me with a shem ?

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Post by NetStar »

How awfully vexing... :hmmm:

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