Search found 16 matches

by Bret608
28 Jul 2017, 13:15
Forum: Vintage Stompbox Corner ( ... - 1975)
Topic: Sola Sound - Tonebender Mark II Professional [schematic]
Replies: 693
Views: 351217

Re: Sola Sound - Tonebender Mark II Professional [schematic]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing. I bet it would have been in the vintage range. As it is with the 39k, you got very similar voltages to what I had on my first MkII attempt, where I used transistors that were not leaky enough. Still sounded really good; it just didn't quite have that magic that that ...
by Bret608
21 Jul 2017, 17:50
Forum: Vintage Stompbox Corner ( ... - 1975)
Topic: Sola Sound - Tonebender Mark II Professional [schematic]
Replies: 693
Views: 351217

Re: Sola Sound - Tonebender Mark II Professional [schematic]

Those voltages look really close to what Electric Warrior posted for his original Supa Fuzz at one point. I'd be curious what happens if you swap Q2 and Q3. I think the slightly lower leakage could get your Q2 closer to 0.15v on the collector, which may make it gate less when you roll back your guit...
by Bret608
28 Sep 2016, 19:40
Forum: Vintage Stompbox Corner ( ... - 1975)
Topic: Univox - Superfuzz [schematic]
Replies: 456
Views: 299560

Re: Univox - Superfuzz [schematic]

Hi, Your pictures actually do help! I see a problem on your wiring for the input jack. You've reversed the ring and tip. In other words, the lug that has the purple wire should get the black lead from your battery connector, and the lug that currently has the black wire should get the purple one tha...
by Bret608
17 Jun 2016, 16:02
Forum: Vintage Stompbox Corner ( ... - 1975)
Topic: SolaSound - Tone Bender MK1.5 [schematic]
Replies: 79
Views: 70144

Re: SolaSound - Tone Bender MK1.5 [schematic]

I will be especially curious to hear what sounds good to you and gets in the ballpark of the voltages on vintage units. Chromesphere (DIY guitar pedals) did a comparison of a bunch of different Fuzz Face sets on his YouTube channel. He did variations of the 70/120 "conventional wisdom" typ...
by Bret608
15 Jun 2016, 18:36
Forum: Vintage Stompbox Corner ( ... - 1975)
Topic: SolaSound - Tone Bender MK1.5 [schematic]
Replies: 79
Views: 70144

Re: SolaSound - Tone Bender MK1.5 [schematic]

That is interesting--it sounds like it might want the leakier transistor to be in Q1. Let us hear about your results for sure! I've been thinking about doing one of these too.
by Bret608
11 Feb 2016, 19:23
Forum: Pedal Debugging & Troubleshooting Support
Topic: Tone Bender Mk.II - Help Needed
Replies: 32
Views: 6242

Re: Tone Bender Mk.II - Help Needed

If I remember correctly, I got better clean up on mine by going with lower leakage for Q2. Either way, it seemed like that was the one to experiment with to dial it in to taste.
by Bret608
23 Nov 2015, 21:20
Forum: Boutique Stompboxes dissected...
Topic: D*A*M - FZ-673 [traced]
Replies: 62
Views: 27860

Re: D*A*M FZ-673 [traced]

Thanks! Post yours up as well if you have time. I agree, it wasn't hard to bias at all. I was mainly just tweaking to dial it in to taste. Even some random, untested 2n217 I used for the second test (after I blew up the trimpot and wasn't keen to fry another OC47) sounded pretty good right away. Now...
by Bret608
20 Nov 2015, 18:15
Forum: Boutique Stompboxes dissected...
Topic: D*A*M - FZ-673 [traced]
Replies: 62
Views: 27860

Re: D*A*M FZ-673 [traced]

Just thought I'd share my completed build of this circuit. I used IvIark's layout. I ended up just going with a fixed 8.2k resistor rather than the trimmer after I blew it up (forgot to clip the trimmer leg at lower left!). Also, I swapped the 220k resistor for 470k. That change helped me get a bett...
by Bret608
05 Oct 2015, 14:45
Forum: Boutique Stompboxes dissected...
Topic: D*A*M - FZ-673 [traced]
Replies: 62
Views: 27860

Re: D*A*M FZ-673 [traced]

I've gotten one of these built up using IvIArk's layout over at Tagboard and some AC128s and OC47s. It sounds pretty good already (at least once I dumped a fried trimmer for an 8.2k fixed resistor!). The information here on target gains/leakages was a good starting point. I'm messing with different ...
by Bret608
23 Sep 2015, 14:24
Forum: Pedal Debugging & Troubleshooting Support
Topic: FZ-673 pyrotechnics
Replies: 0
Views: 378

FZ-673 pyrotechnics

Hi all, I just finished building a FZ-673 Zonk-alike with the following layout from Tagboard: http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2014/07/dam-fz-673.html I've verified parts value and placement. The issue is when I tested it last night (with correct polarity for power/ground observed), it had a weak...
by Bret608
26 Jun 2015, 19:48
Forum: Vintage Stompbox Corner ( ... - 1975)
Topic: SolaSound - Tonebender 1971 [schematic]
Replies: 30
Views: 19171

Re: SolaSound - Tonebender 1971 [schematic]

The one I built last year with the 220k/47k bias string sounded better with the leakage simulation trick. But 1 meg between B and C is what got me to similar voltages as vintage units. That 500k trimmer on the Soulbender makes me think what they use for Q3 must truly have zero leakage.
by Bret608
25 Jun 2015, 15:58
Forum: Vintage Stompbox Corner ( ... - 1975)
Topic: SolaSound - Tonebender 1971 [schematic]
Replies: 30
Views: 19171

Re: SolaSound - Tonebender 1971 [schematic]

That's what I love about this circuit, nice and forgiving of different transistor types. EW, I'm actually working on a build right now using your MkIII layout. The one with the 680k/150k bias string...I think I've got just the right gains/leakages in my stash of no-name germaniums. We'll see I guess!
by Bret608
25 Jun 2015, 15:07
Forum: Vintage Stompbox Corner ( ... - 1975)
Topic: SolaSound - Tonebender 1971 [schematic]
Replies: 30
Views: 19171

Re: SolaSound - Tonebender 1971 [schematic]

Cool unit! Glad you were able to share the voltages. Q3 was definitely what I would have expected. Q1 and Q2 are slightly higher than I thought they would be on the collector. Then again it's still roughly half supply voltage. I know these "top hat"-style transistors are normally not marke...
by Bret608
28 May 2015, 14:40
Forum: Pedal Debugging & Troubleshooting Support
Topic: GGG ITS8 Transistors question
Replies: 30
Views: 3215

Re: GGG ITS8 Transistors question

Oh! I see what you mean, grrrunge. I agree then, probably nothing to do with the transistors. I think I've even seen people use MPSA18 for the in/out buffers on other builds.
by Bret608
27 May 2015, 16:30
Forum: Pedal Debugging & Troubleshooting Support
Topic: GGG ITS8 Transistors question
Replies: 30
Views: 3215

Re: GGG ITS8 Transistors question

Hi, I don't know if this will help you much, but when I looked at the GGG schematic you linked above, I saw that 2n4401 were suggested for Q1 and Q2. Those tend to be much lower gain than MPSA18. I've tested some as low as 140 or so hfe before! When your 2n5088 and 2n3904 come in, I'd test the hfe w...
by Bret608
29 Apr 2015, 19:07
Forum: Vintage Stompbox Corner ( ... - 1975)
Topic: Hornby Skewes - Zonk Machine / Zonk II ( JHS ) [schematic]
Replies: 29
Views: 24865

Re: Hornby Skewes - Zonk Machine / Zonk II ( JHS ) [schematic]

Hi, first-time post on this forum. I've been having a great time digging up all the detailed information that can be found here on vintage fuzz units. I'm thinking of building one of these, and maybe even including an input cap filter like some others have done as I'm mainly a single-coil player. I ...