Vox - SATCHURATOR pedal

cayle_6 · Post by **cayle_6** » 18 Nov 2009, 00:09

Bside2234 wrote:Yes. Lower gain, higher volume.

what should i do to get higher volume without sacrificing the gain? and also to get a middier crunch tone.

TheNixonWayne · Post by **TheNixonWayne** » 28 Nov 2009, 20:50

Hi,

I am currently working on "reverse engineering" of Vox Satchurator. I really like the sound of this pedal so I would like to make another one if possible. The schematics is a little bit more sophisticated as I thought. It is not finished yet it might help you to company me. You know: the more heads together the more knowledge.

There are some inductors in (can't measure value) and some transistors without marks (SMD JFET) for signal switching. There are 2pcs of MPSA18 transistors which are very similar to 2n5088, the dual flip/flop 4013 for switching and unkwnown OPAMP. If they brushed the caption away from OPAMP that means it must be a very common type that they need to hide it. I still have't finished it so I thought somebody could help me with arrangement of components in schematics.

If you are interested in you are very welcome.

lolbou · Post by **lolbou** » 28 Nov 2009, 20:57

Topics merged. Use the search function to add your lovely work in the existing thread...

Nice step forward though!

cayle_6 · Post by **cayle_6** » 01 Dec 2009, 11:55

my Satchurator just died on me. it's still being diagnosed.

cayle_6 · Post by **cayle_6** » 01 Dec 2009, 13:42

does any one know where i can get a Toshiba 14-pin Dual Flip Flop IC like the one in the Satchurator?

Dirk_Hendrik · Post by **Dirk_Hendrik** » 01 Dec 2009, 18:04

What you're looking for is a 4013 dual D flipflop in a SO14 case. The brand is most likely of no importance. They're sold at futurlec for 20 dollarcents.

cayle_6 · Post by **cayle_6** » 04 Dec 2009, 02:45

Dirk_Hendrik wrote:What you're looking for is a 4013 dual D flipflop in a SO14 case. The brand is most likely of no importance. They're sold at futurlec for 20 dollarcents.

Thanks Dirk. the Satch is working now, and is being modded for true bypass and for a more amp like feel. turned out to be a transistor problem.

ibzmav · Post by **ibzmav** » 13 Dec 2009, 14:31

So, how's the schematic? Is it really just a DS-1 pedal in a different box?

mictester · Post by **mictester** » 13 Dec 2009, 19:54

ibzmav wrote:So, how's the schematic? Is it really just a DS-1 pedal in a different box?

More or less. It isn't the "magic" pedal that it's meant to be - in fact it's quite disappointing.

Bside2234 · Post by **Bside2234** » 13 Dec 2009, 21:19

I agree. It's a very disappointing pedal. The More didn't do squat and it was a weak sounding pedal in general.

cayle_6 · Post by **cayle_6** » 17 Dec 2009, 04:14

ibzmav wrote:So, how's the schematic? Is it really just a DS-1 pedal in a different box?

hey Mark! more or less, it's a DS-1 sounding pedal. BAMF modded mine for true bypass, and replaced the clipping diodes. sounds better than before.

Agreed · Post by **Agreed** » 17 Dec 2009, 18:09

We playing the same pedal? The More doesn't do anything if the gain is dimed, because all it does is increase the voltage at the clipping - of course when you're at max gain already there's no more voltage to add to it, so it won't have any effect. But with the gain set to noonish or just a bit after (which for me gets a great rhythm sound, crunchy without being fizzy or weak), switching "More" brings it into high-gain territory immediately for solos.

Yeah, it's definitely some flavor of DS-1. No, it doesn't sound like a stock DS-1. Yeah, it's pretty close to a Keeley DS-1.

The only PROBLEM with it is the volume issue, it just doesn't have the output to keep up with really high output pickups. Most of my guitars can reach unity fine, but I've got one that's loaded with high-output actives and an active mid boost, and engaging the Satchurator means a bit of volume drop when my guitar's feeding it the hottest signal it can put out.

I don't know, I guess if you bought the Satchurator expecting it to sound like some kind of amazing miracle pedal that you'd never heard of before then I can understand being disappointed. But Satriani has used Japanese-made DS-1s for his sound forever, and with the Satchurator (which, if you'll notice, is made in Japan, a nice touch imo) I can get a sound which is just like his Time Machine-era live tone, my personal favorite sound he's ever had. I'm not disappointed with mine in the least. In fact I really like it

SandMan84 · Post by **SandMan84** » 02 Feb 2010, 17:06

Any news for the schematics?
I'm really interested on this.

sevinisthenumber · Post by **sevinisthenumber** » 26 Apr 2010, 14:34

cayle_6 wrote:
Dirk_Hendrik wrote:What you're looking for is a 4013 dual D flipflop in a SO14 case. The brand is most likely of no importance. They're sold at futurlec for 20 dollarcents.
Thanks Dirk. the Satch is working now, and is being modded for true bypass and for a more amp like feel. turned out to be a transistor problem.

I have one that dies on me... Was it Q5? Mine looks melted or so... WHat is that transistor...?

Kyon · Post by **Kyon** » 18 Feb 2011, 20:40

Hi guys... Some one gives me a Satchurator burned... It doesnt seems to hard to repair
but...

I need to know the values from Q5, Q10, and D101

Who knows it?

erigm · Post by **erigm** » 15 Mar 2011, 04:50

I do as well. Especially how he gets tone. I really like the Satchurator and would be real intrested how to mod a DS-1 to sound more like the Satchurator. They sound real similar, but I thought the Satchurator sounded better. I just couldn't handle how the distorted sound wasn't loud enough to compare to the clean bypassed sound, even with the level cranked.

stringman · Post by **stringman** » 09 Aug 2011, 21:58

sevinisthenumber wrote:Had one of these pass by me today. Horrible....
Very thin, useless tone knob, same ol...

I opened it up and socketed every cap that was not smd. My final result resulted in fuller, more realistic crunch with a very usable tone control.

All Metal Film.
c1=.1
c3=.22
c10=.01
c11=1uf
c14=1uf

D5=red led
d4=3 way toggle. 2 red leds in parallel. 2 1n4001's in parallel.

hope someone finds this useful.

I tried this mod the sound was ok gave me better mids and a more usable tone knob across the bandwidth. Only problem is the apparent hum. Any thoughts on which capacitor would be responsible for the hum?

reivax11 · Post by **reivax11** » 24 Jan 2012, 10:54

I've been using Satchurator for over a year without any problems, but two weeks ago the Gain knob started to change its functionality. At the begining when you turn the knob to zero the pedal was only a kind of booster without any distorsion, only a little crunch, but now in the same position it has a clear distorsion, if you turn the knob up the distorsion ups, but if you turn it to the minimum you can hear distorsion clearly too.
Does anyone have any idea of what happens with it?
Thx

Post by **Ice-9** » 24 Jan 2012, 17:26

Assuming you haven't changed anything in your setup that would drive the pedal. ie . put another pedal or booster in front of the saturator you should could check the gain pot han't died. It may have damge to the pot trace which would leave one end open, this could cause problems similar to what you describe. Im guessing as i dont have a schematic at hand to look at.

xenrelic · Post by **xenrelic** » 12 Apr 2013, 21:22

Does anyone have the part# for transistor Q9?

Vox - SATCHURATOR pedal [schematic]