Ross - Distortion ( narrow box )

Discussion regarding early stompbox technology: 1960-1975 Please keep discussion focused and contribute what info you have...
Post Reply
User avatar
analogguru
Old Solderhand
Information
Posts: 3238
Joined: 26 Jun 2007, 13:58
Been thanked: 124 times
Contact:

Post by analogguru »

Very interesting..... As you can see here:
http://i19.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/da/25/ba7e_1.JPG
http://i10.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/da/25/be0d_1.JPG
http://i18.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/da/25/bf1b_1.JPG

there existed early Ross distortion in a small BUD-Box. The Funny thing is, that the pcb inside looks identical to the MXR-pcb´s:
http://i15.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/da/25/c077_1.JPG

The pots show early 1977:
http://i13.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/da/25/c1a6_1.JPG

There even existed a:
Ross Distortion script

with a very similar to MXR pcb:
Ross Distortion script inside

Anybody has more info on that matter ?

analogguru

The first unit shown can be bought here:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Ross-Disto ... dZViewItem
There´s a sucker born every minute - and too many of them end up in the bootweak pedal biz.

User avatar
AL
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 144
Joined: 14 Aug 2007, 17:26

Post by AL »

Those are good sounding, and usually inexpensive, pedals. And yeah they're pretty much an MXR+. The tan box is the earlier version I believe, the later ones were black. There are a few minor differences in the circuits. To me the MXR+ has a lot more high end while the black Ross seems to be darker sounding. It's been a while since I've plugged in either of them.

I have two black versions. Nice little pedals. I didn't they had a smaller version. Learn something new everday.

AL

User avatar
alteredsounds
Resistor Ronker
Information
Posts: 255
Joined: 01 Oct 2007, 12:28
Been thanked: 6 times

Post by alteredsounds »

I have a tan one and a black one, the black ones were made in Taiwan whereas the Tan are US made. The tan certainly sounds better. I will look for any differences between them.

User avatar
AL
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 144
Joined: 14 Aug 2007, 17:26

Post by AL »

alteredsounds wrote: I will look for any differences between them.
No need. Here's some good info.

http://www.home-wrecker.com/ross.html

AL

User avatar
MoreCowbell
Transistor Tuner
Information
Posts: 1101
Joined: 06 Aug 2007, 14:39
Been thanked: 15 times
Contact:

Post by MoreCowbell »

Ive got a bid in on that one. Ive owned quite a few Ross Distortions, but never a narrow box version.

User avatar
JHS
Cap Cooler
Information
Posts: 483
Joined: 14 Jul 2007, 11:20
Been thanked: 5 times

Post by JHS »

Ross made 3 dist-pedals.

Early US tan version with metal can uA741C, circuit similar to the early sript logo D+.

Later US tan version with a 4548 chip instead of the 741C, due to the different IC more middy sounding, soundwise more like the DeArmond Square wave fuzz.

Latest Taiwan black version, same circuit as before but with 3x1N914 diodes for asym clipping.

The last two versions have a 10n for better treble response across the power supply.

JHS

User avatar
playon
Resistor Ronker
Information
Posts: 252
Joined: 01 Jan 2008, 02:09
Been thanked: 1 time

Post by playon »

I used to have one of the made in USA large box ones. I thought it was a very good sounding pedal, definitely mellower than an MXR+. The reason I didn't keep it was that I wished it had more output so that it could have been used as more of an OD with the lower gain settings. Never tried any of the later versions.

User avatar
samhambone
Information
Posts: 20
Joined: 19 Nov 2007, 01:48
Location: NYC
Been thanked: 1 time

Post by samhambone »

http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main. ... temId=1365

I own a wide box Ross Distortion and love it - it sounds like a cross between a tube screamer and distortion +. I was contemplating modifying mine to include an LED, true-bypass and a boss style adaptor. Also was considering a Cat's Eye Analog Mutha' Fuzz (a Ross Dist inspired pedal). I had some free time yesterday (bad weather in the Northeast US) and built one point to point (using the above layout) and it kills.

User avatar
seniorLoco
Resistor Ronker
Information
Posts: 343
Joined: 05 Nov 2007, 09:43
Location: ASIA
Been thanked: 11 times

Post by seniorLoco »

CORON dist10 is yet another MXR+ clone with a NEC chip.... :slap:

Image
"Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it saved the mice, who ate the cheese."

User avatar
analogguru
Old Solderhand
Information
Posts: 3238
Joined: 26 Jun 2007, 13:58
Been thanked: 124 times
Contact:

Post by analogguru »

Hey, hey, hey..... more respect: :wink:

That´s bootweak, because it is tweaked.
Note the modified bias divider 51k/68k which gives a little bit more (symmetric) headroom.

analogguru
There´s a sucker born every minute - and too many of them end up in the bootweak pedal biz.

User avatar
seniorLoco
Resistor Ronker
Information
Posts: 343
Joined: 05 Nov 2007, 09:43
Location: ASIA
Been thanked: 11 times

Post by seniorLoco »

Yup ... the CORON is nice at low to medium gain and best with single coils.
Volume needs to be almost max ....

User avatar
The Rotagilla
Diode Debunker
Information
Posts: 744
Joined: 20 Aug 2007, 18:24
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 61 times

Post by The Rotagilla »

I snagged a narrow box script Ross Distortion yesterday for what I though was pretty cheap. The pots date to '77 and it's a 1:1 Distortion+ clone.
The television will not be revolutionized.

User avatar
DiscoFreq
Resistor Ronker
Information
Posts: 414
Joined: 13 Aug 2007, 10:56
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 27 times
Contact:

Post by DiscoFreq »

JHS wrote:Ross made 3 dist-pedals.

Early US tan version with metal can uA741C, circuit similar to the early sript logo D+.

Later US tan version with a 4548 chip instead of the 741C, due to the different IC more middy sounding, soundwise more like the DeArmond Square wave fuzz.

Latest Taiwan black version, same circuit as before but with 3x1N914 diodes for asym clipping.

The last two versions have a 10n for better treble response across the power supply.

JHS
That second model could be made in Taiwan too: IIRC those with a rectangle around "Ross" were already made in Taiwan.

Yesterday morning I found out I won 3 vintage MXR Distortions: all block logo, 2x 1978, 1x 1980: I did low bids on 5 (all from the same seller) thinking I probably couldn't win even 1, but now I'll have 3... :slap:
EffectsDatabase: http://www.effectsdatabase.com
22000 pedals, 4000 brands, 350 brand interviews
NAMM 2016: http://fxdb.org/namm

User avatar
Sickle
Solder Soldier
Information
Posts: 154
Joined: 10 Jul 2008, 01:19
Been thanked: 4 times

Post by Sickle »

More blurring of the MXR/Ross lines:

Image

It even has the foamy crap the MXR boxes did:

Image

Looks like maybe this is using a DIP switch instead of the internal pots on the full phaser circuit?

Image

Must be of value to a Ross collector..I love the phaser/distortion Ross I have..

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?V ... otohosting

User avatar
analogguru
Old Solderhand
Information
Posts: 3238
Joined: 26 Jun 2007, 13:58
Been thanked: 124 times
Contact:

Post by analogguru »

I´ve seen that auction already....
The pcb is 100% identically to a MXR Phase 45. There are no DIP-switches, the trim-pot is (like in the MXR phase 45) in the backleft corner.

analogguru
There´s a sucker born every minute - and too many of them end up in the bootweak pedal biz.

User avatar
DiscoFreq
Resistor Ronker
Information
Posts: 414
Joined: 13 Aug 2007, 10:56
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 27 times
Contact:

Post by DiscoFreq »

analogguru wrote:I´ve seen that auction already....
The pcb is 100% identically to a MXR Phase 45. There are no DIP-switches, the trim-pot is (like in the MXR phase 45) in the backleft corner.

analogguru
Ah, good to know!

What about the Phase R2? Also a Phase 45?
http://filters.muziq.be/model/ross/r2
EffectsDatabase: http://www.effectsdatabase.com
22000 pedals, 4000 brands, 350 brand interviews
NAMM 2016: http://fxdb.org/namm

User avatar
analogguru
Old Solderhand
Information
Posts: 3238
Joined: 26 Jun 2007, 13:58
Been thanked: 124 times
Contact:

Post by analogguru »

The first R2 shown is a Phase 45, but the second shown is a Phase 90.

analogguru
There´s a sucker born every minute - and too many of them end up in the bootweak pedal biz.

User avatar
DiscoFreq
Resistor Ronker
Information
Posts: 414
Joined: 13 Aug 2007, 10:56
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 27 times
Contact:

Post by DiscoFreq »

analogguru wrote:The first R2 shown is a Phase 45, but the second shown is a Phase 90.

analogguru
weird idea to switch to a copy of a different model using the same name :)
EffectsDatabase: http://www.effectsdatabase.com
22000 pedals, 4000 brands, 350 brand interviews
NAMM 2016: http://fxdb.org/namm

User avatar
1uncertain3
Information
Posts: 1
Joined: 02 Oct 2010, 14:45

Post by 1uncertain3 »

samhambone wrote:http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main. ... temId=1365

I own a wide box Ross Distortion and love it - it sounds like a cross between a tube screamer and distortion +. I was contemplating modifying mine to include an LED, true-bypass and a boss style adaptor. Also was considering a Cat's Eye Analog Mutha' Fuzz (a Ross Dist inspired pedal). I had some free time yesterday (bad weather in the Northeast US) and built one point to point (using the above layout) and it kills.
Did you ever do this mod or has anyone else? If so, I'd like some advice as I want to rehouse my BLACK box pedal and add an LED but I am not exactly sure I know how to do it - seems straightforward though. I think it is as simple as following this wiring diagram correct?

http://www.forrestwhitesides.com/node/63

Thanks in advance.

Post Reply