Greg Fryer - Treble Booster Deluxe (Guts + Schem)

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Gonzo
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Post by Gonzo »

I couldn't resist the temptation and opened the little bugger minutes after trying it. I was expecting goop but to my surprise it was clean so here are some pics (click to enlarge)

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It's a single transistor design based on one that has been floating around for god knows how long. I built one of those with a 2n3904 so I did a bit of comparison and found that I prefer mine but that's just my opinion. The Fryer unit has more gain which may have to do with the higher hfe of the BC239. it also has some more bass due to the bigger input cap. But other than that they are pretty much the same thing.

The only thing I just couldn't get was the value of the ceramics (C8 & C9). I believe they are 10p but it's really hard to read the inscription.

Here's the schematic:
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tube-exorcist
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Post by tube-exorcist »

The Fryer unit has more gain which may have to do with the higher hfe of the BC239.
No, absolutely not. Its the different value of R5 (2k2 vs 2k4) and probaably the bigger input cap.
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Post by Gonzo »

tube-exorcist wrote:
No, absolutely not. Its the different value of R5 (2k2 vs 2k4) and probaably the bigger input cap.
You are right, since the emitter is fully bypassed at "high" frequencies decreasing R5 would indeed boost the lows somewhat. Sorry about that, I didn't noticed that change on the schematic. Either way you didn't have to be that aggressive about it now did you? :scratch:

On the other hand my unit has a 10k pot in the collector and a 2k4 emitter resistor.
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Post by Gonzo »

I just realized C4 was in fact 47n, here's the updated schematic...sorry about that
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Post by lead2203 »

Gonzo wrote:I just realized C4 was in fact 47n, here's the updated schematic...sorry about that
R8 180K?
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Post by Gonzo »

lead2203 wrote:R8 180K?
That one was a typo...it's the brown-grey-yellow-gold between the output jack and the 4n7 cap.
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Post by mirosol »

Drew up a layout. Currently unverified.

May be a good idea to try adding a volume pot to the output... :)
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Post by reneshelle »

No volume knob allowed, and no on/off switch either. Because then it would be a Treble Booster Deluxe Deluxe, and that just sounds silly...
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Post by Intripped »

:mrgreen: ok, let's make a treble booster deluxe plus, ...or red-dot. no wait, this is supposed to be the same as the previous model, forget it. :mrgreen:
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Post by Gonzo »

Gentlemen, I think you are mistaken. The Treble Booster Deluxe Plus Ultra version comes with a footswitch, and a volume knob. The Red Dot Ad Infinitum version bless us with an indicator led.
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Post by mirosol »

Just came by to say that the layout above is now verified by one of our blog readers.
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Post by Mbas974 »

There are NO values for C8 and C9 in the schem. While on vero they are 10p each.... is it ok ?
Ceramic cap is 102 = 1n ?

thanks :applause:
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Post by mictester »

Gonzo wrote:The Fryer unit has more gain which may have to do with the higher hfe of the BC239.
Nope - the overall gain is determined by the ratio of the collector resistor to the emitter resistor. Gain is (roughly) Re so you can easily change the basic gain of the thing. The ceramic capacitors will be more likely to be 100pF or even bigger - 10pF wouldn't do anything.
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Post by mictester »

Mbas974 wrote:There are NO values for C8 and C9 in the schem. While on vero they are 10p each.... is it ok ?
Ceramic cap is 102 = 1n ?
102 = 1nF

C8 and C9 are probably 100pF (or bigger).
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Post by freq67 »

That layout is incomplete there are no pots and no swtch!!???!!! :scratch: :hmmm: [smilie=a_hrm.gif] [smilie=a_huh.gif] [smilie=a_whyme.gif] [smilie=wtf.gif] [smilie=wtf2.gif]
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Post by danielzink »

freq67 wrote:That layout is incomplete there are no pots and no swtch!!???!!! :scratch: :hmmm: [smilie=a_hrm.gif] [smilie=a_huh.gif] [smilie=a_whyme.gif] [smilie=wtf.gif] [smilie=wtf2.gif]

You're joking right ?

If not....

#1. The pedal HAS NO pots. Please note the images in the OP.

#2. You have your in and out clearly marked - that's all that's all you need. From there use your favorite switch wiring configuration and go.
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Post by freq67 »

danielzink wrote:
freq67 wrote:That layout is incomplete there are no pots and no swtch!!???!!! :scratch: :hmmm: [smilie=a_hrm.gif] [smilie=a_huh.gif] [smilie=a_whyme.gif] [smilie=wtf.gif] [smilie=wtf2.gif]

You're joking right ?

If not....

#1. The pedal HAS NO pots. Please note the images in the OP.

#2. You have your in and out clearly marked - that's all that's all you need. From there use your favorite switch wiring configuration and go.
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Post by Jerk64 »

What do you think about this two Brian May TB schemes?

http://www.uk-electronic.de/Download/Ma ... ooster.pdf
http://pedalparts.co.uk/wp-content/uplo ... 6/BMTB.pdf
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Post by JDub42 »

Excellent post!

I'm guessing the blue resistors are metal film and the beige ones are carbon film???

I've seen that Greg Fryer uses metal film, carbon film and carbon composite resistors in his AC30 rebuilds.

Is this done for some sort of 'tone improvement' reason?
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Post by mmolteratx »

JDub42 wrote:Excellent post!

I'm guessing the blue resistors are metal film and the beige ones are carbon film???

I've seen that Greg Fryer uses metal film, carbon film and carbon composite resistors in his AC30 rebuilds.

Is this done for some sort of 'tone improvement' reason?
Ridiculous mojo reasons.
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