Catalinbread - Dirty Little Secret

db72 · Post by **db72** » 13 Mar 2009, 03:37

Use these links if you just want to build your own Dirty Little Secret:
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret

Two 'new' threads were hidden in this one:

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Anyone have one of these yet?
http://www.catalinbread.com/DLS.html
By the sound of it, I feel like they expanded on their Hyperpak Dirty Channel.
The price seems right so I'm going to go ahead and order one for "us" to take a look at.

'60Burst · Post by **'60Burst** » 13 Mar 2009, 09:48

So far I like it!

Angle Loss · Post by **Angle Loss** » 13 Mar 2009, 16:00

Catalinbread posted at TGP and said it utilized JFETs. I believe the Hyperpak Dirty Channel used a CMOS chip as I recall. The YouTube video with the Les Paul sounded really good. I'm curious to hear it in person.

Seishin · Post by **Seishin** » 14 Mar 2009, 23:04

We really appreciate the support from at least a couple of you guys in this thread who picked up a DLS! Particularly in this economy we recognize another dirtbox is really a luxury. If you have any questions about the workings of the DLS I will do my best to try to answer inquiries as I have the opportunity to respond. As always email is best nicholas (at) catalinbread.com

All the best folks!

Brad J · Post by **Brad J** » 17 Mar 2009, 22:22

Anyone landed this yet?

thorpy6 · Post by **thorpy6** » 10 Apr 2009, 13:25

I have one and i really like it, looking inside no goop appears to be present however............................... They have fixed the pcb into the case component side down and then soldered the input and output jacks to it so that you can't examine the components without damaging the pcb. clever way of stopping would be casual cloners, you have to destroy the pedal (or own a desoldering gun) to get the pcb out.

culturejam · Post by **culturejam** » 10 Apr 2009, 14:13

thorpy6 wrote:clever way of stopping would be casual cloners, you have to destroy the pedal (or own a desoldering gun) to get the pcb out.

It's not all that hard to desolder those PCB-mount jacks. You don't need a desoldering gun, just some desoldering braid and hot iron.

Brad J · Post by **Brad J** » 16 Apr 2009, 14:54

I jumped in and ordered one, still waiting for it to arrive, I hear talk that it's a DS-1 clone, any truth in it??

briggs · Post by **briggs** » 16 Apr 2009, 16:19

I have a feeling it'll be cascaded mini-boosters rather than an IC driving clipping diodes.

ShortScaleMike · Post by **ShortScaleMike** » 16 Apr 2009, 16:20

I've seen the Catalinbread guys say it was a cascaded JFET design, unlike the Silver kiss, which was an op-amp clipper. I think it sounds great. Will follow this with interest.

soulsonic · Post by **soulsonic** » 17 Apr 2009, 07:20

Hey, you don't have to see the other side of the board to get a good guess about what the circuit is. Looking at the tracks is enough to learn alot.

ShortScaleMike · Post by **ShortScaleMike** » 17 Apr 2009, 07:41

Also they seem to be Cliff style jacks so I'm not convinced you would need to desolder them to remove the board. Just remove the nuts and let the plastic grommits slide out of the mounting holes on the sides and I reckon it would lift right out.

blanik · Post by **blanik** » 20 Apr 2009, 12:49

there are two DLSs for sale on Catalinbreads site, one is labeled "orange" after the name?? any info on that?

ShortScaleMike · Post by **ShortScaleMike** » 20 Apr 2009, 13:11

It's Orange. They're doing a few custom colours. No difference to the circuit. I've seen a few on ebay.com.

Brad J · Post by **Brad J** » 28 Apr 2009, 11:47

Tried to squeeze the board out today, no dice, the cliff jacks were obviously mounted then soldered in.

I have a broken hand at the moment, so anyone with a steadier and more useful hand could unsolder those jacks and it'd be out.

Can get a pic of the back if anyone's interested.

inabox · Post by **inabox** » 28 Apr 2009, 12:24

Brad J wrote:
Can get a pic of the back if anyone's interested.

go for it

Brad J · Post by **Brad J** » 28 Apr 2009, 13:23

Here ya go.

ShortScaleMike · Post by **ShortScaleMike** » 28 Apr 2009, 14:41

haha.. not much to see there is there?

I can see the LED switching, hooray for me. We're gonna need someone to unsolder those cliffs and get that board out of there unfortunately I think.

briggs · Post by **briggs** » 28 Apr 2009, 16:23

I like that quote

Let's get those jack de-soldered

Great work!

Ben N · Post by **Ben N** » 28 Apr 2009, 17:08

thorpy6 wrote:I have one and i really like it, looking inside no goop appears to be present however............................... They have fixed the pcb into the case component side down and then soldered the input and output jacks to it so that you can't examine the components without damaging the pcb. clever way of stopping would be casual cloners, you have to destroy the pedal (or own a desoldering gun) to get the pcb out.

That's what Tech21 does, but at least their boards are single-sided.

Catalinbread - Dirty Little Secret [traced]