Krank - Distortus Maximus  [traced]

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analogguru
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Post by analogguru »

Here the guts from the Krank Distortion Maximus:
https://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?ima ... 283it9.jpg
http://keep4u.ru/full/071204/6d685e9e029688e776/jpg

and this is claimed to be the schematic:
http://keep4u.ru/full/071122/51c27cf82652150481/jpg
http://keep4u.ru/full/071122/5d86e55e2d2cd1b793/jpg

It is said that the 100k resistor at Collector of Q1 should be 10k ...here an analysis:
http://keep4u.ru/full/071127/100e34bc97e16662fb/jpg
http://keep4u.ru/full/071127/44b8710c8f23a81f6c/jpg

Remembers strongly to the Smashdrive:
https://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/sc ... hdrive.gif

Here is an "improved" version with a cheap and "ugly" output buffer:
http://keep4u.ru/full/071126/f4fddb1775f9dae06c/jpg

Pcb-layout here:
http://forum.gtlab.net/yabbfiles/Attachments/1_001.lay
http://ifolder.ru/4303532
http://forum.gtlab.net/yabbfiles/Attachments/KDM.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/74418045/krank.rar.html

Layout-program can be found here:
http://www.qrz.ru/shareware/detail/457

What´s that nobody knows:
http://slil.ru/25215818

It is claimed that the Distortus Maximus should sound the same as Krank-Amps. "Krank" is german and means: "sick". When I look at the schematic this can be true: ....Krank Amps sound sick....

But as you can see it is really not important what´s inside....important is only that "the piss is removed from the shit and properly box-ed for sale...."
There´s a sucker born every minute - and too many of them end up in the bootweak pedal biz.

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Post by soulsonic »

Was this the schematic that was on DIYStompboxes, but is now gone?

Yes, Krank amps do sound like sick. And the makers thought they were just making a clever misspelling of the English word "Crank".
"Analog electronics in music is dead. Analog effects pedal design is a dead art." - Fran

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Post by analogguru »

soulsonic wrote:Was this the schematic that was on DIYStompboxes, but is now gone?
Don´t know which schematic was there.....
The stuff I posted comes from here:
http://forum.gtlab.net/cgi-bin/yabb2/Ya ... 91249550/0

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Post by soulsonic »

The guts photos that people had posted at DIY were the same ones, so maybe someone there must have been visiting that same Russian site.

I was able to navigate the Rus sites well enough to get the layout program downloaded without having to resort to a translator!

The winner is me! :lol:

I wonder how good that program is for doing DIY PC Boards? I wonder if I'll be able to figure out how to use it? I love a good challenge.

Thanks again!
"Analog electronics in music is dead. Analog effects pedal design is a dead art." - Fran

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Post by analogguru »

I wonder how good that program is for doing DIY PC Boards? I wonder if I'll be able to figure out how to use it? I love a good challenge.
ATTENTION ! DANGER !!!

This program is european.... german, as you can see here:
http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/produkte.html

My schematics are drawn with S-plan 4.0....

So a lot of reasons not to use this program....

enjoy,
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Post by soulsonic »

Очень хорошо!

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Post by jrc4558 »

soulsonic wrote:Очень хорошо!
Просто отлично! :)

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Post by analogguru »

jrc4558 wrote:
soulsonic wrote:Очень хорошо!
Просто отлично! :)
Ja nie rozumie, Ja nie mowie po ruski - ja bardzo mowie po polsku.

After clearing this lets get technical:

the second schematic is more accurate, it´s the one with 430k/43k at the base of the transistor. Collector resistor is 10k. That means that the transistor-stage is a blatant clone of the first series EH Screaming Bird Treble Booster followed by a Smashdrive (with shorted drive poti) - unbelievable to sell this as an "Amp-Emulator"....

Even the 25k mid-range poti is wrong: normally this one has a linear taper.

No output buffer - incredible.....

I will think, if I should move this thread to the "Pimp my cheap pedal section".

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Post by jrc4558 »

Well, its a LPB driving a Smash Drive. What else is new?:D

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Post by analogguru »

Its not an LPB... it is a Screaming Bird.......
What else is new? :D
Nothing.... except the wrong taper.....

Do you know why chinese people don´t clone the boutique stuff?
Because they would have to sell it for less than $ 1,-- :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Post by soulsonic »

Look here:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=157600

List price is $225!!!
Discounted price is still $150...

Too expensive for cheap pimp modding... I guess I just need to spend $15 and build my own. I have an extra LM386 sitting here. :idea:
"Analog electronics in music is dead. Analog effects pedal design is a dead art." - Fran

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Post by analogguru »

I have an extra LM386 sitting here.
If not, you can find this junk everywhere:
In walkman, radios, walkie-talkies.....

I have so many, that I didn´t count them.....

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Post by ieatyouforbreakfast »

is the smash drive a good build? couldnt find any sound samples..

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Post by soulsonic »

People like it. I haven't built one, but I'll probably mess with some variation of this circuit.

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Post by chris_d »

I did a vero layout of the schematic that was posted over at DIYstompboxes. I don't have an LM386 here, so it isn't verified yet, but if anyone is interested, i could post it.

Otherwise i will just put it up later after i have verified it.

-chris

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Post by gkaiomenos »

analogguru wrote: the second schematic is more accurate, it/s the one with 430k/43k at the base of the transistor. Collector resistor is 10k. That means that the transistor-stage is a blatant clone of the first series EH Screaming Bird Treble Booster followed by a Smashdrive (with shorted drive poti) - unbelievable to sell this as an "Amp-Emulator"....
this is true i have reversed engineered this thing and it is 430k/43k not 330k/150k and of course 10k on collector
also the caps are 20n not 22n or 27n and 5n instead of 4n7 (not that big difference though)

all pots are log

the chip is a National LM386N as you can see from the pics
and the tranny is a Fairchild 2N5088

it's not an awful sounding circuit - i believe the marshallesque 3band eq does it's job but it really needs an output buffer

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Post by audioguy »

I just built this with 430k/43k and the 10k collector.
I used 22n because I have boxes of them... it sounds pretty nice. A little shrill at times, but I think if I play with the knobs a bit I'll probably like it.
I did sub the volume pot with an A500k- sounds pretty good.
I'll do some A/B testing with my Dr. Boogie later this weekend.

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Post by soulsonic »

I'd like to try it with a JFET input instead of the BJT, and have a JFET buffer on the output.

I'm also thinking about replacing the discrete transistor entirely with a dual opamp to use for the input boost and output buffer... that seems to be the most compact and straightforward way to do it.
"Analog electronics in music is dead. Analog effects pedal design is a dead art." - Fran

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Post by Ivana »

Спасибо, у вас тоже очень интересный форум и его активные участники :D С вашего позволения, тоже буду давать ссылки сюда на ГТлабе :wink:

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Post by analogguru »

Ivana wrote:Спасибо, у вас тоже очень интересный форум и его активные участники :D С вашего позволения, тоже буду давать ссылки сюда на ГТлабе :wink:
Translation for non cyrillic readers:
Thanks, you have also very interesting forum and its active participants :D from your permission, I will also give references here on GTlabe :wink:
why not.... TGP-audience is also visiting this forum...

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

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