Catalinbread - v8 Fuzz Engine

allesz · Post by **allesz** » 15 Mar 2011, 17:11

I rarely have the money to buy so called boutique pedals (I don't think catalinbread is strictly boutique by the way), and I am not a fuzz guy, but recently I found a used V8 fuzz engine for 80 euros... the beauty of the hammod A box was the last factor that made me purchase it.
The effect sounds good and it fits my needs: with an overdrive (self made) after it and the gain low I can get a nice "sort of" metal tone with lot of bass, plus a good low gain fuzz sound

The funny side of the effect is that when you pass noon with the gain knob you get a really nice oscillator that reacts to the volume and tone setting on the guitar; when I use this with an analog delay (my beloved reissue ad9) I can go on for hours making noise.
Long story short: It is a funny pedal

Let aside the review I opened the box and I discovered two tings:
a) It is almost impossible to see the circuit board without desoldering some component (I think the led, but I am not sure) and I would not like to do it (my only fucking boutique pedal

);
b) on the board you can read "catalinbread hyper pak rev 1.4"

So probably it uses almost the same components of the Hyper Pak that we dissected here https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic ... +hyper+pak
with some help by the designer in person (always a nice touch).
Right now I plan to grab some CD4700 and "have some fun" on the breadboard just to see if I can get the thing to oscillate... if I can get an oscillating overdrive I will be very happy.
If someone has got some idea please help me discover the difference between a fuzz and an overdrive

allesz · Post by **allesz** » 04 May 2011, 14:09

Ok, in the end I dared to dismantle the pedal.... it was very hard and I had to cut an electrolitic capacitor's leg and damage the 9V jack (thankfully I managed to solder everithing back).
Due to a panic attack I did not trace it: I was pretty anxious about the rebuild operations (I am a lame, I know); anyway I read all the components values:

Resistors (1/8 W)
2 M (x 1)
100 K (x 1)
10 K (x 1)
1 K (x 3)

Caps (film)
50 nF (x 1)
100 nF

Caps (ceramic)
100 pF (x 1)
47 pF (x 1)

Caps (electrolitics)
10 uF (x 1)
100 uF (x 1)

Pots (Alpha B)
10 K (volume)
500 K (volume)

IC 4007UBE

I planned to breadboard something but I am not very good with IC, beside that I pass all my breadboard time with germanium transistors right now.... I stole the hyper pak schemo made by culturejam and changed the components values according to the ones I found in my pedal (sorry, but the schematic is too complicated for me to redraw it from zero); I really don't know if it is right;
I feel that the 2M resistance (1M in the hyper pack) is the responsible for the oscillation occuring when you pass noon with the gain knob... but I really can't tell for shure. I know this is not a big contribution, have mercy.

Oliphaunt · Post by **Oliphaunt** » 04 May 2011, 17:42

I had one of these for a short time and thought it was a fun noise pedal, but not worth keeping money tied up in it. I would love to confirm the circuit.

allesz · Post by **allesz** » 05 May 2011, 17:12

I would like to confirm the circuit too.
I confess that it would be very interesting make a mix between the two in order to get an overdrive that can oscillate when you need to get in noise territory.
Sadly I think I am not so good working with IC, I just stick with transistors because they are more simple to understand.

celadine · Post by **celadine** » 08 May 2011, 23:41

Not to step on any toes, but its easier for me to just post this than explain things:

allesz · Post by **allesz** » 09 May 2011, 16:17

You are welcome... and my toes really doesn't mind

.
I started this tread before opening the unit and and, after I did it, I just wanted to give to other users the values i found inside it... just in case someone want to have some fun building or breadboarding this stompbox.

allesz · Post by **allesz** » 22 Jun 2012, 09:49

Hey, a small bump to this tread: the guys from catalinbread unveiled the schematics of the hyperpak ant the v8 fuzz engine on their site (look in the kit section), but there is something not really clear:

The components values are a little different from the hyperpak traced here: https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic ... k&start=40

and the scem of the V8 misses some componente values, have different values for other components (just as above), and puts a positive feedback loop between the two stages....

now I wonder wich one is right

; well, I did not trace the pedal actually, I just read the values of the components mistaking the pot's values (I can't belive it), missing a resistor and so on... And wait, even the pots values on the Hyperpack are different from the one traced here.....

I think I will find out in some time: I would like to build a cross between the Hyperpak and the V8 (the hyperpack sound but with added oscillation) and add an octave (foot)switch option too (I plan to use a mosfet as a phase inverter and build a rectifier with a couple of diodes... do you think is it possible?

Natman · Post by **Natman** » 25 Jul 2012, 13:55

I might as well post something out of my ignorance.

First off, I really like the pedal. The fuzz is thick and usable for some things. The oscillation is fantastic and a lot like a Fuzz Factory, you can play theremin with your guitar volume knob. That's really the best feature (and so compact).

Regarding your idea, I doubt it is worth it as the V8 really IS a Hyperpak with feedback loop but some of the components had to be changed to allow the oscillation. I am still a novice but I don't think you can split the difference so easily. Furthermore, judging by the Hyperpak I had (1 knob -serial #3!) it may not be worth it.

Now that Catalinbread is offering kits you can plainly see the schem and build your own. I originally planned to clone it as well, but for the trouble I'll hold on to my cute little V8.