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Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 06 Nov 2015, 09:43
by bajaman
OK
You definitely have a fault condition around the dual opamp and it looks to me like you have a short between pin 3 and pin 4, because pin 4 is the correct voltage - pins 1, 2 and 3 should measure 0 volts DC.
Not sure how you are measuring the op amp but the correct pin order is 1 2 3 4 down one side and then 8 7 6 5 down the other side (pin 8 directly opposite pin 1, pin 7 directly opposite pin 2, pin 6 directly opposite pin 3, and pin 5 directly opposite pin 4 :wink: ). I think you are referring to pin 8 as pin 5 in your list of measured voltages - this pin (8) should be +15v DC and all the other pins on that side of the chip should be 0 volts DC.
The op amp may still work but you definitely have a direct short between pin 3 and pin 4 - use the ohms x 1 setting on your meter ( without the power supply connected of course) and I think you will find these pins are connected together either through a poor etch or solder bridge etc.
If you manage to remove the short it should work correctly and won't sound bassy on bypass - if you still get +15v DC on pin 1 then you will need to replace the op amp.
Let us know what you find :D
bajaman

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 06 Nov 2015, 16:10
by jesven
Thank you guys , I won't give up with this, i measured the ic voltages just in the way it's pleaced on the socket (from left to right pin 1 under pin 8, pin 2 under 7 etcetera) I will take a very closer look at this section triying to find the mistake .

thanks

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 06 Nov 2015, 16:48
by jesven
DrNomis wrote:quote="jesven"]Well I checked all and i found nothing, but this time i measured the tube pinout and it measures :

1: 9.70 D.C.v
2: -12.73 D.C.v
3: -12.81 D.C.v
4: 0.01 A.C.v
5: 12.4 A.C.v
6: 5.73 D.C.v
7: -12.72 D.C.v
8: -12.82 D.C.v
9: 0.01 D.C.v
I'm using a 15vAc/1100mA power pack , are these numbers right or need to modify something.
Thanks


Most of the voltages look about right except for the voltage on pin 1, it looks a bit high, check to see if you used the correct value resistor, go back to where I posted a list of voltages for my build and write them down on a piece of paper, you could also try substituting a known good tube too.....hope that helps.... :thumbsup



Just so you don't have to read through all the posts to find the list of voltages here they are again:


IC 1 (8-pin Dual Op-Amp):

Pin 1: 0.01V.

Pin 2: 0.01V.

Pin 3: 0.01V.

Pin 4: -15.01V.

Pin 5: 0V.

Pin 6: 0.01V.

Pin 7: 0.01V.

Pin 8: +15.03V

Tube Socket Voltages:

Pin 1: +4.0V.

Pin 2: -11.6V.

Pin 3: -11.3V.

Pin 4: 0V.

Pin 5: 12.4 V AC.

Pin 6: +1.07V.

Pin 7: -11.51V.

Pin 8: -11.26V.

Pin 9: Not Used.

Power Supply Voltages:

Input : 17.4V AC.

+V Supply: +15.03V.

-V Supply: -15.01V.

+VV Supply: +11.29V.

-VV Supply: -11.28V.
Thanks Dr Nomis measured the supply voltages :

V+=15.11D.C.v
V-=-15.01D.C.v
V++=12.95D.C.v
V--=-12.85D.C.v
Input (at tube board)=12.1A.C.v
(At main board)=17.1A.C.v

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 06 Nov 2015, 18:33
by jesven
Well i checked and checked and checked with the multimeter set as continuity as it hasn't ohm x1 I found continuity on every track will keep doing this till I find something , will try with a new opamp too ,also, I would like to know if a faulty diode or electrolitic capacitor could be causing this issue as I can't find any kind of bringe or short-circuit , or may be a faulty ic socket .?
(I'm not convinced with the last theory but anything could happen... I guess).

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 06 Nov 2015, 20:39
by bajaman
OK - supply voltages and tube voltages are fine.
1. Remove the op amp
2. Check that the pads for pin 3 and pin 4 on the PCB are not connected (shorted) with an ohmeter.
3. If they are not connected, replace with a new opamp.
4. Measure the DC voltage on pin 1 - if it is not 0 volts DC, replace both the 1N4148 diodes.
5.Report back with your findings :wink:
cheers
bajaman

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 06 Nov 2015, 20:46
by bajaman
How to read the pins of the dual op amp
dual op amp.jpg
dual op amp.jpg (26.83 KiB) Viewed 2689 times

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 08 Nov 2015, 07:42
by jesven
Mr. Bajamaaaaan , Dr. Nomiiis, I have it working you're the best of the best, it was a faulty diode , I'm so exited .! Lol , thank you so much for helping me through this project, I really appreciate it , yo the best .! ;)

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 08 Nov 2015, 08:08
by bajaman
excellent news :applause: - how do you like it now it is finally working for you :?:
cheers
bajaman

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 08 Nov 2015, 08:43
by jesven
it sounds a little bit fat , but actually, i like it, anyway I have a very fat sounding pickups (chinesse ones) I guess it won't sound that fat with any other guitar, also, I think it may need a little bit more gain ... Not entirely sure about that .... I think I like it as it is (it sounds really good , even using the cheapest and worst tube brand on the market ) , may be ussing the correct power supply will make the difference even when it's only one volt.

(I receibe some 6N17B and i have everything ready to begin with the mini version.)

Thanks Mr. Bajaman, I'll prepare the enclosure soon and post some pics.

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 08 Nov 2015, 10:02
by DrNomis
jesven wrote:Mr. Bajamaaaaan , Dr. Nomiiis, I have it working you're the best of the best, it was a faulty diode , I'm so exited .! Lol , thank you so much for helping me through this project, I really appreciate it , yo the best .! ;)


No worries at all, I had a feeling that it would turn out to be something relatively simple...... :thumbsup

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 08 Nov 2015, 10:15
by DrNomis
jesven wrote:it sounds a little bit fat , but actually, i like it, anyway I have a very fat sounding pickups (chinesse ones) I guess it won't sound that fat with any other guitar, also, I think it may need a little bit more gain ... Not entirely sure about that .... I think I like it as it is (it sounds really good , even using the cheapest and worst tube brand on the market ) , may be ussing the correct power supply will make the difference even when it's only one volt.

(I receibe some 6N17B and i have everything ready to begin with the mini version.)

Thanks Mr. Bajaman, I'll prepare the enclosure soon and post some pics.


Provided that you use tubes with the same pin-outs as the 12AX7, you'll find that different tubes will give different distortion characteristics, the higher the voltage-gain (mu) of the tube the more distortion you will get, a 12AU7 typically has a mu of about 19, a 12AT7 about 60, and a 12AX7 about 100..... :thumbsup


You might need a larger value heater current limiting resistor if you want to use a 6N17B tube, that's because the 6N17B needs a 6.3V/400mA heater supply whereas the BRTO was designed for tubes that need a 12.6V/150mA heater supply, so, you might need to change the 33 Ohm/5W resistor to something like maybe a 68 Ohm/5W resistor to get 6.3V on the 6N17B's heater...... :thumbsup

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 30 Nov 2015, 18:20
by theodorus
Hi, I just made two of these because I was looking for an alternative for my GGG tube-driver which is a bit noisy and big , I stumbled on this thread (took me a while I must admit ) and decided to make on ( actually two :D )
I'm very pleased how they work and sound and want to thank you for designing and sharing the info on this great pedal :applause:

Some pictures (yes ,it needs some paint and lettering) :

Image
Image
Image

Greetings from Holland
Theo

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 01 Dec 2015, 02:10
by bajaman
Hello Theo :D
Very nice build pictures - glad you like it too!
cheers
bajaman

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 01 Dec 2015, 13:13
by 287m
hello bajaman
where layout for 1590BB? look missing/move in your photobucket
thanks

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 05 Jan 2016, 15:05
by vmaxvmax
I have just built this using one of bajaman's pcb combo's.

It sounds great! Really nice boards - thank you bajaman. This unit beats all of the overdrive/distortion pedals I have built and owned over the years. It has replaced my Klon clone, and Timmy on my board.

It compliments a tube amp driving the power stage hard. I use an 18watt clone I built.

Do not hesitate to buy the boards from bajaman!

It is very quiet and has no real switching noise.

I have an OPA 2134 Burr Brown in there - I tried various op-amps and with my cloth ears didn't discern much difference other than mild changes in background hiss.

It seems to be punchier with an ECC 81 in there. I tried several ECC 83's including JJ's, an old Mullard, a heap of 'Marshall' '83's and a heap of GT's (inc their so call M for 'Mullard). All of the ECC83's seemed somewhat softer with more distortion.

The ECC 81 has more punch and plenty enough distortion (to my tired old ears).

I did not change the bias voltage - anybody offer comments on resistor values for the ECC 81 as opposed to the stock 47k values?

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 06 Jan 2016, 00:26
by bajaman
yes - still my go to drive pedal after all these years ;-)

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 06 Jan 2016, 00:28
by bajaman
i.png
j.png
latest OSH park boards available now :wink:

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 06 Feb 2016, 05:21
by DrNomis
Those new PCBs look great, are they priced the same as the original, bajaman?


I might see if I can order a PCB set this coming fortnight...... :thumbsup

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 07 Feb 2016, 13:49
by Mbas974
In adding a tone-stack to this pedal, what should fit as the best solution ?
A solution like BB-Preamp can be a good option ?

Any suggestion ?
Thanks is advance.

Re: BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

Posted: 07 Feb 2016, 21:06
by bajaman
In adding a tone-stack to this pedal, what should fit as the best solution ?
A solution like BB-Preamp can be a good option ?

Any suggestion ?
Thanks is advance.
Don't do it ;-)