BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project

finkployd · Post by **finkployd** » 25 Jan 2009, 03:59

Ok, I totally give up. For the life of me I cannot find a 16v 1.5a AC power supply anywhere (even at mouser). Can anyone point me to a US wall wart I can purchase online that will work with this?

Thank you

screamingdemon · Post by **screamingdemon** » 25 Jan 2009, 11:37

Thanks Bajaman for this beautiful project.I have built some simple stompboxes,but i'm gonna try to built this one.I am not an expert about tubes,but i'm gonna try it.All i wonna know is, that is your stripboard layout verified yet?I hope so cause i built all my projects on stripboard. greetings Gerrit.

bajaman · Post by **bajaman** » 25 Jan 2009, 12:06

the stripboard is not mine

The ac adaptor can be lower current rating 16v AC at 500mA should be okay.

bajaman

guigui1950 · Post by **guigui1950** » 25 Jan 2009, 13:36

hi finkployd

i could not find a proper 16VAC as well

i used a standard 12Vdc/500ma Power supply in which i bypassed the DC part (diodes & capacitor), just keepeing the 15V transformer.
it's OK. i just reduced the 33 Ohms in serie with the heating filament to 20 Ohms, to come closer to the recommended heating voltage of the tube (with 33 ohm it was less than 10 V)

this overdrive from Bajaman is really good ! you really have to finish it, i am sure you will not regret
with a strat and quite a lot of "delay" you can come close to Gavid Dilmour tone ...

finkployd · Post by **finkployd** » 31 Jan 2009, 14:26

What if I went the other way? I have found an 18v AC power supply (1 amp). Would this pedal take it or would I need to make some changes to handle the additional 2 volts?

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2049695

finkployd · Post by **finkployd** » 31 Jan 2009, 16:10

Disregard, the previous question, I think I found exactly what I need here:
http://www.at-fairfax.com/P328-Amesco-XF1640.htm

16.5v AC output, 2.42 amps.

Looking for these I noticed that 16 volt ac adapters seem to be common in NZ and AU, but almost unheard of in the US. All of ours seem to go in powers of three (9, 12, 15, 18, 24, etc)

guigui1950 · Post by **guigui1950** » 31 Jan 2009, 17:30

hi finkployd
you could even use the 20 VA one (1.2 Amp), the overall required current for the pedal is less than 0.5 Amp

http://www.at-fairfax.com/P327-Amesco-XF1620.htm

have fun

bajaman · Post by **bajaman** » 31 Jan 2009, 22:17

Hello finkployd
Yes 18vAC and 20vAC adaptors will work fine even as low as 1 Amp rating.
BUT - make sure the first two input filter capacitors after the 1N4007 diodes are rated at at LEAST 35v DC ( you may just be able to get away with a 25V DC rating on 18V AC - but it is borderline - you MUST USE A 35V DC rating if you are using a 20V AC supply)
All the other capacitors can stay the same after the regulators

cheers
bajaman

ryanuk · Post by **ryanuk** » 01 Feb 2009, 09:37

bajaman wrote:
been looking for a good reason to get into tube circuit designs
Let me emphasise - this is not really a tube circuit design in as much as the tube is being operated off 24vDC and not 240 - 350vDC as in normal tube design practice.
The starved plate voltages coupled with the high gain Tubescreamer type op amp drive circuit, gives a completely different overdrive characteristic to the full voltage all tube design as shown in the link below
cheers
bajaman
https://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa2 ... 1small.jpg

Bajaman
Are you willing to share the secret of your BAJA DELUXE DRIVE pedal shown in this picture??

Ryanuk

bajaman · Post by **bajaman** » 01 Feb 2009, 12:05

Are you willing to share the secret of your BAJA DELUXE DRIVE pedal shown in this picture??

Not at the present time sorry

bajaman

ryanuk · Post by **ryanuk** » 01 Feb 2009, 13:15

bajaman wrote:
Are you willing to share the secret of your BAJA DELUXE DRIVE pedal shown in this picture??
Not at the present time sorry
bajaman

No worries - didnt think you would otherwise you would have linked it earlier in the thread. Thought I'd ask anyhoo !!

I plan to build your Tube Driver - love the sound samples !!

I plan to use an 18vAC / 1A supply - nearest I can find in uk - note your earlier post re ratings in the power section.

With regard to resistor/cap ratings in general, I assume that where not stated on your schematic resistors are 1/4W and Caps rated to 16v??

Thanks for sharing your build.

RyanUK

bajaman · Post by **bajaman** » 04 Feb 2009, 02:41

I assume that where not stated on your schematic resistors are 1/4W and Caps rated to 16v??

I tend to use 25v or even 50 v electrolytics - the size is usually very similar and the higher voltage type tend to be a lot more reliable over time.
cheers
bajaman

finkployd · Post by **finkployd** » 06 Feb 2009, 23:00

Finally got mine built and acquired a suitable power supply. It sounds amazing. This is the "crunch" tone I have been looking for! Thank you Bajaman.

stephenxvp · Post by **stephenxvp** » 15 Mar 2009, 04:10

Seems that every time I finish a pedal it become s the best thing since I first heard the beano album.
Which is entirely appropriate because this pedal has got those tones in it a couple more besides.
Thanks Oh Master Baja, I have strayed and built from schemes by Briggs and Soulsonic but I have returned to become one of the faithful, a truly true believer and I have fath that this one truly is the shit.

Seriously this pedal could be the answer to the eternal "What amp can I play in my apartment and not shock everyone within four blocks"
"Anything that makes a noise above a whisper as long as you've got this one in front of it."

Young Mr Gilmour runs two of these type of things does he? Hmmm.

stratogavster · Post by **stratogavster** » 15 Mar 2009, 09:18

Gilmour uses the BK Butler Tube Driver not the Real Tube Drive....don't know how they compare sound wise

http://www.gilmourish.com

bajaman · Post by **bajaman** » 15 Mar 2009, 09:40

mine sounds better - no midrange scoop

bajaman

stephenxvp · Post by **stephenxvp** » 15 Mar 2009, 19:56

Is there an easy way to obtain the "Gilmour" effect, like just adding another tube/valve stage or do I effectively need to build another unit because it's the op-amp that supplies the gain?

Another nooby query, can I run the tube heaters off the -ve 15 volt supply as well as the +ve?

stratogavster · Post by **stratogavster** » 15 Mar 2009, 20:27

For the ultimate Gilmour tone build 2 BYOC Big Muff Clones, 1 Triangle-era, 1 Ram's head-era, 2 BK Butler Tube Driver Clones (for different settings), a BYOC RAT 2, and a BYOC Overdrive.

Use the Big Muffs in front of the Tube driver/Rat/Overdrives to get all those Gilmour lead tones you want!!

As for the Tube Driver, this is THE ultimate pedal for the job - generally the Tube driver is set quite 'low' if not you just get crazy gain. Use 1 tube driver for a 'drive' tone and one as a 'volume boost'. Also if the Tube Driver seems a bit 'over-the-top' try swapping out the valve with a 12AU7 for example...The RAT is for other-era Gilmour tones, the Overdrive (TS808) helps give you a nail any other tones you may need!

Don't forget a BYOC ESV Fuzz!!! for the older stuff!!

Use all this lot (plus the other usual Gilmour pedals) in front of an ultra clean no bullshit low gain amp!!! basically Gilmour's tone comes from his pedals and the amp is simply an amp!!

Lot's of plugs for BYOC there!!! (Please gimme a free one keith!) - I really really rate these pedals!!!! they are awesome!!!....don't bother with your £200 bollocks boutique pedals!

Go DIY!!

bajaman · Post by **bajaman** » 15 Mar 2009, 20:52

Is there an easy way to obtain the "Gilmour" effect, like just adding another tube/valve stage or do I effectively need to build another unit because it's the op-amp that supplies the gain?

Another nooby query, can I run the tube heaters off the -ve 15 volt supply as well as the +ve?

As the previous post states Gilmour gets his tone from a combination of pedals and settings - in his latest Pete Cornish floorboard he uses two Chandler (BK Butler) Tube Drivers in two separate effects chains.

NO - the heater supply and layout is critical to avoid hum problems - the heaters are being run from 12v AC not DC as well.
cheers
bajaman

stephenxvp · Post by **stephenxvp** » 15 Mar 2009, 23:12

What I actually meant by the gilmour effect, could infact be more accurately described as cascaded pedal as this was what I had understood from an earlier post.
I am not looking to emulate anyone, (i would mind sounding like Hendrix Clapton Gallagher, but pedals don't give you that) but to make some very pleasant noise.

In my above enthusiastic response to the Baja Tube Driver it needs to be noted that I accidently used a long plate Mullard ECC83, having tried various other tubes I get a fuzzy tone or a splattery gated sound. The Mullard is louder and insanely beautiful. Could that be a result of using a %volt heater supply?

BAJA Real Tube Drive pedal project [documentation]