Sounds quite nice, it's orange and I would guess at some sort of modified DS1 type circuit. That just a pure guess on sound and mainly colour but it wouldn't be a big surprise if I am correct.
It's a modified version of the Fire Red Fuzz, a variation of the Big Muff. FET's instead of diodes in the first clipping stage and a FET output stage.
The schematic isn't verified yet...
Mad Professor Amber Drive
Re: Mad Professor Amber Drive
Posted: 12 Jan 2015, 19:12
by roseblood11
After listeing to the sound samples again, I think that the tone control isn't ideal for overdrive sounds here (but I don't like it in a standard Big Muff as well...). Maybe a James tonestack would be better, I remember that there was a variation named "James Muff" some years ago, maybe I even built that on vero?!? Gotta give it a try...
It's a modified version of the Fire Red Fuzz, a variation of the Big Muff. FET's instead of diodes in the first clipping stage and a FET output stage.
The schematic isn't verified yet...
Lol, I was miles off course.
Re: Mad Professor - Amber Drive
Posted: 13 Sep 2015, 10:17
by assche
I think this schematic missed 10k resistor for 2nd BC550C
Re: Mad Professor - Amber Drive
Posted: 14 Sep 2015, 00:56
by roseblood11
It might be the 12k between the two 470k's at the upper edge of the board? At least, that's what someone guessed at musikding.de...
...and the drain resistor of the last FET might be selected - maybe it should be replaced with a trimpot?
Re: Mad Professor - Amber Drive
Posted: 14 Sep 2015, 05:05
by assche
yes. that One.
but, is it 12k? 12k Color Code is brown-red-black-red-brown
it might be 10k
Re: Mad Professor - Amber Drive
Posted: 14 Sep 2015, 06:17
by mictester
it is 12k with those markings.
Amber Drive
There may be a couple of other errors too:
The FETs will just work as diodes wired like that - there's no point in using them. Either the way they're drawn is wrong or you could get the same result with a couple of cheap 1N4148s.
I don't think that's 1M in the tone stack - it wouldn't do anything. It's more likely to be 15k - please re-check.
It never ceases to amaze me that >>90% of boutique pedals are Fuzz Faces, Tube-screamers or Big Muffs!
Having said that, I like re-working the Big Muff with different clippers and tone circuits - there's a huge range of sounds to be found there......
Re: Mad Professor - Amber Drive
Posted: 14 Sep 2015, 07:49
by assche
thanks for new schematic!
but it's not 12k
color code of that resister is brown-black-black-red-brown. it means 10k
tone stack value might be right
between 47n and '8'numbered cap at bottom of the board, 10n 22k 100n 1M in there
I read that it's supposed to be the same overdrive as the 'Golden Cello', but minus the built-in delay.
i.e. that Eric Johnson 'violin sound' in a box
Re: Mad Professor - Amber Drive
Posted: 20 Sep 2015, 14:53
by Dingleberry
It will be easy to mod a fire red fuzz into amber overdrive. Just few resistor, cap and diode changes.
Re: Mad Professor - Amber Drive
Posted: 27 Jul 2016, 14:38
by BJF
Dingleberry wrote:It will be easy to mod a fire red fuzz into amber overdrive. Just few resistor, cap and diode changes.
Hi there,
Well without disclosing things I can say that is exactly what I did and they specifically asked me to use FRF for this which to me as a designer is a limitation
But hey if I get the limitations I'd work with those regardless and oh yes I had Dean Farley that is a Dumble expert having played more that 35 clones for his verdict of how close to the real deal and yes Dean is good friends with Howard however I am not and if you get my drift............
Right well I do guess you'd like to know the history of things?
You can also check the MP Amber OD hint hint hint
Sorry I cannot give more info on that as it is sensitive
somethings seems to go wrong.
it works, but thinking this overdrive will boost the volume level, with volume on max i can get the same volume as when hitting the bypass switch.
it is not going louder
i also can not get a sound like this, a lightly overdrive sound
any ideas?
Re: Mad Professor - Amber Drive
Posted: 25 Sep 2016, 20:38
by BJF
Hi there,
You might want to check the last J FET and that it has enough Drain-Source voltage.....
At your service
BJ
BJF Electronics
Sweden
Re: Mad Professor - Amber Drive
Posted: 27 Sep 2016, 17:48
by hopdybob
BJF wrote:Hi there,
You might want to check the last J FET and that it has enough Drain-Source voltage.....
At your service
BJ
BJF Electronics
Sweden
in this topic viewtopic.php?f=73&t=27892
another member pointed out that i had put the most right elco 1 uF +/- wrong.
i have corrected this with a new elco but got a kind of sound generator sound that changed using the sustain pot.
also replaced the Q4 but have the same result
Re: Mad Professor - Amber Drive
Posted: 03 Oct 2016, 02:28
by BJF
hopdybob wrote:
BJF wrote:Hi there,
You might want to check the last J FET and that it has enough Drain-Source voltage.....
At your service
BJ
BJF Electronics
Sweden
in this topic viewtopic.php?f=73&t=27892
another member pointed out that i had put the most right elco 1 uF +/- wrong.
i have corrected this with a new elco but got a kind of sound generator sound that changed using the sustain pot.
also replaced the Q4 but have the same result
Hi there,
Well polarized components need to have the correct polarity.
Check that C13 a 100uF/25V cap is present and bypassing the B-tree- if not the circuit will feed back on itself.
Oscillations can also occour via wiring and if so you should be able to move wires to stop oscillation and it's mostly about keeping
all in phase connections seperate.
First thing though when faultfinding a circuit like this is to take the voltages at the transistors