“Vintage Vibe” Low Voltage 6111 Submini Tube Vibrato

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 31 Mar 2009, 13:07

Firstly, lets get the terminology right – this is a vibrato (pitch modulation), not a tremolo (amplitude modulation). Tube vibrato is not an original concept, similar schematics proliferate in vintage tube amps. I was also inspired by
mac’s ‘Fet Phaser Idea’ DIY Stompboxes thread, Rick Campbell’s ‘Possible Start On a Tube Phaser/Vibrato Pedal Project’ AX84 thread and R.G.’s The technology of phase shifters and flangers at GEOFEX.

So I thought I’d try something similar using two 6111 submini tubes at 12 volts. This allows for only two stages of phase shift, but the effect is very pleasing and useable. More stages could be added for a deeper effect. The advantage of using just two tubes is that it keeps the milliamp requirements down - it’s quite logical to run the two tubes’ heaters in series from 12 volts, keeping the current draw down to just ~300ma (!!). I dare say that the 6111’s could be replaced with 12AU7 without too much trouble, or indeed with 6021 subminis. I'm using 7327 tubes in my build instead of 6111, they are identical functionally. I made my own little vactrol using a 3mm red LED and two LDRs which I filtched from a kid’s toy (sorry kid). LDRs - Typical dark resistance = 1M. Typical light resistance = 2K - 4K

Here's a soundclip: Vintage Vibe <<< Click on me!! Click on me!!

Please excuse a few clicks and hisses, the soundclip was done when the circuit was still only a breadboard.

Signal path:

Squier Telecaster Custom (HB) > Vintage Vibe > Roland Bolt 60 watt tube combo > Shure SM58 > Event Echo Gina 24 soundcard > Wavelab

No other processing. It's a montage of a few different settings. There are a few crackles because it's a breadboard not a pedal.

borislavgajic · Post by **borislavgajic** » 31 Mar 2009, 13:14

very nice! some sound samples???

boris

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 31 Mar 2009, 13:20

borislavgajic wrote:very nice! some sound samples???

boris

You just looked at the pretty pictures didn't you?

frequencycentral wrote: Here's a soundclip: Vintage Vibe <<< Click on me!! Click on me!!

Please excuse a few clicks and hisses, the soundclip was done when the circuit was still only a breadboard.

Signal path:

Squier Telecaster Custom (HB) > Vintage Vibe > Roland Bolt 60 watt tube combo > Shure SM58 > Event Echo Gina 24 soundcard > Wavelab

No other processing. It's a montage of a few different settings. There are a few crackles because it's a breadboard not a pedal.

lolbou · Post by **lolbou** » 31 Mar 2009, 13:47

man, this is nice!!

And very neat!

Ben N · Post by **Ben N** » 31 Mar 2009, 14:07

Rick, that pedal looks and sounds gorgeous. If you can source a decent supply of subminis you should really start selling them--

ah, wait, no, it's an orginal design, right? Nah, you'll never make it as a boutiquer that way!

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 31 Mar 2009, 14:26

Ben N wrote: Rick, that pedal looks and sounds gorgeous. If you can source a decent supply of subminis you should really start selling them--

Well, I've just started selling my "Murder One" submini tube amps, see the thread in the amplifier section of this forum. If anyone wants a "Vintage Vibe" - PM me!

Ben N wrote: ah, wait, no, it's an orginal design, right? Nah, you'll never make it as a boutiquer that way!

Hahaha

Renegadrian · Post by **Renegadrian** » 31 Mar 2009, 14:43

frequencycentral?! Who is that guy?!

eheheh

Ben N · Post by **Ben N** » 31 Mar 2009, 15:01

I should have added, looks as good inside as out. Your guts make me think of a vintage Hiwatt, they are so clean and logical. I love it.

lolbou · Post by **lolbou** » 31 Mar 2009, 15:06

BTW, how do you process your LED hole? Is there just the thin decal upon it? Or is it a thicker sticker?

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 31 Mar 2009, 15:15

lolbou wrote:BTW, how do you process your LED hole? Is there just the thin decal upon it? Or is it a thicker sticker?

I use reverse printed overhead projector transparency sheets. Much thicker and more durable than waterslides, and easier to work with.

lolbou · Post by **lolbou** » 31 Mar 2009, 15:16

And how do you glue (?) them?

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 31 Mar 2009, 15:28

lolbou wrote:And how do you glue (?) them?

A generous layer of clear laquer, then press it on and position it. Then a few layers of laquer ove the top. If if wrinkles or bubbles I sand it down and laquer again, which is safe and fine because the image is on the underside of the transarency.

lolbou · Post by **lolbou** » 31 Mar 2009, 15:30

I think it's pure genious... Really!

And so the lacquer do not interfere with the ink?

JiM · Post by **JiM** » 31 Mar 2009, 23:29

Great design !

What about a phaser mode, by mixing the input with the delayed signal ?

Another LED in parallel can be a useful visual rate indicator.

For a 4-stage phase-shifter with 3 tubes, one could keep all heaters in series with an 18V power supply. Would there be other things to change to accomodate 18V ? Bias, LFO ?

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 01 Apr 2009, 00:21

JiM wrote:Great design !

What about a phaser mode, by mixing the input with the delayed signal ?

Another LED in parallel can be a useful visual rate indicator.

For a 4-stage phase-shifter with 3 tubes, one could keep all heaters in series with an 18V power supply. Would there be other things to change to accomodate 18V ? Bias, LFO ?

I tried that without good results. I'm reliably informed by my guru that 2 stages may not get to the full 360. My idea for expanding the Vintage Vibe into a phaser is to use 4 tubes and six stages, the more notches the deeper the phase - why have milk when you can have cream? All my breadboards have different submini tube amp prototypes (and switch mode power supplies) on them at the moment. As soon as I finalise those designs I'll do the phaser. Then the tube wah. Then the tube envelope filter.

chicago_mike · Post by **chicago_mike** » 01 Apr 2009, 04:53

Would a vactrol work? Like a 5C3 or similar? I think I got a handful for some reason..

JiM · Post by **JiM** » 01 Apr 2009, 18:52

frequencycentral wrote:I tried that without good results. I'm reliably informed by my guru that 2 stages may not get to the full 360.

I've done a Phase 45, which is also 2 stages (FET-based). It's quite subtle but i really like it, especially after distortion (it's in a dual stompbox, besides a Tube Driver).
What about Univibe cap ratio ?

frequencycentral wrote:As soon as I finalise those designs I'll do the phaser. Then the tube wah. Then the tube envelope filter.

I can't wait to see that !

frequencycentral · Post by **frequencycentral** » 01 Apr 2009, 20:08

chicago_mike wrote:Would a vactrol work? Like a 5C3 or similar? I think I got a handful for some reason..

Well I guess a vactrol is similar to the LED/LDRs I used, providing the light/dark resistance is similar too, you might just have to tinker with the resistor and pot either side of it.

borislavgajic · Post by **borislavgajic** » 04 Apr 2009, 17:34

Here's a soundclip: Vintage Vibe <<< Click on me!! Click on me!!

yes....I do not know how I missed this...........and Yes pictures are very pretty!!!

boris

borislavgajic · Post by **borislavgajic** » 04 Apr 2009, 17:41

download/file.php?id=508&t=1
http://www.effectrode.com/website/phase ... arkIII.gif

boris

“Vintage Vibe” Low Voltage 6111 Submini Tube Vibrato [documentation]