I've been away for a while. I'm back and here is a schematic for you! It's a great overdrive and boost, a development on from my standard overdrive. Add a switch to the diodes for extra fun :-)
Hi Fred, Breadboarded this up last night and it sounds excellent. I am using it with P90s at the mo and i really like the sound. Didn't have any BAT46 so I have tried everything else. I really like Germs and silicon diodes in this so i think i will try a rotary switch. I also prefer the 18v to 9v.
Really interesting circuit.
I am having a little trouble with the bloom control - it has a really nice subtle effect when the gain is up full but with the gain below about 80% it has no discernible effect. I am going to check over it this morning maybe i hooked something up wrong. I am using linear pots. I also subbed a 68ohm as i didn't have a 62ohm so I will try 2x120 ohm in parallel and see if that helps. I noticed you had a 470nf cap in the standard version and 220nf in the Silver orchid so I will mess around with this also.
This is the first time i have ever used a charge pump, I think I will leave it setup on the Breadboard and experiment with 18v on other designs.
If I can tweak this bloom control i will definitely box this one up. One of the nicest sounding drives I have stumbled across.
Hi Jacob, Thanks for the kind comments - I would certainly try using a 470n or 680n cap there, it'll make the effect of the control much more pronounced, infact, in the future I think I will update the scheme with a switch which will allow you to go between 220n/470n/680n - it's a nice addition. The 18V adds headroom to the drive, and dynamic response. On a rotary switch I'd put some 1N4001, BAT 46 and some BS170 mosfets configured as clippers. Those combinations should give you some great combinations. I keep meaning to draw up the scheme for a "Double Drive" version of this I designed, it allowed you to really crank the gain and get some great classic rock tones! I may try this with some even higher voltages in the future - possibly up to 35V, I imagine the double drive version would really start to rock then!
Dear Fred, I am about to breadboard this circuit after trying the Briggs Overdrive and the Brigg Clock of Tone. I am having trouble reading the values on the handwritten paper, is there a larger image for download? thanks a million. your blog is fantastic.
Hi Fred, Breadboarded this up last night and it sounds excellent. I am using it with P90s at the mo and i really like the sound. Didn't have any BAT46 so I have tried everything else. I really like Germs and silicon diodes in this so i think i will try a rotary switch. I also prefer the 18v to 9v.
ReplyDeleteReally interesting circuit.
I am having a little trouble with the bloom control - it has a really nice subtle effect when the gain is up full but with the gain below about 80% it has no discernible effect. I am going to check over it this morning maybe i hooked something up wrong. I am using linear pots. I also subbed a 68ohm as i didn't have a 62ohm so I will try 2x120 ohm in parallel and see if that helps. I noticed you had a 470nf cap in the standard version and 220nf in the Silver orchid so I will mess around with this also.
This is the first time i have ever used a charge pump, I think I will leave it setup on the Breadboard and experiment with 18v on other designs.
If I can tweak this bloom control i will definitely box this one up. One of the nicest sounding drives I have stumbled across.
Cheers from Edinburgh.
JJ
Hi Jacob, Thanks for the kind comments - I would certainly try using a 470n or 680n cap there, it'll make the effect of the control much more pronounced, infact, in the future I think I will update the scheme with a switch which will allow you to go between 220n/470n/680n - it's a nice addition. The 18V adds headroom to the drive, and dynamic response. On a rotary switch I'd put some 1N4001, BAT 46 and some BS170 mosfets configured as clippers. Those combinations should give you some great combinations. I keep meaning to draw up the scheme for a "Double Drive" version of this I designed, it allowed you to really crank the gain and get some great classic rock tones! I may try this with some even higher voltages in the future - possibly up to 35V, I imagine the double drive version would really start to rock then!
ReplyDeleteTried the 470nf and it works much better. Also tried a few BS170s and found a much nicer sounding one.
ReplyDeleteThis thing is awesome. Will try and box it up in the next couple of weeks.
Dear Fred,
ReplyDeleteI am about to breadboard this circuit after trying the Briggs Overdrive and the Brigg Clock of Tone. I am having trouble reading the values on the handwritten paper, is there a larger image for download?
thanks a million. your blog is fantastic.
Doron