OLC Flipster - how much overdrive?

[Ryan Mohr]

I want to buy the Flipster primarily for copping clean, but still warm and fat, B15 tones. However, I was wondering how much overdrive can be coaxed out of it. Part of the reason I am asking is because I read that the newer Flipsters have more clean gain. I don't need much, but a little tube amp style overdrive would be sweet. About the flavor and amount of overdrive from 0:20 to 1:00 in this video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3OwLV4s6PY - Thanks!

[karter2000]

When I still had mine, I remember being able to get lots of drive out of it. However, that was dependent on what FET's were used, as well as the FET drain voltage. I used J201's in mine (highest gain), and set the drain voltages for each around 6v. With that setup, it would start to break up around 2/3 on the gain knob. With lower voltages (4.5) it will break up sooner with more overdrive available.

Hope that helps,


Lyle

[bongomania]

+1 It totally depends on the FETs used and how you bias them. Lots of overdrive is possible.

[cybersnyder]

How about a Tech 21 VT Bass?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr8kd...eature=related

[Ampeg SVT]

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

How about a Tech 21 VT Bass?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr8kd...eature=related

Im still gassing for one of those, they seem extremely versatile.

The Allen Woody thing should come out easily with the VT

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by bongomania

+1 It totally depends on the FETs used and how you bias them. Lots of overdrive is possible.

I was planning on buying the pre-built kit. How much overdrive could I expect?

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

How about a Tech 21 VT Bass?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr8kd...eature=related

Originally Posted by Ampeg SVT

Im still gassing for one of those, they seem extremely versatile.

The Allen Woody thing should come out easily with the VT

From listening to that video, the pedal has the typical Sansamp "ice-pick" highs, and an unnatural/inorganic sound to the overdrive. IMO it doesn't sound very tubey, rather a little brittle. If someone posts a soundclip that sounds good, I would change my mind, but for now opinions aren't good enough. I haven't liked any videos or soundclips I have heard of the VT Bass. On the other hand, I love all the Flipster soundclips I have heard. But, I haven't heard a pickstyle soundclip with a good amount of overdrive, so I started this thread.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

I want to buy the Flipster primarily for copping clean, but still warm and fat, B15 tones. However, I was wondering how much overdrive can be coaxed out of it. Part of the reason I am asking is because I read that the newer Flipsters have more clean gain. I don't need much, but a little tube amp style overdrive would be sweet. About the flavor and amount of overdrive from 0:20 to 1:00 in this video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3OwLV4s6PY - Thanks!

before and after the changes there is/was plenty of drive available. It can get that OD tone with ease... and go a bit dirtier

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by James Hart

before and after the changes there is/was plenty of drive available. It can get that OD tone with ease... and go a bit dirtier

Sweet Where on the gain knob does it start to get dirty? I'm assuming the master knob is just volume, no "power tube sweating".

[squarewave]

Originally Posted by karter2000

... and set the drain voltages for each around 6v

Are the trimmer pots on the board used to set the drain voltage? Where do I measure it?

Thanks to anyone that can respond, in case Karter2000 isn't around.

[bongomania]

Yes, that is what the trim pots are for. You measure from drain to ground. Aqueous, the pre-built version has changed a bit since they started, and I believe it's built to order. So your best bet is to contact the builder and say "I want the range of overdrive to be from this to that". Also have them build it with sockets for the FETs. That way you can change FETs very easily for different amounts of gain. Although setting the drain bias with those trim pots is a bit tricky to dial in right.

[squarewave]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Yes, that is what the trim pots are for. You measure from drain to ground.

Thanks C. You've been helpful as usual.

I have Karter2000's old pedal. It's great. It has sockets for the FETs and appears to be very well-built.

I've only tried it with my passive P-bass with Lane Poor pickup and flatwounds so far. It was easy to dial in a sound that goes from fairly clean to mild ovedrive just using playing dynamics, which is exactly what I was looking for.

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Yes, that is what the trim pots are for. You measure from drain to ground. Aqueous, the pre-built version has changed a bit since they started, and I believe it's built to order. So your best bet is to contact the builder and say "I want the range of overdrive to be from this to that". Also have them build it with sockets for the FETs. That way you can change FETs very easily for different amounts of gain. Although setting the drain bias with those trim pots is a bit tricky to dial in right.

Thanks for the explanation, but I don't have any electrical knowlegde, and I'm not likely to be swapping parts. I'm sure I will be able to fine usuable tones without swapping parts or adjusting trimpots as I will be more apt to damage the pedal that way. All I need is a completely clean tubey tone, and a nice tubey overdrive similar to the video. Thanks

[karter2000]

Hi there,

I didn't realize it made to you Squarewave! I built that one from a kit, believe I set the drain voltages to 6v or so. The trimmers are really, really sensitive, so they can be hard to adjust. Bigger trimmers would have probably worked better in the Flipster.

A slight turn can change the voltage a great deal, so you have to be patient. The way I set the drain voltages is I put the negative lead of my voltmeter on the drain of the FET (typically where the FET plugs into the socket), and the positive on a 9v source on the pcb (the red lead from the power adapter, from memory). The pinouts of the J201's is drain, source, gate when you are looking at the flat side of the transistor.

I can send the instructions, but I have to scan them in first and pdf them first.

[squarewave]

Hi Karter2000. Yes, I got it from diechris. I like it a lot. If you have time to send or post the pdf instructions, that would be great.

[stflbn]

I was looking for subtle clean tube amp grit/hair. Sold my VT-bass because it's overdrive was very touch strength sensitive for me. If I had the grit/hair on low notes I liked high notes would be overly distorted and not cut through... If I set my gain based on the high notes I'd have virtually none on low notes.

So after research I went with a Voodoo Labs SparkleDrive and am very happy with it. Very controllable and the blend knob on it allows a very wide selection of grit.

However, I was considering the Flipster do it yourself pedal as well as a MI Blue Boy Deluxe. I'll probably still end up getting a Flipster kit to build at some point.

[bongomania]

Word of advice to DIY'ers: I found it difficult to bias the FETs using the tiny single-rotation trimpots provided in the kit. It's def. worth ordering some multi-turn trims instead (from Mouser/Jameco/etc.).

[Ryan Mohr]

Just one last question: can this pedal get completely clean, so no dirt even if you play hard? The samples on the site by James Hart aren't my definition of clean.

[karter2000]

Mine could, given the way I had it set up. It wouldn't really break up until 2/3 on the gain. If I set the gain half-way, it stay clean other than if I really, really played hard.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

Just one last question: can this pedal get completely clean, so no dirt even if you play hard? The samples on the site by James Hart aren't my definition of clean.

Those were done before mine was modded. I don't have clips of 'clean'... but here is how I usually have it set. That is my Bee played with a pick through the flipster and a little delay.

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by James Hart

Those were done before mine was modded. I don't have clips of 'clean'... but here is how I usually have it set. That is my Bee played with a pick through the flipster and a little delay.

Thanks! Cool song too