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An inexpensive audio transformer with DIY projects

Funny, I was just thinking to myself today...I wonder if this could be turned into a preamp/the front end of an amp with the addition of an EQ circuit (and depending upon how far one wanted to go with it, a DI section/amp/headphone amp/whatever). Once you mentioned that part of the circuit was similar to the front end of the old Musicman amps, I figured, well why not add some of this lovely saturated transformer tone to a nice Class D power section... ;)

I am still not clear if transformer saturation sounds "lovely" or what it actually sounds like. If the math is correct in saying that LF signals are truly causing some core saturation in this circuit, then I would say it does sound nice with the subtle levels of added distortion it produces. But others have stated that saturation sounds just awful... maybe there is a golden ratio between none and too much.

If you want to use the clipping circuit like the old Music Man hybrid amplifiers, then you could place it in the effects loop of your amp between the pre and power sections. I used it with my Pandora app on my phone (I know... it's not high quality sound) feeding my bass rig and it sounded great, even though it was only a mono sound. IMO, This can be a useful pedal for many applications.

-Frank
 
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i just built up the newest revised version and it's frickin' awesome!
for those of you that have one of my original builds, please send it back to me and I'll update it to the latest version at no charge. if you liked the pedal before, you'll love it after the revision.
if you don't want to send it back and want to do it yourself, i'll instruct you how to do it with minimum invasive mods (i.e.you don't have to remove any of the circuit boards).

Hi john,

Since I'm in Canada, I would normally do the mods myself, but I am heading to Texas next week, so I can send from Buffalo and pick it up. It'll be in Texas for 3 weeks... Also, maybe, just maybe you could fix the damn popping in my colour box?

Thx, the Duke
 
Hi john,

Since I'm in Canada, I would normally do the mods myself, but I am heading to Texas next week, so I can send from Buffalo and pick it up. It'll be in Texas for 3 weeks... Also, maybe, just maybe you could fix the damn popping in my colour box?

Thx, the Duke

yeah, send me the Colourbox and i'll fix the popping (at no charge). I can update the transboost too unless you want your brother-in-law to do that one.
 
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for anyone that's an experienced DIY builder interested, I have one extra set of the three PCBs that i etched and drilled for the Transboost available. I will not be making any more of them for sale so first come, first served.

TransboostPCBs-01.jpg
 
I was playing with the TY-250 again and came up with a simple utility pedal circuit.

This one is a two output isolated buffer that I named iBUFF (thanks Apple!). Both outputs can be completely ground isolated via switches and the polarity of the XLR is also switchable. There isn’t a lot of gain available for the outputs (only about 6dB boost), but it should be more than enough to cover most situations. There is also no stomp switch, since this was designed to be an always on pedal. The one thing I suggest, is that the level knobs should have an indicator for unity gain... you will need to measure for that. The 1/4 inch output jack needs to be a TRS isolated jack, meaning that the jack makes no electrical contact with the enclosure it is in.

John, you have a keen eye for finding my schematic errors. Please see if I have made any...THANX!

*** CIRCUIT REMOVED FOR THE UPDATED CIRCUIT LATER IN THIS THREAD***

-Frank
 
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I was playing with the TY-250 again and came up with a simple utility pedal circuit.

This one is a two output isolated buffer that I named iBUFF (thanks Apple!). Both outputs can be completely ground isolated via switches and the polarity of the XLR is also switchable. There isn’t a lot of gain available for the outputs (only about 6dB boost), but it should be more than enough to cover most situations. There is also no stomp switch, since this was designed to be an always on pedal. The one thing I suggest, is that the level knobs should have an indicator for unity gain... you will need to measure for that. The 1/4 inch output jack needs to be a TRS isolated jack, meaning that the jack makes no electrical contact with the enclosure it is in.


John, you have a keen eye for finding my schematic errors. Please see if I have made any...THANX!

-Frank
NICE!
 

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