overdrive/fuzz quest part 2

[johnk_10]

here's another clip of the tweak fuzz after changing the transistors, setting the bias and adding the output booster.



and here's a quick clip of the octaver (just noodling around):

 

[Basshappi]

That OC-2 clone sounds and tracks great!

 

[johnk_10]

That OC-2 clone sounds and tracks great!

I agree. I think that it sounds better and tracks better than my Boss OC-3.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Wow, the octaver sounds cool, How does it compare A/B with the OC2

 

[Basshappi]

I agree. I think that it sounds better and tracks better than my Boss OC-3.

True, but I was never that impressed by the OC-3 to begin with.

 

[johnk_10]

Wow, the octaver sounds cool, How does it compare A/B with the OC2

I don't have an OC-2 but it should be pretty much the same since it was made using the OC-2's schematic only omitting the 2nd octave down circuit.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I don't have an OC-2 but it should be pretty much the same since it was made using the OC-2's schematic only omitting the 2nd octave down circuit.

Awesome ....now I want one...

 

[JimmyM]

I've been meaning to ask you about Octave pedals as it is another fave of mine.
Right now I use a EH Micro POG because I like an octave up as well as down and I like being able to blend the dry signal. I only wish the octave up wasn't quite as "synthy" sounding and that I could split it to a seperate output or loop so that I could effect just that signal.

Micro Pog has separate dry and wet outputs. Shouldn't be hard at all.

 

[JimmyM]

OC-2 does rule pretty hard, although I could be talked into using the OC-3 if I didn't already have an OC-2. Taiwanese but has a leftover Japanese PCB. $50 4 years ago...NICE! Yours definitely sounds like one.

I knew I shouldn't have played your Extreme Tweak Fuzz clip. Major major improvement for bass.

 

[Basshappi]

Micro Pog has separate dry and wet outputs. Shouldn't be hard at all.

Yes it does but the wet signal is not splitable so if I am running both low and high octaves I cannot effect the high octave independently. I could use 2 Micro POGs but that would just be madness, madness I tell you!

 

[JimmyM]

You're kidding!

(3 minutes later) Nope, you're not. All this time I thought plugging in both dry and effects sent a wet only signal to the output from the effect out. That'll teach me not to try that stuff out when I get effects with two outputs.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

OC-2 does rule pretty hard, although I could be talked into using the OC-3 if I didn't already have an OC-2. Taiwanese but has a leftover Japanese PCB. $50 4 years ago...NICE! Yours definitely sounds like one.

I knew I shouldn't have played your Extreme Tweak Fuzz clip. Major major improvement for bass.

I can hear zero difference between the Taiwan and Japanese models.

 

[johnk_10]

after building more than 150 different pedals now, here's a completely new one that I came up with with a lot of experimentation changing components until it did what I wanted it to, so it is unlike all of the other circuits. using three 2N5088's and two BS170 mosfets, (with no opamps), this one sounds very natural and has a very 'pretty' overdriven distortion sound to it. it feels more like an amp than a pedal and has a TON of low end. it's mounted in a gamma ray green enclosure, so I call it the 'Gamma Bass Overdrive' or GBOD for short. it goes from a clean transparent boost, to a mild overdrive, to a heavy overdrive but still retains all of the dynamics and tone of my bass.

here's a quick clip of it with just a few of its settings:

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I want one......

 

[JimmyM]

Wow, that pedal has a lot of range! Nice job, John!

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Wow, that pedal has a lot of range! Nice job, John!

+1, I would love to try that thing live or in the studio.....

 

[johnk_10]

I can build one for anyone that wants one, just email me.

 

[JimmyM]

Had to dangle that in front of me after coming off of Fuzz Quest, didn't you? Dare I listen with headphones? I only listened with comp speakers before. No, I better not. Not in the current budget.

EDIT: I listened with headphones. Big mistake. Man, that's a good pedal! It does have some sort of amp-y vibe to it. Let me get over the fuzz-a-thon first, and I may be getting back to you on that

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I don't get GAS often......but Mr Kallas is killing me......

 

[johnk_10]

I just built and tested a univox superfuzz using original NOS transistors (2SC828's), but instead of having a two way scooped/non scooped switch, I installed a scoop control pot so I can vary how much scoop I want (like the creepy fingers version). I also installed a two way switch to select the frequency of where the scoop occurs. it sounds pretty darn cool. I just need to mount it in an enclosure now.