[sfx] user appreciation society

[aledeville]

Would a Micro Thumpinator make a good addition to the largely unused effects loop on an amp? Cut the subsonic content right before it hits the power amp.

This is exactly how I do it. It is together with the dbx 160A in the effects loop. So I have the Thumpinator on the DI signal too!
The TBP-1 just produces way too many sub frequencies. That's why it didn't work between bass and preamp. It had to be after the preamp section.

I had some german engineers talking about the thing and they were impressed to say the least.

 

[Silent Fly]

(...) I'd still love to see what op-amp chip(s) SFX decided to use in the micro thumpinator. Would any of you guys take a pic of the inside of yours when it comes in? (...)

Any low-distortion op-amp would work. I use high quality audio-grade chips but only because I'm a hopeless perfectionist - the model/brand of the chips is not crucial for the functioning. It is entirely up to you but I suggest you focus your energy on the circuit design and the quality of the assembly instead of the materials.

 

[Silent Fly]

I am a patient money saver. This is balanced out by being an impatient waiter once I've placed the order. 5-6 week possible lead time. I placed the order last week, so that means maybe the beginning of November.
(&#8230

Cue Tom Petty....
yes the wait is hard. I'm going to delete all emails and ignore all these threads and just forget about it and it will just show up on my door Looking forward to it, that video on their page/youtube said a lot. I blow speakers up!

Sorry for the wait guys.

I have a few PCBs left and the people the placed the order will get the units as soon as I have completed them.

I also ordered a new set of PCBs that should be here in around 3 weeks time (finger crossed).

As "[sfx] user appreciation society" you may also be interested to know the micro-Thumpinators use double-thickness tracks on the circuit board. It is a little bit over the top but I thought it was a nice thing to add when I ordered the PCBs.

(...) And then it has to survive postal transport across the pond. (&#8230

I wouldn’t be too worried about that. I post to USA and the rest of the world on a regular basis.

 

[caeman]

You rock, SF.

You don't have to apologize for the wait-time. I understand that individual builders don't have the benefit of a Roland electronics plant in China to churn out thousands in a month. You have to be more careful about how much stock you build up, as you probably don't have the same margin as, say, an MXR or Boss.

 

[metalinthenight]

That's it, my micro-thumpinator gAs just peaked.....thanks alot guys

 

[caeman]

Sometimes, I wonder what the individual builders think of threads like this. Maybe they are going along with orders here and there, maybe a slow predictable pace. And then BAM! Someone sings the praises, other people ring in, and then the maker gets an explosion of orders.

 

[metalinthenight]

Yeah man at first they are comfortable with their slow but steady sales and then before you know it TB gets involved and they're up to their necks in no time flat. Probably a mixed blessing for the hobbyist, no doubt.

 

[MuthaFunk]

Any low-distortion op-amp would work. I use high quality audio-grade chips but only because I'm a hopeless perfectionist - the model/brand of the chips is not crucial for the functioning. It is entirely up to you but I suggest you focus your energy on the circuit design and the quality of the assembly instead of the materials.

Thanks for the guidance! I know implementation is critical to keeping RF and noise out of the circuits. I can only accomplish so much with making my own circuit board. The truth is, by the time I DIY one and do it properly, I could spend $20 more and have a genuine Thumpinator made with a much better dual sided trace board. My time to actually design the circuit is completely lost but for me It's more of a hobby and fun experiment.

 

[caeman]

Current owners of the mThump, where are you running it in your chain (front or end)?

 

[RichardFoggo]

used to be end, now front. haven't quite got my new set up together enough to know which I will go for.

 

[caeman]

It seems like having it at the front would save your pedals from having to process subsonic stuff.

 

[RichardFoggo]

It seems like having it at the front would save your pedals from having to process subsonic stuff.

i have just been mindful of filters etc generating more subsonic content after the thumper which is then fed to amp - hence the pre, post dilemma. I just need to pay attention to the likely issues with the specific pedals I have which include a BEF pro, MW distortion, frantabit.

 

[bassbrad]

Just got my microThumpinator today, another bit of beautiful work from Max, looking forward to putting it thru the paces this week. First impression it works very nicely as a line buffer and don't hear a difference in volume or tone but my headphones and studio monitors don't have that flabby fluttery thing any more.

 

[caeman]

Oh. Yeah. My name is currently at the head of the Micro Thump queue, just waiting on a case. I have already begun planning the pedal placement on my board to fit it. At the beginning? At the end? Experiments will surely be done.

 

[Darkstrike]

I wonder how much a micro thumper would help tracking if set before octavers...

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I wonder how much a micro thumper would help tracking if set before octavers...

I doubt it would help at all. Usually it's the high end sizzle, fret buzz, finger "pings" that cause glitching. Put it after the octave pedal and it would help things from taxing the amp.

 

[Silent Fly]

I doubt it would help at all. Usually it's the high end sizzle, fret buzz, finger "pings" that cause glitching. Put it after the octave pedal and it would help things from taxing the amp.

Generally speaking, I agree. I tried the micro-Thumpinator with a Boss OC-2 and an EBS Octabass and I didn't notice any major difference.

The idea of putting the micro-Thumpinator after the octaver makes sense. Personally, I connected it as the first pedal of my pedalboard but, as I said in other occasions, try it in different positions to find out what works better for you.

 

[Silent Fly]

You will be pleased to know that the batch is ready. I should be able to post the micro-Thumpinators in the next 48 hours. You will receive an email with more details.

The person that waited longer than the others (i.e. the first in the queue) will receive a special edition of the micro-Thumpinator.

micro-Thumpinator special edition

 

[MultiScaleMale]

You will be pleased to know that the batch is ready. I should be able to post the micro-Thumpinators in the next 48 hours. You will receive an email with more details.

The person that waited longer than the others (i.e. the first in the queue) will receive a special edition of the micro-Thumpinator.

micro-Thumpinator special edition

I work for Verizon so that's a cool special edition. (Not mine, I'm just commenting.)

 

[Darkstrike]

Generally speaking, I agree. I tried the micro-Thumpinator with a Boss OC-2 and an EBS Octabass and I didn't notice any major difference.

The idea of putting the micro-Thumpinator after the octaver makes sense. Personally, I connected it as the first pedal of my pedalboard but, as I said in other occasions, try it in different positions to find out what works better for you.

Ahh, I had figured cutting off them subsonic spikes(as Bongo calls them) before the octaver would help since it wouldn't be trying to reproduce them another octave lower. Kinda like cutting out the high end stuff helps. I can definitely see how having it after would help.

You will be pleased to know that the batch is ready. I should be able to post the micro-Thumpinators in the next 48 hours. You will receive an email with more details.

The person that waited longer than the others (i.e. the first in the queue) will receive a special edition of the micro-Thumpinator.

micro-Thumpinator special edition

Wow, that is gorgeous!