Simple in-bass overdrive or "grind" effect ?

[4848277]

this seems like a cool effect and a fun project, but you're still speaking Chinese to me for the most part, is there any way you could put up a wiring diagram or explain it dumbed down a bit?

Here's a diagram that should clarify things for you...

You can build this in a project box, or install it in your bass, but if you put it in a box, the output will obviously be going to an amp instead of the volume pot in your bass. Also, you can substitute whatever diode you choose instead of the LEDs, but diodes will clip more of the signal.

Hope this helps.

P.S.: Don't drill holes in your bass for the LEDs. They'll probably NEVER light up. Just sayin'.

 

[Definitely]

Why are you using two .047µF caps? To equal a .1µF cap?

You would wire the diode up to a switch like this; solder one end of the diode to ground. The other end goes to the switch, and the other side of the switch goes to either the lug on the pot that goes to the amp, or the side with the pickup. If you solder it to the amp side, turning down the volume might clean it up a little. On the pickup side it woful due the full effect at any volume.

You can also wire the diode up like a tone control, to vary the affect. The diode would replace the cap.

this I perfect, so I replace the cap with the diode and then what

 

[walterw]

...the kind of thing that Jack Bruce and felix Pappalardi had.....not that I know what they had installed, I just know from various interviews that they did install something.

They had a "small signal silicon diode" installed from the signal to ground, the way you would wire up a tone cap.

wow, first i've heard of that!

of course, i have to assume that the resulting chopped-up signal was smoothed out by the fuzzed-out sound of the dimed tube amps they were using, right?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

wow, first i've heard of that!

of course, i have to assume that the resulting chopped-up signal was smoothed out by the fuzzed-out sound of the dimed tube amps they were using, right?

Pappalardi came up with the idea, and installed it in Jack's bass.

Two of my all time favorite players by the way.

 

[rymiraflores]

Pappalardi came up with the idea, and installed it in Jack's bass.

Two of my all time favorite players by the way.

+1
the best ever, for me.

 

[rymiraflores]

wow, first i've heard of that!

of course, i have to assume that the resulting chopped-up signal was smoothed out by the fuzzed-out sound of the dimed tube amps they were using, right?

Listen to the live side of "flowers of evil."..nothing smoothed out about Pappalardi´s sound...just amazing.

 

[rymiraflores]

Pappalardi came up with the idea, and installed it in Jack's bass.

Two of my all time favorite players by the way.

OK almost ready to go, just need one more piece of info . please

re.signal/volume loss....is it correct to assume that using 3 or 4 diodes...2 >> +2 <<, or 1 < + 2>>....will be smoother and minimise volume loss? tell me this and I promise not to bother you anymore.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

OK almost ready to go, just need one more piece of info . please

re.signal/volume loss....is it correct to assume that using 3 or 4 diodes...2 >> +2 <<, or 1 < + 2>>....will be smoother and minimise volume loss? tell me this and I promise not to bother you anymore.

If you use them in series you will get less clipping. If you use them in parallel you will get more signal loss.

In series the polarity should match like with batteries, i.e., (+) to (-).

I'd start off with one o you can see what you get. Just remember that with passive circuits you are always going to have signal losses.

 

[Definitely]

so I get diode and replace the capacitor with it? and then am I finished?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

so I get diode and replace the capacitor with it? and then am I finished?

Yep.