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Dub-T-123

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So what exactly are you changing or are you keeping that a secret?

 

Sorry, Dub I didn't see this when you posted it...

 

I'm pretty much doing what this Keeley guy does to his. http://www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=5

 

I do it cheaper of course. I also don't lower the 51k "drive resistor" all the way to 20k like he does. Some say this helps the pedal to clean up better. I think it adds too much noise to the pedal, and I think it cleans up enough. I do not use the RC or JRC chip either. I have my own preference that sounds much smoother to my ears - more EJ than SRV I guess you could say.

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Thanks surfpup! If I build a Tube Screamer I'll definately try some of those mods.

 

Last night I modded my OCD clone to be switchable between the standard clipping from the 2N7000 FETs to clipping from a pair of red 5mm LEDs.

 

It's a pretty nice mod. You get a little more clarity and gain. I prefer it to the stock clipping. I think I may try swapping out the op amp as well, but this pedal is sounding absolutely incredible as it is now.

 

I highly recommend the LED mod for the OCD. It's kindof a subtle difference but it sounds noticably better IMO.

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Thanks surfpup! If I build a Tube Screamer I'll definately try some of those mods.

 

Last night I modded my OCD clone to be switchable between the standard clipping from the 2N7000 FETs to clipping from a pair of red 5mm LEDs.

 

It's a pretty nice mod. You get a little more clarity and gain. I prefer it to the stock clipping. I think I may try swapping out the op amp as well, but this pedal is sounding absolutely incredible as it is now.

 

I highly recommend the LED mod for the OCD. It's kindof a subtle difference but it sounds noticably better IMO.

 

Cool. I have not tried LEDs for clipping, but I know some people prefer them. I remember reading that Tom Scholz was a big fan of LED clipping in his own home built gear and in the ubiquitous "Rockman" of the 80s that he sold so many of.

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You have to try LED clipping! Whenever I have the opportunity to try different diodes in a circuit, LEDs tend to be my favorites. They seem to usually give a nice loud, beefy, and clear sound.

 

I also love watching them pulse as I play. That's just so cool to me for some reason.

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Nooo this thread is sinking into the abyss.

 

I finished building my Big Muff tonight. Sorry for the terrible picture, the lighting is bad right now and my iPhone camera sucks at focusing as always.

photo-1239.jpg

 

There's no LED on this one. I guess I'll just have to listen for the GIANT WALL OF DOOM to tell if it's on. This thing sounds sick! I mixed some different cap values from the "Civil War" Big Muff and the infamous green Sovtek Muff (the pedal is mainly built to Civil War specs).

 

I also included the Jack Orman (hopefully that's spelled right) designed mids control. So you can add mids to cut through a live mix or keep them scooped for recording or playing by yourself. Let's be honest the scooped mids sound pretty rad when you're playing alone.

 

I got some germanium diodes and stuff to try with it too but it sounds really great as it is.

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I also included the Jack Orman (hopefully that's spelled right) designed mids control. So you can add mids to cut through a live mix or keep them scooped for recording or playing by yourself. Let's be honest the scooped mids sound pretty rad when you're playing alone.

 

Nice work. I like the sound of this mod too. My issue with Big Muffs has always been that I love midrange.

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Nice work. I like the sound of this mod too. My issue with Big Muffs has always been that I love midrange.

Thanks! I love mids too but I'm alright with the scooped Muff sound when I'm not playing with a band. But I can't stand scooped mids with a band it just makes it so hard to cut through the mix.

 

The Muff does sound better with more mids though IMO and I don't really want to use a Muff without a mids control or tone bypass. Have you built any Muffs?

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Have you built any Muffs?

 

No, I haven't. Like I said the Bug Muff has never been a favorite sound of mine - just too scooped. That said, I haven't heard one with a mid-boost. Maybe I'll try one. I'm wanting to do a Fuzz Face soon, but these Tube Screamers are keeping me too busy.

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I kinda want to build a fuzz face too. I have some cool old ge transistors that I need to find a use for actually. Not sure what to make with them..

 

Anyways.. I built this modded ProCo Rat clone today.

photo-2191.jpg

I used the LM308 IC and some "audio grade" electrolytic caps. Aside from that, I included the "Reutz" mod and a switch that toggles between the stock clipping diodes, LEDs, and no diodes.

 

I'm so stoked about this pedal. It sounds ******* rad and it's really versatile. The Reutz mod is an extra control that let's you go from the regular Rat sound to a lighter OD sound. It sounds really really sweet in the lighter OD settings. With the diode switch you can get the regular clipping, asymetrical clipping with the LEDs, or a much cleaner and louder sound with no diodes. So between what versatility it's already got and the added control from the mods this thing covers a huge range of dirt.

 

It looks pretty cool too. I'll post pics of the exterior tommorow

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Thanks! I don't really have any way to record and post clips right now but I'm upgrading my iPhone to a new one at the end of this month so I'll be able to do YouTube demos (my current iPhone doesn't record video). I'm gonna see if I can find a cable to hook up an SM57 so hopefully the sound quality will be pretty good. So expect some demos for sure at the end of the month.

 

Here's a little pic of the front. I think it looks pretty sweet!

photo-433.jpg

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doing the heater wires on my 18W today. the ball should start rolling faster, now that i finally finished cutting all the holes in this chassis. (a pain!)

 

heaterwires.jpg

 

i hope to have this head finished in the next week or so, as i still have to make a 2x12 for it too.

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