This Week on the Breadboard: Blues Driver BD-2 & BD-2w - part 4

Chuck D. Bones

Circuit Wizard
The Cobalt Blues Driver - Boneyard Edition

I've shown you all of the pieces of the Boneyard Blues Driver in Part 3. Here in Part 4 I put it all together and make some final updates. All ref des in Part 4 refer to the Cobalt Build Docs. If you can't hit a part value dead-on, anything within ±20% is acceptable.

First Stage
The first stage is everything from the board's IN pad up to and including diodes D1-D4. What I wanted to accomplish here was to raise the input impedance up to match the factory pedal, use JFETs I had in my stash, balance the JFET currents, sub an A100K dual pot for the A250K dual and add a TIGHT switch that performs the same function as the first part of the BD-2w S/C switch. If you have an A250K dual pot, then you don't need to sub in an A100K dual pot and you will leave R8, R10, C4 & C5 at the original values.

The changes to the first stage are listed below.

Ref
Cobalt
Boneyard
Comments
C1100nF22nFOptional. At 22nF, C1 does not limit the bass.
R2220K2.2MIncreases input impedance.
R64.7KSIT+Balances Q1 & Q3.
R81.5K620Req'd if changing GAIN pot to 100K.
R1022K9.1KReq'd if changing GAIN pot to 100K.
C4150nF390nFReq'd if changing GAIN pot to 100K.
C547pF120pFReq'd if changing GAIN pot to 100K.
C9220pF390pFAdds a little treble, optional.
R1715K10KEnhances the TIGHT switch, optional.
R18ANot there3.3KSwitched in parallel with R18 by TIGHT sw.
S1Not thereSPDTTIGHT switch. ON = TIGHT.
D1-D41N914deleteSee note* below.
Q52N39062N5087Or BC560C. Lower noise, optional.

+SIT means Select-In-Test

*Diodes D1-D4 lightly clip the very lowest freq signals when GAIN is above noon. Then the second stage strongly clips the signal. I can't hear a difference when the diodes are in or out. Install them or not at your discretion.

The TIGHT switch is part of the first stage mod. It mimics the first part of the -2w S/C switch. When the TIGHT switch is on, R18A is connected in parallel with R18. I used 3.3K for R18A; Roland used 10K in the -2w. Either will work. 3.3K cuts the bass about 2dB more than 10K. The plot below shows the freq response at the input to the second stage. GAIN is at noon. Red trace: TIGHT sw off. Blue trace: TIGHT sw on, R18A = 10K. Green trace: TIGHT sw on, R18A = 3.3K.

BD-2 cb mod 3.0B tight sw freq resp.png

Balancing

The balancing procedure is not complicated. We balance the JFETs in this circuit by adjusting R6 until the voltage on Q5's collector is equal to Vref. It helps to start with JFETs that have similar Vp. IMO this should be done no matter which JFETs you use because we're not just matching the JFETs to each other, we're matching the circuit to the JFETs. You need a good DMM that can resolve 1mV. Temporarily install the stock 4.7K value for R6. You don't need to solder R6, just wedge the leads in the holes with toothpicks. Set GAIN to minimum. Connect the DMM + lead to Q5-C. Connect the DMM - lead to Vref. Vref can be found on the end of R101 closest to C2. Power up the pedal. We want the difference between Q5-C and Vref to be less than ±10mV. If the reading is too high on the positive side, then we increase R6. If the reading is too far negative, then decrease R6. Don't touch any parts or traces when reading the DMM because skin resistance can upset the measurement. On my breadboard, I used 2SK193 JFETs and ended up with R6 = 8.2K. The difference between Q5-C and Vref was -7.5mV.

Second Stage
The second stage is everything from C2 to Q6. The main things we're doing here is changing the GAIN pot to A100K (if req'd), adjusting the associated parts to keep the same gain range and tone and balancing the JFETs.

Ref
Cobalt
Boneyard
Comments
C22.2nF4.7nFPart of the TIGHT switch mod.
R74.7KSITBalances Q2 & Q4.
R92.2K910Req'd if changing GAIN pot to 100K.
R1133K15KReq'd if changing GAIN pot to 100K.
C31uF2.2uF tant.Req'd if changing GAIN pot to 100K.
C6100pF220pFReq'd if changing GAIN pot to 100K.
C8100pF47pFBoneyard is same as BD-2w.
C9220pF390pFAdds a little treble, optional.
Q62N39062N5087Or BC560C. Lower noise, optional.

The balancing procedure is the same as with the first stage, except this time we're measure from Q6-C to Vref and adjusting R7. I used 2SK193s for Q2 & Q4, R7 ended up at 8.2K. Q6-C was within 0.5mV of Vref. I got lucky; you don't need to hit it that close.

Tone Control
The Tone control consists of R15, C10, C13-C15 and the TONE pot. This is where we add the FAT switch. The FAT switch does the exact same thing as the second part of the BD-2w S/C switch. The FAT switch is DPDT ON-ON. We need a two pole switch because we're switching two capacitors. When the FAT switch is on, C13A is connected in parallel with C13 and C14A is connected in parallel with C14.

Ref
Cobalt
Boneyard
Comments
C105.6nF6.8nFSame as -2w.
C13ANot there4.7nFSwitched in parallel with C13 by the FAT sw.
C14ANot there22nFSwitched in parallel with C14 by the FAT sw.

Third Stage
The third stage is everything from pin 2 of the TONE pot to the board's OUT pad. This is where I deviated from the BD-2 and BD-2w. These changes retune the bass boost and are optional. The easy way to do this is to keep the opamp and change a few parts.

Ref
Cobalt
Boneyard
Comments
C1756nF390nFFor ultra-bass use 1uF.
C1856nF6.8nFFor ultra-bass use 18nF.
R201.2K5.6KFor ultra-bass use 2.2K.
D5-D61N914deleteThey don't do anything, optional.
Q72N30942N5089Or BC549C, MPSA18, etc. Lower noise, optional.
C2010uF10uF tant.Optional.
R2410K100KOptional. C20 should be tantalum if you do this.

The Boneyard bass mod extends the bass boost down to 60Hz. The ultra-bass mod extends the bass boost down to 40Hz. In clean mode, the overall freq response is pretty flat below 500Hz. The bass boost happens after the second stage. If you drive the gain stages to clipping, the second stage limits all frequencies more-or-less equally. As a result, the bass boost that happens in the third stage makes the frequencies below 200Hz louder than everything else. I'm running the ultra-bass mod and it is not too boomy in my rig.

The hard way to do the stage three mod is to toss IC1 and Q7 overboard and kludge the MOSFET circuit from Part 3 onto the Cobalt board. I think I'm the only one crazy enough to do that, so I won't bother detailing how it's done here. If someone intends to route a board, I'll provide the necessary input.

To recap:

The Boneyard Mod...
  • Adds two switches that mimic what the BD-2w S/C switch does, but now you can switch TIGHT and FAT on and off independently.
  • Balances the JFETs and allows the use of alternate JFETs.
  • Subs the more common A100K dual pot.
  • Deletes some or all of the diodes that do nothing.
  • Retunes the bass boost in the third stage to smooth out the frequency response and increase the bass over a wider frequency range.
I find that the Blues Driver shines when it is used to overdrive the input of a tube amp. I set GAIN to 10:00 and dial up the LEVEL control to get the right amount of dirt from the amp. The switches, TONE control and guitar's controls fine-tune the amp distortion.
 
Hey Chuck. In a pinch here and I thought I’d ask - I’m using a dual gang b100k and subbing the resistors and caps, but I don’t have a 620p. I do have 680 and 560. Any opinion on whether it will matter, and if one of those is preferable? Thanks!
 
I think you mean 620Ω. Either 560Ω or 680Ω are fine. The 560Ω will make a little more gain, which will only matter if you dime the GAIN pot. If you use a B-taper, the bottom-end of rotation will be a bit touchy. But if you don't use that end of the range, it won't matter.
 
Thanks for that, Matt. I ran across the Aion Sapphire about a week ago. I dissected the Galaxie mod and it's a significantly different pedal when it's done. I personally do not like the distortion sound from the BD-2 and the Galaxie mod does little to change that. We need look no further than the Boss OD-2 for more BD-2 mod ideas. The non-turbo channel of the OD-2 uses diodes in the feedback loop to make distortion, rather than saturating the PNP transistor.
 
Here's my incarnation of Chuck's wizardry, the Wazachuck Bluesdriver aka Blues Machine.

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Hello,

Just trying to clarify here for the biasing of the jfets you mention collector. On a j201 are you referring to the source? Thank you.
 
Is this the part that is unclear to you?

Balancing
The balancing procedure is not complicated. We balance the JFETs in this circuit by adjusting R6 until the voltage on Q5's collector is equal to Vref.

1666938667923.png
 
Shit I misread that wow. Ok. Q5.. now it makes sense. Apparently doped up on DayQuil with a cold is not the time to be reading lol.
 
No problem. Always better to ask questions when in doubt.
Hey I'm reading thought this, and I think i'm stupid lol. I can never wrap my head around switch wiring when adding to a preexisting board. I'm wanting to to add the tight and FAT switch.

For the tight do i keep R18 in the slot the and run wires to the switch or is there a way to keep it empty and wire both directly to the switch?

Same thing for the FAT. Not sure how to wire it to change 2 caps in 2 locations at the same time? I've only done where you wire 2 pairs of diodes in parallel with an ON-OFF-ON.


Also do you think it would be worth it or give interesting settings to split the dual gain pot into essentially a pre and post gain? i want to give my friend options, but keep the stock available (ie if both gain knobs are in the same place). Since looking at the schematic it looks like the dual gang is just essentially turning up the gain on both stages simultaniously. My only worry with that is if there are any weird dead spots or unusable positions the knobs could be set at. Making it more confusing than I'd like.

Thank you!
 
For the tight do i keep R18 in the slot the and run wires to the switch or is there a way to keep it empty and wire both directly to the switch?
Leave R18 in. Add the 10K (or 3.3K for even more "tightness") R18A resistor to one end of R18 and wire the TIGHT switch from the other end of R18A to the other end of R18. It's a bit of a kludge, but not too bad. Use stranded wire to connect the TIGHT switch so you don't pull on R18A during assembly.

Same thing for the FAT. Not sure how to wire it to change 2 caps in 2 locations at the same time? I've only done where you wire 2 pairs of diodes in parallel with an ON-OFF-ON.

The FAT switch (S3) is DPDT. One half of the switch switches one cap (C14A), the other half of the switch switches the other cap (C13A). C13A & C14A are soldered to one end of C13 and C14, respectively. The caps are mechanically attached to the board, not the switch.

It might make more sense if I include the schematic. Ignore everything to the right of the LEVEL control; that mod is not germane to this
discussion.

Also do you think it would be worth it or give interesting settings to split the dual gain pot into essentially a pre and post gain?

I'd keep the dual GAIN pot. I don't think splitting it into 2 pots adds much, if any utility.

These mods are not for beginners. You need some experience modding stuff where you have to figure out how to mount and wire up the extra parts, etc. You can use a dot of hot glue or epoxy to hold the new parts in place. Don't use epoxy unless you are 110% sure it's built right because ungluing parts without doing any collateral damage requires a heat gun, a popsicle stick and some skill.

BD-2 cb mod 3.0B sch.png

Good luck and have fun!
 
Leave R18 in. Add the 10K (or 3.3K for even more "tightness") R18A resistor to one end of R18 and wire the TIGHT switch from the other end of R18A to the other end of R18. It's a bit of a kludge, but not too bad. Use stranded wire to connect the TIGHT switch so you don't pull on R18A during assembly.



The FAT switch (S3) is DPDT. One half of the switch switches one cap (C14A), the other half of the switch switches the other cap (C13A). C13A & C14A are soldered to one end of C13 and C14, respectively. The caps are mechanically attached to the board, not the switch.

It might make more sense if I include the schematic. Ignore everything to the right of the LEVEL control; that mod is not germane to this
discussion.

Thanks CDB! Unbelievably valuable asset here

Does this wiring look right to you?

Blues Driver Wiring.png
 
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