Friedman BEOD overdrive pedal Brightness MOD?

[nznat]

This is a sort of dark sounding pedal, (i built an AION design called the tempest), the treble isnt that bright, same for original pedal.

Im wanting to see how to brighten up this pedal, or add more brightness to the treble dial, or a dedicated bright switch, yet i dont know which part of the schematic i should mod. any can help?

 

[Feral Feline]

I'll take a stab at suggestions:

Smaller C6 (stock 100n), try halving that and see where it gets you.

Presence: Smaller C10

Reduce output cap C16 from 220n to 100n


Only mess with one of those three caps at a time. Put it back to stock before messing with the next one.
You might even get away with just reducing C16 and no other modifications. That would keep the circuit sounding most like itself, I think.


PS: C11 under the treble pot, mess with that one too.

 

[nznat]

I'll take a stab at suggestions:

Smaller C6 (stock 100n), try halving that and see where it gets you.

Presence: Smaller C10

Reduce output cap C16 from 220n to 100n


Only mess with one of those three caps at a time. Put it back to stock before messing with the next one.
You might even get away with just reducing C16 and no other modifications. That would keep the circuit sounding most like itself, I think.


PS: C11 under the treble pot, mess with that one too.

If i wanted to make Middle deeper, cut more mids when i turn the dial down, maybe half C15 cap size?

I have done the above mods, the best was treble, yet almost no more birghtness, but created a really great treble cut by accident that created an amazing dumble ish super duper smooth and quiet effect, can place a lot of gain and yet it stays super quiet. interesting.

 

[lowpitch]

Are you running this in the FX return of your amp? Because it really benefits from the additional tone shaping possibilities of being run into the clean channel of an amp. Hard to imagine it's still not bright enough with the treble cranked on the amp to be honest.

 

[nznat]

Are you running this in the FX return of your amp? Because it really benefits from the additional tone shaping possibilities of being run into the clean channel of an amp. Hard to imagine it's still not bright enough with the treble cranked on the amp to be honest.

Oh you can make amps bright, but that's not the question. Some old amps or others are dark even with bright up. I just want the option of brightness when needed. Treble and bright are two different things.

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

How much brighter do you want to go?
The Friedman Small Box OD (PPDB Complex OD) has a brightness mod that should do what you need. Referring to the schematic you posted, increase R17 to 47K and put a cap in parallel with R17. The Small Box uses 470pF. You could try other cap values, such as 220pF or 1nF. Or other resistor values (larger for brighter). I recommend breadboarding circuit mods, otherwise you may end up damaging the PCB with repeated soldering/desoldering.

MID is boost only. If you want a mid cut, then that will require major surgery.

FYI: on the BEOD, Dirty Shirley, Small Box, et.al.,
TREBLE is cut only
MID is boost only
BASS is boost only

If the EQ on the BEOD is not to your liking, there are other high-gain ODs that you might like better, such as the Revv series.

 

[nznat]

How much brighter do you want to go?
The Friedman Small Box OD (PPDB Complex OD) has a brightness mod that should do what you need. Referring to the schematic you posted, increase R17 to 47K and put a cap in parallel with R17. The Small Box uses 470pF. You could try other cap values, such as 220pF or 1nF. Or other resistor values (larger for brighter). I recommend breadboarding circuit mods, otherwise you may end up damaging the PCB with repeated soldering/desoldering.

MID is boost only. If you want a mid cut, then that will require major surgery.

FYI: on the BEOD, Dirty Shirley, Small Box, et.al.,
TREBLE is cut only
MID is boost only
BASS is boost only

If the EQ on the BEOD is not to your liking, there are other high-gain ODs that you might like better, such as the Revv series.

the R17 changes made zero difference to brightness, yet dropped the volume by about 1 quarter.

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

Did you add a cap in parallel with R17?
Yes, it will reduce the volume by 6dB, that is the cost of adding brightness in that part of the circuit. Is it a problem?

 

[nznat]

IT adds no brightness what so ever. And the odd thing is, its in a place that couldn't possibly add brightness. I tried it anyhow. thanks for your help. i dont think we are going to get more brightness out of this circuit without making something else sound bad.

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

Try a bigger cap, like 2.2nF. The 470pF cap in the Small Box makes 3dB of treble lift at 10KHz. 2.2nF will move the 3dB point down to 2.2KHz.