Golden Falk build

[Eschmidt]

Hello! I just completed my third build, the PedalPCB Golden Falk. It’s based on the Colombo Plexi Breed. This is a fantastic pedal. I am quite picky on my Marshall style pedals and this is the best one I’ve tried. It has that amp like feel to it, not just the sound.

The build was straightforward, with no real issues. This is only my third build after starting this hobby from scratch less than 2 months ago. The only tricky part was sourcing the J201 parts. After researching, it sounds like they don’t make through-hole versions of these anymore. Many people said don’t purchase them off eBay because they will likely be fake. I ordered mine through Smallbear Electronics, who seem to have a good reputation around here so I imagine they are genuine. The one thing I know I need to do better on is getting the box film caps straight and uniform, they tend to shift before I make that first solder joint. Any advice would be helpful. Anyways, I highly recommend this pedal for anyone who is looking for a good Marshall-in-a-box pedal. It sounds excellent through my greenback loaded AC15. Enjoy the pictures!

 

[jcpst]

Looks good! Nice work on your 3rd build.

 

[VanWhy]

Nice build. I'm a big fan of this one too. For what it's worth, the best bet for J201s is to get the SMD versions and either solder them to adapter boards or you can get these ones pre-soldered https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/mmbfj201-jfet-pre-soldered/

The SMD ones usually have much tighter tolerances.

It's actually not as difficult to solder the SMD ones to PCB's that have the footprint for them. Takes a steady hand but once you do a couple, it becomes pretty easy. And it's usually worth it alone for the tight tolerances.

 

[owlexifry]

congrats on your 3rd build, looks very well executed

one thing I know I need to do better on is getting the box film caps straight and uniform, they tend to shift before I make that first solder joint. Any advice would be helpful.

masking tape can help hold components in position.

but what i really do to keep not only box caps straight, but also resistors and anything else, is to solder only one lead of each component at a time (in a ‘run’ of soldering in components, i.e. most of the resistors all at once), then check the position, and reheat the joint if necessary to fix position.
now that you have one lead of each soldered in place, the position of the components should not move, so if you have everything nice and straight at this point, you can proceed to solder the remaining leads.
this method is tedious and takes a bit longer, but it usually ensures components are soldered in straight and neat.

 

[Guilherme Collateral]

Yeah, like everyone said, that’s a very impressive 3rd build, congrats! This is a really good sounding pedal indeed!

 

[Eschmidt]

One thing I’m going to change is the knobs. I like the idea of the Marshall style ones, but the more I look at it they seem bulky and make the pedal look top-heavy from an aesthetic standpoint. I think I’m going to go with 15mm gold metal knobs (sames as the blue knobs in the picture, just a different color).

 

[joelorigo]

Looks really good!

EDIT: I just watched Brett Kingman’s demo of this pedal. Wow it does sound great. I might have to build it and I thought I was done with MIAB pedals!

 

[Eschmidt]

Looks really good!

EDIT: I just watched Brett Kingman’s demo of this pedal. Wow it does sound great. I might have to build it and I thought I was done with MIAB pedals!

I recommend this build if you are into MIAB style pedals. I’ve tried/owned just about every single one that’s come out over the past 20 years.

What I really like about this one is the voicing switch. I find that some switches similar to this on other pedals don’t really do much. But here, it really makes a noticeable difference in both sound and feel between JTM (lower gain, almost bassman style), 1959 (classic rock sound with a big bottom end), and 1987 (tighter and highest gain of the three).

 

[juice886]

I’ve tried/owned just about every single one that’s come out over the past 20 years.

And what MIABs did you like the best?

 

[Eschmidt]

And what MIABs did you like the best?

There were many good ones, but the great ones that stood out to me were the:
-Colombo Plexi Breed
-Bogner Lagrange
-Zvex Box of Rock

These three in particular have an amp like feel to them, in terms of touch dynamics and sag. I think they are the best ones out there, in my opinion.

 

[joelorigo]

There were many good ones, but the great ones that stood out to me were the:
-Colombo Plexi Breed
-Bogner Lagrange
-Zvex Box of Rock

These three in particular have an amp like feel to them, in terms of touch dynamics and sag. I think they are the best ones out there, in my opinion.

Thanks!

I know this MIAB thing has been talked to death, but are you using the AC15 mainly with those? Are there certain ones for certain amps? I am interested in a MIAB to get my deluxe reverb to sound like a Marshall to take one amp to a gig/jam and have the 2 flavors of Fender and Marshall.

 

[Eschmidt]

Thanks!

I know this MIAB thing has been talked to death, but are you using the AC15 mainly with those? Are there certain ones for certain amps? I am interested in a MIAB to get my deluxe reverb to sound like a Marshall to take one amp to a gig/jam and have the 2 flavors of Fender and Marshall.

Yeah I used a hand wired AC15 as my only amp. I don’t play out anymore, I just play at home. A good friend of mine has a Blues Junior and I played the Golden Falk through it. It turns that Fender into a very convincing Marshall. Based on your Deluxe Reverb, I think you will have similar results.

 

[joelorigo]

Yeah I used a hand wired AC15 as my only amp. I don’t play out anymore, I just play at home. A good friend of mine has a Blues Junior and I played the Golden Falk through it. It turns that Fender into a very convincing Marshall. Based on your Deluxe Reverb, I think you will have similar results.

Thanks, I have a hand wired AC15 too (see photo over there )! And I mainly am just playing at home these days also.

Great build!

 

[Eschmidt]

Thanks, I have a hand wired AC15 too (see photo over there )! And I mainly am just playing at home these days also.

Great build!

You have great taste! I find that is the best amp out there for the price. Pretty much impossible to find anything hand wired at that price point.

 

[spi]

-Bogner Lagrange
-Zvex Box of Rock

I'm not surprised you like these two, as IIRC the lagrange is very similar to the box of rock--it's like they started with that circuit then added a bunch of bells and whistles.

Curious if they sound alike?--sometimes enough mods and even though the circuit started from the same place, can end up much different.

 

[Eschmidt]

I'm not surprised you like these two, as IIRC the lagrange is very similar to the box of rock--it's like they started with that circuit then added a bunch of bells and whistles.

Curious if they sound alike?--sometimes enough mods and even though the circuit started from the same place, can end up much different.

Yes they are similar, but the LaGrange is better IMO because there are more tone shaping options. The only downside is that they are well documented as being extremely unreliable. I haven’t had any issues with mine, thankfully.