AionFX Comet (legacy) aka DS-1

jcpst

Well-known member
I never owned a DS-1 because my friend had one and I thought it sounded like ass. Tube Screamers and Rats for me.

At some point I learned that there was a version that was considered good. So I found some TA7136Ps on ebay and then acquired this PCB.

Something’s up with the clipping diode switch. Seems to have no effect. But otherwise, I do like the way this sounds. I realized I never spent any time trying to learn Nirvana songs. I’m sure my teenage self adhered to some elitist nonsense about how it was too simple. Even though I always liked the music.

I built this mostly to the vintage specs. I followed the funky 3PDT wiring. The main place I deviated from the build docs was the top jacks.



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I thought it sounded like ass.
i'm the reverse, used to love my old DS-1 (bought in 2005). first pedal i ever bought. played the heck out of it and made it do everything into a solid state bass amp when i was too poor to get a real guitar amp.
but now the love just isn't quite there. i bought one to re-check and yeah nah.

otherwise, I do like the way this sounds.
is it the TA7136P that makes this one better? or something particular about the 'vintage circuit' that differs to a 'modern' DS-1?
 
i'm the reverse, used to love my old DS-1 (bought in 2005). first pedal i ever bought. played the heck out of it and made it do everything into a solid state bass amp when i was too poor to get a real guitar amp.
but now the love just isn't quite there. i bought one to re-check and yeah nah.
That’s awesome. I used to play through a bass Crate combo!

My first pedal was a TS-9. My friend impulsively stole it from the pawn shop and handed it to me. My 2nd was a vintage reissue RAT. I used to do club gigs with this old country dude and he offered it to me after blowing all the earnings on coke for him and the drummer.

is it the TA7136P that makes this one better? or something particular about the 'vintage circuit' that differs to a 'modern' DS-1?
There are some differences in the docs between the “vintage” and “modern” BOM.

The word on the street is this IC is the special sauce. But really, it’s been so long since I’ve used a DS-1. 🤷‍♂️

 
is it the TA7136P that makes this one better? or something particular about the 'vintage circuit' that differs to a 'modern' DS-1?
Technically, the TA7136 makes it worse due to noise and stuff, however, since the 'modern' schematic with the 8-pin op amp had to adapt to that one more pin, some stuff was changed. Newer units (at least to me) have always sounded a bit harsher. Can you dial out that harshness with the tone knob? 99% yes, but there is still some differences. Last year, I had the chance to snaggle up a true february 1994 made in Taiwan DS1 with the TA7136 chip for 90 bucks (I checked, it actually has the TA chip, i was not scammed, makes it one of the last original DS-1s which seems pretty cool to me). The guitar geek shot some DS1s out two years ago on YouTube, that was what made me go for the 'vintage' version. I highly suggest going for the TA7136 version, or sourcing the chip for yourself and building a kit, it just sounds slightly better (less brittle top end). I am fairly convinced that when Kurt Cobain used the OG version, everyone was buying and loving it. But when he died, in the same year the original circuit died too, which might have made the pedal one of the most hated pedals ever (that and maybe the influence of some metal elitists). It is weird coincidence that the two things the grunge world loved the most died in the same year.
 
I wonder what it is abut those old Boss ODs that so many folks love them? Is it just nostalgia or is there more to it?

I used to sell them in a shop and it didn't matter how they were used - what guitar, amp or music style - they always sounded terrible to me! And I was no gear snob. In more recent years I have built a couple just to hear what all the fuss is about and still I don't get it. But then I don't really get Tubescreamers or Rats either. Of all of them I'd choose a Rat if I had to I guess... The first pedal I actually liked while working in the shop was the Marshall Guv'nor. That was the first overdrive pedal I ever owned. Before that I'd just used the overdrive channel in my amp - and they weren't all that inspiring either!

Having said that I really like the build! I'd be interested to hear what those skinny chips sound like. I like the way you did the labelling. I would do that but my handwriting is atrocious. If I could write neater I would definitely do like you did!
 
I wonder what it is abut those old Boss ODs that so many folks love them? Is it just nostalgia or is there more to it?
I think it’s one part curiosity, one part nostalgia.
The first pedal I actually liked while working in the shop was the Marshall Guv'nor.
That is one that I haven’t explored yet, but I’m sure I’ll get there at some point.
I like the way you did the labelling.
Thanks! I usually think it looks bad on the first try. I keep a bottle of ethanol and kim wipes next to me and “erase” a number of times before I think it’s “not bad”.
 
Cool build!

The diodes pads on the old Aion stuff are a bit tricky, you need to jumper the pads you aren't using. Also, check the orientation. The middle position is a diode lift, so, if they all sound the same, I'd guess the other diodes sets aren't clipping.
 
Cool build!

The diodes pads on the old Aion stuff are a bit tricky, you need to jumper the pads you aren't using. Also, check the orientation. The middle position is a diode lift, so, if they all sound the same, I'd guess the other diodes sets aren't clipping.
Thank you for mentioning that! I'm now realizing I think I have the diodes oriented the wrong way by 90 degrees! Pretty sure I misinterpreted the arrows printed on the board.
 
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