What’s on *YOUR* workbench?

I'm working on an Echoplex sim built around a FV-1 using the actual preamp, recording, feedback and mixer sections of an EP-3 with the FV-1 replacing the tape. Similiar to what Catalinbread did with the Belle Epoch Deluxe. As I hate using breadboards I put all the stuff I want to try on an actual PCB with a small perfboard section. The individual building blocks of the circuit are seperated from each other using switches and jumpers offering several injection points for a signal generator and scope.

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Luckily I have the real thing, too!

B2tTRFq.jpeg
 
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Band of Dans said:
Was just organizing some parts and noticed that some of these low profile mono jacks are mirrored from the others, which prompted me to check some of the other kinds in the pile. i think they’re from tayda. Would be kind of nice to have a consistent supply of “matched pairs” to make wiring a little neater. Or maybe no one cares and this is nothing 😂
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Can you not pull the metal tab out and flip it around to the slot in the other side?

Band of Dans said:
That’s what I thought too, but the ground pin groove is different. They are stereo, yeah.
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Nevermind, I see this now so it wouldn't be a mirrored pair.
 
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captaincoconut said:
I'm working on an Echoplex sim built around a FV-1 using the actual preamp, recording, feedback and mixer sections of an EP-3 with the FV-1 replacing the tape. Similiar to what Catalinbread did with the Belle Epoch Deluxe. As I hate using breadboards I put all the stuff I want to try on an actual PCB with a small perfboard section. The individual building blocks of the circuit are seperated from each other using switches and jumpers offering several injection points for a signal generator and scope.

BBJhfxk.jpeg


Luckily I have the real thing, too!

B2tTRFq.jpeg
Click to expand...
Love stuff like this!
What voltage are you planning to use for the analog bits?
 
PunchySunshine said:
Nate, the dragons look great on the side of the tranny!
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Those were laser engraved 6 at a time, and I did 800 of them total. My wife insisted nobody would even see them and it was a waste of my time, but I assured her that the people that did see them will appreciate how freaking cool they are.

Thank you for proving me right, I'll let my wife know.
 
Crybaby tweaking on the bench.

input cap 10nF->22nF
range cap 15nF->33nF
”vocal” resistor 47k->62k
Q1 mpsa18 800hfe->old silicon 210hfe
Q1 emitter resistor 390r->270r

Maybe it’ll do with drop A#? Didn’t try it yet, gonna test it later today.
 
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Got a hybrid fuzz driver in my audition rig and WOW this thing is just excellent. It sounds lovely with low output single coils and PAFs alike, is responsive to guitar volume, isn’t too much of anything, etc. It’s been a while since I’ve been so pleased with a pedal right away.

Inspired by GOTA’s recent test rig posts, I decided to give those little “test point” doohickeys another chance in combination with my garbage-tier retractable grabber thingies and they work great! A little finicky but better than soldering temporary wire in there just to rock-before-box.

I have to give thanks to @Chuck D. Bones for his work documenting these Skreddy circuits and being so generous with his time and expertise. It’s a real gift being able to learn about circuits and the finer points of design by reading through his TWOTBB threads, experimenting with his mods, etc. It’s clear that if Chuck rates a circuit, that thing’s worth building.
 
This has been a huge amount of work, but I think it's finally ready for the world. It currently tests 20 different types of tubes (preamp and power) and I'm planning to add a handful more just in case, then it will go to a handful of local amp techs for testing and evaluation. It checks for internal shorts, then measures heater current, plate current, and transconductance. And all easy enough to use that my 7 year-old can run it.

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vigilante398 said:
This has been a huge amount of work, but I think it's finally ready for the world. It currently tests 20 different types of tubes (preamp and power) and I'm planning to add a handful more just in case, then it will go to a handful of local amp techs for testing and evaluation. It checks for internal shorts, then measures heater current, plate current, and transconductance. And all easy enough to use that my 7 year-old can run it.

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I love everything about this!
 
JohnnyCreepy said:
Crybaby tweaking on the bench.

input cap 10nF->22nF
range cap 15nF->33nF
”vocal” resistor 47k->62k
Q1 mpsa18 800hfe->old silicon 210hfe
Q1 emitter resistor 390r->270r

Maybe it’ll do with drop A#? Didn’t try it yet, gonna test it later today.
Click to expand...
If you haven't try the range cap at 22nF and double the electrolytic that is in parallel with the vocal resistor to 10uF. If you want to get nitpicky you can change that electrolytic to a tantalum as per Chuck's recommendation. The guitarist in my band is using a wah I made that has those mods and he loves it, I can also confirm it works wonderfully in drop A#.
 
anevilspar7an said:
If you haven't try the range cap at 22nF and double the electrolytic that is in parallel with the vocal resistor to 10uF. If you want to get nitpicky you can change that electrolytic to a tantalum as per Chuck's recommendation. The guitarist in my band is using a wah I made that has those mods and he loves it, I can also confirm it works wonderfully in drop A#.
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Tried it and it turned bit too dark and on heel almost down position was on edge of oscillation. Adjusting pot centering treadle steps more towards toes down position helped, but not enough. Gonna change Q1e resistor 270r to 330r and try your suggestions if I find some time before rehearsal tomorrow.

Thanks!

Btw, where dem bones chuck has talked about wah? Why haven’t I seen it? 🤷‍♂️
 
JohnnyCreepy said:
Tried it and it turned bit too dark and on heel almost down position was on edge of oscillation. Adjusting pot centering treadle steps more towards toes down position helped, but not enough. Gonna change Q1e resistor 270r to 330r and try your suggestions if I find some time before rehearsal tomorrow.

Thanks!

Btw, where dem bones chuck has talked about wah? Why haven’t I seen it? 🤷‍♂️
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You unfortunately have to dig a bit, I can search for it real quick and post the link when I find it. I'm also going to recommend you pull the bjt input buffer and replace it with a jfet, you most likely will have to bias it. I like to just use a 10K trimmer for that. You can also change the position of the treadle potentiometer to fix some that too.
 
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