Back in 2004 I built Tonepads Blue Box project because I always wanted to try a Blue Box. It was okay but not terribly usable. 10 years later I got the Bit Commander and thought it was similar to the Blue Box but with way more control, additional options and much more usability. I decided to give the Captain a go and compare. I a/b'd them and they were dead on as one might expect. Once you get the hang of them these are fun pedals.
Captain Bit
- Thread starter Route14
- Start date
Cool. If you like the original you'll like this one. Mouser has the transformer, Small Bear has the 386 chip and I used Tayda's 6 knob pre drilled enclosure. It came together very easily.
Betty Wont
Well-known member
The chip is also available at tayda and mouser, and small bear carries a 011 transformer as well.
Pretty much. The company used to be called Japan Radio Company but I think the are called New Japan Radio now. The chips still say JRC but when searching Mouser you have to use NJM####. The only place I’ve found the JRC386D is at Small Bear. Search NJM386D and you should find it.
There might be substitutes but I’m not knowledgeable enough to know what would work.
Danbieranowski
Well-known member
Kind of. It’s the guitar signal but adds a fuzz.
giovanni
Well-known member
Hey guys, NJM386D was officially discontinued and, although it seems possible to find, I wonder if there are alternative parts we can use? Mouser suggests NJM2113D, but from the comparison it looks like there are substantial differences (higher output impedance, almost double the gain), although I don't know if and how they would affect this circuit. Any ideas?
Elijah-Baley
Active member
Original and replica pedals sounds pretty the same.
But I'm wondering why the setting of the knobs are so different.
But I'm wondering why the setting of the knobs are so different.
Mostly because the arrangement of the knobs is completely different between the two board layouts.
Any other difference would be because of tolerance in components (particularly the pots which can be up to 20%) and because of the installation point of the knobs to the pot. I matched the sounds and levels by ear the best I could. Really the only way to do a true comparison between two pedals of the same circuit.
Thanks!
I wish I knew enough about components to say.
Because the guitar pedal industry doesn't drive the electronic parts industry it's gotta be tough for builders when a part they use becomes obsolete. I imagine they have to move to SMD parts or redesign their circuits to work with available parts.
I wonder in a situation like this if EQD has a stock pile of these parts or if they would discontinue the pedal.
giovanni
Well-known member
I think that's when builders release their V2 of a pedal or something... I wonder if I should just get the part and see if it works properly. If the circuit is well designed, some part differences shouldn't make a huge difference. I am a bit concerned about 2X the gain tho (in dB).
Danbieranowski
Well-known member
That’s what I used and it worked well.
I've primarily been purchasing enclosures from Tayda. Coated and pre-drilled when I can.
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