Crankshaft (Speaker Cranker)

[DAJE]

I bought a few of the simplest PPCB boards at the start of the year. No particular reason, just felt like some easy ones.

This one is great, very nice sounds from a simple design. I did have an issue when amassing parts for the pedal because 1N60P diodes are commonly called germanium when they are in fact silicon. I never did get a clear response as to why everyone calls them germanium when they're not.

Anyway, the pedal sounds great with silicon diodes. Nice raspy drive sound, bit of a midrange boost without being much like a Tube Screamer. Transparent, you might say. Responsive to dynamics. Cleans up pretty well with the volume knob, too. I'd have liked a level knob, because increasing the gain makes everything louder, but I suspect that'd change the circuit a bit too much, and its charm is that it does one simple thing very well.

I bought some UV LEDs from Tayda a while ago and was underwhelmed with them, while also worrying that they were blasting me with invisible-to-most-humans radiation. But I looked at the numbers and they're not supposed to be putting out light in the bad UV range, just the high end of the visible spectrum. I used a 2K resistor to make it a bit more visible, but it's still duller than most LEDs. Unless you're an insect or a bird, I guess.

 

[BuddytheReow]

I bought a few of the simplest PPCB boards at the start of the year. No particular reason, just felt like some easy ones.

This one is great, very nice sounds from a simple design. I did have an issue when amassing parts for the pedal because 1N60P diodes are commonly called germanium when they are in fact silicon. I never did get a clear response as to why everyone calls them germanium when they're not.

Anyway, the pedal sounds great with silicon diodes. Nice raspy drive sound, bit of a midrange boost without being much like a Tube Screamer. Transparent, you might say. Responsive to dynamics. Cleans up pretty well with the volume knob, too. I'd have liked a level knob, because increasing the gain makes everything louder, but I suspect that'd change the circuit a bit too much, and its charm is that it does one simple thing very well.

I bought some UV LEDs from Tayda a while ago and was underwhelmed with them, while also worrying that they were blasting me with invisible-to-most-humans radiation. But I looked at the numbers and they're not supposed to be putting out light in the bad UV range, just the high end of the visible spectrum. I used a 2K resistor to make it a bit more visible, but it's still duller than most LEDs. Unless you're an insect or a bird, I guess.

I’ve got the same issue with those UV LEDs. I had high hopes for them, but they’re really not bright at all. Great looking build!

 

[cdwillis]

At one point I read that they were germanium, then that they were schottky diodes. They have a forward voltage similar to a germanium diode. That's probably where the confusion came from coupled with the housing looking like a 1n34a more than a 1n4001.

 

[DokiGokiDenki]

1n60 diodes are both germanium and silicon. Both versions exist in the world. Oddly enough, I had less problem finding the Germanium locally. I had to order the silicon version from a shop in Tokyo. I am going to socket the diodes and try each version and see what sounds best. I built a special K board and put D18's in the germanium section and temporarily put the 1s2076 in the silicon section. Fun times.

Yes, late response, but I was trying to see what others used in the crankshaft. The build documents state they are the germanium version of the 1n60, but the earthquaker photos appears to lead me to believe they are the silicon version...along with all of the other build photos I have found of clones. I like the concept of germanium so I have a feeling I will perceive that they sound better. Adventure!

 

[Robert]

The build documents state they are the germanium version of the 1n60, but the earthquaker photos appears to lead me to believe they are the silicon version..

I believe you are correct, since the Special Cranker product description states:

"...and a diode selector switch featuring the original asymmetrical Silicon diodes as well as a hot, new Germanium diode option."

I've updated the build documentation to reflect this.

 

[joelorigo]

Love that enclosure. How did you do it?

There is the Special K based on the Special Cranker, which adds a level and tone. I’ve recently been on a Electra distortion deep dive…

 

[DAJE]

Love that enclosure. How did you do it?

Stickers from AliExpress.

There is the Special K based on the Special Cranker, which adds a level and tone. I’ve recently been on a Electra distortion deep dive…

Here's my Special K build report.