Curds and whey distortion added to a better overdrive?

[neiltheseal]

Hey team

I recently built a Curds and Whey (Crowther Prunes and Custard) that I really like.

To my ears this is a mediocre overdrive pedal with an amazingly weird gain stage. This has me thinking, can I add the gain stage to a better overdrive pedal?

If I start with something like a Timmy, can I add this gain stage to it I have screenshots of both schematics attached. If I add the curds and whey stage ( from r7 on) to the timmy (Pin 2 of SW1) this should work right as long as there is a mix control?

I can draw up a schematic tomorrow to hopefully explain what i mean better. I just think this can be better if we start with a decent overdrive. I've never built a timmy but love the kingtone blues power.

 

[neiltheseal]

 

[neiltheseal]

Here is my rough idea. It is a simplified Timmy with the Prunes and Custard intermodulator and mix part.

Is there any reason this would not work?

I made the first and second gain go to GND instead of Vref. Timmy went to vref but I changed this to ground. Is this an issue?

 

[drgonzo1969]

This seems like a really kickass idea.

 

[neiltheseal]

The idea is that I really like the intermodulator sound from the Crowther Prunes and Custard but the overdrive sound is a bit meh. I wanted a decent overdrive with the ability to incorproate the cool prunes and custard sounds.

I have the following questions.

1 - Will this work
2 - Any glaring errors or suggestions for improvement?
3 - I made it so the gain from both stages in the Timmy went to gnd instead of VREF - Is this a mistake?
4 - Any way to get more out of the intermodulator?
5 - Is this whole idea a mistake?

EDIT: RE Q2. Yes I see that C10 is not connected to anything. Also R16 should probably be connected to VREF I assume.

 

[neiltheseal]

This seems like a really kickass idea.

Thanks! It sounds like a good idea in my head. I'm not sure I have the chops to make it reality though so I'm opening it to the experts here.

 

[neiltheseal]

Someone on a Facebook forum suggested instead of the mix pot i use an op amp mixer such as that used in the boss ce2 and walrus Julia. This seems like a good idea to me

 

[drgonzo1969]

I am definitely not an expert so I can't offer advice. I'm just growing out of the paint by numbers phase of my DIY journey. But I agree with your opinion on the Prunes and Custard and this seems like a very worthy experiment. PPCB Curds and Whey is always on everyones Top 10 lists. There is a lot of potential in adding the cool portion of the Prunes and Custard circuit to more worthy drive/distortion/fuzz circuits.

 

[neiltheseal]

Thanks. I’m glad you think it’s a good idea. I will make this at some point and will let you know if it’s successful!

 

[spi]

Is there any reason this would not work?

This is probably how most new overdrives get created. Borrow stuff and stack 'em.

 

[finebyfine]

For what it's worth, the wavefolder section of the Prunes & Custard is adapted from a design by Juergen Haible (alt link). Digging into that might come up with people who have done similar stuff based on it as well.

 

[pingpongcomputer]

This is a really cool idea. Please update with progress, I'd love to build one but I barely understand how things work, so can't help with design.

 

[neiltheseal]

Thanks @finebyfine. I was wondering what it was based on. I’ll do some research into that.

 

[cdwillis]

That circuit is crazy

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

I am definitely not an expert so I can't offer advice. I'm just growing out of the paint by numbers phase of my DIY journey. But I agree with your opinion on the Prunes and Custard and this seems like a very worthy experiment. PPCB Curds and Whey is always on everyones Top 10 lists. There is a lot of potential in adding the cool portion of the Prunes and Custard circuit to more worthy drive/distortion/fuzz circuits.

Yeah, same. I wish I had something more than enthusiasm to contribute to this. I'd mess with any circuit related to the prunes&custard.

 

[neiltheseal]

Here is where I am at so far, I have fixed up things that seem to be issues. I will read through those wavefolder documents, I am very interested in the shape poteniometer, hopefully I can include one.

I'm glad there is enthusiasm for this and it's not just me.

Since I suck at breadboarding, I'll have a PCB made of this fairly soon and see how it goes. Fingers crossed it works. I'll post my results, even if it is a total failure.

 

[drgonzo1969]

Hell yeah dude!

 

[jwin615]

Good practice to ground the input and output of that unused opamp.

 

[neiltheseal]

Good practice to ground the input and output of that unused opamp.

Thanks. I'll do this.

Why is this good practice? Not being rude, I just have no idea.

 

[jwin615]

Thanks. I'll do this.

Why is this good practice? Not being rude, I just have no idea.

Prevents any chance of oscilation