JHS Pedals Overdrive Preamp

[jeffwhitfield]

I highly doubt this is a complex circuit so shouldn’t take long to trace. It’s a precursor to the DOD 250. Very interested in seeing what this circuit looks like. Sounds interesting.

JHS Pedals, Kansas City USA— Overdrive Preamp

www.jhspedals.info

 

[thesmokingman]

Distortion 250 - PedalPCB.com

Compare to MXR Distortion+ / DOD Overdrive 250 Preamp

www.pedalpcb.com

ElectroSmash - MXR Distortion + Circuit Analysis.

The M-104 MXR Distortion + aka Distortion Plus aka D+ is a distortion guitar pedal designed by MXR and released between 1978 and 1979. The original stompbox did not have external power jack or indicator LED. Jim Dunlop bought the MXR licensing

www.electrosmash.com

there ... you have everything you need

 

[Feral Feline]

I didn’t realise the PPCB Distortion 250 was hand-etched!

 

[jeffwhitfield]

Distortion 250 - PedalPCB.com

Compare to MXR Distortion+ / DOD Overdrive 250 Preamp

www.pedalpcb.com

ElectroSmash - MXR Distortion + Circuit Analysis.

The M-104 MXR Distortion + aka Distortion Plus aka D+ is a distortion guitar pedal designed by MXR and released between 1978 and 1979. The original stompbox did not have external power jack or indicator LED. Jim Dunlop bought the MXR licensing

www.electrosmash.com

there ... you have everything you need

Not exactly. What JHS released isn't a DOD 250 but a circuit that came before it. There will be some differences. Plus, there’s two different voicings for it.

 

[Coda]

Not exactly. What JHS released isn't a DOD 250 but a circuit that came before it. There will be some differences. Plus, there’s two different voicings for it.

All you need is a schematic of the OG. The 250 is pretty simple, and prone to “legend” tones (gray box/Ross/script/etc). The only difference between them is a component or two. Himalayan sea salt, regular sea salt, iodonized salt…it all tastes salty.

 

[jeffwhitfield]

All you need is a schematic of the OG. The 250 is pretty simple, and prone to “legend” tones (gray box/Ross/script/etc). The only difference between them is a component or two. Himalayan sea salt, regular sea salt, iodonized salt…it all tastes salty.

Read the description of the JHS pedal. Yes, it’s going to have a very similar circuit as the 250..,but it’s still different. What are those differences? What does the schematic look like? What two clipping arrangements did they find? That’s what I’m curious about. Already build a Distortion+/250 along with one derivative. I’m just curious what this one is all about.

 

[mdc]

There's a lot of information about variants in this thread: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/the-history-of-the-dod-250.1943863/

...including some gut shots of the first prototype and a spreadsheet comparing the different values for different versions.

 

[jimilee]

From watching show on you tube. Just about all of them are different because they were made with whatever parts were scavenging from old computers. The clipping switch is germanium or silicon. I been about building one with LEDs too, but then I might as well build the great channel.

 

[jeffwhitfield]

From watching show on you tube. Just about all of them are different because they were made with whatever parts were scavenging from old computers. The clipping switch is germanium or silicon. I been about building one with LEDs too, but then I might as well build the great channel.

Yep, and that's what makes this sort of interesting. Still not seeing any specs anywhere of what is effectively a DOD 250 v0.5 and v0.6. Know thing would allow for building pretty much the same pedal JHS put out. Then again, they likely had to make accommodations based on available parts. What were those accommodations? What does their circuit look like that allows them to mimic the same circuit? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[jimilee]

Yep, and that's what makes this sort of interesting. Still not seeing any specs anywhere of what is effectively a DOD 250 v0.5 and v0.6. Know thing would allow for building pretty much the same pedal JHS put out. Then again, they likely had to make accommodations based on available parts. What were those accommodations? What does their circuit look like that allows them to mimic the same circuit? Inquiring minds want to know.

180+tax will get you that answer. Maybe someone will get one.

 

[benny_profane]

For someone that started in the DIY community and gained a lot of knowledge there, he sure seems to loathe to give back anything gained through his further research.

 

[Big Monk]

For someone that started in the DIY community and gained a lot of knowledge there, he sure seems to loathe to give back anything gained through his further research.

I think it’s because his lack of original ideas. He’s like the Wizard of Oz. If you saw what was behind the curtain you’d be underwhelmed.

 

[benny_profane]

I think it’s because his lack of original ideas. He’s like the Wizard of Oz. If you saw what was behind the curtain you’d be underwhelmed.

I won’t argue with that. It’s just odd to compare DIY origins, which largely focuses on demystifying the adspeak and nonsense, to becoming the king of hype.

I think that the (non-DIY) fans would remain customers and think that it’s a super cool move to transparency if he actually talked about things without the marketing bend. Those limited editions are gonna sell no matter what; adding to the history benefits the community as a whole. It’s the same stuff with the Rat thing: “every schematic is wrong and I’m the only one that knows how it works.” Okay? What value does that add to anything beyond announcing yourself the self-proclaimed ‘King of the Rat’?

There are plenty of builders and companies that operate similarly in that they adapt, modify, and build upon existing circuits. I have absolutely zero problem doing that. His whole ‘nuh-uh not me—I’m different and better’ stance is disingenuous and tired. There are a few other that operate the same way, and all of them just sound like frauds.

EDIT: I’m fully aware that this is not a novel take on the situation and that I’m basically repeating the same old grievances.

 

[Coda]

For someone that started in the DIY community and gained a lot of knowledge there, he sure seems to loathe to give back anything gained through his further research.

I think it’s because his lack of original ideas. He’s like the Wizard of Oz. If you saw what was behind the curtain you’d be underwhelmed.

I think his original idea was to take “pedal people” things to the masses. Most guitarists know a Big Muff as a Big Muff. Pedal People will say, “yea, but which one?” While JHS started out as slightly modded versions of other pedals, he’s really zeroed in on the “educative” possibilities of pedals. I think that’s good, overall.

I’m not a fan of his privilege, however. Nor do I appreciate the yin and yang: you can’t make a big deal about how different opamps don’t matter in a Rat, and then release a pedal that is a bunch of different Rats…

 

[benny_profane]

he’s really zeroed in on the “educative” possibilities of pedals. I think that’s good, overall.

I think there’s something there. I don’t think he’s really fulfilling that goal though since he never discloses documents. Maybe it’s squirreled away in a patreon page. Either way, I’m a bit cynical and think it’s all in service to marketing—which I think you hit on with your second point.

 

[thesmokingman]

looks like jeffy is an ignore ... I don't have the patience to spell it out for you so you go ahead and buy the pedal and tell me how wrong I am ... jesus I watched the same video everyone else did

 

[Big Monk]

To be fair, it’s his wishlist thread.

 

[jimilee]

looks like jeffy is an ignore ... I don't have the patience to spell it out for you so you go ahead and buy the pedal and tell me how wrong I am ... jesus I watched the same video everyone else did

I agree with both of you. The pedal has probably got the larger input cap and it has a switch to go between germs and silicon. That conclusion was easy to cone to from the video. I do like his knowledge of the history of pedals, but usage, he should be more giving back to the community from which he came.

 

[Feral Feline]

I’ve got zero problems with this pedal being traced … and then building it on PPCB’s existing Dist+/250/blue-clipper/etc PCB.

For example: The Shika is JAM, and could be easily built on the Muffin board, but a separate PCB was minted by Bugg anyway. I just received my first Muffin PCB AND a Shika PCB came with it. Since I’m going to build both anyway, the Shika saves me from some offboard wiring even though it’d still be a doddle to use the Muffin board to build the Shika.

So what does it matter? If there’s enough interest in this Proto-250, then a board gets made, just as all the YATS PCBs have been produced or JAMs, Fuzz Face variants, Toan Zenderz etc.

Hah! I like that, that’s what I’ll call my ColorSolasound Tone Bender / Baldwin-Burns Buzzaround / Vox Tone Bender / Park Fuzz Sound / Elka Dizzytone / Prescription Electronics Yard Box / etc …

The FFFX Toan Zender.

Now … Back to your regular-scheduled Wishlist 250 …

 

[scheffehcs]

I take both sides too, would love to see it traced if only to confirm it’s the same shit, different marketing.