Lab Rat - let's get weird

[vigilante398]

This was an idea I breadboarded about 5 years ago and after a few revisions over the years I think it's finally done. It's a Rat tuned for a rich low end response (most of my customers are bassists), diode clipping options (1N4148/LEDs/none), baxandall tonestack, and the JFET output buffer has been replaced by a 12AX7 gainstage and cathode follower (buffer). High voltage provided by SMPS which is all SMT parts hidden on the bottom of the board, signal path is all carbon comp resistors and Mallory film caps. Because mojo. Enclosure is UV print over raw aluminum and covered in sparkly clear powdercoat. It sounds great on guitar, but it completely blows me away on bass.

And you'll have to excuse the lack of knobs, I was so busy playing the thing that I ran out of time. I'll get some knobs on it and get better pictures tonight.

 

[temol]

Interesting idea, nice work (as always). Any samples?

 

[vigilante398]

Interesting idea, nice work (as always). Any samples?

I'm not much of a player, I have a friend that's going to be recording some demos in a couple weeks. I'll see if I can get a rough clip together sometime before that. I have a list of things people have been asking to hear, I should probably just take a night off building and record some stuff

 

[JamieJ]

This is awesome @vigilante398 - I would love to know more about designing overdrive circuits using tubes. I’m sure I wouldn’t be the only one that would love to read about your design process!

 

[Harry Klippton]

This is awesome @vigilante398 - I would love to know more about designing overdrive circuits using tubes. I’m sure I wouldn’t be the only one that would love to read about your design process!

Seconded

 

[jimilee]

Damn, I could even get a a day before someone topped mine! Hats off to you, I’d love to hear how it sounds.

 

[vigilante398]

This is awesome @vigilante398 - I would love to know more about designing overdrive circuits using tubes. I’m sure I wouldn’t be the only one that would love to read about your design process!

Seconded

That's a bit of a rabbit hole But I could organize some ramblings sometime and share some of the tools I use.

 

[JamieJ]

 

[fig]

That's a bit of a rabbit hole But I could organize some ramblings sometime and share some of the tools I use.

Looking forward to it! I hear there's an up and coming podcast looking for celebs to interview as well.

 

[vigilante398]

The boneyard 2.0? Is this town big enough for two sheriffs? I need to pick gang colors and association now. @vigilante398 can we be bloods?

I mean we totally can, but he's been doing this longer than I have I think, maybe I can be the deputy This town should be big enough I think.

 

[Harry Klippton]

I dunno guys, @vigilante398 didn't say his pedals sound better without clips either

 

[vigilante398]

I dunno guys, @vigilante398 didn't say his pedals sound better without clips either

 

[Paradox916]

Call me bias but everything sounds better through a tube… awesome job @vigilante398 ! Man this thing checks just about every box I can think of for a dirt pedal.

 

[benny_profane]

Looks great! Are you using a cnc for the vents?

 

[vigilante398]

Looks great! Are you using a cnc for the vents?

Yup, I suck at hand drilling so I use CNC for all my milling and drilling. Lets me do things I can't do by hand and also gives a lot more consistency from box to box.

 

[Paradox916]

Yup, I suck at hand drilling so I use CNC for all my milling and drilling. Lets me do things I can't do by hand and also gives a lot more consistency from box to box.

The vent design you use is pretty cool it looks killer

 

[vigilante398]

This is awesome @vigilante398 - I would love to know more about designing overdrive circuits using tubes. I’m sure I wouldn’t be the only one that would love to read about your design process!

Seconded

Looking forward to it! I hear there's an up and coming podcast looking for celebs to interview as well.

I was bored tonight

Tubes 101 - Intro to Tube Preamp Design

Hi there! I had a couple requests to talk about my design process for tube preamps, so figured I would write up a super boring guide with way too many words and way too many pictures. I’m going to be using a lot of resources from https://www.ampbooks.com/mobile/amplifier-calculators/ which has...

forum.pedalpcb.com

 

[jeffwhitfield]

Looking forward to it! I hear there's an up and coming podcast looking for celebs to interview as well.

Yeah, speaking of that...@vigilante398 would you be interested in coming on? No doubt we could have some interesting conversations about tube drives and more.

 

[vigilante398]

Yeah, speaking of that...@vigilante398 would you be interested in coming on? No doubt we could have some interesting conversations about tube drives and more.

Totally

 

[jeffwhitfield]

Totally

I’ll hit ya up sometime soon. Still getting everything together for it.