Maleficent Mid Build

[andrewsrea]

I completed and tested a Maleficent Mids parametric EQ build today. The only change is I substituted an OPA2134 for the NE5532, because it is what I had on hand that was HiFi ish.

It is a good pedal. IMHO, it needs a 'Q' control (broad or narrow on the center frequency) and I am going to take R17 from 4K7 to 5K6 to give a little more push. It is smooth sounding when cutting frequencies and boosting them. If you build one, you'll need to use some double back foam tape to isolate the 'sweep' dual B100K pot from the PCB.

I need to start on some artwork for a couple of pedals and get to some laser engraving!

 

[giovanni]

I completed and tested a Maleficent Mids parametric EQ build today. The only change is I substituted an OPA2134 for the NE5532, because it is what I had on hand that was HiFi ish.

It is a good pedal. IMHO, it needs a 'Q' control (broad or narrow on the center frequency) and I am going to take R17 from 4K7 to 5K6 to give a little more push. It is smooth sounding when cutting frequencies and boosting them. If you build one, you'll need to use some double back foam tape to isolate the 'sweep' dual B100K pot from the PCB.

I need to start on some artwork for a couple of pedals and get to some laser engraving!

The switch is a Q control no? Albeit pretty coarse with just two values.

 

[Band of Dans]

Needs a gut shot!

I recently built one of these too and was really surprised how much I like it, especially in front of other drives. Love that it can switch from mid boost to cocked wah territory and the blend knob is super helpful.

 

[andrewsrea]

The switch is a Q control no? Albeit pretty coarse with just two values.

No. The switch lets you choose between a range of high mids and low mids.

In music speak, a 'Q' control goes from very broad, shelving EQ to very narrow, like a singel position of a wah pedal.

 

[giovanni]

No. The switch lets you choose between a range of high mids and low mids.

In music speak, a 'Q' control goes from very broad, shelving EQ to very narrow, like a singel position of a wah pedal.

I built this a couple years ago and I’m pretty sure the switch lets you select a broad or narrow eq shape. It doesn’t quite get into cocked wah territory but the narrow Q is very noticeable with a distortion before it. From JHS:

 

[MichaelW]

I've always felt this was a good pedal thats about 90% there. The "Q'Lo/Hi" toggle needs to be a pot and I always wish I could dial in the frequency I'm boosting a bit more. The other one that (to me) is not fully baked is the VarioBoost. (Otherwise known as the @peccary boost hahah) Maybe I'm just too picky........

My favorite mid boost at the moment is the Demeter Fat Boost. Only one knob but it's really voiced so perfectly for fattening up single coils or giving HB's some extra muscle.

Anyway, great build @andrewsrea , Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

 

[andrewsrea]

I built this a couple years ago and I’m pretty sure the switch lets you select a broad or narrow eq shape. It doesn’t quite get into cocked wah territory but the narrow Q is very noticeable with a distortion before it. From JHS:

View attachment 104978

I stand corrected. Reviewing the circuit, it is a rudimentary way of tightening the Q and it shifts the frequency band a bit.

I am used to the 'gold standard' of parametric EQ, my Furman PQ3, which goes about it in a more effective way.

Appreciate the correction!

 

[jcpst]

The other one that (to me) is not fully baked is the VarioBoost.

Just genuinely curious as a fan of mid-boost pedals myself- is it the lack of a Q control? I’m a fan of the Varioboost, and that’s probably what I would want. A one channel fully parametric EQ plus a clean boost.