MichaelW
Well-known member
Well, I've finally landed on a Paragon configuration that I'm super stoked about.
This is my 3rd Paragon build and after a lot of experimentation with the first one I built I've finally landed on this config that's the best sounding of all 3.
Mods:
R3, R17 Changed to 10k as per Analogman's schematic
Gain pots changed to B250k for wider gain range
"Warmer tone" mod as per @ckaudioeffects schematic
No charge pump, runs at 9v
Carbon Comp resistors in a few spots as per Analogman's BOM
Carbon Film resistors in a few spots as per Analogman's BOM
Clipping switches exposed in mini toggles.
I socketed the diodes but running the stock MA828/1S1588 configuration in it right now.
I've done some side by side comparisons with the Paragon Mini I just built as well as my DemonFX King of Drive clone (which was my only reference since I don't have a real King of Tone).
There's no doubt that the Paragon's sound better than the DemonFX clone, there's a more 3 dimensional quality to the sound. Not sure if this is just from better components or what. But in comparison the clone sounds a bit flat and lifeless. You probably would not notice this in a mix or in a live setting but, hey, this whole project has been about splitting hairs for me hahah!
I went back and forth about where to put the switches and actually have a box I drilled with the switches located on the back of box between the jacks. But it's a bit fiddly back there with the cables and stuff so I decided to put them on top between the foot switches. I used the shortest bat Taiway switches I could find and the dress nuts help protect the switches from being knocked when stomping. I used the "feather click" 3PDT foot switches from LMSwitches so it doesn't require a hard stomp to activate and also raised them so there's more clearance above the mini toggles. Still, this is probably not the best location for a "vigorous" stomper. It works well for me since I use it in my desktop studio rig and do all my switching by hand.
I can't say definitively if the carbon resistors are making any difference but the end result, "sum of all the mods" is a freaking awesome sounding pedal, super flexible, lots of applications from barely pushed cleans to full on distortion all in one pedal.
I think it sounds a lot better than the stock PedalPCB build which sounded "bright" to me. This build is warmer, and it's got that "magic mid-range" thing going on that the real KOT does. Sounds great with my humbucker guitars (PRS McArty 594, Eastman T185MX, PRS S2 Starla) but it REALLY seems to shine for single coil use. I have a partscaster Strat with Lollar Dirty Blonde pickup set that just sounds freaking awesome thru this pedal. I also have a Nash T-63 with Lollars that sounds great.
I have a buddy that wants one now in the exact same configuration and I'm building one for my brother, hah.
Now that I've got all the bits and pieces worked out it should be a fairly quick build. I've learned so much from this forum and my first Paragon was my very first pedal build only a couple months ago!
This is my 3rd Paragon build and after a lot of experimentation with the first one I built I've finally landed on this config that's the best sounding of all 3.
Mods:
R3, R17 Changed to 10k as per Analogman's schematic
Gain pots changed to B250k for wider gain range
"Warmer tone" mod as per @ckaudioeffects schematic
No charge pump, runs at 9v
Carbon Comp resistors in a few spots as per Analogman's BOM
Carbon Film resistors in a few spots as per Analogman's BOM
Clipping switches exposed in mini toggles.
I socketed the diodes but running the stock MA828/1S1588 configuration in it right now.
I've done some side by side comparisons with the Paragon Mini I just built as well as my DemonFX King of Drive clone (which was my only reference since I don't have a real King of Tone).
There's no doubt that the Paragon's sound better than the DemonFX clone, there's a more 3 dimensional quality to the sound. Not sure if this is just from better components or what. But in comparison the clone sounds a bit flat and lifeless. You probably would not notice this in a mix or in a live setting but, hey, this whole project has been about splitting hairs for me hahah!
I went back and forth about where to put the switches and actually have a box I drilled with the switches located on the back of box between the jacks. But it's a bit fiddly back there with the cables and stuff so I decided to put them on top between the foot switches. I used the shortest bat Taiway switches I could find and the dress nuts help protect the switches from being knocked when stomping. I used the "feather click" 3PDT foot switches from LMSwitches so it doesn't require a hard stomp to activate and also raised them so there's more clearance above the mini toggles. Still, this is probably not the best location for a "vigorous" stomper. It works well for me since I use it in my desktop studio rig and do all my switching by hand.
I can't say definitively if the carbon resistors are making any difference but the end result, "sum of all the mods" is a freaking awesome sounding pedal, super flexible, lots of applications from barely pushed cleans to full on distortion all in one pedal.
I think it sounds a lot better than the stock PedalPCB build which sounded "bright" to me. This build is warmer, and it's got that "magic mid-range" thing going on that the real KOT does. Sounds great with my humbucker guitars (PRS McArty 594, Eastman T185MX, PRS S2 Starla) but it REALLY seems to shine for single coil use. I have a partscaster Strat with Lollar Dirty Blonde pickup set that just sounds freaking awesome thru this pedal. I also have a Nash T-63 with Lollars that sounds great.
I have a buddy that wants one now in the exact same configuration and I'm building one for my brother, hah.
Now that I've got all the bits and pieces worked out it should be a fairly quick build. I've learned so much from this forum and my first Paragon was my very first pedal build only a couple months ago!
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