Parentheses - A show of hands

[Chuck D. Bones]

How many of you have built the Parentheses?

 

[DGWVI]

I have a board arriving today or tomorrow. I'll get that one done first

 

[Nostradoomus]

I’ve built the OG and have a mini on the way. Pretty sure my problems were really just finding suitable FETs that made it come alive. It’s been awhile so I don’t really remember what else it needed but it works as it should now....not that I have a Life Pedal to compare it to haha

 

[benny_profane]

I had a bit of what seemed like overloading of the octave circuit when that was completely opened up that resulted in a volume drop followed by a swell when hit with a large signal (heavy strum from humbuckers). I matched the resistors and diodes in the rectification block. I think asking that particular octave circuit to be not without its quirks is not exactly reasonable. So, no complaints with it. As always: source from reputable vendors (especially with OOP parts) to make sure that you're getting what you think you're getting. For anything you're unsure of, measure and confirm!

 

[thedwest]

Has anyone had problems with the mini board? I have both and after seeing all of the difficulties that people seem to be having with the original, I think I'm going to try out the mini board first. Haven't seen any troubleshooting posts on that one yet.

 

[Nostradoomus]

I had a bit of what seemed like overloading of the octave circuit when that was completely opened up that resulted in a volume drop followed by a swell when hit with a large signal (heavy strum from humbuckers). I matched the resistors and diodes in the rectification block. I think asking that particular octave circuit to be not without its quirks is not exactly reasonable. So, no complaints with it. As always: source from reputable vendors (especially with OOP parts) to make sure that you're getting what you think you're getting. For anything you're unsure of, measure and confirm!

That’s also partly the Rats fault I think, I’ve had some of them do the low note fart out thing, changed the 4.7uf (connected to 560r)in the distortion section to 2.2 or 1uf and it cleared it up.

 

[Fuzzonaut]

I'be built it with the early, big board. Worked right away and sounds great.

Components came from Musikding/Banzai. I matched the GE diodes (Ringer) and used 3 tantalum caps (Rat). I measure components before soldering them in.

Got the mini board on the way too.

 

[Nostradoomus]

Has anyone had problems with the mini board? I have both and after seeing all of the difficulties that people seem to be having with the original, I think I'm going to try out the mini board first. Haven't seen any troubleshooting posts on that one yet.

Give it time haha, it wasn’t released that long ago. Mine should be here next week some time if customs doesn’t hold it for no reason.

 

[JetFixxxer]

Hopefully everyone who has built one cast their vote.

 

[K Pedals]

I’ve built a few big ones and a couple mini ones... the only problem I’ve had was on the putting a 4.7k instead of 47k...

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

Hopefully everyone who has built one cast their vote.

Clearly, everyone who has built one has not cast their vote. A quick scan of the Troubleshooting forum will prove that.

 

[porkrind]

I'be built it with the early, big board. Worked right away and sounds great.

Components came from Musikding/Banzai. I matched the GE diodes (Ringer) and used 3 tantalum caps (Rat). I measure components before soldering them in.

Got the mini board on the way too.

I haven’t voted yet; I’m still one components order and a bunch of paint/label work away from completion. Maybe this weekend if the shipping gods smile on me.

One question... which caps did you use tantalum parts for? What's the thinking behind that? I had this general perception that I should avoid tantalum.

I matched my GE caps pretty closely but would liked to have started with a bigger pool. Somewhere I’ve got a box of those, but I haven’t been able to find them since a move a couple of years ago.

 

[K Pedals]

I haven’t voted yet; I’m still one components order and a bunch of paint/label work away from completion. Maybe this weekend if the shipping gods smile on me.

One question... which caps did you use tantalum parts for? What's the thinking behind that? I had this general perception that I should avoid tantalum.

I matched my GE caps pretty closely but would liked to have started with a bigger pool. Somewhere I’ve got a box of those, but I haven’t been able to find them since a move a couple of years ago.

C13 C14 C15 are the tantalum... not sure why though...

 

[Jovi Bon Kenobi]

I have both boards. the first one of each. I haven't built them yet I'm scared. ?

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

C13 C14 C15 are the tantalum... not sure why though...

Tantalum caps are less leaky, less lossy, have tighter tolerance and are more stable than aluminum caps. Those are all important characteristics for C13 & C14. C15 could be either tantalum or aluminum, but since there is already a 4.7uF cap on the BOM, they might as well be the same type. Tantalum caps have a couple of downsides. Because they are less lossy, they can be resonant in the 100KHz range, but that's not really a concern for audio circuits. They don't tolerate large surge currents well, but that's also not a big concern in guitar pedals.

 

[K Pedals]

Tantalum caps are less leaky, less lossy, have tighter tolerance and are more stable than aluminum caps. Those are all important characteristics for C13 & C14. C15 could be either tantalum or aluminum, but since there is already a 4.7uF cap on the BOM, they might as well be the same type. Tantalum caps have a couple of downsides. Because they are less lossy, they can be resonant in the 100KHz range, but that's not really a concern for audio circuits. They don't tolerate large surge currents well, but that's also not a big concern in guitar pedals.

Sweet
Thanks for the info...

 

[Fuzzonaut]

I haven’t voted yet; I’m still one components order and a bunch of paint/label work away from completion. Maybe this weekend if the shipping gods smile on me.

One question... which caps did you use tantalum parts for? What's the thinking behind that? I had this general perception that I should avoid tantalum.

I matched my GE caps pretty closely but would liked to have started with a bigger pool. Somewhere I’ve got a box of those, but I haven’t been able to find them since a move a couple of years ago.

Yeah, it was C13, 14 and 15 as pointed out.

Why? Just because EQD did too. You can see them in the gut shot of their pedal and they even mentioned them in their description:
"It is faithfully modeled after the classic LM308 “White Face” distortion pedal, right down to the tantalum caps."

Chuck's answer is better though ...

 

[silentrecords]

anyone have build docs for mini parentheses? or is the schem and part numbers the same as the larger version?

 

[K Pedals]

I think it’s the same
There is a 1uf MLCC in the mini...
I think everything else is the same...

 

[silentrecords]

what number is the 1uF MLCC cap?