- Build Rating
I finished up my Pauper build this weekend. I built exactly per the build doc, with only a few minor substitutions: film caps instead of electrolytic when possible, and I used BA282 diodes. The bypass board is my custom microcontroller relay bypass. The enclosure is StompBoxParts 125B Pro in "Auqua Vein". It's a lightly textured finished (you might call it "hammered"). I use a no-film waterslide decal, and I was worried about how it would transfer to the textured finish, but turned out as good as any of my waterslide decals!
There's a couple massively over-large film caps in there: I always consider it a win when I have room to use these big components in my inventory!
Overall build was unremarkable. It didn't work on first power on - turns out I wired the tip and sleeve connections of the input/output jacks backwards (sadly, not the first time I've done that). Easily fixed, works fine now.
I think I labeled the od/boost/dist switch backwards. To my ears, "dist" sounds like I would expect "od" to sound and vice-versa. Oh well.
The only thing that might be an issue - the level knob needs to be well past noon for unity gain, and needs to land around 3:00 for the slight boost above unity I like for my overdrives. But this is consistent with the OG Bluesbreakers I've played with, so maybe it's to be expected. (And I know it's not uncommon for other BB derived circuits, e.g. Snouse Blackbox or JHS Morning Glory to graft another transistor to the end of the circuit to offer a bit more volume.)
I have one of those cheap DemonFX King of Tone clones. I never played the real thing, but I liked what I heard from the cheapo clone. I haven't put it side-by-side with my Pauper build yet, but, at least going from aural memory, it's pretty close. I don't think I can add anything to the discussion that hasn't already been said about this circuit.
There's a couple massively over-large film caps in there: I always consider it a win when I have room to use these big components in my inventory!
Overall build was unremarkable. It didn't work on first power on - turns out I wired the tip and sleeve connections of the input/output jacks backwards (sadly, not the first time I've done that). Easily fixed, works fine now.
I think I labeled the od/boost/dist switch backwards. To my ears, "dist" sounds like I would expect "od" to sound and vice-versa. Oh well.
The only thing that might be an issue - the level knob needs to be well past noon for unity gain, and needs to land around 3:00 for the slight boost above unity I like for my overdrives. But this is consistent with the OG Bluesbreakers I've played with, so maybe it's to be expected. (And I know it's not uncommon for other BB derived circuits, e.g. Snouse Blackbox or JHS Morning Glory to graft another transistor to the end of the circuit to offer a bit more volume.)
I have one of those cheap DemonFX King of Tone clones. I never played the real thing, but I liked what I heard from the cheapo clone. I haven't put it side-by-side with my Pauper build yet, but, at least going from aural memory, it's pretty close. I don't think I can add anything to the discussion that hasn't already been said about this circuit.
