DEMO PipeStretcher Overdrive (Dinosaural Tube Bender) - Demo added

[MichaelW]

Build Rating

5.00 star(s)

Last but not least, a very very cool pedal.

A Dan Coggins circuit that's a mash up of a Tube Screamer and Tone Bender (hence the name).

On paper the circuit didn't look like anything special to me but when I started looking into the history of this pedal, apparently it's extremely rare.
Only 150 or so were ever made, and that includes the "Re-issues".

Despite its pedestrian schematic, I'm totally smitten by how this sounds! Really really neat OD/Fuzz. It definitely seems to be a blend of a TS and Silicon fuzz but it's got no clippers!

I'm not exactly sure I understand why it sounds so good but if you're a fuzz-a-holic or an OD-holic, this would be a "MUST BUILD" recommendation.

I don't see this leaving my chain for a long time. Sounds awesome with single coils, HB's, P90's really anything.
There's a "Shift" toggle that sounds like it thins things out a bit, but I really like the stock "fuzzy" position.

Definitely will try to get a demo of this one up.

 

[Laundryroom David]

It really is a great overdrive. Love the build!

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

The actual circuit bears no resemblance to a Tone Bender (any version) or a TS. It is a cool-sounding medium-gain OD.

Nice build, Michael!

 

[MichaelW]

The actual circuit bears no resemblance to a Tone Bender (any version) or a TS. It is a cool-sounding medium-gain OD.

Nice build, Michael!

Yah, the circuit has nothing to do with either. Which is what makes it so interesting. Great fuzzy overdrive with great articulation and reacts real well to the volume control.

 

[music6000]

Under the Radar!
Definately worth Building!
I love mine:

X

A Cool Sounding Overdrive! Mods: 2N3906 PNP Silicon in place of BC307B. 3 way SHIFT toggle switch & 10nf Cap added. 2 way FAT toggle switch - Stock 10nf Input cap & 10nF Cap for total of 20nF. Stereo Input Jack & Battery Clip.

forum.pedalpcb.com

 

[Guilherme Collateral]

Great build as aways! And yeah, it's a veeeery under the radar pedal, I love mine!

 

[mkstewartesq]

Great job, Michael! I always love examining your builds closely because I always seem to learn something that I can do better on my next build (and then, I always seem to forget it when it actually comes time to do my next build). ANYWAY. It looks to me like the transistor in the slot for the BC307B is in backwards – did you substitute another transistor that had a different pinout?

Mike

 

[MichaelW]

Great job, Michael! I always love examining your builds closely because I always seem to learn something that I can do better on my next build (and then, I always seem to forget it when it actually comes time to do my next build). ANYWAY. It looks to me like the transistor in the slot for the BC307B is in backwards – did you substitute another transistor that had a different pinout?

Mike

Yah, I used a 2N3906

 

[geoffrey]

Damn it. @MichaelW build report + "MUST BUILD" recommendation = me buying another OD board.

Hi, my name is Geoffrey and I'm an OD-a-holic.

 

[spi]

This was already in my "probably build" list. Now it's bumped to my "must build" list.

 

[DeadAirMD]

Totally agree, no idea why I bought this board a few months back, but I'm very glad I did.

 

[GizzWizzKing]

Must be patient... A video must be coming... it must. Color me curious I guess.

 

[MichaelW]

Must be patient... A video must be coming... it must. Color me curious I guess.

I forgot all about this....hahaha

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I forgot all about this....hahaha

I was looking at the schematic for this on Aions site last night. I'd never heard about this pedal before. With my recent fuzz sojourn I'm planning on building one.

What's your thoughts now you've had it for a while or was it abandoned into the warehouse and not seen the light of day since?

 

[GizzWizzKing]

I forgot all about this....hahaha

Words have the power to hurt people...

All good! Life is busy. No pressure... But maybe a little.
I am just planning mine out now and realizing that there aren't many build reports or sound clips of this thing.

With my recent fuzz sojourn I'm planning on building one.

I read that the input cap toggle is highly praised in case you're looking for some possible mods.

 

[szukalski]

No video means it didn't meet the MW seal of approval.

 

[KR Sound]

This is one of the favorite OD/Fuzz pedals I’ve built. Great sound with so few parts.

 

[MichaelW]

I was looking at the schematic for this on Aions site last night. I'd never heard about this pedal before. With my recent fuzz sojourn I'm planning on building one.

What's your thoughts now you've had it for a while or was it abandoned into the warehouse and not seen the light of day since?

Ok, ok, I'll put a demo together.

My thoughts? It's neither fish nor fowl. It's cool, but I'm not exactly sure how to use it. But I also haven't spent a lot of time with it.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Ok, ok, I'll put a demo together.

My thoughts? It's neither fish nor fowl. It's cool, but I'm not exactly sure how to use it. But I also haven't spent a lot of time with it.

It's such a small parts count I might as well build one.

 

[MichaelW]

Ok, for my good friend the @SillyOctpuss from the Emerald Isle, land of leprechauns and banshees........

I also compared it to the AionFX "Ixora" which is the Dinosaural OPA-101, the successor to the Tube Bender.
And from what I understand is even more rare than the Tube Bender, I think he made less than 100 units.

And, since I would be remiss not to do a little enabling, I'm also demoing for the first time the new pickups in my Goldtop,

I mentioned getting a set of Zhangbuckers in the Mailbox thread.
After playing them for a week or so I decided to swap out the neck pickup for the Zhanbucker "Lollipop" P90 that I had in my Thinline Tele.
Man, the Lollipop sounds fantastic in the neck position of this guitar. I don't know why I hadn't tried it earlier but I think I've finally settled on the perfect set of P90's for me in this guitar. (Thinline Tele is getting a makeover of some sort, not sure what yet...hahaha)

The Lollipop is very low wind (6.0k) P90 with narrower than usual A5 magnets to trim the "woof" and muddiness of most neck position P90's.
It does an even better job than the Lollar 50's wind, which is my all time favorite neck P90 (up until now).
The bridge is his "Cherrick P90", named after his customer that asked him to design it. It's a normal wind P90 (8.8k) but is unique in that he mixes an A5 and A2. (A2 towards the bridge and A5 towards the neck). It's a fantastic sounding bridge P90 that's got the cut, snarl and rudeness but NO ice pick. This is the only P90 bridge pickup I have that I don't need to roll off the tone a tad.