@PedalPCB i think the drill template in the build docs may have the LED in the wrong spot?
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So this is definitely a “fuzz for people who don’t like fuzz”, or a “distortion for people who like op-amp clipping” - in a lot of settings this thing feels more like a very open-sounding overdrive than a fuzz, even in the “infinite” gain (which the math says is around 70dB) setting where it gates, it still doesn’t feel compressed the way most fuzzes do - it still feels like an overdrive.
(also when you switch to “infinite” mode, the gating behavior seems to take a few seconds to settle in and start to gate.)
It’s an interesting idea for a dirt box that doesn’t quite sound or feel like anything else I’ve tried (a Rat with diode-lift is probably a decent point of reference, but this is definitely clearer than that), relying entirely on op-amp rail clipping, but the tone controls are the real stars here - very powerful and very well-tuned. I’m still hoping for a Rous-based board, would *love* to try these controls with a Rat circuit!
(also, this is a *pricey* build because of the OPA2134 and the LTC1144. I get that it’s cool on paper to feed it 18V to get 36V rail-to-rail, but honestly, in this circuit, it doesn’t sound different enough to warrant an $8 charge pump imho.)
also, I used two 100uF electrolytics rated for 100V; I was worried they wouldn’t fit but they did! So don’t be afraid to go bigger if it’s what you have access to.
—————
So this is definitely a “fuzz for people who don’t like fuzz”, or a “distortion for people who like op-amp clipping” - in a lot of settings this thing feels more like a very open-sounding overdrive than a fuzz, even in the “infinite” gain (which the math says is around 70dB) setting where it gates, it still doesn’t feel compressed the way most fuzzes do - it still feels like an overdrive.
(also when you switch to “infinite” mode, the gating behavior seems to take a few seconds to settle in and start to gate.)
It’s an interesting idea for a dirt box that doesn’t quite sound or feel like anything else I’ve tried (a Rat with diode-lift is probably a decent point of reference, but this is definitely clearer than that), relying entirely on op-amp rail clipping, but the tone controls are the real stars here - very powerful and very well-tuned. I’m still hoping for a Rous-based board, would *love* to try these controls with a Rat circuit!
(also, this is a *pricey* build because of the OPA2134 and the LTC1144. I get that it’s cool on paper to feed it 18V to get 36V rail-to-rail, but honestly, in this circuit, it doesn’t sound different enough to warrant an $8 charge pump imho.)
also, I used two 100uF electrolytics rated for 100V; I was worried they wouldn’t fit but they did! So don’t be afraid to go bigger if it’s what you have access to.
