Soul Vendor - input sensitivity

[ReinoutVrijhoef]

Hi everybody!
A while ago I finished my build of the Soul Vendor. I like the pedal a lot, although it has a lot of gain. Previously, I built a Sun face clone (Analog Sun) from another supplier. This circuit has a trimpot for input sensitivity:


Do you think it is possible to put a trimpot (or another potmeter) in the Soul Vendor, before C1 (red arrow)?

 

[JamieJ]

Yep that’ll work. I am planning that for my Tonebender I’m due to build soon. I think @Big Monk is a fan of the pre-gain control to tame the sounds as well.

 

[ReinoutVrijhoef]

Thanks! Then I will try this. Is it wise to cut the trace between the input and C1? Or just remove and replace C1 and insert the pot on the input side of C1?

 

[andare]

Who in their right mind would try to tame a Tone Bender?
Let 'er rip!

 

[ReinoutVrijhoef]

Who in their right mind would try to tame a Tone Bender?
Let 'er rip!

Options, options, options...

 

[BuddytheReow]

Without extensive surgery, you could simply wire a pot to the input before the circuit even begins. Input to pin3 and "to circuit" pin2...

 

[JamieJ]

I wouldn’t cut the trace personally. I would remove C1 then send pad one of where C1 should be to pin 1 of your clean pot. Solder the 100N to lug 2 of the pot then send a wire from the other side of the 100N to pad 2 of where C1 was. Hope that makes sense.

 

[ReinoutVrijhoef]

Without extensive surgery, you could simply wire a pot to the input before the circuit even begins. Input to pin3 and "to circuit" pin2...

If it's not a problem if the pot is before the pulldown resistor R1, I think this is the best and least invasive solution, thanks!

 

[BuddytheReow]

If it's not a problem if the pot is before the pulldown resistor R1, I think this is the best and least invasive solution, thanks!

You could also connect pin1 to ground. This will give you a full volume input range rather than just attaching a variable input resistor.

 

[ReinoutVrijhoef]

You could also connect pin1 to ground. This will give you a full volume input range rather than just attaching a variable input resistor.

I'm quite new to this, could you please explain the difference? Is it then not only attenuating the signal, but sending it to ground entirely?

 

[Big Monk]

I'm quite new to this, could you please explain the difference? Is it then not only attenuating the signal, but sending it to ground entirely?

A Series Impedance (variable resistor) will change the texture of the pedal and reduce gain slightly. A Voltage Divider will reduce input gain more significantly giving you all the benefits of the series resistance while actually reducing the signal significantly if need be.

 

[mdc]

If it's not a problem if the pot is before the pulldown resistor R1, I think this is the best and least invasive solution, thanks!

The pot *is* a pulldown resistor since it's tied to ground.

edit: oops - I looked at the schem too quickly and didn't notice that the pot is wired as a variable resistor in the sun face... tying pin 1 to ground per big monk's suggestion gives you the additional benefit of a pull down resistor.

 

[ReinoutVrijhoef]

Okay, I think I get it. I like the way the pot works in the Analog Sun, and there already is a pulldown resistor. I would like to use the new pot just to accommodate the pedal to different guitars, I have quite a few of them. If I need to kill more volume, I'll use the dedicated pot on my guitars . I'll try to solder in the pot and will report back here!