Steddi, Go! - simple tube D.I.

[vigilante398]

For the past several years I've catered largely to bassists, since they tend to be largely underserved in the pedal world. One thing that pretty much every bassist needs is a good sounding D.I., because nobody is going to bring their 8x10 stack to a bar gig for $50. Nobelium is still hands down my best selling project, but it's big and expensive, and is a big jump for someone that wants a tube D.I. but has never dabbled in tube projects before.

So with that in mind, I designed Steddi, Go! It's my answer to the question "what's the simplest, great sounding tube D.I. you can make?" It uses a single 12AX7, has a single knob (volume), and fits in a 1590BBS. I couldn't decide whether the 1/4" output should be a parallel passthrough to feed an amp, IEM, onstage monitor, etc. or if it should be a tap from the tube's output. So I put pads on the board for both, and you can install a jumper for whichever you want to use. Or if you're creative you can probably find room for an SPDT toggle to have both options available.

I have a prototype built up and will get final boards in soon, then I'll get documentation together and make these available.

EDIT: now that I'm looking at it, I kind of want to add a 1/4" source select toggle onto the board. Good thing I haven't placed the order yet.

 

[vigilante398]

Update:

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

 

[Lekky]

Interesting!
Is it a single gain stage with direct-coupled cathode follower a la Ampeg SVTDI?

 

[vigilante398]

Interesting!
Is it a single gain stage with direct-coupled cathode follower a la Ampeg SVTDI?

Exactly that, yup.

 

[Tassieviking]

And it is now up on the C2CE shop page but stock is 0 units until Nathan is ready to go, I can feel the countdown already.
I kept wondering if it was going to have a transformer and now I know it will, as soon as they are ready for sale.
10-9-8-7.......

 

[vigilante398]

And it is now up on the C2CE shop page but stock is 0 units until Nathan is ready to go, I can feel the countdown already.
I kept wondering if it was going to have a transformer and now I know it will, as soon as they are ready for sale.
10-9-8-7.......

Yeah the main reason I haven't made it available yet is that I'm actually running a little low on transformers at the moment, I may actually have to stop offering them on the website for a bit until I get my next order in about a month.

I have 50 PCBs for Steddi Go on hand now, and the build doc has been started.

 

[Tassieviking]

Yeah the main reason I haven't made it available yet is that I'm actually running a little low on transformers at the moment

Most likely because of greedy people buying your transformers just to have in the spare parts box, I have 2 spare ones at the moment at home.

 

[Tassieviking]

I am curious if there is any progress on the drill files or the artwork for this one, I keep stalling a Tayda order so I can include the Steddi-Go box in the order.
I don't care if I order the box before i get the PCB, and I have already worked out the schematic weeks ago.
Hopefully the transformers come in soon.

 

[vigilante398]

I am curious if there is any progress on the drill files or the artwork for this one, I keep stalling a Tayda order so I can include the Steddi-Go box in the order.
I don't care if I order the box before i get the PCB, and I have already worked out the schematic weeks ago.
Hopefully the transformers come in soon.

Not yet, I should probably get going on that.

 

[74hc]

Why don't you put up some of the PCBs for sale? I have several Jensen, LBA, and Unagi transformers sitting around.

The schematic I have of the SVT-DI doesn't use a 12:1 direct box style transformer, but a 4:1 instead. I don't know if the schematic I have is correct, but it's the common one floating around the internet.

 

[vigilante398]

Why don't you put up some of the PCBs for sale? I have several Jensen, LBA, and Unagi transformers sitting around.

The schematic I have of the SVT-DI doesn't use a 12:1 direct box style transformer, but a 4:1 instead. I don't know if the schematic I have is correct, but it's the common one floating around the internet.

Because if I put the PCBs up then I have to post the build doc and drill template

I'll see if I can find some time to get them up this week.

 

[Tassieviking]

And don't forget the Artwork files that go with the Drill template.

I have some spare Unagi transformers so I just need the PCB as well, and the PCB will usually take about 2 weeks to get to me Under Downunder.
If I could order the PCB I would not need the Artwork or the Drill Template straight away.

 

[vigilante398]

I have the drill template almost finished for this, I'll grab the last of the coordinates tomorrow and get an artwork file put together as well. After that I guess you'll be wanting a build doc.

A quick note, the D.I. PCB in this is a little tall for a 1590BB, so I'm going to recommend this in a 1590BBS or 1590BB2. I use 1590BB2 from Tayda for a lot of my D.I. builds, so I know that's a solid choice, and that's what the Tayda drill file will be designed for.

 

[vigilante398]

Drill template is done, I'll throw together an artwork file then get everything up on the website and open ordering for Steddi Go. I'm going to have to limit stock as I'm a little low on XLR Daughter PCBs, so I'm waiting for my reorder of those to show up next week. Unagi transformers will probably show up towards the end of next week as well, so when those come in I'll add "transformer included" back as an option.

 

[Nerdridesbikes]

I had been planning on building a nobellium, but really will only use the XLR out so the second tube just adds unneeded complexity. What would you expect for a difference in sound with this vs the nobellium? This build is very intriguing. Thoughts on why to choose one over the other?

 

[vigilante398]

I had been planning on building a nobellium, but really will only use the XLR out so the second tube just adds unneeded complexity. What would you expect for a difference in sound with this vs the nobellium? This build is very intriguing. Thoughts on why to choose one over the other?

This will be less expensive, smaller, and easier to build. Nobelium will have an EQ and a high-pass filter. As far as general "sounding good", I would put this right on par with Nobelium, it just doesn't have the hype.

 

[vigilante398]

I've added Unagi E4305 back in stock on the website, I should be able to get the Steddi Go documentation finished up in the next day or two so I can get these out into the world.