Thermionic Distortion ..

Mourguitars

Mourguitars

Well-known member
1st build with LEDS inside on the board, one side only lit up but a email to Mr Pedalpcb late at night got me going ! Very fun build,bought a predrilled enclosure from Tayda the green one came in so I used it and Monday the black enclosure came in for this build but I will buy white knobs for it...this pedal is very quite for a distortion pedal..amazing!

Been rockin it !

Mike

https://imgur.com/a/adYpVGb

https://imgur.com/CNobq72
 
Chuck D. Bones said:
Clean build, but the color scheme gives me a headache ?. Are those fiber washers under the jacks?
Click to expand...


LOL...it came from the 80's skateboard graphics scene back when boards had shapes !...kidding.. The white knobs and black ones i bought hit with the 6 pot layout, to large so i put the red ones on, i reordered the right sized and right colors

The jacks are the Tayda ones that i had to put a nut and toothed washer to move them in a bit because they going in crooked, going to buy the black plastic ones i see people using on here from now on for my builds and use a smaller power jack as well...

I ordered some nut on the outside power jacks that will allow to take everything out once soldered and put back in if needed to trouble shoot as well..

Im learning ! I have a friend that will print out the graphics ..they won't be plain jane looking , thinking of some cool schemes for the builds, i will update

I really do like my new Hakko iron tho..my soldering will get better with it ..im sure

Mike
 
This pedal doesn't have a mid knob so i tried all my mid hump pedals to add it in, the two on the left win hands down and ill be adding a another one...

The Kliche Overdrive build is next...trust me these pedal are all that. I have a giant warehouse and can crank it....That Thermionic is fantastic boosted with these pedals with el34's and a greenback/ Vet30 combo

Very happy with this build !

Mike

https://imgur.com/2I3Cnd9
 
No mid knob, that's why I opted for the Brown Betty instead.
Re: the Kliche, VFE / Madbean has a version of the Centaur called the Merman, it has a few extra knobs. The gain pot, which is a dual in the Centaur / Kliche is split into two. There are also knobs to control the various paths so you have more control over the mix of high, low, clean, dirty, etc. I wonder if Pedal PCB might be interested in producing a version of this...
 
I have the Brown Betty and the Dirty Sanchez next on my 13 up coming builds ...

Is this a Madbean board build Chuck ?

It sounds incredible, bought it around 2012 i think and got the Centura last year..they both sound the same but the Orange one has a bit more open end clarity. I really like the look of the other one tho, they sound fantastic with Marshall type circuits . With my 5150 pre the newer type boosts and the T.S is king.

Every Overdrive has its own personality , with this guitar thru that cab, this OD boosting that Amp...just speaks to ya ! Thats why im a Overdrive junky so to speak....That Grey $10 TS7 is my go to can't understand why people knock it and i have all the classic TS9- 808 and Sd1 OD's..but with the Thermionic the Clone types work , push the level on it over 1pm really opens the pedal up give that pedal a nice amp like feel..im pretty stoked

Mike

https://imgur.com/mLQZ2an
 
I don't recognize that board. Lotta people making DIY Centaurs.

Dirty Sanchez (best pedal name on this site!) is a Brown Betty with a switch instead of a knob for the TIGHT control. Why build both?

Yeah, I hear ya about ODs. Usually I'm after a mildly overdriven tube amp sound, but sometimes I'm looking for some tone I hear on a record, like that reedy buzzsaw sound Norman Greenbaum gets on Spirit in the Sky (Tone Bender ?), early King Crimson, Pink Floyd or some Led Zeppelin stuff.
 
I bought that clone when Bill stopped making pedals and there was a craze. Thanks for the heads up on the DS..ill build something else. Lots to choose from

My boss has a master in music and he played in a Frank Zappa tribute band, his brother played a Tone bender..I guess when we are at the influence age in our teens the music sticks with us...anything in the late 70's on is what i like guitar wise..Seeing Randy Rhodes and the original Def Leppard in 82 front stage, then a week later AC/DC after really inspired me...it was infectious !

Marshalls , Les pauls then super Strat's and giant refrigerator Racks really stuck with me

The 80's was cool in my book, but i do like down tuned metal..depends on the mood

I am building the Zapper tho

Mike
 
Mourguitars said:
1st build with LEDS inside on the board, one side only lit up but a email to Mr Pedalpcb late at night got me going ! Very fun build,bought a predrilled enclosure from Tayda the green one came in so I used it and Monday the black enclosure came in for this build but I will buy white knobs for it...this pedal is very quite for a distortion pedal..amazing!

Been rockin it !

Mike

https://imgur.com/a/adYpVGb

https://imgur.com/CNobq72
Click to expand...
What was the issue with the LED's not working properly? I see that you put 5817 in place of the 4148 which is what I thinking is needed instead of the 4148 printed on the pcb. Was that it?
 
dbjeremiah01 said:
What was the issue with the LED's not working properly? I see that you put 5817 in place of the 4148 which is what I thinking is needed instead of the 4148 printed on the pcb. Was that it?
Click to expand...

Ill have to look at my notes , i have them stored away with my giant parts box....Today is my 15 hr day at work so give me a few days on the answer....i forgot , back then i was just learning.... buying parts off Ebay that were fakes, putting these pedals together like models...lol..

Mike
 
dbjeremiah01 said:
What was the issue with the LED's not working properly? I see that you put 5817 in place of the 4148 which is what I thinking is needed instead of the 4148 printed on the pcb. Was that it?
Click to expand...

I cant find my notes dbjermiah01.....i looked at the build docs , to jog my memory some ....i think one side was lighting up and the other side was but very weak.....

The pedal rocks..thats for sure and works fine , but ill use my signal tracer pen when i get the time and do a little bit of trouble shooting

Mike
 
This pedal and its cousins have been discussed numerous times in the various forums here. One set of LEDs will not light up; the current is too low. The other set will light up a little if the GAIN and PRESENCE controls are turned up.
 
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