fig
Village Idiot
Physically or metaphorically? Either could easily result in much swearing....indeed.
This Week on the Breadboard: The Dark Esbat
- Thread starter Chuck D. Bones
- Start date
Chuck D. Bones
Circuit Wizard
Physically warped. I think it was always that way and got progressively worse as the double-stick tape on the bottom started losing it's grip. I have three more on order - can't have too many breadboards!
Am I right in suggesting that this circuit (both the originals and Chuck's modded version) have at their core a Blue Breaker (Bluesbreaker) topology? If so, I'm wondering if your modded version is getting close to EHX's new "Spruce Goose"? EHX's Spruce Goose marketing copy seems to suggest it's a Bluesbreaker tweak with a Bandaxall...
Looks like it won't be too long before we know for sure!
Looks like it won't be too long before we know for sure!
Chuck D. Bones
Circuit Wizard
Maybe the spruce Goose is a Spark Boost clone.
Wait, what? I thought Tony used the TI Boost. Oh yeah, it's the same thing.
Wait, what? I thought Tony used the TI Boost. Oh yeah, it's the same thing.
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comradehoser
Well-known member
I was playing around with boosts and the mofeta, and ran the dark esbat into it. Sounded pretty Iommically legit! Boosts in general really made the Mofeta jump to life. It--or my build of it-- is pretty muffly on its own. I even got high-gain metal sounds out of the dimed Colorsound boost-mofeta combo.
I finally got around to making a PCB for this! Build report here: Chuck D Bones Modded Dark Esbat / Ember Boost. Spoiler: it's exactly what I hoped it would be, a TCE Spark Booster with the mode/mids knob better tuned for my purposes.
I have a few extra PCBs for anyone who wants one. I can also post the Gerbers if there's interest.
I have a few extra PCBs for anyone who wants one. I can also post the Gerbers if there's interest.
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thunderaxe
Member
did you consider replacing the 3x series 4148s with LEDs? the keeley rotten apple (pedalPCB sour grape) did that, being an adaptation of the op amp big muff (pedalpcb dream fuzz). the LEDs would have about the same Vf but maybe a different curve and tone.
Chuck D. Bones
Circuit Wizard
I had not thought about it until now. The diode current is less than 200μA, so it's hard to gauge the LED's Vf from the datasheets. LED leakage and capacitance vary quite a bit so you might end up selecting LEDs or at least qualifying lots. 1N4148s are very consistent. Try it and let us know how it goes.
FWIW, I didn't experiment with different clipping diodes in Chuck's modified Dark Esbat, but I did socket the clipping diodes in my Ember Boost build. (The Ember Boost/TCE Spark Booster is essentially the same circuit as the stock Dark Esbat/BCC TI Boost.) I experimented with LEDs, fewer 1n4148s, mosfets-as-diodes, asymmetric arrangements, etc. That was quite a while ago, so I don't remember the details. I do recall that I preferred the stock arrangement. But there was some noticeable difference in tone and feel with different clippers, and I'd wager others would have a different preference.
One thing I did not try, but think is worth trying, is a pair of 1n4848s (instead of a triplet), but also adding a resistor (say 6k8) in series with the clippers, like the Blue Breaker and all the derivatives, e.g. King of Tone, do. This Dark Esbat shares some topology similarities with the Bluesbreaker family.
I still have spare PCBs for Chuck's modified circuit (see post #28 above), I'm happy to drop one in the mail for anyone that wants one. You could socket the clipping diodes and easily experiment with different arrangements.
One thing I did not try, but think is worth trying, is a pair of 1n4848s (instead of a triplet), but also adding a resistor (say 6k8) in series with the clippers, like the Blue Breaker and all the derivatives, e.g. King of Tone, do. This Dark Esbat shares some topology similarities with the Bluesbreaker family.
I still have spare PCBs for Chuck's modified circuit (see post #28 above), I'm happy to drop one in the mail for anyone that wants one. You could socket the clipping diodes and easily experiment with different arrangements.