Thorpyfx Electric Lightning
- Thread starter Drayve85
- Start date
Robert
Reverse Engineer
I mean, I don't disagree with him.... but I do like how we're avoiding the shit out of saying "It's a Tube Driver" ...
As for all those diodes, the diode nearest the BSP250 is most likely the zener diode used along with the MOSFET for reverse polarity protection.
I would assume D8 is polarity protection for the higher current portion of the circuit.
Thorpy has a habit of using a pair of protection diodes on the circuit input and output, since there are two circuits in this pedal that would account for eight of the other diodes.
That leaves two diodes remaining, and if we're assuming the boost portion is based on the Dane / Heavy Water, that'd probably be where they fit in.
Last edited:
jesuscrisp
Well-known member
I mean, I don't disagree with him.... but I do like how we're avoiding the shit out of saying "It's a Tube Driver" ...
I mean it's probably the thorpyfied version of a tube driver if it really is what looks to be op amp pushing a tube.
I don't get the hate for the hybrid approach or the voltages used as people also like stuff like the tube driver. If anything I'm more indifferent to it because at 499 currencies you might as well get yourself a tube amp.
Personally I don't see why overdrive pedals in that price range need to exist but I'm definitely not the target audience.
Makes sense, since in a Tube Driver circuit, the triode stages are really only being used as a pair of clippers and not true gain stages… so silly-con diode clippers wouldn’t be needed there. But if the boost is like many other boosts (where it adds some grodiness), then I’d bet the little diode clippers would be used on that sideI mean, I don't disagree with him.... but I do like how we're avoiding the shit out of saying "It's a Tube Driver" ...
As for all those diodes, the diode nearest the BSP250 is most likely the zener diode used along with the MOSFET for reverse polarity protection.
I would assume D8 is polarity protection for the higher current portion of the circuit.
Thorpy has a habit of using a pair of protection diodes on the circuit input and output, since there are two circuits in this pedal that would account for eight of the other diodes.
That leaves two diodes remaining, and if we're assuming the boost portion is based on the Dane / Heavy Water, that'd probably be where they fit in.
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
Not sure I agree. With the cathode tied directly to ground, these stages are biased very "hot", which is typical of an aplifying gainstage, as opposed to a cold clipper which has a large cathode resistor to bias it "cold", which changes the way in which it clips. Each stage as used in Tube Driver is capable of 34dB of gain.
I don't like the tube driver and I can give a TED talk's worth of material about why, but the tube is used as a tube.
(image courtesy of GGG)
Fama
Well-known member
Not gonna lie, I would probably watch that.
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
NOW DON'T GET ME STARTED.
I own the Tube Driver & it has the Bias control, It's a cool Pedal but I prefer the Black B.K Butler Real Tube over it withe 3 band EQ.
I removed the Internal transformer & use an Wallwart power supply with a 2.1mm power jack.
I have 2 but left one with the 240v Power supply.
It operates way quieter with no white noise as it had before.
Here is a link:
forum.pedalpcb.com
I removed the Internal transformer & use an Wallwart power supply with a 2.1mm power jack.
I have 2 but left one with the 240v Power supply.
It operates way quieter with no white noise as it had before.
Here is a link:
Tube Driver v1.3 build
Never tried an original BK Butler Tube Driver but always wanted to give one a go. I found the PCB’s at TH Customs over in Germany. After doing some research, I decided to order the parts for two builds. This is the first. The PCB is pretty accurate to the original, with a few small improvements...
forum.pedalpcb.com
Feral Feline
Well-known member
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
benny_profane
Well-known member
I don’t think I understand?
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My favorite part of this is the green resistor. That’s a fun choice.
Bricksnbeatles
Member known well
Isn’t it an inductor?
benny_profane
Well-known member
Certainly could be—though it has the same shape as the resistors, and inductors, in my experience, have tapered ends. I thought it might be a wire wound or something else not so typical in pedals.
Bricksnbeatles
Member known well
Definitely could be a resistor. I’ve always equated green with being radial color ring inductors tho— Robert should be able to tell soon enough
Robert
Reverse Engineer
vigilante398
Authorized Vendor
I agree about the jacks, but US$60-70 sounds like a lot for a pedal. Factor in the retail markup, enclosure design, circuit design and testing, wages, shipping, blahblahblah - that doesn't sound unreasonable to me. Compared to a Chinese pedal made with parts which must be incredibly cheap to a Chinese manufacturer and tiny labour costs...
bluedmc777
Active member
Suprised this thread is still alive. I’ve a couple pages to read but I do love my tube driver regardless of how ever distortion is made. David Gilmour used several. To be fair it isn’t far off from the cattle driver or the PastFx TD-Y though it does sound different. I’m referring to Madbeans version. Only part I dislike is there can be TOO much sag. I keep it on zero. Engaging the buffer and tone controls add some sag too. Almost like running a dynacomp into it!
@music6000 I used to own the black one as well. That thing could ROCK!
@music6000 I used to own the black one as well. That thing could ROCK!
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