Tone Bender Mark II [BreadBoard]

[caiofilipini]

I have a Seeker MKII, happy to provide bias readings as a reference if it's interesting.

 

[fig]

Please, and thank you!

 

[caiofilipini]

Please, and thank you!

I'm out of town until Sunday, but I'll do it once I'm back.

 

[caiofilipini]

Alright, I'm back (and a little drunk) but I believe this is what my DMM is telling me about the Seeker:

Vcc=9.26V

Q1
Ve=0V (GND)
Vb=0.085V
Vc=8.05V

Q2
Ve=0V (GND)
Vb=0.097V
Vc=0.224V

Q3
Ve=0.135V
Vb=0.224V
Vc=8.18V

 

[fig]

Thanks Caio. I'll check these against my BB as soon as I'm done with the LGSM for Chuck's tutorial. It's using the PSIO currently.

A little drunk? In which direction are you headed?

 

[caiofilipini]

I just breadboarded an MKII that I really liked, and here's what I got as far as biasing and gain/leakage goes:

BATT: 8.9V // Q1c: 7.8V // Q2c: 0.37V // Q3c: 6.65V
Q1: hFE=77 / leakage=132uA
Q2: hFE=68 / leakage=22uA
Q3: hFE=106 / leakage=279uA

Here's a quick clip:

https://soundcloud.com/white-mockingbird%2Fmkii-breadboard%2Fs-1V7yDPvREaz

 

[JamieJ]

I just breadboarded an MKII that I really liked, and here's what I got as far as biasing and gain/leakage goes:

BATT: 8.9V // Q1c: 7.8V // Q2c: 0.37V // Q3c: 6.65V
Q1: hFE=77 / leakage=132uA
Q2: hFE=68 / leakage=22uA
Q3: hFE=106 / leakage=279uA

Here's a quick clip:

https://soundcloud.com/white-mockingbird%2Fmkii-breadboard%2Fs-1V7yDPvREaz

That sounds incredible Caio!

 

[caiofilipini]

That sounds incredible Caio!

Thanks, @JamieJ!

 

[music6000]

You may remember my janky rig from another thread, here it is with candy.
I still have a pre-flight to do so I haven't put the current to it yet. If it survives, I'll put it in a box.

if you spot a fault, please let me know.

They pinched those transistors from Telecasters!

 

[Harry Klippton]

I just breadboarded an MKII that I really liked, and here's what I got as far as biasing and gain/leakage goes:

BATT: 8.9V // Q1c: 7.8V // Q2c: 0.37V // Q3c: 6.65V
Q1: hFE=77 / leakage=132uA
Q2: hFE=68 / leakage=22uA
Q3: hFE=106 / leakage=279uA

Here's a quick clip:

https://soundcloud.com/white-mockingbird%2Fmkii-breadboard%2Fs-1V7yDPvREaz

That sounds so good, better than the mkii I built a few years ago. Maybe I should revisit it with everything I've learned from Chris

 

[Harry Klippton]

Hey @caiofilipini what's your chain like in that clip?

 

[caiofilipini]

Hey @Harry Klippton, good question:

Gibson SG Standard w/ SD Seth Lover pickups /
MKII breadboard /
Friedman Mini Dirty Shirley 20W head /
Torpedo Captor X (I think I had Greenback IRs) /
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

 

[Big Monk]

That sounds awesome. If you really wanna make it a flame thrower get the Q2 C closer to .15-.2v and Q3 C closer to 8v. That boi will catch your house on fire

There are four key points I've learned from studying the MK II topology:

1.) Biasing Q1c lower helps overall cleanup;

2.) Biasing Q3c lower exponentially in creases sustain, feedback and note bloom, but comes at a price. In this case, noise.

3.) Adding a "Pre-Gain" control at the input increases the overall versatility and character of the circuit by letting it operate in varying zones ov fuzzy overdrive, crunch, and fuzz freakout. Naturally, it also helps cleanup;

4.) Switching in a bigger output cap can put you in faux Big Muff territory.