Improved "improved" EA Tremolo build pics !

[Dragonfly]

Here are some pics of the tremolo that i built today. Its based off of the "Improved EA Tremolo" circuit at www.runoffgroove.com , but i changed some values, used a NTE490 for the mosfet, a NTE47 for the 2n5088 (seems to work much better...as does a MPSA18), and added a "half speed" switch, so i can have two speeds available on a footswitch. I also used a 1M pot for the depth control, as i like to be able to get a fairly "choppy" tremolo, as well as a smoother one, and the 1M pot facilitates this. Its not near as neat and tidy as I'd like, but I'll clean up the wiring when i label the box. Gotta get to practice tonite
Anyway, here are a couple of pics....

Andy
Dragonfly FX

[dosmun]

I built one of these as well this past week.  It really sounds cool and was a pretty quick and easy build.

[squidsquad]

Hey...That's nice Andy!  Thanks for the pics.  I made one & like it...but now may do another w/your suggestions.

[RDV]

In my little world, that wiring is already extremely neat and tidy!

RDV

[MartyMart]

WHAT !!  :shock:
"That's NOT neat 'n tidy"  :roll:  :shock:  :roll:

C'mon Andy, get real . . . . . :wink:

"If only my builds were half as neat . . . . ."

Marty.

[Dragonfly]

WHAT !!  :shock:
"That's NOT neat 'n tidy"  :roll:  :shock:  :roll:

C'mon Andy, get real . . . . . :wink:

"If only my builds were half as neat . . . . ."

Marty.

i guess im pretty dang picky


btw...has the package arrived yet?

mine has im gonna have some fun with the stuff you sent

[MartyMart]

Nope..... not yet  :cry:

Glad you have yours though  

Marty.

[Ge_Whiz]

Looks like that "Xtra Heavy Duty" battery has some mojo in it.  

[hilbi]

Hi, nice built!

I built the original jdsleep ea tremolo a year ago, i just read the modifications on runoffgroove, especially the depth stuff. I would like to have more depth on my original jdsleep ea tremolo (1M pot). Do i have to go for the mods from runoffgroove or do something else.

I now only use the last part of the pot taper (the highest tromole depth).

[Marcos - Munky]

This looks really beautiful.

[aaronkessman]

how fast does your trem get? the EA is great, but I found it didnt get fast enough for me, although the control was very smooth. How did you wire the half speed switch? is it just with a resistor in series with the speed pot? what value did you use? any plans to change the LFO cap values to adjust the speed range?

heh.

very nice wiring, as always. I dont see how it could be neater.

[mat]

Hi,

This is the best looking pedal I have seen for some time. I really like it. It does not need any labeling or text or something. I just stared it and drooled some  drops on the floor :roll:

Thanks for shearing,

mat

[Dragonfly]

how fast does your trem get? the EA is great, but I found it didnt get fast enough for me, although the control was very smooth. How did you wire the half speed switch? is it just with a resistor in series with the speed pot? what value did you use? any plans to change the LFO cap values to adjust the speed range?

heh.

very nice wiring, as always. I dont see how it could be neater.

thanks....im always striving for the "hiwatt" look, so i'll have to clean up the wiring a bit later, after im done "field testing" it


after trying several different values, i settled on using .68uF caps instead of the "trio" of 1uF electros suggested at ROG....lets the trem go faster.  using a 1 Meg depth pot, you can get a pretty great "helicopter" tremolo with the depth and rate knobs cranked  :twisted:

youre correct on the rate mod...its a dpdt switch with a jumper on one side, and a 50k resistor on the other...half the value of the rate pot.

heres a pic.....

[hilbi]

so dragonfly, on the depth mod, you use the resistor values of runoffgroove around the pot, but with a 1M pot, correct?

Then you get more depth out of the layout from jdsleep?

[Dragonfly]

so dragonfly, on the depth mod, you use the resistor values of runoffgroove around the pot, but with a 1M pot, correct?

Then you get more depth out of the layout from jdsleep?

ive typically been using a 100k resistor instead of the 68k...

as far as JD's layout, i dunno...

i have found that using a higher gain tranny than the recommended 2n5088 seems to help the depth ....ive been using MPSA18's and NTE47's with an hfe of 750-850

hope this helps.

Andy
Dragonfly FX

[hilbi]

runoffgroove uses a 120K 250K (pot) 68k combination

JDsleep schem uses a 560k 1M (pot) combination

So dragonfly you use a 120K 1M (pot) 100K combination?

and some higher gain trannies, correct?

[Dragonfly]

runoffgroove uses a 120K 250K (pot) 68k combination

JDsleep schem uses a 560k 1M (pot) combination

So dragonfly you use a 120K 1M (pot) 100K combination?

and some higher gain trannies, correct?

nope...the pot is a 1 meg...and i use a 100k instead of the 68k...

[hilbi]

so you leave out the 120k before the 1M pot?

[Dragonfly]

so you leave out the 120k before the 1M pot?

...nope... its still there

[onboard]

Hey all! I've been, uh, "off board" (no pun intented...) for quite awhile - but this post all but reeled me back in because the EA Trem has to be one of my absolute favorites.

Here's a mod to increase your top speed without changing cap values -  try decreasing the LFO feedback resistor value. You can use as little as less than half the shown 2M2 and the LFO will remain as stable as the day is long. We're talking some serious stacatto here.  

Like it s---l---o---w? Try increasing the value of R to ground coming off the cap trio.  Tune it until you find a value that almost, but not quite, ceases oscillataion.  Mellow waves of volume swell heaven.

Either of these mods can be done while still using the original EA speed control value of 25k, or the ROG 100k value, or whatever else you may discover.  Keep in mind that when top speed is tweaked, the slowest speed is also affected and vice-versa. Try trimmers, or external pots for plenty'o fine tuning fun.

Keeping some trem audible, even at minimum Depth is another goodie. Props to Run Off Groove for fine tuning the pot value and R values before and aft! If you're stuck for parts values to swap, keep the 1M pot and try somewhere in the neighborhood of 470k to ground at lug 3.

Dragonfly - you're "resistor-on-the-switch" half/double speed mod is simply elegant.  Wish I'ld thought of it! :wink:

Another one in the D'oh! catagory for me would be adding a seperate tranisitor to handle the LED speed indicator, only to find the ROG mod in-line with the LFO's tranny collector to +V...a real forehead slapper there.

-onboard-