JE-1000 / MM-04 build (SCHEMATICS NEEDED!)

[therockdemon]

So... I'd like to make these.  They're preamp boosters intended to be installed directly into the guitar, and perhaps I'll do that, but I'd also like to make this into the form of a pedal.  Alexi Laiho is a famous user of this for metal-type distortion.  

See these links:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESP-Alexi-Laiho-Preamp-Booster-MM-04-English-Instruction-and-pictures-o-/271030954364?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3f1ab4297c&ssPageName=RSS:B:SHOP:GB:101
^Pretty good pictures of the board there!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/emg-alx-alexi-laiho-hz-humbucker-abq-set

It looks like there's a JE-1000 model as well as MM-04.  I fould the schematic to the JE-1000 (below), but I would have preferred to find the MM-04.  Anyway, I do want to make both.
http://static.flickr.com/80/231963271_1515bdfd6a_o.jpg

If anybody would like to assist, I would be absolutely thrilled!

[enrique]

 i build a couple of those preamps ,here what you looking for
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/65209788/JA1000.pdf

[J0K3RX]

Kool, looks very interesting! I may have to build one of these! Those transistors may be a bit hard to find?

I found this link, you may have already seen it? From what that guy says there isn't much difference between the JE1000 and the MM04 both the same..?
http://wormwoodprophecymetal.com/2012/04/je1000-diy-build-how-to-and-pictures/

[therockdemon]

Kool, looks very interesting! I may have to build one of these! Those transistors may be a bit hard to find?

I found this link, you may have already seen it? From what that guy says there isn't much difference between the JE1000 and the MM04 both the same..?
http://wormwoodprophecymetal.com/2012/04/je1000-diy-build-how-to-and-pictures/

Hey Jim!  If you build this before me, I'm gonna hunt you down!!!  Thanks for the links though, guys.  =]

[Gordo]

$179.00!!!  What'd I break a window???

[therockdemon]

The 2SC2240 transistors go for $1 on ebay, and couldn't find 'em anywhere else.  The 2SK30ATM transistors go for $0.19 on Tayda, and couldn't find 'em anywhere else except ebay.

In all, you spend about $10 making it (plus shipping, 9V battery, wires, and time) instead of that $179 (plus shipping and honestly a less assuredly reliable and quality product as far as I'm concerned).

I think this (click) would be the desired push-pull pot instead of the SPDT switch that (click) guide recommends?

[enrique]

Kool, looks very interesting! I may have to build one of these! Those transistors may be a bit hard to find?

I found this link, you may have already seen it? From what that guy says there isn't much difference between the JE1000 and the MM04 both the same..?
http://wormwoodprophecymetal.com/2012/04/je1000-diy-build-how-to-and-pictures/
[/quote
hi jim glad to see you,(r custom ,for some weird reason this server dont let me use my avatar name) i build  a lot of this onboards ,but i prefer je-1500

[enrique]

Kool, looks very interesting! I may have to build one of these! Those transistors may be a bit hard to find?

I found this link, you may have already seen it? From what that guy says there isn't much difference between the JE1000 and the MM04 both the same..?
http://wormwoodprophecymetal.com/2012/04/je1000-diy-build-how-to-and-pictures/

hi jim glad to see you,(r custom ,for some weird reason this server dont let me use my avatar name) i build  a lot of this onboards ,but i prefer je-1500

[J0K3RX]

Kool, looks very interesting! I may have to build one of these! Those transistors may be a bit hard to find?

I found this link, you may have already seen it? From what that guy says there isn't much difference between the JE1000 and the MM04 both the same..?
http://wormwoodprophecymetal.com/2012/04/je1000-diy-build-how-to-and-pictures/

hi jim glad to see you,(r custom ,for some weird reason this server dont let me use my avatar name) i build  a lot of this onboards ,but i prefer je-1500

Hey RZ.. good to see you here also! You have any links to the je-1500?

Your Friend,
Jim

[therockdemon]

Hey guys.  I was going to build this JE-1000 in pedal form (instead of the guitar onboard electronics form) but a few things occurred to me here and I want some input.

1)  In its original Jackson installations, the JE-1000 is never bypassed.  You can switch the gain off/on but the EQ portion of the board is always in effect.  To build this in pedal form, I would have to add a stomp switch and wire that to the jacks, which is no problem, really.

2)  The bigger concern:  If I'm not installing the JE-1000 in my guitar, that means my guitar is still going to have the volume pot (the JE-1000 takes the place of a volume knob when installed in the guitar).  While the JE-1000 uses a 50k pot, a guitar with passive pickups is going to be using a 250k.  To have the JE-1000 in pedal form means having both pots... thus I'm very concerned that this extra pot (the 250k pot) is going to affect the tone.  

Here's where I start getting nooby... I don't understand this so I'm trying to get an answer that will teach me what I'm trying to learn.  It seems to me that if I made the JE-1000 in pedal form, and then wired my guitar straight to the output jack, bypassing any volume etc (and then plug into the pedal), that would be an identical circuit to having the JE-1000 installed in the guitar itself as is the traditional implementation.  Now then, with the addition of the 250k volume pot, would the signal change at all with the volume all the way up?  It seems to me that having the volume all the way up like that would be just like if you had the JE-1000 in the guitar, but with a 150k resistor spliting off the JE-1000's input and leading to ground.  Correct?  I am still unaware if this would affect the signal/tone.


To be absolutely clear, here is the signal chain with the JE-1000 as a pedal.
Pickup -> 250k volume pot -> JE-1000 -> preamp and so on

...and the JE-1000 onboard
Pickup -> Je-1000 -> preamp and so on (no other onboard components... straight to output jack!)

Description of the pickup I will be using:
9.2k
5.2H
Ceramic mag
Wax poted
Epoxied plastic cover
4 wires

[J0K3RX]

Hey guys.  I was going to build this JE-1000 in pedal form (instead of the guitar onboard electronics form) but a few things occurred to me here and I want some input.

1)  In its original Jackson installations, the JE-1000 is never bypassed.  You can switch the gain off/on but the EQ portion of the board is always in effect.  To build this in pedal form, I would have to add a stomp switch and wire that to the jacks, which is no problem, really.

2)  The bigger concern:  If I'm not installing the JE-1000 in my guitar, that means my guitar is still going to have the volume pot (the JE-1000 takes the place of a volume knob when installed in the guitar).  While the JE-1000 uses a 50k pot, a guitar with passive pickups is going to be using a 250k.  To have the JE-1000 in pedal form means having both pots... thus I'm very concerned that this extra pot (the 250k pot) is going to affect the tone.  

Here's where I start getting nooby... I don't understand this so I'm trying to get an answer that will teach me what I'm trying to learn.  It seems to me that if I made the JE-1000 in pedal form, and then wired my guitar straight to the output jack, bypassing any volume etc (and then plug into the pedal), that would be an identical circuit to having the JE-1000 installed in the guitar itself as is the traditional implementation.  Now then, with the addition of the 250k volume pot, would the signal change at all with the volume all the way up?  It seems to me that having the volume all the way up like that would be just like if you had the JE-1000 in the guitar, but with a 150k resistor spliting off the JE-1000's input and leading to ground.  Correct?  I am still unaware if this would affect the signal/tone.


To be absolutely clear, here is the signal chain with the JE-1000 as a pedal.
Pickup -> 250k volume pot -> JE-1000 -> preamp and so on

...and the JE-1000 onboard
Pickup -> Je-1000 -> preamp and so on (no other onboard components... straight to output jack!)

Description of the pickup I will be using:
9.2k
5.2H
Ceramic mag
Wax poted
Epoxied plastic cover
4 wires

I don't think it will be a problem... at best you will have pre(the guitar vol) and post (the pedal vol) volume... It will be basically functioning like any other preamp/boost pedal.  When it's installed inside the guitar you only need 1 volume knob. The volume on the JE1000 is after the preamp and from what it looks like it's a clean boost without the gain turned on. So when it's installed inside the guitar the signal is coming directly from the pickup and the volume is controlled on the other side of the preamp with a 50k pot. I think they did it that way because you are limiting the signal after the preamp... If you control the volume from the input side of the preamp you are just turning down the signal going in and the preamp is still full on... Probably not ideal when installed inside the guitar.  Probably ok if in pedal form... You may actually have more tonal possibilities this way?

I am curious as to what it sounds like On vs. Off? All the youtube vids I saw/heard the JE1000 is on all of the time so I can't get any idea of the difference? I am assuming it gives a tube screamer type effect when on with the gain? Like a TS808 with the level cranked and the gain turned down... tightens up the attack, gives a smooth overdrive and increases the overall gain when going into a high gain amp. Is this what it does? I am interested since it would be a great alternative to a big old TS808/TS9 circuit! I have been looking for a "good" FET based overdrive, this may fit the ticket..?