Building the classics - Big Muff/Tubescreamer

plexi12000 · June 03, 2015, 01:00:03 AM

i'm a hard rock dude....and i prefer a muff (V1) to a screamer. not that an 808 "sucks" or anything. but ther'es just "more to" a muff. bigger, deeper sounding, i guess.

even with all the diff 808 mods...i'd take a good muff. actually, i made a couple op-amp muffs...not too bad, either. but more "gritty" than a transistor muff.

i did an op-amp w/ a tone stack delete switch....very nice!

nickbungus · June 03, 2015, 04:24:43 AM

Quote from: plexi12000 on June 03, 2015, 01:00:03 AM
...i'd take a good muff.

Me too!

(UK Joke, sorry)

I'm also into the heavier side, I just thought it was a rite of passage to build these two, so I will. After that I want to build a distortion - and probably start a post on that for recommendations!

Rob Strand · June 03, 2015, 06:03:34 AM

If you make your own "classic" pedals you should make it a policy to add an extra pot or switch which lets you get the classic mode and something more!

Mark Hammer · June 03, 2015, 08:14:22 AM

I'll second Rob's suggestion. There are more mods and tweaks to these two classics than just about anything on earth, all of which make them great platforms for acquiring deeper understanding about the workings of these and similar circuits.

If it hasn't been mentioned already, go read the GEOFEX article on the "Technology of the Tube Screamer", which will step you through everything and help you make more sense of the mods.

Elijah-Baley · June 03, 2015, 09:05:55 AM

Quote from: Rob Strand on June 03, 2015, 06:03:34 AM
If you make your own "classic" pedals you should make it a policy to add an extra pot or switch which lets you get the classic mode and something more!

That is my policy, ever!

Quote from: Mark Hammer on June 03, 2015, 08:14:22 AM
[...] There are more mods and tweaks to these two classics than just about anything on earth, all of which make them great platforms for acquiring deeper understanding about the workings of these and similar circuits.
[...]

Exactly.

nickbungus · June 03, 2015, 09:51:47 AM

Cheers guys. The fact that these are the 2 that have the most variations is one of the reasons I chose to build them. Problem being that I haven't played through them made me want to go for the de facto versions first.

I think the way to go is socket the key changeable components, have a play with different configs, see what I like and then when it comes to enclosing, see what I can do with switches to give myself the flavours I like.

Elijah-Baley · June 03, 2015, 01:06:51 PM

The socket solution is what I did, especially with the Big Muff, but I have confirmed my basic schematic, the Ram's Head version.

I'm pretty sure those pedals will like you any will be the final configuration.
Have fun, buddy.

stevieb.ocala · June 04, 2015, 07:15:18 PM

Check out guitarpcb.com they have a big muff variant version. It has 10 versions you can build using the same board. Very modable board. He has several great pedal boards available.
Happy Soldering

nickbungus · June 05, 2015, 06:33:26 AM

I've already ordered one of these.

I was going to etch my own but the PedalParts one looks neat. The doc also details all the alternatives so I can have a good play.

duck_arse · June 05, 2015, 11:53:30 AM

nick - re your profile pic, can you name the completed pedal something like "thatcher's big muff"? as they say, good taste is its own reward.

big thatch of muff?

nickbungus · June 05, 2015, 11:57:33 AM

Nice one! I will definitely call it that and print a decal accordingly.

Stay tuned!

bloxstompboxes · June 05, 2015, 01:25:56 PM

Quote from: duck_arse on June 05, 2015, 11:53:30 AM
nick - re your profile pic, can you name the completed pedal something like "thatcher's big muff"? as they say, good taste is its own reward.

big thatch of muff?

If I had a drink, i would have spit it out at that remark. lol.

anotherjim · June 07, 2015, 11:17:31 AM

Maggie's Muff, surely.

bloxstompboxes · June 07, 2015, 11:33:59 AM

Quote from: anotherjim on June 07, 2015, 11:17:31 AM
Maggie's Muff, surely.

Same response as before. I'm getting a little grossed out here. That's hard to do to me too, lol.

duck_arse · June 07, 2015, 11:46:29 AM

Quote from: bloxstompboxes on June 07, 2015, 11:33:59 AM
Quote from: anotherjim on June 07, 2015, 11:17:31 AM
Maggie's Muff, surely.

Same response as before. I'm getting a little grossed out here. That's hard to do to me too, lol.

you're getting grossed out, imagine how Dennis felt!

(or, indeed, what he felt.)

anotherjim · June 08, 2015, 04:38:53 AM

...on topic!
It can greatly depend on your guitar, amp and other pedals. This is probably why you'll find preferences for one version over others in one place and another opinion elsewhere.

Overdrive/fuzz/distortion is a minefield of overlaps. They can be used on fairly clean settings in themselves but be creating distortion in the amp by overdriving it's pre-amp. The stock tone stack in the BMP brings it's own mid-range scoop which can be too much with some set-ups, but the perfect answer in others.

I think you need to experiment and spend some time with each trial to be sure. The only help there is, is that it's well documented what tweaks are available, but only you can decide what's right by trying it!

nickbungus · June 08, 2015, 05:56:41 AM

Cheers Jim as always

The plan is to make a Ibanez Tube Screamer with an TS808/TS9 toggle (Maggie's Tubes Rimmer) and then make a Big Muff (Maggie's Big Thatch of Muff), starting with the Rams Head but socket a lot of the components and just have a tinkle really.

To be honest I'm more looking forward to doing the artwork decals now we've got the names sorted!

phizone · June 08, 2015, 12:59:00 PM

I've not a lot to contribute here other than to say I'm glad I socketed the transistors on the Ram's Head that I built. The gain of 5088s was too high. And although it sounds like it's too late, my name suggestion for the Big Muff: Iron Lady Parts

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Building the classics - Big Muff/Tubescreamer