LPB1 Tuning....

[Lonehdrider]

I built the LPB1 circuit (Using Juan Carlos Noguera's excellent graphic diagram that even a dolt like me can follow without a problem) and I'm wondering if its the cap's I'm using or what (I used what I had on hand) but the treble on the thing is insane. It makes my strat sound like a tele on steroids. I used a 2n3053 transistor and trim pots for three of the resistors (didn't have the values and I had them around, it worked out great as it let me tune them in exactly). Is it the caps thats chopping the bass off and if so which one, input or output. Sorry this is a basic question, but I'm still learning. It does rage real good with loads of gain, but man I played in the headphones an hour ago and my ears are still ringing.. Whew...  

Thanks,

Lone

[Ansil]

what values of caps

[smoguzbenjamin]

I use 0.1uF caps on my LPBs and that sounds just right. Remember smaller cap value means less bass. Using a 1nF cap will make your guitar sound like a seagul being sqeeuzed in the balls.

[bwanasonic]

I think you will find the LPB1 more pleasant sounding and useful driving the input of an *on the edge* tube amp. Treble booster into SS/ headphones is a recipe for hearing loss. If you have another OD/ distortion, try dialing it cleaner and darker than you normally have it, and use the LPB to kick it's teeth in.

Kerry M

[smoguzbenjamin]

I use it because my SS amp really sucks in the treble department, and it makes the pramp OD stage sound much better. That is with an LPB-1 driving it. The LPB-1 is a simple but surprisingly handy little circuit

[petemoore]

My buddy's got a Fender 1 input 1 speaker 2channel SS amp.
 He uses a powerhouse [active] Strat, and my Washburn [Strat SC style].
 He says it's hard to beat them. I would have to agree with many contingencies...the Fuzz Box and 'Booster' that is built into the amp doesn't see near the 'change or 'improvement' from Stompbox use...except phaze, echo etc.
 The color can be slightly changed in the Fuzz dept., MO is that the inputs are made HOT on these little amps for use with only a guitar and for marketting purposes..they want the thing to sound HOTTer than the one in the showroom next to it with just a guitar plugged in. Boosting and re-fuzzing these inputs renders little gain increase and more noise expecially for Fuzzes.
  We tried numerous Fuzz ckt types and settings and contrary to my preconception, the distorted channel was generally more desirable for Fuzz sound...the clean input couldn't get smoothness.
 The Fuzz of the amp is very intense, [clean channel is pretty well 'topped up' also] and none of the Fuzz ckts tried could convincingly 'beat' the inboard Fuzz [in our tests].
 He hasn't heard the tube amps work with the Stompboxes...lol...I'm not imparting any judgements on A/Bing SS to Tube amps until he can try the tube amps with boxes...

[bwanasonic]

My buddy's got a Fender 1 input 1 speaker 2channel SS amp.
 

I find the more *primitive* circuits (i.e. Rangemaster, LPB1, Fuzz Face, etc.) behave in a completely different manner with *vintage* style tube amps because of the way they "bond" with the input stage. A much more organic effect that has as much to do with the feel and response at it does with the sound. The feel factor has become more important to me in my *old age*  :wink:  When I was 18, I played eight hours a day through a Thomas Organ Fuzz(Si) Wah, into a 15 watt SS Peavey Backstage (usually with a script logo Phase 90 kicked in). I have tapes of that era, and it actually sounded pretty cool, but not a very subtle or responsive rig.

Kerry M

[Lonehdrider]

Thanks guys, I'll try it through my tube amp rig and see how that sounds. I'm using a 90 american strat plus and my amp is a crate vintage club 30 all tube amp 1-12. The crate is much darker than the yamaha ss amp I use for my headphone amp. I might have had the EQ a on that amp (has a parametric EQ) a bit tweaked towards the treble side. The crate positively rocks and for 30 watt's its pretty darn loud (4 12ax7's and 4 el84's), I've been playing it with the muff boost (no diodes) that I put together and that works well, so perhaps I'll go try the circuit through the tube amp before I go to the blues club this afternoon to play. Its hard to tell until I try it there as I'm in a apt and can't crank it enough to *really* get the tubes to saturate like I can there. It too (the crate) has a built in distortion gain circuit, but I don't care for it, its to buzzy to me (and for a blues sound in my opinion) its hard to beat a clean boost (or like a tube screamer) just cranked through the tubes. If its still to trebley I'll change the caps to 1uf and see how that works, I think they're closer to .1 and one of them may even be smaller. (and yeah good comparison about the seagull... ) Thanks again.

Regards,

Lone