Using others' circuits?

[Noplasticrobots]

I know they're are some topics floating around along the lines of this subject but I couldn't find one that answered my question exactly so forgive me if this has been posted before...

I'm messing around with a multiple stage tranny circuit and I decided I needed something a little different at the front. I started messing with some diodes and caps and next thing I know I basically have Tim E's Bronx Cheer at the front of my circuit. The cap values aren't the exact same, it's biased differently, there's no hi/low switch and there's no transformer.

My question is this: can I continue creating this circuit and still call it my own with a slightly modified Bronx Cheer in it? As it is right now, the sound of the circuit has elements of the Bronx Cheer in it, but I wouldn't say it sounds just like a Bronx Cheer.

I defininitely don't wanna step on Tim's toes, so any help is appreciated!

[birt]

i don't see any problems. you're definately making your own effect. and if you are using even exact Bronx Cheer values, i believe it's just a part of your effect and you even found it yourself.

[Noplasticrobots]

BTW, why exactly can't you use buffered effects without a transformer with the Bronx Cheer?

[A.S.P.]

...And "research"? Ever listen to Tom Lehrer's "Lobachevski"?
"Plagiarize, plagiarize, plagiarize
Let no one else's work evade your eyes
So don't shade your eyes
Remember why the good lord made your eyes
and plagiarize, plagiarize, plagiarize
...
- only please always to call it 'research'"

[Noplasticrobots]

I think plagiarism is a pretty big word to throw around. 

Please note that I'm not trying to plagiarize anything. I started placing some diodes in series placed some caps and got a sound like the Bronx Cheer. I don't know nearly enough about electronics to say "I'm gonna build me an envelope waveform shaper just like the Bronx Cheer!"

Like I mentioned above, the cap values aren't the exact same, it's biased differently, there's no hi/low switch and there's no transformer. Basically only the diode arrangement is nodding towards the Bronx Cheer.

I'm not trying to rip anyone off or take credit for Tim's work and I'm certainly not selling any of these pedals. I posted this question here in the first place for one reason - out of respect for another builder's work! If Tim himself would like to chime in, I'd be more than happy to hear his opinion on this subject.

[JimRayden]

I think plagiarism is a pretty big word to throw around. 

Please note that I'm not trying to plagiarize anything. I started placing some diodes in series placed some caps and got a sound like the Bronx Cheer. I don't know nearly enough about electronics to say "I'm gonna build me an envelope waveform shaper just like the Bronx Cheer!"

Like I mentioned above, the cap values aren't the exact same, it's biased differently, there's no hi/low switch and there's no transformer. Basically only the diode arrangement is nodding towards the Bronx Cheer.

I'm not trying to rip anyone off or take credit for Tim's work and I'm certainly not selling any of these pedals. I posted this question here in the first place for one reason - out of respect for another builder's work! If Tim himself would like to chime in, I'd be more than happy to hear his opinion on this subject.

I'd say, if you were to sell your design, you'd have to stop and think twice about it, most propably ask Tim for permission. If you're just goofing around and making new cool stuff for the DIY community, it's more than okay to use other designs as parts of your new innovative effect.

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Jimbo

[slacker]

I'd say if you've genuinely put some components together and by chance come up with something similar to someone else's design then it's fine to say it's your own. After all putting diodes in the feedback loop of a transistor isn't anything unusual, and you said this was only part of your circuit and not the entire thing.
Whether anyone believes that you came up with it independently is another matter 
If you've based your idea on the bronx cheer and then modified it to suit your circuit I'd say the right thing to do would be to state that bits of your circuit are based on the bronx cheer. In other words give credit where it's due. An example of this in action would be Tim's tripple fuzz where he credits Ken Stone for the idea.
tripple fuzz Ken's circuit