GGG's Craig Anderton Tremolo - build report

[Bucksears]

I finally finished wiring up the GGG Anderton Tremolo last night and I am impressed. Here's a rundown:

1) POWER (BIPOLAR) - I initially tried it out using two batteries like the layout indicated, which worked fine. My goal was to be able to use an DC adapter, because this is for my cousin who is going to be using a daisy chain power supply. To get around the bipolar supply required, I used GGG's 9V bipolar converter circuit which uses the MAX1044 charge pump. I read about the TA1044 charge pump (which is cheaper and does the same thing) having a bit more headroom, which might be needed for the fluctuations in using different power supplies. I used GGG's layout and a TA1044 and this circuit worked like a charm right off the bat.

2) SOUND - The sound quality is outstanding. I A/B'd this with my Super Reverb RI's tremolo and the Anderton (on the 'hard' setting) sounded the same, only QUIETER. That REALLY says something. The 'soft' setting is much more subtle (and it actually 'ticks' like my SRRI!!), as opposed to the 'hard' setting (which is much quieter). The 'hard' setting is pretty much what nails the Fender Blackface trem sound; plus there are several adjustments that can be made. No popping when switching on/off, but I haven't added a power LED yet. This an excellent, quiet analog unit.

3) ISSUES - The PCB was a bit on the large side, so I recreated it in Illustrator and brought the parts in a little closer, so that's ok. The frequency (speed) pot shuts off the tremolo once it gets down to a certain speed, which isn't the lowest spot on the pot; I guess there isn't enough signal for the unit to 'trem', but it's so slow at that point that it's unusable anyway. I need to recheck my wiring, but the depth pot works in reverse on mine. The volume is lower on the 'soft' setting than it is on the 'hard' setting. The level control must be maxxed out to reach the volume of the bypassed signal.

SUMMARY: I A/B'd this directly with a Blackface Fender Tremolo (which I consider to be the standard by which all others are judged, IMHO) and it came very close to surpassing it. It's a little trickier build due to needing a CLM6000 for the opto-isolator and a biplolar converter for DC power, but the 'Fender sound' is there. One of the best units I've tried in a long time and a very high quality circuit. If I ever ditch my SRRI (which I'm considering doing for either a JSX combo or the new Fender SuperSonic 60w head), I'll build one for myself.
- Buck

[The Tone God]

You are aware that you can run the circuit in single supply so you don't need the bipolar/converter stuff ?

Andrew

[Bucksears]

(smacks forehead) DOH!
No, I wasn't aware of that. I didn't think there was a way around a bipolar supply if that's what the circuit requires.

Do tell............

- Buck

[The Tone God]

No, I wasn't aware of that. I didn't think there was a way around a bipolar supply if that's what the circuit requires.

In this case particularly because it uses opamps you can convert it. The only real reason to use bipolar in this circuit is if you are using some weirdo opamp that doesn't like running this circuit in single supply, if you need the headroom, or if you don't want the few extra parts.

This one is going to hurt but...

The function is your friend:

Search criteria: tremolo
User name: The Tone God

http://www.elixant.com/~stompbox/smfforum/index.php?topic=30542.0

http://www.elixant.com/~stompbox/smfforum/index.php?topic=18857.0

If you have anymore question post away.

Andrew