smokey clone

[christobean]

i just finished making the smokey clone using the LM386 and 2 47uF caps.
i ran it through a really old sony boombox speaker( 8 ohms) and could hardly get a sound out of it.  so i put a jack on the output and ran it into my bass practice amp and it works fine, and has an amazing amount of sustain.

has anyone who built the smokey experienced this?
thanks

[AdamB]

I have a smokey amp, maybe it's because your using an LM386 - I took a look inside my smokey and it uses JRC386D. Dunno if that'd make any difference but it's worth a try.

I'm working on building a distortion unit based on the smokey, as I like the tone of the smokey as a fuzz box, but I tend to get alot of radio hiss and what not using it.

-Adam

[Joecool85]

May I suggest the grace OD?

http://www.runoffgroove.com/grace.html

It's based around the lm386.

[christobean]

ok, thanks
do you think it would be worht a shot putting a poweramp or something behind it to give it some more oompf?

[Joecool85]

Nope, its fine as is.

Also, where is the schematic for this smokey clone?  I thought the little gem/ruby are basically smokey clones?

[christobean]

its like a super simplified version of the lil gem/ruby
http://www.elixant.com/~stompbox/smfforum/index.php?topic=35873.0

[Joecool85]

Wow, well thats pretty cool.

[christobean]

i just got back to this project, and it turns out that the problem was the 9v battery was dieing.  so i replaced it, and now it works well.

does anyone know how i could link multiple 386's for more power, like in the little gem mkII?

thanks

[Ge_Whiz]

Well, I'd guess you could do it like in the Little Gem MkII...

This 'bridge' arrangement QUADRUPLES the power (but only doubles the volume). Unfortunately, you can't easily do it with more than two amps.

[Joecool85]

Are you sure it doesn't double the power?  I'm pretty sure the mkII is a 1w amp, not a 2w.