Green Ringer build problems! Voltages and description included.

[Stompin Tom]

Maybe you had the pot wired wrong.... 

but seriously, mine sounded better with a low gain Ge trannie. And, of course, match those diodes.

[rockhorst]

@Pete Moore:
With 'FETs' I just referred to the 3 transistors (can't remember exactly if it were trannies, JFETS or MOSFETS) in the schematic. I wasn't talking about any substitions. So basically the question is if it's any use at individually determining the working point instead of going with the setup in the schematic...or am I talking bull again?

*edit* I checked: they're transistors. Still it's an interesting question for instance in building boost pedals, or in the Green Ringer. I remember an article by RG (I think) on the design of boosters. How bulletproof is a GR or typical booster circuit with respect to minimum, maximum and typical values?

[newbie builder]

Built it on vero, got it all wired up....and nothing. Then I noticed that all along I'd used a 62k instead of 6.2k resistor......replaced it with what I had around (4.7K) and it worked I have some questions though, it's still a tiny bit below unity volume when engaged...any way to change this? Also the octave effect is there, but I'd like it to be more pronounced. Do I just need to play with transistors to do that or are there components I'd change to get that? The last thing is that I was playing chords with it and they sound awful because of the octaves, but it produces a overdrive that I absolutely loved. Any way I could take away the octave effect and just be left with that wonderful lo-fi distortion/overdrive? Sorry for all the questions and thanks for the help!

[oldrocker]

The GR from my experience is a lower volume effect.  Putting a booster after it my help that and there are some filter mods the might bring up the loudness some.  The wierd chord sounds especially the minor chords will sound strange do to the effects characteristics.  I also like the bar chords especially with a distortion effect in front of it. (Fuzz Face, Muff Fuzz) This may also make the effect louder. 
For more octave I'm not sure electronically what would increase it but higher notes played at the 12th fret area make it more pronounced.  Using the neck pickup with the tone rolled down some helps.  With lower notes you won't get a lot of octave.

[Stompin Tom]

Mine offers a slight volume boost... definately not a drop. I like to put my Orange squeeze after it... sits in the mix a little better that way. I don't like it so much with distortion or fuzz before or after... takes away from the 'charm' of the effect.  The modulation and octaving are less pronounced with more distorto... just my opinion. Also depends on my guitar... Mine likes low output HBs or single coils best.

[newbie builder]

Well the octave isn't prononced enough for me to use as an octave alone I think- just isn't octavey enough; however, I tried boosting it with a Timmy today and I was in heaven. I could play any chord on the neck and didn't hear any of the octave, but did get a GREAT overdrive by hitting the front end of the ringer hard- I think I've just found my favorite pedal stack! REALLY great sounding. Gave me more of that green ringer drive sound I liked, no octave (which is wimpy to start) and a volume boost!

[oldrocker]

True when you add distortion or fuzz in front of it you lose some octave effect but I was refering to using the GR for power chords for nice crunch with that setup.
Mine does have a volume drop though I'm not sure why but it really octave's up nice.

[newbie builder]

Maybe I just have weak trannies in there.....the octave up is not any where near as noticable as the clip on GGG.....

[Stompin Tom]

Newbie, you're sure you matched the diodes and the resistors and used a low gain trannie... I'm no expert at this stuff and mine definately has an octave and modulation thing going on... of course you might not want that since your happy with the distorto tone.

[newbie builder]

Didn't match the diodes..
O well, I'm enjoying the distortion enough I'll just build another with matched diodes as an actual octave.