Gating problem with a transformer.

[dreww]

I am using the TL002 with the 2k as the primary, and two 1n270 diodes behind it before output.  The rest of the pedal sounds fine, and I've checked each stage individually, but whenever I put the transformer into the circuit gating always becomes a problem.  I checked the geofex site about gating problems, but it doesn't mention anything about transformers being a main culprit.  Here is an example: http://shutter7.com/coppermine/displayimage-357.html

[dreww]

Oh, and just to clarify the gating problem I can only hit the low E string on my guitar really hard to make a sound. 

[R.G.]

It's not the transformer, it's the diodes.

What I gleaned from your post it that you may be running guitar directly into a transformer and then using diodes on the output to make an octave up.

If that's really so, then it is definitely the diodes.

A guitar signal is probably 75-125mV peak signal level after the pick attack. A germanium diode takes something like 200-300mV to conduct, so even with a bit of transformer step up, the guitar signal is just barely able to overcome the initial diode voltage.

[Cliff Schecht]

It's not the transformer, it's the diodes.

What I gleaned from your post it that you may be running guitar directly into a transformer and then using diodes on the output to make an octave up.

If that's really so, then it is definitely the diodes.

A guitar signal is probably 75-125mV peak signal level after the pick attack. A germanium diode takes something like 200-300mV to conduct, so even with a bit of transformer step up, the guitar signal is just barely able to overcome the initial diode voltage.

I had this problem with my ring modulator even when using EMG's (up to 2.5V P-P!). I found that I had to put an input buffer before the transformer-diode setup (op amp form) to get rid of the gating problem.