A TS question filled with cliches and mojo catch phrases.

[skiraly017]

I've avoided building a TS for a long time because they just really never did it for me, but I gave into peer pressure and had a go at it. I reasearched all the mods, socketed the key parts and swapped until I was pretty happy with the results. My question is this...how do get rid of the congested sound (like you're talking from the back of your throat)? I want the pedal to sound more open, transparent, airy or clear. Maybe "presence" is the term I'm looking for. I don't think this is a mids thing (I could be wrong), but it seems the build is one step away from being very, very good. Is this due to the limitations of a single tone knob? Did I overlook a component or mod? Thanks for the input.

[Dragonfly]

If you detail the mods you have done, it will help us make suggestions.

for instance, a jrc4558dd will sound different than a lf353

the type of clipping you used changes the tonality

input / output /rolloff /etc caps


etc, etc

[skiraly017]

Op Amp - BB OPA2134.
Asymetrical clipping using 1SS119's (the diode of the week for me).
Replaced 1uF NP electrolytics with 1uF films.
Increased .047uF to .056uF (.1uF provided too much bass for me, neck pickup sounded muddy).
Trannies changed to 2N3904's (swapped a bunch, settled on those).

I think I have a better way to describe my issue. I play a Nocaster through a Carr Rambler. When the TS is enagaged I lose some of that Tele "spank". If I try and dial it back in with the tone knob on the pedal, I lose too much bass and the overall sound becomes thin.

I'm happy with the amount of drive the pedal puts out so I don't want to increase that. I just want the TS to clear its throat so to speak.

[GREEN FUZ]

It seems that congested or 'nasal' sound you`re referring to is a feature of the original circuit. Maybe this is what you`re looking for to cure that affliction.

http://www.muzique.com/lab/fatt.htm

[blanik]

i had the same thing with the TS... it's basically a mid booster and it kills highs and lows... it's great tool to cut through a mix and stand out but it doesn't really do it for me, and it doesn't clean up well with the volume... i haven't found anything better than my modded BD-2 yet...

R.

[Ed G.]

I think the .22 cap before the tone section is the problem. The circuit dumps all the highs just to add them back later with the active tone control?

[Dragonfly]

What about adding a single stage inverting (IIRC the TS is also inverting...) clean buffer to blend some original signal in ? You could even cut out a bunch of the lows in the buffer so that you have a "clean treble bleed" that can be mixed into the circuit...could be a very simple jfet or op amp circuit

just an idea....

[markm]

SparkleDrive? 

[skiraly017]

SparkleDrive? 

Been there, done that. While I really liked the clean blend on the SD, it does that same thing that the TS does (at least to my ears)...it's dumping some frequency (probably more than one) that's just gunking up my tone.

[jaytee]

Sounds like you want more top end out of it? Try removing the 51p cap across the diodes or decrease the size of the 220n cap to ground after the clipping stage.

[markm]

SparkleDrive? 

Been there, done that. While I really liked the clean blend on the SD, it does that same thing that the TS does (at least to my ears)...it's dumping some frequency (probably more than one) that's just gunking up my tone.

Well, yes!
But, if you perform your mods to that circuit then you also have the clean blend to add some of the Tele Spank back into it!
Just an idea.
BTW, I too own a Cunetto Relic.
Nice Geetar!