Neovibe build report... Success!!!

[mr_fender]

Hey all,

I just finished putting together a Neovibe from R.G.'s project files, and it sounds fantastic.  It's got that Machine Gun and Bridge of Sighs "vibe" all over the place.  If I have time, I'll try to get some pics and clips together.  R.G. has done an awesome job of putting it all together in a great project file.  I etched the board from the PDF file and populated using all the parts listed on the parts list.  Just go through the mouser part numbers that R.G. gives and it will work and sound fantastic.  Since this is an older project, a couple of the part numbers given are obsolete, but mouser will give a current production alternative.  Just search by the mouser part numbers in the PDF file at geofex.com and you can't go wrong.

I chose 2N5210's for all of the transistors, except for a 2N3904 for the bulb driver.  I used 1% metal film resistors throughout.  As for the bulb, I used a 12V 25ma bulb from Radio Shack (also specified in the parts list).  For the LDR's, I used the Silonex NSL-7530 cells from Small Bear mounted flat to the board.  For the light shield, I went the folded metal box route.  The template in the PDF file made it super easy.  I used some thin sheet metal cut from the back of a dead LCD panel and some super fine sand paper (10,000 grit I think) and WD-40 to polish it to a mirror shine before folding.  I wrapped the edges with electrical tape and wrapped a small zip tie arround it to secure it to the PCB.  The reflecive box made a huge difference on the depth and character of the "swirl".  I deviated from the original project only slightly by omitting the bridge rectifier and two 1000uF filter caps.  I'm using a 18V DC power supply that is already filtered, so they weren't needed for me.  I did keep the 15V regulator in there, so my LFO and bulb are running at 18V and the audio path is at 15V.  I also replaced the two 100k mixing resistors (and the vibrato side voltage divider as well) with a panel mounted mix pot.  This takes the place of a chorus/vibrato switch and allows me to dial in many shades of "chorus", vibrato, and everything in between.  I have a Sovtek 1790NS box from Small Bear that will be its home as soon as I get it all boxed up.

Thanks a million times R.G. for this great project.  I've been wanting a univibe for years, but refused to pay the $200+ to buy one.  Thanks to your great project and a bit of work I now have a great sounding vibe for about $65.

Peace! 

[vince76]

hi,
I would to build an neovibe, I found some material about layer and component to use, but I can't find what you cited in your reply... As I very appreciate R.G. Keen and all I built came from his articles I'll very happy if you could give me you material (pdf?)

thank you, vince

[Auke Haarsma]

Vince, check out: http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/neovibeupdate.pdf

Mr Fender: Congrats on your build! Your vibe/chorus option makes me want try that as well!