Beg, borrow or steal….Say hallo to Mr. Mini Man

[solderman]

Hi. all 
Sorry if I seam a bit %^&*y but this is my first (nearly) own design and I am a bit proud of the result. By the way, Credits to Jack Orman, National Semiconductor App note, Aron and Others. I have also put in a bit of tweaking work to get it to sound like I want.

This is the Mini Man


And here are all the info files about him
http://solderman.fatabur.se/projects.htm

Here how he sounds (sorry for the crappy guitar playing. It is not his fault)

http://solderman.fatabur.se/MiniMan/MiniMan_Sound.htm

If you want to follow his birth
http://solderman.fatabur.se/MiniMan/build/MiniMan_build.htm


//Solderman

[Steben]

looks very cool and nice idea (using guitar volume knob I guess?).
yet I see a missed chance since you didn't put the MOSfets in serie, which means they act in parallel as a back-to-back pair of silicon diodes (in this case pair of Ge + Si diodes).

[solderman]

MOSfets in serie, which means they act in parallel as a back-to-back pair of silicon diodes (in this case pair of Ge + Si diodes).

Thanks
I'v tried with MOSFET+ 1N4001 and Zewner and a numerous combinations. but I haven't tried to put two MOSFETS in series, Ill try that one next time. Thanks for the tip.

//Solderman

[stm]

Congratulations for a great build!

[slacker]

Nice 

[waltk]

Anders,

The link at the top appears to be broken, but I grabbed a schematic for this from another thread. The one I have says it is rev. 1.01 dated 2008-10-17.

Here's my question, on this drawing it looks like c4 connects to the volume pot and the output jack, but eveything else on the right half of the schematic is grounded (with no way to get signal or power).  Am I mis-interpretting the schematic, or is there an updated version?

I was planning to make a PCB layout for this, but it doesn't seem like it would work as drawn.

[waltk]

Here's the thread where I grabbed the schematic... http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=81222.20 if anyone else wants to comment.

[solderman]

Anders,

The link at the top appears to be broken, but I grabbed a schematic for this from another thread. The one I have says it is rev. 1.01 dated 2008-10-17.

Here's my question, on this drawing it looks like c4 connects to the volume pot and the output jack, but eveything else on the right half of the schematic is grounded (with no way to get signal or power).  Am I mis-interpretting the schematic, or is there an updated version?

I was planning to make a PCB layout for this, but it doesn't seem like it would work as drawn.

Hi Walt
Glad you are interested. Yes you are miss interpreting the schematic. It works allright.
C4 connects to lug 3 of the volume pot. lug 2 from the volume pot connects to the output jack so far is everything correct. the rest of the components to the right of C4 are compose two switchable clipping stages. The first one is a classic Si diode stage like in MXR Distortion+ etc. It consists of  C6,D3-D4. The second one is a MOSFET clipping stage with Ge diodes like in Fulltone Fulldrive 2 etc. It consists of Q3-Q4,D1-D2,C5. She switch SW1 switsches between Clipping stage 1,2 or no stage connected,  Eg. clean booster.

It's funny that your question comes up now cause I am in the process of refining this one at the moment. I am satisfied with the sound after having done some bread board testing and tweeking. I have also made a new PCB layout for the new version but I have not been able to find time to etch it and test it so it is not verified.

My goal with the first version was to make a low component count, transparent clean booster with optional clipping stages with a simple treble roll of tone controll. I also wanted to be able to lower the output volume and not only boost it, hence the volumpot arrangement where 12 a clock is neutral. The trim pot is there to dial in a fixed maximal gain without distortion. The volume then regulates the amount of Boost.

This arrangement works allright. But after having used this one a lot I have find that I'm only using it as a clean booster an the tone controll is always at max treble.

As in all circuts that have this type of volume controll ( Fuzz Face, Etc) the volume pot also affects the tone. Together with the components before it it will filter the tone depending on how it is dialed in. In this case It means that this circut will have a mid-hump when the volume is in the middle postion (almost no boost). When you put a mild dist after it you get a "Queen-type of sound" ala 70:s rock witch I like. but I wanted to have it as transparent as possible as well. So my goal for the new version is the same but to have an all clean booster with the ability to keep the mid-hump tonal characteristics.

The changes I have made are:

-Removed the two clipping stages along with the switch S1
-Removed the volume pot and connected C4 directly to the out jack
-made the trim pot a normal outside box pot (25K rev-log) in series with a 1K5 limiting resistor for setting the max gain withot distortion. It will actually brake up a little bit at full gain but that's OK cause it sound more like a tube amp on the limit and you can adjust it with your attack.

To switch between mid-hump or no mid-hump.

-An switchable 22nF cap in parallel with C2
-A fixed 10K resistor in stead of the tone pot, This resistor is switchable to GDN (as original) or in series with yet another 33K resistor that goes to  GND
-One DTDP switch that, when in position 1 switches in the 22nF cap and at the same time switches the in the 33K resistor. in position 2 the 22n are switched out and the 10K resistor is switched to go directly to GND.



It works like that this:
When switched in the C2 10nF+22nF adds bass and mids. The extra 33K resistor reduses the effect of C7 witch Brigten  things up. together they make the circut transparent.

There aer probably thousends of other mods to be made but this is as far as I have come at this time.

If you still want to test the original version there you will find a ready to transfer PCB file and all info you need to build it. It is verified and works. the DIY layout file is there if you want to alter the PCB layout. check out Mini Man here.

http://solderman.fatabur.se/Mini_effects.html


I can mail you the new project file and PCB to you if you want but it is not verified yet.

[WGTP]

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

Looks good.  Mosfet second example

[solderman]

Hi
This is the shematics for Mini Man Version No:2



Injected with 18V the headroom is grate.

Sorry for the sloppy schem, Eagel and I don't make a perfect pair.

[Brymus]

Wow another really cool site to check out.
Thank You for sharing Solderman.

[solderman]

Wow another really cool site to check out.
Thank You for sharing Solderman.

Hi And thank's Bryan.

BTW, I can see that you live "close" to Amp heaven.

I think that Mojave Amp works builds the coolest and most awesome contemporary amp out there. The Scorpion has a killer tone that beats everything I have heard in the same class. The coyote is also a beast and it has a killer tone that beats the sh*t out of my Orange Tiny Terror. It's not louder but has classier tone. I have only herd sound clips from the rest of them but judging from what I have heard so far they probably sounds amazing as well. Unfortunately there is no vendor that carry them here in sweden, and they cost a fortune so I would have to rob a bank to afford one.

There, site is also a hard core porno site for Tube Amp fetishists' like my self or any one who appreciates beautiful and skilfully crafted electronic stuff. That probably goes for the vast majority of members here

http://www.mojaveampworks.com/

Liste to this.
http://www.mojaveampworks.com/5SoundClips/SideWinder/SW-SongRhyTele-LeadLPaul.mp3
Its the SideWinder played by Blues Saraceno. I woul give my left foot to be able to play like this guy.


BTW, for all who might be interested...
I have etched a PCB for the Mini Man 2.0 and will populate it t day. Build report and sound clips to be expected soon at a computer near you.

[solderman]

OK

Mini Man Version 2.0 Is verified

The looks:


The Sound first no effect, then max gain and switch=clean, then max gain and switch=mid-hump Guitar=Tele bridge pup Amp=Orange TT clean + 12" celestion  Vintage 30 + Mic to sound card. 
http://solderman.fatabur.se/Mini_man/Mini Man Ver 2.mp3

The project files:
http://solderman.fatabur.se/Mini_man/Mini Man Ver 2.0 Project File.pdf
http://solderman.fatabur.se/Mini_man/Mini Man 2.0 PCB.pdf

Ps. Changed  R5 from 33K to 22K