555 timer overdrive?

[thomasthebuzzard]

Is there a way to use a 555 timer to make an overdrive?

[earthtonesaudio]

I got this to work once, but not for a second chip:



Then I tried a 10k pot in series with V+, and a 100k from pin 4 to ground.  Adjusting the pot got two different 555s to work.

Slightly fuzzy OD sound.

[emstin1]

I saw a distortion made with a 555 and lm386, but it also had a tremolo effect on the distortion.  I think it was on getlo-fi.com


Edit: I found the schematic.  Not sure what it sounds like though

http://www.getlofi.com/uploaded_images/trem%20schematic-753400.JPG

[mantella]

this probably isn't what you're looking for, but John Hollis's Crash Sync uses a 555 along with TL072. Not straight-up 555 OD, but easy circuit/fun sound nonetheless.

[jasperoosthoek]

The UglyFace is based on a 555 and an LM386. It also has an enveloppe filter that changes the pulse width of the 555 to how loud you pick: It's an autowah/fuzz of DOOM .

Check the forum for the PCB and layout. The PCB is still being sold here.

[faptdivers]

Just built this (the one ETA posted) and it's quite aweome for 1 chip and a few caps/resistors.
Only way I could get it to work was to use a resistance in series with v+ going to pin 8 , tried it with a few pots but the usable range was 1-2% out of each and every one of em'.

By varying the resistance betwen V+ and pin 8 you can get anything from a warm dynamic touch-sensitive overdrive(5-10k) , to a bit of distortion , and at the very end of the spectrum(3.2-3.9k) you get a few flavours of fuzz , most of them farty and squeeky low-gainish but if you hit the sweet spot you'll get a nice long sustaining mid-gain fuzz.

Awesome circuit for the part count.

[earthtonesaudio]

Awesome.  Could you post exactly what kind of 555 chip you used?  There may be a certain brand or year that works for this circuit.  I got it to work once, and I must have misplaced the particular 555 because I've raided my stash and couldn't get any of the others to work.

[vendettav]

Awesome.  Could you post exactly what kind of 555 chip you used?  There may be a certain brand or year that works for this circuit.  I got it to work once, and I must have misplaced the particular 555 because I've raided my stash and couldn't get any of the others to work.

This

[Earthscum]

Hey Alex.. did you possibly try biasing the threshold pin and using it as the output?

[earthtonesaudio]

I can honestly say the thought never crossed my mind.  Does it work?

[faptdivers]

Sorry I forgot about this thread. The chip CHN - NE555N K7U018 , bought them from a ebay user called thaishop or something to that extent. Also to note the batter I was using to test this was kinda low on juice. Plugged it into 9V and didn't work at first , then changed the resistance from pin 8 to ground and got it working again.