Any difference between 60's V846 / Jen Crybaby

[taku0319]

I've owned more than 10 of these and noticed that I prefer Jen Crybaby in spite of there components are almost same.
Anybody know any difference between them?

- their inductors are trashcan. V846 does not have "500" print on top.
- transistors are 2N5232A.
- Some have Ducati, some have EKT for 4uf. I can not hear much difference from these.

What I did not like about V846 is their "sweep". They are less vocal like than Jen when the sound is not distorted.
Are there anyway to modify V846 to resemble to Jen?

[anotherjim]

The only thing I've seen that comes close is that its something in the Ferrite inductor cores used in a certain factory. The idea being that the ferrite isn't perfect and builds up some magnetic bias making the circuit a little assymetric. This is usually attributed to the Fassel brand ones. This is one of those theories that could be right & wrong at the same time as in "yes, it's assymetric but not to an audible extent".
I own a Jen Cry Baby with a Red Fassel inductor, and honestly, I don't think it's particularly "vocal" but I'm not a serious tone freek by any means -  it's probably wasted on the likes of me.

[Electric Warrior]

The difference you are hearing is probably caused by different pot tapers.

[iainpunk]

The only thing I've seen that comes close is that its something in the Ferrite inductor cores used in a certain factory. The idea being that the ferrite isn't perfect and builds up some magnetic bias making the circuit a little assymetric. This is usually attributed to the Fassel brand ones. This is one of those theories that could be right & wrong at the same time as in "yes, it's assymetric but not to an audible extent".
I own a Jen Cry Baby with a Red Fassel inductor, and honestly, I don't think it's particularly "vocal" but I'm not a serious tone freek by any means -  it's probably wasted on the likes of me.

that asymmetry is only a factor when there is substantial DC going through the inductor, i dont know the voltages on the transistors, but with a 470K in series, i can't imagine its even measurable.

i think its more about the losses in the inductor and the super-soft clipping it generates. especially since there are eddy currents in the core, there might be a substantial difference in loss between different mixtures. most inductors are made on the cheap, so consistency in ferrite is not seen as an important factor

cheers, Iain

[taku0319]

thanks all, maybe i should try to swap inductors of vox and Jen's. Let's see.

[Rob Strand]

You can bend the sound by increasing or decreasing the 33k resistor in parallel with the inductor , or by adding series resistance to the inductor.     The series method can only bend one way but the parallel method can bend both ways.    The parallel method will need large-ish changes to be noticeable.

For comparison, you can measure the DC resistance of the inductors.

The resistances affect the peakiness.

[iainpunk]

there is already a 470k resistor in series with the inductor, wouldn't changing that be more effective???

[anotherjim]

Take the GEOFEX link above, click on "Technology of the..." and find Wha Pedals. Lots of info in there.