Orange Squeezer Mods

[jsleep]

Thanks to Mark Hammer for this mod to the Orange Squeezer Compressor.  I don't have a layout for it yet, but it looks very cool.  Thanks again Mark.

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/v2/diagrams/orangesqueezer_marks_variable.gif

posted at:

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/v2/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=79&op=page&SubMenu=

from:


http://www.generalguitargadgets.com

[petemoore]

OS's are very nice. This looks to be even nicer !!!
 As we may know, the original OS is very subtle, just plain 'nice' sounding. And can be used to advantage as a signal preparer  for envelope filters etc.
 Has you heard it? 'How' does it sound?

[Kleber AG]

Wow, very nice! I was waiting for it... Thanks Mark!

BTW, I need some HELP

I already know how to change atack and release at the orange squeezer, I've even already tried that, but my problem is I can't figure out what would be the best settings for me (atack/release).
"How" do one smart guitar guy would adjust/expect that settings, I feel totally lost when I start to try to adjust that, and in the end I've spended too much time and had not decided myself...

Also, the bias pot, is there some technicall way to adjust that???

Thank you all
Kleber AG

[Mark Hammer]

I've never knowingly heard an OS other than knowing it was used by a given artist on a recording, but of course by that point this would be exactly the sort of pedal whose identifiable characteristics would be entirely lost amidst other things.  I had never heard one close up until I decided to build this one, and the only thing that would be different is the sibilance-recovery.  I must stress this is not any sort of noticeable treble boost, but rather much less treble *loss* than one begrudgingly accepts from compressors.  The .01uf cap value works fine for me but certainly feel free to experiment with other larger values.  Other than that it is simply louder, and allows for better matching between input and pedal.  Personally I find the damn thing so transparent that I have a hard time telling the difference between minimum and maximum compression.  Of course that may be because I didn't build in enough range in the gain control too.  :oops:

I don't think there is *any* "best" settings for attack and decay times.  Personally, I like to have choices for different feels.  Sometimes you want as little pumping and breathing as you can get, and other times it is what defines the most appealing part of the tone.  For instance, I find Tele bridge pickups *love* all the worst things about compressors, whereas neck+bridge combinations don't.

For half-wave rectified signals, especially when you plan on having sustained chords, longer decay times are helpful for getting rid of envelope ripple.  One of the posted OS adaptations has a full-wave rectifier, which reduces the audibility of ripple by shifting it up an octave, however longer decay times help there too.

If you want more bite to your attack, in this case you would go with a longer attack time, since it would take a little longer for the FET-based attenuation to kick in (thus permitting the initial pick attack to make it through without attenuation).  That's one of the confusing things about compressors.  When people think "slower attack", they normally think that the note itself would swell more slowly at the beginning.  Not so.  Compressors of this type provide a constant boost and a sidechain-controlled attenuation.  Under those circumstances best to think of the attack control as an "attenuation onset" control, in whihc case faster attack means attenuation across more of the onset of the note.

Make sense?

[Kleber AG]

Thanks Mark!
Yes it does make sense, thank you.

As you said, I've found that for me, I usualy play lots of "palm-mute" stuff, a slower attack is better, it's more "in your face"
So I found the 1K5 resistor to sound better with 2K2 providing a slower attack, am I crazy?

And looks like that a faster release time is better for my kind of aplication too, so it's better to leave the 4,7uF as stock, albeit if I try a 10uF that gives a longer release time, that's like a relief because you have some time after you stop playing "without" noise  :wink:  until the release sets back the gain/noise (yes, I'm using it before an overdrive). The problem is that longer release defeats the slower attack purpose, as it will just allow the first attack to be heard...

I don't know how to indentify the "pumping and breathing" everyone talks about  

Is there some difference about using 2K2 instead of 2K4 resistor for the one that shorts both JFets sources, maybe more distortion? (I don't have 2K4 so I've used 2K2 and I don't know what's it for)

Any info would be of so much help!
thank you!
Kleber AG

[vinny]

Wow,some time ago,I built one of these...and wish to thank Mark Hammer and J.D. for still being around sharing  this information. I,personally,find the 'subtle' effects the best,and this is one of them. Also,am still learning, so the explanations of biasing etc. and the whys of various mods mean a lot to me.I've had good luck w/press and peel ...well, actually it varies one day to the next..the point is,most the time,the info I have time to actually implement here is first class- and I'm appreciative and (having been off-line for a spell) am writing to say thanks for work you do.(now,where's that soldering iron and half-finished project) no joke-thanks for being out there-although this new site is still a bit awkward.