Ampeg Scrambler

[tcobretti]

I built a scrambler using a pcb from GGG, it took me about two hours (I'm kinda slow) and worked the first time I plugged it in.  I built it as a gift, but it is so wicked I'm tempted to keep it.

I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't messed with it.  You get a pretty good generic fuzz kinda thing happening, but then you dial in the octave and things get crazy.  You also can blend the fuzz in, so you can set your JCM900 to kill and then slowly add Scrambler insanity to the mix.  Sometimes just a touch is enough.  It seems to work best with humbuckers; needs a little more input to really crank.  

I've had really good luck with the GGG stuff I've bought (Brian May Treble Booster, and the Scrambler); I plug in the values on the schematic and things sound great.  I perfboarded a Si tonebender using his values and it rocks.

[tcobretti]

Question:  Is there a way to integrate the octave part of the Scrambler into a different fuzz pedal?  

Way over my head so I pose the question to you guys.

[toneman]

build a mixer.
build an EQ/parametric/notch Btween each input to the mixer.
build an EQ/parametric on the output of the mixer.
what about a BMP/scrambler/4049 combo.
add small amount of ice, blend tonally.
order up!!
stayshaken not scrambled but well mixed!!
tone

[Elektrojänis]

Question:  Is there a way to integrate the octave part of the Scrambler into a different fuzz pedal?  

Probably... But I think you need Q2, Q3 and Q4 for it to work. So that leaves out only Q1 and that is just a buffer... And if the scrambler part gets driven straight from the guitar you will probably need that buffer anyway.

So the best option might be to just build it into a same box with something else.

BTW. Many people like Green Ringer and some other fuzzes with some other distortion/fuzz in front of them... Many people also say that scrambler is not that good with other fuzzes and works best alone. I like to have some other distortion/fuzz after the scrambler (or running it into a distorted amp).  It can give a small amount of added insanity and exitement to a sound with some milder settings and with thicker settings it gets really wild.

[DDD]

To make simple octaver from Amp. Scr. you have only to disconnect feedback from the "lower" terminal  of the "Texture" pot (10 kOhm) to the base of Q2. The resulting sound is very intersting and original and not so wicked as before the mod.
Here are some links to the sound of AS modified as described above:
http://valueguitar.by.ru/projects/pr0006/Scrambler_2.mp3    -  heavy sound, 184 kb
http://valueguitar.by.ru/projects/pr0006/Scramb1.mp3   -  roaring/screaming sound, 311 kb
http://valueguitar.by.ru/projects/pr0006/Chords_higain1.mp3 - full 6-string chords (!!!)
http://valueguitar.by.ru/projects/pr0006/E_and_B_higain.mp3  and  http://valueguitar.by.ru/projects/pr0006/Bas_higain1.mp3  - quite clear what's it.
(The last 3 files are about 60 to 100 kb each).
Recorded through simple 2-knob tone control directly to the PC sound card. No any digital processing or other effects.
Note: I'm not a guitar player at all, so please don't pay any attention to the "music", listen just to the sound  :-)

[Elektrojänis]

To make simple octaver from Amp. Scr. you have only to disconnect feedback from the "lower" terminal  of the "Texture" pot (10 kOhm) to the base of Q2. The resulting sound is very intersting and original and not so wicked as before the mod.

Cool... One more mod to add to my scrambler clone. I have been wondering about that feedback.

Hmmm... Duh... I have to add one more switch... My unit allready has 4 pots and one switch (and a stomp switch for bypass of cource). I was allready planning on adding one more switch for some other stuff...

[tcobretti]

Thanks DDD, I'm definitely gonna try that out.  

Many people also say that scrambler is not that good with other fuzzes and works best alone.

I don't like any distortion pedal by itself.  I always use them in conjunction with amp distortion.  My test to see if a pedal is cool is to get the amp a little crunchy, then fire up the pedal and let the chips fall where they may.  A pedal only augments the sound I already have.

I do want to build a green ringer at some point and see what that's all about.

[Elektrojänis]

I do want to build a green ringer at some point and see what that's all about.

Me too... I've been intending to do it something like five years. It's not the only one that I've been thinking to build that long though.

[DDD]

By the by, heavily overdriven octavers may produce interesting sounds, but don't forget to make proper filtering after.