Mongoose impressions

[snorky]

Hey all,

Just finished a Mongoose using M Lister's vero layout based on Gottfried Divo's schematic.  Thanks to both
of them for putting this project together!

I initially used all values specified on the layout.   When it fired up, I thought, "Wow, it's loud!  But damn is it muddy...".  Playing power chords low on the neck was impressively massive, but too dark to really sound
very good (IMHO).  This is with a Strat, BTW, and the bridge pickup _was_ a bit better.  Playing single notes anywhere up the neck was anemic - not enough sustain and just kinda wimpy.  I was a little disappointed and decided it was a worthwhile exercise, but not really box-worthy.

Just for fun (desperation?), I swapped out the 4.7uF tants (C5 and C8 on the layout) for 2.2uF tants as specified in the schem.  Now it's _much_ more open and less-muddy.  Nice!   Playing lead lines above the 12th fret sounds really good.  A completely new pedal!  And it's gonna get boxed!  :-)

One other thing - the gain knob (10K linear)  does most of its work towards the end of it's travel.  Maybe a different taper would be better? 
That's it!

- Mark

[Bernardduur]

I liked it when I build it, but it was not for me; it was too muddy at the start of the fuzz and too tame at the end. And on bass it did not work for me; on guitar though I liked it.

[Toney]

Swap out something like 3 caps and you ve got yourself a Mayer Spitfire.
Reputedly more open and "brighter". There was a thread recently discussing this and kicking around the possibility of swithching between them.

[MartyMart]

Snorky, I'm glad that :
A - It worked !
B - That you mentioned building from my layout

I agree that it could be a bit "muddy" - no so on my rig, but there you go !
Perhaps 2u2's or even a touch smaller are better ....
Not a "subtle" sound is it ? the pot is 'as' the original, perhaps a reverse Log
would work better ...?

Marty.