Orange Squeezer general questions

[Unclerny]

Hello Forum, I'm in the process of working on an orange squeezer and I have some questions to the guys who are more familiar with the real deal.

I've managed to build the unit and I guess it works as it's passing signal but I can't tell if it's doing anything.  I've tamed the clipping most people complain about from the 220K op-amp gain resister by lowering it.  I've tweaked the trim pot, changed diodes, used a pot in place of the 100K on the feedback.  All of this really just sounds like a nice clean preamp.

I don't hear any noticeable compression.  Am I doing something wrong?

I read that the original has a very fast reaction time and can sound transparent.  If this is the case I've built it basically correctly but this won't fly for the purpose I built it for.  I need a small circuit footprint for my design but it has to be noticeable.

HELP!!
Tim
Uncle Ernie
One Man's Distortion is Another Man's Reality

[Pushtone]

One way you can test it (or set the trim) is to boost the signal before the OS-1 input. This will force it into compression and the effect should be more noticeable. Of course you will have to build a booster or have a preamp on-hand to do this.

With a normal input the OS-1 effect is subtle for sure. I use it for rhythm parts with the OS-1 output boosted so I don't have to strum so hard while it evens out the overall volume keeping the rhythm part out of the way of the vocals.

The OS-1 is not a sustain machine.

[kvb]

Are you using a layout or going from the schematic?
I used a layout and had to make some changes.
I think it will still pass a boosted signal even if the fets are not performing.

Does the signal die when you turn the trimmer all the way down?

I am very pleased with the OS.  I can definitely hear the compression if I hit the strings hard, etc.  It cleans up the bass from my 7th string. I think its got good sustain too.    Though, the only other compressor I can compare it to is a DOD junker.

[Unclerny]

Thanks for the responses, I'll try the boost Pushtone and see what that does.

KVB yes the signal dies if the trimmer is turned below about 40% so I believe it's working just not very noticably.

There's a huge amount of boost here if I want it.  Is that normal also?

U.E.

[Unclerny]

Sorry, as to layout versus schematic.  I have about five schematics to it and both layouts from tonepad.  Also I have the build instructions and other info from GGG.  I've doen my research.  I understand the WD clone blows compared to a real OS but where in the world would you find a real one?

THanks U.E.

[kvb]

what about the voltages?

I used a vero layout from the gallery here.  After I made certain changes the voltages matched those reported at GGG.

[Pushtone]

There's a huge amount of boost here if I want it.  Is that normal also?
U.E.

Yes that is normal.  When I use the OS-1 at the front of my effect chain I go for unity gain in and out. That puts the knob at about 11:00 o'clock on mine. If however, the OS-1 is preceeded by a booster then I get more compresion and I need to turn that OS-1 knob up for "make-up gain". The sound gets squishyer the more the boost is dimed and I need to boost the OS-1 to make up for it.

BTW - My OS-1 IS noticable by itself with humbuckers but very, very transparent with single coils. Maybe transparent isn't the right work. Perhaps there is just less input and therefore less compression.

[markm]

BTW - My OS-1 IS noticable by itself with humbuckers but very, very transparent with single coils. Maybe transparent isn't the right work. Perhaps there is just less input and therefore less compression.

I would think more than likely this is the case.
Here's something you gents can try.....
I'm the type of player that uses the knobs on the guitar quite a bit.
I roll the volume back on my Tele because some real interesting tones live within the throw of the volume pot!
Then, I have my OS set for Max Compression, real squishy, and when the volume on the guitar is cranked up,
the feel of the comp gets real squishy, when it's down the compression is not as noticable but the volume remains
the same beacuse the comp is still working!
I do the same with a couple of the other comps I've built and this method works real well.
It's amazing how one can make the compressor work in the players favor by simply rolling the volume
on the guitar a bit.
So many fellas I know just play with the volume on the Guit wide open......
If you're gonna do that, take the damn thing off and wire it direct is what I always tell 'em!!!!
     MarkM

[alteredsounds]

Not meaning to h-jack your thread but I built this yesterday using Torchy's layout.  Passed signal fine and boosts but I also cant tell if there's any compression going on.  If I roll back the guitar volume pot, it doesnt keep it at unity.  I also noticed if I turn the trimmer down, it will cut the sound out BUT I get a little whisp of smoke and the trimpot glows a little!  Confusing and not enough smoke to be a decent stage effect either!

[MartyMart]

"Smoke" doesn't sound good !
I built Torchy's version some time ago, into an old "OS" enclosure ( looks totally original )
There is only a small area on the trimmer between off - comp - boost, but I have about
a quater turn of compression variation, mine is set so that it's NOT subtle
Something is wrong with the circuit if it's only a boost/distortion device.
Lots of OS posts to wade through addressing this problem  .....

MM.