First Build Preparation Questions

[PKV]

It's almost that time.

I'm starting simple. Real simple. LPB-1 simple. Or maybe one of Tim Escovedo's Utility Boosts (I hear good things about JFETs). Obviously, I'm looking for minimal parts and a clean, healthy boost. I have  examined many schematics since my downward spiral into the sordid world of DIY, and any experience-based recommendations will be appreciated.

Of course, I plan to complicate matters when I stick the thing in my guitar and replace its terminally unused tone control with the boosters gain control.

But that's not important right now.

What I wanted to ask was if there is a simple mod for any one of these circuits that would result in a touch of compression. I will mainly be using the boost for driving leads, and would like a them to sing a little (more). I was reading Mark Hammer's piece on diodes, and also the material on Joe Davisson's diode-compression op-amp project, and thought perhaps there might be a way in there. But, I am yet a n00b, and would happily defer to the more knowledgable for possibilities and guidance.

So, any thoughts or ideas you might have to help nudge me over the cliff - I mean, start me on my way - would be greatly appreciated. And they need not be limited to the question at hand, any and all first-time recommendations/advice/fond memories/heart-rending-tales-of-triumph-against-insurmountable-odds are welcome.

thanks.

[Mark Hammer]

My advice would be to build it and make it work - stock - first, and THEN ask yourself if there is anything more you need it to do for you.  Keep in mind that hotter signals can sometimes have the effect of extracting more compression out of the amp itself.  So first find out what compression you're NOT getting, and that will help you to determine if you need to do something more and what that something might be.

[PKV]

Thanks Mark. I had surmised that breadboarding the thing first would save me a lot of misery, but your additional logic is sound. It may be the thing I need without trying to be all fancy and whatnot. Do you have a booster preference?

[Mark Hammer]

Do you have a booster preference?

Nah.  Most of the truly useful jobs are done with boosts in the 1-12db range.  I suspect that individual diferences betwen boosters probably don't start to show up until you start exceeding that amount of boost.  Stated another way, I don't expect to see a big difference between boosters with a gain of x4.

As for other reasons to choose, go for low current, and whatever complements the pot values and semiconductors you have in your parts bin.