Blues Driver mods ( I have searched) !!!

[ocelot]

Grabbed from Keeley site has anybody tried these mods?

D3 Change this 1SS133 to a different (1N4002) diode for asymmetrical clipping.

D7 D8 D9 and D10 Change 2 of of these diodes from 1SS133 to a single 1N4002. More second order harmonic distortion. Although the change is slight, I like it. We actually take out one of the two pairs and replace it with a single 1N4001.

C1, C7, C6, C12, C13, and C15 Change this electrolytic capacitor to a 10uF Non-polarized caps. Non-polarized caps sound better . I like these anywhere there is signal coupling at this high a value.

C14 Increase input coupling capacitor value to 0.1uF for increased bass response from your guitar.

C100 Here is where we can affect the tone control. I prefer a little more lower-midrange and bass frequencies through the tone section. You can increase the lower frequencies by increasing the capacitor value to 0.033uF. Install a switch to add a 0.068uF cap in parallel with this value for the Phat Mode!

[ocelot]

Bump

I wonder why he gives them away? is a 4001 the same as a 4148 diode?

[MartyMart]

1N4001 is higher forward voltage, 0.7v for a 1N4148 and about 1.1v for a 1N4001
this clips later and provides a volume increase.
The other mods work well, the C1/C6/C7/C12/C13/C16 can be tantalum polerized
10uf NP at this value is B I G !! probably 1uf poly's if small enough would be fine also.
D7/D8 can be replaved with a 3mm red LED too and works well IMO.

MM.

[solarplexus]

I did this mod to my BD-2 once.  When I was finished I found that it sounded more like a distortion than an overdrive, I didn't like it, and I didn't like the stock sound either, so I got rid of the BD-2.  

Try it, but don't stick entirely to the mod.  Experiment a bit.

Hope this helps,

Matt

[blanik]

hi, i used the .046uF for tone (i thought the .068 sounded too bassy) and i changed the diodes for 3mm LEDs (even the lonely diode near the IC (D3 if i remember correctly)) now it's a lot more overdrive than stock.. wich i thought was fizzy...

the trick with the BD-2 is to use it with a cranked tube amp and turn the drive know lower than what it's set at when doodling at low volumes...

R.

[beatstrat]

I tend to like the 1N400X for clippers (not for everything, but...) - the higher forward voltage gives them a bit more volume (in typical overdrives, TS, et al), but they still sound pretty smooth to me - sorta 'crunchy' and smooth at the same time; nice mix.

I'm using a symetrical pair of them in my Xotic AC Booster and really like it for recording - still too compressed for live work though, so I have the clippers tied to a switch and toggle between the pair of 1N4001s (for recording) and 4 symetrical 1N4001s for club gigs - more volume and plenty of 'compression'/sustain in front of my 6L6/2x12 combo at stage volumes.

You might check out Guassmarkov's recent thread/work with his BD-2 clone; good stuff.

[ocelot]

Cool thanks I will try currently I have a been using a 70's strat into a Fulldrive2 then into the BD. I was intending the B2 to be my lead boost pedal however I found I am going the other way around the BD is a great sounding pedal however I want a little more out of it and fatten up my strat a little hence the tone mod. I have some 4004 diodes which I can sub instead of a 4001.

Cheers

[blustrat]

This is my personal mod:

C13 - .022
C16 C100 - .1uf
C14 - .0047
C17, C18 - .01UF
D3 - 1N4002
D7, D8 - removed
D9 - 1N5819
D10 - yellow led

very clean at low drive settings but very full sounding at max levels.
Greetings from Italy