Tube Screamers for Dummies!!!

[Plinky]

The "technology of the Tube Screamer" page on GeoFex is a great reference, but is there someone who can get the same message across for us dummies??? Every time I try to read it, I just make it to the clipping stage section before my eyes start spinning around in my head, I go into mass-confusion mode, and run away screaming (pun intended ). I have some fairly decent electrical knowledge from working on cars for 17 years (ASE Master certified, dealer trained), but it doesn't seem to be helping me in understanding electronics more closely.

[markm]

Probably lots of info to be had here about it but, it would involve doing some searches and looking around a bit.
Maybe John's page could help you but, it's not for dummies either!

http://www.greene-pedals.com/

[hellwood]

here is a good link to familiarize you w/ most of the important terms/concepts
http://www.diystompboxes.com/wiki/index.php?title=DIY_FAQ#TRUE_BYPASS_AND_SWITCHING

[96ecss]

Hi Plinky,

I had the same problem a few months ago when I read that article. It's tough to get a complete grasp on it just by reading. I built the ITS8 project from General Guitar Gadgets http://generalguitargadgets.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=90&Itemid=118

That helped me to understand it better. Especially since it didn't work when I plugged it in and I had to trace the board with the schematic and an audio probe to find the problem. Then I modded a TS-9 for a friend of mine and I read the article again. Between building an 808 clone and modding the TS-9, I got enough hands-on experience to really understand what is going on in the circuit. It also helped that i read and read and read the posts here and pieced together enough info that the article started to make sense.

If you don't have a Tube Screamer, just do what I did. I went over to my friends house and told him I would mod his TS-9 for free to gain the learning experience. I paid for all the parts and everything. He wasn't gigging with it anymore so he was happy to get a free mod on it. I'm happy to say that since I modded it, it's back on his board being gigged regularly.

You could also try reading the article again and when you get to a part you don't understand, come back here and post a specific question. There are tons of knowledgeable people on here who could answer any question you could possibly have about a Tube Screamer. R.G. himself might even respond to your question. Then you'll get a true education.

I hope this helps.

Dave

[antojado]

I think R.G. probably thought he was 'dumbing' it down for us!
I too found it quite confusing when I first read it. Recently I built a red llama clone and the light suddenly went on! Seeing Jack Orman's schematic for his overdrive pro also lit another light. I went back and read the article again and now it's makes much more sense. There's still some stuff that's over my head, but overall I have a much better understanding of what's going on! I also found this helpful:

http://colomar.com/Shavano/construction.html

Read the section on Opamps. It's more towards pro-audio, but the principles are the same.

[d95err]

The "technology of the Tube Screamer" page on GeoFex is a great reference, but is there someone who can get the same message across for us dummies??? Every time I try to read it, I just make it to the clipping stage section before my eyes start spinning around in my head, I go into mass-confusion mode, and run away screaming (pun intended ).

What part of the circuit is it that you don't understand? Is it the feedback and clipping opamp section?

Start out by trying to figure out how a regular opamp gain stage works and how the feedback loop controls the gain. Then, read up on opamp based filters, i.e. how you can shape the sound by inserting capacitors in the feedback network. Then it should be easier to understand what happens when you insert clipping diodes into the feedback loop.

[Plinky]

Sorry for replying so late. My PC crashed on Sunday and I'm just getting it back today (was on a lousy backup ).

I've already built  4 ITS8s from General Guitar Gadgets and modded tons of Tube Screamers. Changing and putting parts together is usually no problem for me. What is a problem is when a problem jumps out at me and I rip my hair out trying to find it. Being an auto tech., I always tried to learn about the vehicle I was working on, so a better understanding is always best. Car electronics are very basic compared to circuit board electronics. With cars, you just replace a module, not open it up and diagnose it from there. See what I'm getting at? I went over electronics very briefly in trade school, but it's rarely touched on nowadays, and I've almost forgot most of it until I started doing this.

[96ecss]

I didn't realize you had already built a few of these. Sorry if I offended you in any way.

Dave

[Plinky]

I didn't realize you had already built a few of these. Sorry if I offended you in any way.

Dave

None taken. Thanks for the friendly advice anyways. I guess I'm just getting old. I've been playing guitar for over 20 years now and doing mods to guitars, pedals and such. I guess I thought I should have picked this stuff up a little easier than I have been. 

[Plinky]

I think R.G. probably thought he was 'dumbing' it down for us!
I too found it quite confusing when I first read it. Recently I built a red llama clone and the light suddenly went on! Seeing Jack Orman's schematic for his overdrive pro also lit another light. I went back and read the article again and now it's makes much more sense. There's still some stuff that's over my head, but overall I have a much better understanding of what's going on! I also found this helpful:

http://colomar.com/Shavano/construction.html

Read the section on Opamps. It's more towards pro-audio, but the principles are the same.

Thanks for this article. I have used this site before for speaker cabinet wiring, but I forgot about everything else. It breaks down op-amp operation much more clearly for my feeble little mind.