It's alive! (Red Llama build)

[nbabmf]

I just finished my Red Llama build a little while ago.  I used madbean's itty bitty layout (9x14 Vero).  Things got a little cramped due to some parts substitutions, but it sounds pretty good!

For C2, I used two 100pF films in series instead of one 51pF.  I probably could have just used the 47pF I ordered with the rest of the parts, but I didn't find it until afterwards.  For C4, I used a 470uf electrolytic instead of a 330uF.  I had a 220uF that I ordered, but like with the 47pF, I didn't find it until after.  Everything else is right off the layout.  I checked my resistors with the multimeter and they were all pretty much spot on (5% carbon film).

I got the chance to plug it in for a little bit with my Tele and Valve Junior at 'inside voices' volume... the lady is sleeping upstairs.  That's what happens when you stay up all night tinkering!  In a word, it CRANKS!  I can understand why people think it sounds a little flubby, but if a tight drive is what you're going for, you shouldn't try something with a drive knob labeled "fuzz".  There's some definite fuzz action in the top end, too.  I had to roll of my Tele's tone and volume a bit to tame it, and then I had a very convincing "Yellow Ledbetter" tone.  I switched over to my Les Paul to see how it interacted with humbuckers, and it was a fair bit harsher and flubbier.  Until I get a chance to open the amp up some more (read: 'home alone at midday' volume, not 'keep it down asshole, people are trying to sleep' volume), I'm going to blame it on these godawful high output pickups (12k neck, 16k bridge, ceramics).

I can't wait to get this bad boy into an enclosure now!

[oldrocker]

Yes the Red Llama is a great sounding effect.  Of all the simple distortion effects the RL and the Voodoo Lab are my favorites.  Both are simple but sound great.  I still need a bypass foot switch for the Voodoo.

[nbabmf]

I love the fact that with the drive all the way down, it's like most other overdrives (that I've played, anyways) with the drive about halfway up... and the more drive you give it, the raunchier and fuzzier it gets, but it's still got teh rock.

[paperhouse]

i love how sensitive it is to attack strength and volume knob changes. you can just max out the fuzz knob and use your guitar's volume to control it. no tone loss or anything with the guitar's knob lowered. still waiting on some parts from smallbear so that i can put my double red llama in an enclosure.

[nbabmf]

It likes to make lots of squealing noise when I turn both pots up.  I hope that issue goes away when I put it in an enclosure, shielding it.

[ambulancevoice]

it most likely will
but dont get your hopes up