Need a suggestion for a simple hi gain build

[Baktown]

Greetings all,

I hope everyone had great holidays!

I need a suggestion for a simple hi gain pedal I can build for my 16 year old son (who plays speed metal).  I would prefer a build with 2 knobs (unlike the Krank w/5).

Can anyone make a recommendation?

Rock on!

Axl

[smnm]

keeping it super-simple - how about a SHO or other (AMZ?) mosfet boost with a master volume, or 2 in series even?

[rock_god_dan]

Dist + or Rat?

[Fender56]

What about building the Krank but replace the tonestack with a 0.1uF (or any value) capacitor, just like Aron Nelson's Smash Drive circuit?

[slacker]

Or just build the smash drive for added metal scoopage try it with a Superfuzz style tone control on the end.

Another good one is Mark Hammer's Chaos http://hammer.ampage.org/files/Chaos.gif

[MartyMart]

For a simple high gainer I like the "Mockman" from ROG , just does what it says on the tin !!

MM.

[Baktown]

All good suggestions!

I tried the Mockman, but I couldn't make it work.  The VERO layout I used looked OK, but I probably made a mistake.

I also tried a quick VERO build of the MXR Dist Plus, but it was really anemic sounding.

My son plays through a brand new Marshall MG 100 head (thanks Santa!) which to my ears sounds awesome just the way it is, but he wants even more gain for leads.

Thanks all for the suggestions!

Axl

[Hanglow]

rehouse a dano fab metal and pass it off as your own work? 

[John Lyons]

If he just needs that extra "push over the cliff" then by all means build a Mosfet boost or some other booster. (SHO, Rangemaster, ETC ETC)
If the sound is already pretty much there then he just needs a boost to kick up the gain a little for sustain on the higher notes.

Adjusting the input cap will help with keeping things clear and defined. That's why the rangemaster is a treble booster. When played into a cranked amp the treble boosted tone will keep things clear and not overblown and over-modulated with too much bass (as a full range booster will do) But it will sustain more and have more gain/distortion.

Building a high gain pedal is going to sound bad with a high gain sound already coming from the amp.
Just what I think.

If you have any kind of booster or EQ pedal just crank it and run it through the amp to hear how a boosted signal sounds into the amp.
You aren't looking for much (or any) distortion from the booster, just the volume to hit the input of the amp harder.

John

[Ed G.]

Vulcan.
I just got re-acquainted with an old circuit that used a vulcan gain stage and I forgot how good it sounded for a simple circuit.

[96ecss]

Vulcan.
I just got re-acquainted with an old circuit that used a vulcan gain stage and I forgot how good it sounded for a simple circuit.

+1 on the Vulcan. I have a pcb layout for it that I can post if you're interested.

Dave

[Jered]

  The Vulcan and mosfet boosters are great ideas. If that's not what your looking for, Doug sure makes it sound like this circuit is great for pushing your amp.  http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=63717.0
  Jered

[Baktown]

Thanks to all for the great suggestions!

Rock on!

Axl