What are the characteristics of this BJT amplifier?

[aion]

Came across this bit in a schematic - this is a gain stage in a Pearl OD-05:



Does this type of BJT configuration have a name?
What's the gain?
Is it full-frequency gain, or is there some tone shaping that comes from the cap to ground on the emitter of Q2?
Does it do anything special that an op amp can't do?

Thanks.

[R.G.]

Came across this bit in a schematic - this is a gain stage in a Pearl OD-05:
...
Does this type of BJT configuration have a name?

It's a simple common emitter gain stage (Q2) with an emitter follower (Q3) after it. R9 and C4 provide a filtered power supply to it.

What's the gain?

About two.

Is it full-frequency gain, or is there some tone shaping that comes from the cap to ground on the emitter of Q2?

It's full frequency down to  F= 1/(2*pi*22K*10uF) = 0.723Hz

Does it do anything special that an op amp can't do?

No.

[aion]

Fantastic... thanks for your help!

[pupil]

Usually I see the output taken at the collector of the last transistor. What is the difference in taking the output at the emitter like the schematic pictured?

[R.G.]

Usually I see the output taken at the collector of the last transistor. What is the difference in taking the output at the emitter like the schematic pictured?

It's an emitter follower. Emitter followers are used as a final stage to buffer the output with a high load to the collector before them and drive external loads without affecting the collector.

[Ice-9]

It looks a bit weird draw like that and is easier to see what it is when redrawn, so I have put up this redrawn pic.

[pupil]

This topic helped me learn today. Thanks.