Rockman Distortion Generator.

[omarvolta]

I just opened one up. There's a CL099 6-DIP chip in there that I can't find any information of. What is it?

[Mark Hammer]

6-pin devices are most often solid-state opto-isolators, in my experience.

[omarvolta]

I had a hunch it was going to be something like that since it is in the clipping part of the distortion circuit. I just couldn't find any information on this particular part number. Would the pinout on these 6-pin units follow a standard like op amps? What would be a good way to test it by itself?

[wavley]

I have always regretted selling my distortion generator, you used to be able to buy them in any pawn shop for $30 or $40, now you never see them.

[Mark Hammer]

Is there a patent number somewhere on the box?  That might help in narrowing down what it is, since many of Tom Scholz's patents come with schematic schematics (i.e., mildly articulated block diagrams, but not all component values or identies).

[omarvolta]

Thanks for your help Mark!

Back plate:

Nov - 8 1989
Serial No. DG11274
Pat. Pend. Model 100.

PCB:

EPC-1
REV 4
Distortion
Generator
16024

[Mark Hammer]

Nah.  That won't work, unfortunately.  Ton Barmentloo is a whiz with patent search engines, and, as novice, I'm resigned to putting in a patent number.  The number would likely have to be bigger than 4,000,000, and nothing you've shown conforms to it.  Anything on the board itself?

[jaysg]

I have always regretted selling my distortion generator, you used to be able to buy them in any pawn shop for $30 or $40, now you never see them.

I have one somewhere.   How did you use it?   I found that the slider setting for a flat amp didn't deliver at all.  It seemed like it was meant to run into a gutar amp.

[DSV]

Should be a dual optocoupler (or whatever you call an LED+photoresistor) for the autoclean circuit. In my Sustainor there is a CLM50, in my DG the DIP package is replaced by 2 optocouplers, like in this photo:
http://rockman.fr/Products/DG91_Opto.jpg
Reference
http://rockman.fr/Products/Electronics.htm