Thirty Nine Thousand - A FET Simulator of a Soldano SLO100

[trad3mark]

BIGGEST BREADBOARD PROJECT EVAR!! (or at least for me!)

So here it is. Another FET based amp simulator, but this time, it's based on a Soldano SLO100. I wanted to build a high gain OD, or distortion of some kind. I breadboarded a rat, but it wasn't quite what i was looking for, and I can get that kind of sound from a boosted Marshall Jackhammer. I also had a go at the Diefet, but personally, found it a bit too sharp, and really wasn't quite there. Plus, Matt Bellamy used to use a Soldano. I know he had a decatone, and never really used it on crazy loud gain mode, but the decatone schematic is pretty similar. it's all down to that lovely 39-k gain stage. The last week or so I've spent working on this, when I've had the time, and it sounds pretty good. It doesn't have all the knobs and features that the SLO100 has, but it's got most of them. I had to take out a couple, cos i'm planning on putting it into a box that I had lying about from an old abandoned project. So far, the controls I've gone with are:
Normal/Drive switch
Normal Gain
Drive Gain
Treble
Mid
Bass
Master Volume

As you can see, I've omitted things like the presence control, and the normal/bright switch, PURELY because i don't want to go drilling more holes in this box. It's already got 7 controls, that's plenty. It's still not quite finished, but it's something that's turning out pretty well so far. I thought it might be worth sharing, and I'm sure I'll need some help with a few bits and pieces. The main issue so far is getting the taper right for the two gain controls. I can never remember if it's log or anti-log that i need, but right now, all the control comes in the first 40-50% of the taper. I'm almost sure it's log i need to get it balanced out a bit more, but right now, my head is fried!
Anyway, I'll be drawing up a schematic and vero for this when it's all done, and doing a clip.

[Barcode80]

Looking forward to it! and also, log is what you need, or possibly a smaller value pot.

[deadastronaut]

cool, look forward to hearing it....

[trad3mark]

Looking forward to it! and also, log is what you need, or possibly a smaller value pot.

Thanks Barcode.

I've had to make a slight change to the Crunch/Drive switch thing. Unlike the SLO100 schematic, the two are now on semi-seperate signal paths, with the switch just acting as a toggle between one and the other. Much simpler, and with better results. Drawing up the schematic for this now.

[defaced]

Looks nice!  How different is it from the Dr Boogie schematice wise? I know the tube circuits are very very similar (SLO and original 2ch dual recfo) so i wonder if you your drive channel simulation came out similar to the Dr Boogie.

To answer one of your questions, in tube circuits, log pots are used for gain controls.

[culturejam]

Damn, son. That's impressive. 

[StereoKills]

Well done!

[Maik]

PCB ready now?

[askwho69]

Stunning!

[zambo]

I would love to hear this!

[ayayay!]

Skemz??   

[Barcode80]

jes, jes, skemz plz!! 

[Maik]

don´t know what a skemz is - but I want one also

[PereatMundus]

Bump Bump. 
Need more projects I'd love to build one before I go silly and buy a Soldano avenger instead of eating this month. 

would love schematic

[Kill Switch]

Your trimmers look similar to the one I use. Something like 25 turns. Sure makes biasing fickle trannies easy.