adding more lowend to a wampler pinnacle

[alphadog808]

hey guys,
   Would anyone have suggestions on component changes and values to add more gain to my wampler pinnacle clone?  I'm using a vero, but this is the schematic I'm using.  Thanks in advance!

[tjdracz]

For a start, try bigger values of input cap at c4. bigger cap = more lower frequencies going through

[alphadog808]

Hey thanks for that.  Any values you would suggest trying? 

[Pojo]

Actually I think those caps (C5, C9) which connect the base and source of the top jfets would be a better place to tweak for more low end. Maybe socket them and try different values (increasing will add low end). Keep in mind that any low end you gain will get clipped and will tend to muddy up the tone....too much and you'll end up with something more like a bad fuzz. 

[estch71]

Try a larger cap on the output, maybe a 2.2uf? 

[GGBB]

Try 47n or 100n at C10 (and possibly C6).

[alphadog808]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the suggestions.  I didn't realize that there were so many places to possibly do this.    I guess I figured it going to unanimously be cap X, ya know?  I think I'm even more confused now...

[Pojo]

Well, looking at the existing coupling caps and input/output caps (C4, C6, C10, etc). Those are all pretty sufficient to allow plenty of low end through. I don't think you'll see (err hear?) much difference increasing those. But C5 in this circuit is .056uF...if you look at Jack Orman's mini booster circuit (basically the building block for the first 2 gain stages in this circuit), you'll see that the same capacitor is 3.3uF by default. That value is chosen to ensure that the circuit passes a full range signal. In the Pinnacle, since it's only at .056uF, I would imagine there is massive amounts of low end being thrown away....which is (IMHO) a good thing for what this circuit aims to do.

[induction]

If you want more bass, but not more mud, you could try putting an eq after it.

[GGBB]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the suggestions.  I didn't realize that there were so many places to possibly do this.    I guess I figured it going to unanimously be cap X, ya know?  I think I'm even more confused now...

They might all have some effect, but they will each accomplish it differently, so while the results might all be 'more low end,' how that ends up sounding will be different depending on how you do it.  Also, if there is one thing that is cutting low end and you don't change that, changing other things is unlikely to make much of a difference.  So you may need to change more than one thing to make a difference.

If increasing the input cap does increase low end (I don't think it will), then that low end increase goes through all the gain sections and ends up getting distorted - might or might not be what you are after.  If increasing the output cap adds low end, that low end that you are now letting out was already there anyway so this is possibly the best way to do it if it works (but I don't think it will).  Increasing C5 and C9 will raise the gain, but only for the frequencies that those caps pass, so if the bottom end of those caps is in the mids area, you will be increasing mainly lower mids until you raise the cap enough to get into 'low end' territory.  This will probably change the sound character quite a bit since the selective gain is what the Pinnacle design is all about - so this may not be what you want.  If those caps are already extending into near 'low end' territory, then this might give you what you want, but it won't be the same sound as the other changes.  C10 with R13 form a simple high-pass filter after the gain stages.  I believe it's corner frequency is about 88Hz or higher, but it starts to roll off an octave or two above that point.  Increasing C10 will allow more bass out of the gain stages so it shouldn't alter the sound character too much other than adding more low end.  C6 is similar but because it is between the two gain stages it could impact the sound character a bit - more than C10 anyhow.

[alphadog808]

Thanks for the input guys.  I'm just beginning to wonder if maybe something just isn't right with the pinnacle I made.  It sounds pretty good, but *something* isn't right...seems like distortion is a little lower than what I hear on youtube and it seems alot more trebley as you bring up the amp volume.  Kneejerk reaction was to increase bass...   I'll mess with it a bit more; you guys are right, I may end up fixing one thing but breaking/changing another.