Wyllie Moonrock

Marcos - Munky · December 30, 2015, 04:01:11 PM

It's because they're rare and expensive where I live. I'll try to do a layout of it.

Cozybuilder · December 30, 2015, 04:07:32 PM

Just use a Schottky diode (e.g. 1N5817) in place of the BS250, you'll drop about 0.2V instead of 0.01V. I've got one wired on my breadboard now, it sounds fine.

Keppy · December 30, 2015, 04:59:43 PM

You could also use a diode in parallel with the power supply (cathode to V+, anode to ground). This provides less protection than the MOSFET or the series diode, but is still the most common way to protect circuits and drops no voltage at all. A 1N400x, 1N581x, or other power diode are all equally good for this setup.

Transistor fuzz circuits don't need the headroom, though, so I'm with Russ. Use an inline Schottky. That's what I do on ALL of my pedal builds. I doubt even a 4001 or other conventional silicon diode will hurt the performance of this circuit, though it sounds like Russ could tell us with a couple minutes' experimentation.

Cozybuilder · December 31, 2015, 12:56:39 AM

Marcos-
Use whatever diode you have to replace the BS250- I just tested a few, from Schottky (1N5817, BAT46), Silicon (1N4001, 1N4148), even Germanium (1N34a), and I don't hear a difference in the effect.

Theres a circuit change that is worthwhile for biasing Q3: Move the 130K and 100uF from the Collector to the Base. The new setup for Q3C is V+ - 68K - 1N4148 - collector. For Q3B its now 130K - 1M (with 100uF to ground at the junction) - 1N4148 - Base.
This helps the swell. Dino incorporated this change in his new Vero (soon to come). We've been busy

Marcos - Munky · December 31, 2015, 09:26:25 AM

Like this?

Cozybuilder · December 31, 2015, 11:44:58 AM

Marcos- Yes, thats it.

Heres the updated schematic for the basic 2-knob, and another for the full featured 5-knob-2-toggle version. Its been a real pleasure collaborating with Dino on this project.

Edit: I just realized that 1 and 3 are labeled backwards on the OFS pot on the 5-knob schematic. 3 should be for the Octave side, 1 for the Swell side, like the 2-knob schematic shows. Sorry

digi2t · December 31, 2015, 07:48:40 PM

It's been a real blast to work on this. I've updated the vero, and drew up a schematic in TinyCAD for the uber deluxe version. Here they are;

I've also updated the two knob version vero, including the octave switch. Removal of the switch simply gives you an original Moonrock, but the switch adds a nice dimension. Both versions reflect the updated Q3 biasing.

Happy New Year everybody, and may the moon shine brightly upon you all!

digi2t · January 03, 2016, 06:32:26 PM

Another update folks. Added feedback resistor improves performance. Schematic, and three flavors to choose from...

Sorry for the constant updating, but as these things can go, they evolve.

Marcos - Munky · January 04, 2016, 10:18:08 AM

I'm glad I didn't got time to try to do a pcb layout of it, there was 2 updates since I started to draw the schematic on Eagle

Cozybuilder · January 04, 2016, 11:08:54 AM

Marcos- good idea to hold off. Once the feedback resistor was soldered in, it killed the swell. I'm working on that today, and hopefully get it fixed. I'm going to try a few ideas, we'll see. The feedback really improves sustain and guitar knob function, and the swell circuitry is working when the Octave/swell switch is engaged, it could just be the feedback resistor value needs tweaking. Breadboarding ahead

I want to be clear that the error is mine. I wrapped the leads of the resistor on the perf card already built, and it worked fine. I sent the info to Dino before soldering the resistor; after soldering, the swell was gone. I should have waited until this was verified with a soldered joint before sharing the change. Sorry for any confusion.

digi2t · January 04, 2016, 07:02:47 PM

NEWS FROM THE BREADBOARD....

The feedback resistor idea fed false hope, and we jumped the gun on the latest updates. Finally, it seems that the best overall performance was without a feedback resistor between Q1B and Q2E. So, please REMOVE R21 FROM THE VERO (140K resistor on the schematic).

Fortunately, it does not affect the layouts of any of the last released veros. I will update the veros and schematic shortly, for clarity's sake.

Sorry folks, that's just the way the egg rolls sometimes.

digi2t · January 07, 2016, 10:05:39 PM

These are all verified now. There was a small error on the Drive and Deluxe versions, which involved a forgotten cut around the Millenium bypass, but that's been corrected.

I've just completed the Deluxe version, and it's great. Goes from tame, to completely pseudo-ringmod hairy octave fuzz, all with fantastic interactivity with the guitar volume. Maxed out, it makes a Superfuzz with really high gain transistors sound like a whimpering puppy. The drive controls really help set the limit, from which you can simply back off from with the guitar controls. The Fine Tune pot is also very useful in setting the swell just right for whatever threshold you wish to work with. The hi/lo gain is also useful, giving you the option to cut back on the drive when it's over noon. I contemplated this as a second footswitch, but since it's easy to manage with the guitar's volume too, I went with the toggle option. Just an awesome, awesome, awesome pedal. Should be illegal to be this happy.

Fantastic work Russ. Gonna be hard to make this "better".

Hen's Tooth Café vid tomorrow.

digi2t · January 08, 2016, 08:55:16 PM

OK, mandatory gut shots...

And the video. Just one problem with the video though; This video is a bit deceptive where the swell section is concerned, because the camera's mic is actually able to pick up the picked string acoustically before the note swells out of the amp. The Explorer is really resonant, and it really doesn't do it justice. That's the price you pay for trying not to clip the mic. At volume, the swell, set just right, is awesome. Single note runs take on a new dimension when each note blooms in. The Deluxe allows for much more control of the swell, so the runs can be played quite a bit faster than what can be achieved with the original 2 knob version. Every guitar you plug into this pedal will offer you something different. Anywho, my wife actually commented for the first time EVER!! that she thought that the swell effect sounded really cool. So... good enough for her... good enough for me. On with the show...

Ben Lyman · January 08, 2016, 10:13:10 PM

Sounds REALLY cool, I especially like those "lower-gain-rolled-back-guitar-volume-with-the-neck-pickup-octave-tones!" It really gets that classic octavia thing going on, maybe even a bit smoother and more pronounced. Having a swell feature to tinker around with is just the icing on the cake. I'm not ready to tackle something that complicated yet but maybe someday

3onthetree · January 25, 2016, 10:04:10 PM

Today marks the 2 year anniversary of Glenn's passing. I felt it was necessary to post some videos that at least represent some of the sounds from a Moonrock. These were a bit hastily made and please excuse the shitty playing as this is more about the sound of the pedal.

https://youtu.be/cOQ6md-MTfQ

https://youtu.be/vJ0Yxqxn_EI

I also posted a Video of a Wyllie Fuzzier pedal and a Rising Sun.

digi2t · January 25, 2016, 10:44:02 PM

Quote from: 3onthetree on January 25, 2016, 10:04:10 PM
Today marks the 2 year anniversary of Glenn's passing. I felt it was necessary to post some videos that at least represent some of the sounds from a Moonrock. These were a bit hastily made and please excuse the shitty playing as this is more about the sound of the pedal.

https://youtu.be/cOQ6md-MTfQ

https://youtu.be/vJ0Yxqxn_EI

I also posted a Video of a Wyllie Fuzzier pedal and a Rising Sun.

Really cool man! Thanks!

DougH · January 27, 2016, 02:39:54 PM

Quote from: digi2t on January 08, 2016, 08:55:16 PM

And the video. Just one problem with the video though; This video is a bit deceptive where the swell section is concerned, because the camera's mic is actually able to pick up the picked string acoustically before the note swells out of the amp. The Explorer is really resonant, and it really doesn't do it justice. That's the price you pay for trying not to clip the mic. At volume, the swell, set just right, is awesome. Single note runs take on a new dimension when each note blooms in. The Deluxe allows for much more control of the swell, so the runs can be played quite a bit faster than what can be achieved with the original 2 knob version. Every guitar you plug into this pedal will offer you something different. Anywho, my wife actually commented for the first time EVER!! that she thought that the swell effect sounded really cool. So... good enough for her... good enough for me. On with the show...

Wow! This sounds really great! Nice work!

Mark Hammer · January 27, 2016, 02:52:17 PM

So, a question. Does the "swell" function on the Moonrock have anything at all, whatsoever, in connection or common with the "swell" function on the Prescription Electronics Experience pedal?

digi2t · January 27, 2016, 06:42:46 PM

The circuit topology sure is different. From what I see, the Moonrock swell function is a product of the audio transformer, with the following capacitor playing the role of the maximum swell delay.

Cozybuilder · January 30, 2016, 11:18:25 AM

I put together a version using a PNP transistor for Q2, which allows the use of a Germanium transistor. This one has Gain, OFS (Octave-Fuzz-Swell), Tone, and Volume pots, and a toggle to add octave to the swell. Its a super versatile circuit, currently I have a Russian GT308V in Q2, it sounds a little different than a silicon PNP in that slot, but not as much as you might imagine. The Q2 is in a 4-place SIP socket wired E-C-B-E so that different pinout PNPs may be used, the other transistors are soldered direct.

This is housed in a 1590B wedgie enclosure http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=110590.0

Schematic:

Build:

Gutz:

News:

Wyllie Moonrock