New Overdrive Pedal and Soundclip

[Doug H]

I built an overdrive pedal I designed a few months ago. It is inspired by the Route 66 amplifier. It uses 3 2n5089 transistors, so I named it "Highway 89" (Real original...I know... :oops: )

The thing is, I understand that Dr. Z does not want his amp schematics posted on the internet. Out of respect for him I am not going to post this schematic on my web site. In some respects it borrows pretty heavily from the amp design.

However, I would still like to make my schematic available to builders on here who may be interested in it. Here's what I would like to try:

I have posted a soundclip of it on my sound page:
http://dhammond_1.tripod.com/sounds.htm

(Scroll about halfway down the page.)

1. Listen to the soundclip.

2. If it sounds like something you are interested in, and you want the schematic, email me at dougbhammond@yahoo.com. I will reply with the schematic attached.

To be honest, I am trying to keep this real convenient for me, so it's important that you make the request to my yahoo account. I can access that from anywhere. I don't always have access to an email system to answer requests in this forum, so please don't post your requests here in this thread.


About the Pedal:

It's a warm moderate gain "blues" overdrive, with thick midrange, tight bass, and cleans up really well (like completely) with the guitar volume control. The cleanup is nice because it doesn't get thin or lose smoothness. It is the most useful clean sound I've ever gotten out of a pedal- nice and chimey, not too thick or thin. In fact I use this in my gig and leave it on all the time. It makes my transistor amp very "tubey". I turn down my guitar for clean and turn it up for a slight volume boost and a nice fat lead sound with some drive and sustain.

It is 2 gain stages with a 2-band tone stack in between, similar to the amp. Turning up the treble increases gain as well, similar to the amp. I mostly dime the gain but you can get some nice thick R&B rhythm tones with it at a lower setting.


About the Soundclip:

This is through my transistor amp, with the pedal gain maxed. The bridge pup is maxed. The chords demonstrate the cleanup on the neck pup with it set on 7-8. After a little noodling I turned up the neck pup so you could hear the difference.


Thanks,

Doug

[Bill Bergman]

Swweet! Nice pick'n too.

[Doug H]

Thanks Bill!

Guys, I just realized there's a typo in the email address I posted. Send requests for the schem to:

dougbhammond@yahoo.com  (not "yahool.com"...sheesh... :oops: )

Doug

[Ansil]

hadn't had a chance to hear it yet but i am always interested in your stuff man.

[Marcos - Munky]

Very cool!!!

[Marcus Dahl]

WOW!!!!!

[Doug H]

Hey, thanks to everyone for all the kind responses.

It's a simple circuit, have fun!

Doug

[Ed Rembold]

Man Doug,  that was nice!
So nice,  in fact- I'm gonna have to resist asking for the schem.
so I won't be ripping you off!

You have good "ears" my friend.

Yahool-  what a crackup!!  HaHaHeehee...

Ed R.

[Peter Snowberg]

Nice clip Doug!

I don't want to see the design, but thanks for adding to the DIY designs out there while still respecting the "no-post" methodology. Very cool!

Take care,
-Peter

[Doug H]

Peter,

I've been toying with this email idea for a while. It was your comments in the Fulltone '70 discussion that finally pushed me to do it. In my mind there is a big difference between emailing something to a small group (which happens all the time anyway) and posting it publicly where it's up for grabs. Thanks for the push!

Ed,

Thanks for the compliment. The schem is yours if you want it (Peter too). Just say the word.

Doug

[afranks]

Perhaps I missed out on the paradigm shift... what's the "no post" methodology?  Just curious!

-alan

[b_rogers]

nice tone and chops man...i sent you an email..i bet it will sound even better thru a tube amp cranked! i want one!

[Peter Snowberg]

Perhaps I missed out on the paradigm shift... what's the "no post" methodology?  Just curious!

-alan

The "no post" thing refers to the difference between a schematic being shared directly, person to person, as opposed to the schematic being posted on a public web or FTP site.

The hope is that when things are kept on a personal level, there will be some respect for the author(s), preventing the design from becoming fodder for circuit collections.

Building pedals or amps is not as easy thing to make a living out of and I think most of the DIY crowd is quite honorable. If home builders can learn from those who have made a go of it in a way that doesn't sacrifice sales, then in my view, everybody wins.

Of course this approach only works if everybody who gets the schematic remains honorable.

Take care,
-Peter

[Doug H]

nice tone and chops man...i sent you an email..i bet it will sound even better thru a tube amp cranked! i want one!

I've tried it through my Firefly and it sounds great!

Doug

[petemoore]

Doug, please let me know if you've recieved any of my private messages or E-mails....thanks      Pete

[Doug H]

Pete, make sure you send the request to "yahoo.com", not "yahool.com". There was a typo in my first msg that I corrected later.

I have not gotten any emails from you.

Doug

[Ansil]

finally got to hear it...  nice stuff dough.. i like how you have drums and stuff and make it a little song,, thats what i like to do..  

[Nasse]

I just listened few first beats (I have this lousy and slow line) but sounded very high quality and musical, as your other designs. Must load it complete. I think serious players may like this kind of thing.

If you have spent very much time and effort and some good ear and talent that you just cant buy I think your designs may have some serious commercial potential. And Acme Thrust-O-Matic was so cool a name for a pedal that somebody might want to buy one without listening test...

If only big digital guys were not behind your back with cheap and almost cheerful things...

[b_rogers]

did you do it on pcb or perf? i am planning on building my own copy and would like to try pcb on this build..any possibilty you have the pcb layout?

[petemoore]

I don't know what's up with Yahoo and Hotmail or PM's so...
 Here's my 'honorable' E-mail adress
           petemoore59@hotmail.com
   The Highway 89 sounds really nice bluesy !!! Cleanup at guitar vol. is always a big plus !!! Awesome  !!!! Fine Work Doug H. !!!
  Anyway I tried the usual channels and still would like to try the Highway 89...any chance you could send it to ^ adress?
  Thanks and keep up the fantastic work !!!!  Excellent !!!