DOD 250 GRAY '70

[backdoorman]

There is someone that can gives me some detailed information about the DOD 250 Gray '70 first edition?

I would want to know:

- which type of diodes mounts, silicon like 1n4148, 1n914, or germanium like 1n270, 1n34, other type?
The first schematic of MXR Distortion + is nearly identical to the first Gray DOD 250 and in the first MXR distortion + there are the 1n270 germanium diodes, there are the same germanium diode also in the Gray DOD 250?

Remember the very first Gray DOD 250 '70, not the yellow '80.

The sound of the 2 pedals, Gray and Yellow, are very different and I suppose that beyond to the values of some components like the first Cap 102-103, in the first Grey version there was 2 germanium diode, maybe two 1n34...


- the value of the electrolitical Cap after pin 6 of the 741, is 10uF, 1uF or 4,7uF???

- can you send me a detailed picture of the component side and circuit side of the pedal (with a sufficiently clear image I could resolve all the previous questions)


Please help me...


Thanks!

[Boofhead]

You can get a schematic from this site, I am unsure of the year for this model:

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/v2/

(Use menu Crossreference -> schematics -> find distortions)

The ~1979 model I traced was *different* to this schematic.  The difference between my unit and that schematic is the following components are not present (they were not missing from the PCB they were not there at all)

R1, R11,  D3, C5, D4, Sw1c,

The opamp was a 741.

You will find other schematics on the internet which don't have these parts and agree with my circuit.

From what I remember the switching wasn't true bypass either but I could be wrong.

[backdoorman]

Thanks but I've yet the schematic...

I don't know other important particolars likes the type of diode in very first gray edition... Ge? Si?

[Boofhead]

The (grey) 1979 unit I traced had 2x1N4148's.

I don't know the year of the guitar gadgets version, with the 3x1N4148's.
-----------
Edited:

Actually to be precise I think the grey unit had 1N914's - maybe these varied.

The opamp was 741, the output cap was an electrolytic 4u7.

I have read some grey units had a 10uF electro on the output.

[backdoorman]

I don't know the exactly date of the first DOD 250 gray, but the '79 is not the hold years of production... In '79 year the DOD have sure yet change some components of the first version of DOD 250 Gray...

did you know the exactly year of presentation of DOD 250 on the market and the exactly schematic and type of diode?

I have read many post about this argument but various between of they.

Someone can resolve definitively these mysteries about the multiversion of DOD 250 Gray?

[RDV]

Best to try all possible diodes and choose which ones you like the best. For me it was Ge because it was a bit smoother than any of the Si types or LEDs. I just used the NOS Ge diodes that //www.smallbearelec.com carries.

Regards

RDV

[Jim Jones]

Not to hijack this post...just wondering how noisy you guys find these older 741/diode clippers?

I quite like the sound of these circuits but my builds have all been pretty noisy.

Jim

[RDV]

Not to hijack this post...just wondering how noisy you guys find these older 741/diode clippers?
I quite like the sound of these circuits but my builds have all been pretty noisy.
Jim

Hiss? Hum? Animal noises? You Betcha!!

Regards

RDV

[Jim Jones]

Hiss? Hum? Animal noises? You Betcha!!

Regards

RDV

Hehehe,

OK - I guess I built them correctly then...

Jim

[backdoorman]

Do you know the exactly year in which it was introduced on the market the first 250???

[Ammscray]

I've seen grey ones with both 914's and 4148's...op-amp was always 741...different coupling electrolytics sometimes as was mentioned...early ones seemed to have had more ceramics before going to mylar...

 the earliest one I've seen had pot dated 1978, but the guys at DOD (Donny Osmond Devices) claim it was introduced and was in a Guitar Player mag ad in 76...

 I've also seen some with the smaller .001 inout cap right before they switched to the yellow version...the yellows came with both the .01 and the .001...good with strats, and humbuckers, respectively...

awesome pedal, one of the most underrated IMO

[Marcus Dahl]

Not to hijack this post...just wondering how noisy you guys find these older 741/diode clippers?

I quite like the sound of these circuits but my builds have all been pretty noisy.

Jim

Hint. Use metal film resistors, metal film or polyfilm caps. It will cut down on the noise in these circuits. U Know Humm & Hiss.....

[jimbob]

Were you kidding about the DOD (Donny Osmond Devices?)ahhaha Too Funny--

[Ammscray]

Were you kidding about the DOD (Donny Osmond Devices?)ahhaha Too Funny--

Yeah, that's a long running joke from years ago and it is still really funny...it's half true too I guess because DO did invest heavily in music companies when he was a child star apparently, although not that one in particular...

[backdoorman]

 the earliest one I've seen had pot dated 1978, but the guys at DOD (Donny Osmond Devices) claim it was introduced and was in a Guitar Player mag ad in 76...

from Guitar Player magazine:

http://archive.guitarplayer.com/archive/gear/sgnl9806.shtml

"DOD
Originally introduced in 1973, DOD's 250 Overdrive/Preamp reissue ($90) features volume and tone controls, and is powered by a 9-volt battery or an AC adapter..."

The answare of the first year that was introduced is 1973...

I suppose that in those years it was equipped just with Ge diode, it was too much soon for the Si diode... What do you think about this??

[Ammscray]

 the earliest one I've seen had pot dated 1978, but the guys at DOD (Donny Osmond Devices) claim it was introduced and was in a Guitar Player mag ad in 76...

from Guitar Player magazine:

http://archive.guitarplayer.com/archive/gear/sgnl9806.shtml

"DOD
Originally introduced in 1973, DOD's 250 Overdrive/Preamp reissue ($90) features volume and tone controls, and is powered by a 9-volt battery or an AC adapter..."

The answare of the first year that was introduced is 1973...

I suppose that in those years it was equipped just with Ge diode, it was too much soon for the Si diode... What do you think about this??

Personally, I don't think so...I was on the scene at the time watching every new pedal that came out of both Wurlitzers music in Boston, and Manny's and Sam Ash in Manhattan, they had everything, and I didn't see any DOD anything til maybe 78...

 if it did come out in 73, that would mean that it was BEFORE the distortion+...but it definitely wasn't because I remember when that came out, I was in line to buy one (yeah I'm old) and there wasn't many other distortion devices on the market...I remember I had the choice to buy either the D+ or a slightly older Marshall supa-fuzz, for $24.95 each or something like that...I bought the D+...:wearing dunce cap: F Zappa later came in and bought that supa-fuzz...

[Boofhead]

if it did come out in 73, that would mean that it was BEFORE the distortion+

I thought the Distortion+ came out in late 72 to 73?

[Ammscray]

if it did come out in 73, that would mean that it was BEFORE the distortion+

I thought the Distortion+ came out in late 72 to 73?

No way...MXR wasn't even a company then...

[Boofhead]

This article indicates 1972 for the Phase 90.  The Distortion + came a bit after that.

http://www.legendarytones.com/Phase1.htm

You can't believe all you read on the web but I have seen 1972 in other places - I know of no "official" quotes for the start date of MXR.