Sparkle Boost Clips n Pics

[GreenEye]

Sound Clips:
Variations in volume are due to my computer behaving weird; I think I need a new soundcard.  I also got a little clipping from the mic, but it ain't too bad.
1.  Only amp (Precision Electronics PA with EL84s) and front pickup (Kramer mini dual rail humbucker); no effect; some reverb added to make it more juicy.
http://members.cox.net/dankpog2/Sparkle.mp3
2.  Sparkle Boost on; front p/up:
http://members.cox.net/dankpog2/SparkleAlone.mp3
3.  Sparkle Boost w/red diodes; front p/up:
http://members.cox.net/dankpog2/SparkleRed.mp3
I realize this sounds very similar to the normal boost! The change is subtle, and better captured with certain licks.
4.  Sparkle Boost w/red diodes and 10uF input cap*; rear p/up (DiMarzio Tone Zone):
http://members.cox.net/dankpog2/SparkleRed10.mp3
5.  Sparkle Boost w/3 Si and 1 Ge (actually a NTE101 tranny) diodes; front p/up:
http://members.cox.net/dankpog2/SparkleSiGe1.mp3
6.  Sparkle Boost w/Si & Ge diodes; rear p/up:
http://members.cox.net/dankpog2/SparkleSiGe2.mp3
*rest of the clips have the normal 0.022uF input cap
7.  Multi: goes from amp & guitar w/rear p/up, then just the boost, then the red diodes, then the si/ge combo (with reverb added later):
http://members.cox.net/dankpog2/SpakrleFunRev.mp3

PICS:
1.  Outside: http://members.cox.net/dankpog1/P2080001.JPG
2.  Inside Rats Nest  :oops: : http://members.cox.net/dankpog1/P2120014.JPG
3.  Board Under Nest: http://members.cox.net/dankpog1/P2120009.JPG

Note: if there are any problems with downloading the clips - I may have reached my file transfer limit with my internet provider.  There's a montly limit of so many downloads, and it's getting close.  Sorry.  PM me if you want any clips emailed to you (as MP3s).

[Dragonfly]

....REALLY[/b] good sounding clips !!!

any chance you could do ONE clip that starts with just the amp, kicks on the sparkle boost, and then the boost with the si/ger diodes?

nice playing, btw  sounds like youre having fun with this circuit...

andy
dragonfly fx

[GreenEye]

Thanks!  Tomorrow I'll do a clip that goes through the various pickup and stompbox toggle positions in one MP3.  Too tired tonight...

[Outlaws]

Thanks!  Tomorrow I'll do a clip that goes through the various pickup and stompbox toggle positions in one MP3.  Too tired tonight...

Nice clips.  You gonna do one with the boost doing what it does best?  ...pushing the tubes to the breaking point.  :lol:  

[petemoore]

Pretty cool thing, yer diode selection clips !! I vote for any of them except with the 10uf.. ...that's probably the one you like best lol !!!
 Nice Playing Dude...I like the 'shift to overdrive' lead speed changes !!!   .

[GreenEye]

I added a new clip (#7, above) that runs through the gambit, except for the 10uF (pete's right - not pleasant :wink: ; I'm going to sub in a tant cap I liked instead).  I tried really cranking my amp (for Outlaws), and since it isn't a "true" guitar amp but a modded PA, the distortion gets a little ugly at super high volumes, at least to my ears.  Plus it shook my mic off its rest onto the floor with all the bass :shock:

Could someone please tell me the correct way to describe the si/ge diode configuration I have: two silicons (back to back) pointing toward the circuit, and on the other side of the diode loop, a ge and silicon pointing toward the ground.  I'm guessing "two silicons in series paralleled with a ge and si in series."

BTW, a ge tranny as a diode (b and e connected together, as per Aron's trick) sounds a lot better to me than a typical ge diode.

[Dragonfly]

great job !!! im digging the si/ge combo !

[Outlaws]

#6, and even more so the last part on #7, are absolutely PERFECT imo.

If I didn't already populate my circuit board for this I would have liked to have done it like those.  Oh well, I can always build another one lol.

How different is the layout of the circuit from the original?

[Dragonfly]

#6, and even more so the last part on #7, are absolutely PERFECT imo.

If I didn't already populate my circuit board for this I would have liked to have done it like those.  Oh well, I can always build another one lol.

How different is the layout of the circuit from the original?

im pretty sure he built it exactly the same, except for on the end on the circuit, he ran a pair of series silicon diodes to ground and a si/ge diode combo to ground (in the opposite direction)....

andy
dragonfly fx

[GreenEye]

Thanks guys!  That particular amp happens to work well with several settings, and best with the si/ge combo.  Some of my amps work better with just the normal circuit though, so it's very amp-specific.  I did a lot of swaps and tests on breadboard first with my set up.

Dragonfly is correct on the change to the original.

[Outlaws]

#6, and even more so the last part on #7, are absolutely PERFECT imo.

If I didn't already populate my circuit board for this I would have liked to have done it like those.  Oh well, I can always build another one lol.

How different is the layout of the circuit from the original?

im pretty sure he built it exactly the same, except for on the end on the circuit, he ran a pair of series silicon diodes to ground and a si/ge diode combo to ground (in the opposite direction)....

andy
dragonfly fx

(Sorry if I am hi-jacking this)

Does that look like this? (and does it matter where the ground in the circuit is?

[GreenEye]

More like this on mine:
http://members.cox.net/jgreen40/diode%20configuration.GIF

I've got things going to the board, a bare wire, and the jacks for ground.  I think as long as they all end up connecting, yer good.

[Outlaws]

If you don't mind I email you when I start building a second one.  I am gonna get mine to work first, then am going to try and make one with either this as a toggle or footswitch.

Its a great sound though.  My mouth was watering when I heard it.

So is the end of #7 the same as number #6?  Becuase somehow #7 sounds just a bit more smooth, but that could just be mic'ing and any number of other recording variables.

[GreenEye]

Sure, just drop a line.  Plus I'm in Chandler, so who knows maybe you're right around the corner from me.

I spent a few more minutes setting up the mic and level for clip 7 - I didn't want any mic clipping like on the others; I think I also ended up turning up the amp more (pre and power knobs) to get a little more gain going on.  Recording is funny - twist one knob, move a mic, and all the sudden it's completely different.  Glad you dug the soundz!

[RjM]

Hey GreenEye, what kind of tranny did you use in there? I used a MPF102, which works, but just doesn't 'work' for this, you know? It lowers the pedals boost potential. It's kind of a clean-tone changer instead of a booster right now...

[GreenEye]

Hey GreenEye, what kind of tranny did you use in there? I used a MPF102, which works, but just doesn't 'work' for this, you know? It lowers the pedals boost potential. It's kind of a clean-tone changer instead of a booster right now...

NTE458; couldn't find a J201, but I'm kinda glad; I like the sound.

[Dragonfly]

Hey GreenEye, what kind of tranny did you use in there? I used a MPF102, which works, but just doesn't 'work' for this, you know? It lowers the pedals boost potential. It's kind of a clean-tone changer instead of a booster right now...

NTE458; couldn't find a J201, but I'm kinda glad; I like the sound.

IMO, the 458 sounds better than the 201(which is still very good)in the Sparkle Boost...but then again, i designed the circuit around the 458, so it "should" sound better

Andy
Dragonfly FX

[RjM]

How does the MPF102 compare to the J201 and the NTE458? Is there a dramatic difference, since the latter two have such higher gains?

[Dragonfly]

How does the MPF102 compare to the J201 and the NTE458? Is there a dramatic difference, since the latter two have such higher gains?

the 102 has far less gain, and also seems to be brighter sounding in this circuit.  its a pretty good size difference.

[RjM]

Where could I order an NTE458 for cheap?