Pictures!

[ambulancevoice]

WOAH those are awsome pedals
i have to build a valve caster
you have inspired me too

[Renegadrian]

Congratulations Pushtone.
It's a fantastic building and clean point to point wiring on this eyelet board !
I'm really interested in this Valvecaster as it seems such an easy build.
Did you already record some soundclip (clean / overdriven) with it?

EDIT - NON WORKING LINKS REMOVED


http://renegadrian.ashost.info/valvecaster.htm

You can find the pics of  my Valvy 001 (got a EH 12AU7 in it,not bad, but...) and my Valvy 002

I used...
- my Vero layout <---(insert PROUD smiley here...)
- 2.7M for R1 instead of 1M
- 470k for R2 instead of 220k
- 7812 and 100uF DC filter
- NO tone
- put a NOS RCA tube - another story...

Krinor also has a nice one...
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f191/krinor/Valvecasterrd1.jpg

Here's my vero layouts (verified, of course...)


3 audio clips I made...
http://web.tiscali.it/renegadrian/ac%20dc.mp3
http://web.tiscali.it/renegadrian/whitesnake.mp3
http://web.tiscali.it/renegadrian/demons%20eye.mp3

[darron]

fantastic. i clicked the second link and got like 4 popups!

[nico13]

Really beautiful clips Adriano.

What gear did you use to record them ?

[Renegadrian]

fantastic. i clicked the second link and got like 4 popups!

I know that the server I use could have some problems those days...so I removed the links of the images...BTW, you can check the page, altough it's in italian, the pics are there...
http://renegadrian.ashost.info/valvecaster.htm

Nico, I used a guitar similar to the old Charvels, you know, soloist body, 1 humb. at the bridge, F.Rose...
so it's guitar-->Valvecaster-->Zoom 2100 (just to add reverb, everything else off) going straight to my pc sound card (an old Creative) in a Linux Kubuntu 7.04 PC. Recorded with Audacity.

[dano12]

Hey Dano, I have a question for your Fuzzlab Jr. regarding the "comp" switch.  Have you tried wiring some extra resistance on the top lug of the "pregain" pot (or output volume, whatever works) to adjust the volume in concert with the Comp switch?  On your page you mention that the comp switch lowers the volume, but if you had an extra 10-100k resistor on top of the volume control, you could use a dpdt and switch the cap and volume increase simultaneously.  It might be even weirder to do it to the pregain control, as that would change the frequency response at the same time. 

I've done that on some other designs, the idea came from Craig Anderton's old "multiple presets" for pedals thing. I hadn't done it on the fuzzLab jr. because I was too lazy to wire in another resistor. But as you point out, I already have the 10k limiter on the first pot. Doh! Good eye. It would probably be even more interesting to morph the circuit more radically with a 3pdt or even a 4pdt. Glad you like the design

[jalien21]

those white and black pedals look slick. esp with the roll-bars and choice of knobs

[ugly_guitar_guy]

Here's the last couple projects I've completed. My Zvex SHO Clone, Zvex Fuzz Factory Clone (named "Sasquatch Fuzz," was given to my father-in-law for x-mas, nothing I'm trying to sell or make money off of. I'll have another built soon for myself), and a TB looper pedal that I built for a friend that I work with for his product demos. No guts pictures because they're pretty hooptie, haha, but they work! 

[Cardboard Tube Samurai]

Congratulations Pushtone.
It's a fantastic building and clean point to point wiring on this eyelet board !
I'm really interested in this Valvecaster as it seems such an easy build.
Did you already record some soundclip (clean / overdriven) with it?

EDIT - NON WORKING LINKS REMOVED


http://renegadrian.ashost.info/valvecaster.htm

You can find the pics of  my Valvy 001 (got a EH 12AU7 in it,not bad, but...) and my Valvy 002

I used...
- my Vero layout <---(insert PROUD smiley here...)
- 2.7M for R1 instead of 1M
- 470k for R2 instead of 220k
- 7812 and 100uF DC filter
- NO tone
- put a NOS RCA tube - another story...

Krinor also has a nice one...
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f191/krinor/Valvecasterrd1.jpg

Here's my vero layouts (verified, of course...)


3 audio clips I made...
http://web.tiscali.it/renegadrian/ac%20dc.mp3
http://web.tiscali.it/renegadrian/whitesnake.mp3
http://web.tiscali.it/renegadrian/demons%20eye.mp3

Dammit! I really didn't need another project to work on yet. I already have about 5 on the back-burner but now I NEED to make this one too

[Renegadrian]

Dammit! I really didn't need another project to work on yet. I already have about 5 on the back-burner but now I NEED to make this one too

Well, it's very easy and requires little time/components/effort, but BIG satisfaction...Altough I am always happy when my circuits test fine at their first start nothing can beat a glowing tube...And you'll be surprised of the sound coming out this little circuit!!!

[ACS]

Dammit! I really didn't need another project to work on yet. I already have about 5 on the back-burner but now I NEED to make this one too

Well, it's very easy and requires little time/components/effort, but BIG satisfaction...Altough I am always happy when my circuits test fine at their first start nothing can beat a glowing tube...And you'll be surprised of the sound coming out this little circuit!!!

Very cool - a surprisingly 'gritty' sound   In a good way...  I too need to build myself one of these.  The 12AU7's are stupidly expensive here in Aus for some reason so once I can find a decent cheap source it'll shoot to the top of my list!!

I'm interested - does the Zoom add any speaker sim in there as well?  I ask cos the samples have a distinct DI'd sound, and I'd love to hear what it sounds like with either a speaker sim or recorded from a mic'd cab...

Awesome, I can't wait to build this

[Pushtone]

Very nice...I might have to build one of these. You've inspired me....

Looking at your layout though, you have the "Gain" knob listed as 100k, and the "tone" knob listed as 50k...that's the opposite of the schematic. Is this the way that you built it, or a typo ?

Thanks for the nice words about the tube-top pedals. 

I fixed the error Dragonfly spotted on the Valve Caster layout. Thanks Andrew?!?
LINK TO LAYOUT



But just WHO is doing the inspiring here, Andrew.
You posted the turret style P-t-P pedal a YEAR AGO!
So don't be gettin' all inspired by my little squirt.
You inspired me FIRST, OK? 

Seriously though. I've wanted to do something like your pedal since you posted it.
I only found these cool boards at my local supplier two weeks ago. A "new" product for them.
I had to file down the ends of the 20lug board and re-drill the mounting holes to fit a 1590BB.
The 10lug board fits right in a 1590B. Perfect for the VC with the tube on top (where it ought to be).





It's nice to see the Sparkle Drive schematic on your web site again Andrew.
That thing sounds great in front of the Valve Caster.

I was also thinking your EZ EQ schematic would be just the thing the Valve Caster needs.
I'm planning on doing a P-t-P EZ-EQ and VC on the 20 lug board.


I did a layout for the 20 lug board using your El Diablo fuzz schematic.
You have so many fuzz schematics, here and on your site.
Its hard to choose one! Which do you recommend if I were to build only one?

Check it out! Point -to- Point is really FUN! Thanks for the inspiration

unverified

Dave

[Dragonfly]

Very nice...I might have to build one of these. You've inspired me....

Looking at your layout though, you have the "Gain" knob listed as 100k, and the "tone" knob listed as 50k...that's the opposite of the schematic. Is this the way that you built it, or a typo ?

Thanks for the nice words about the tube-top pedals. 

I fixed the error Dragonfly spotted on the Valve Caster layout. Thanks Andrew?!?
LINK TO LAYOUT



But just WHO is doing the inspiring here, Andrew.
You posted the turret style P-t-P pedal a YEAR AGO!
So don't be gettin' all inspired by my little squirt.
You inspired me FIRST, OK? 

Seriously though. I've wanted to do something like your pedal since you posted it.
I only found these cool boards at my local supplier two weeks ago. A "new" product for them.
I had to file down the ends of the 20lug board and re-drill the mounting holes to fit a 1590BB.
The 10lug board fits right in a 1590B. Perfect for the VC with the tube on top (where it ought to be).





It's nice to see the Sparkle Drive schematic on your web site again Andrew.
That thing sounds great in front of the Valve Caster.

I was also thinking your EZ EQ schematic would be just the thing the Valve Caster needs.
I'm planning on doing a P-t-P EZ-EQ and VC on the 20 lug board.


I did a layout for the 20 lug board using your El Diablo fuzz schematic.
You have so many fuzz schematics, here and on your site.
Its hard to choose one! Which do you recommend if I were to build only one?

Check it out! Point -to- Point is really FUN! Thanks for the inspiration

unverified

Dave

Thanks for the kind words...and believe me, I get way more inspiration here than I give...

As for which fuzz to build, it depends what you want in a fuzz.....the El Diablo is cool, and is just fat and gainy, very modern sounding...the VMF is nasty and spitty, sounds great with a tuned down guitar....The Seven is variable, but not so variable it gets "stuprid", just variable enough to work with a huge variety of rigs....

Actually, one of my recent favs is the Radio Shack Fuzz I recently posted...sounds somewhere between a Tonebender and a Fuzz Face, and is a simple build with common parts.

Those layouts look great...is that the new version of Bancikas software ?

[Renegadrian]

quote author=ACS

Very cool - a surprisingly 'gritty' sound   In a good way...  I too need to build myself one of these.  The 12AU7's are stupidly expensive here in Aus for some reason so once I can find a decent cheap source it'll shoot to the top of my list!!
HAVE YOU TRIED E(vil)BAY?! I SAW SOME 12AU7s GOING FOR LITTLE $, I GOT 8 (INCL. SHIPPING) FOR €2.50 EACH, WHILE A NEW EH FROM BANZAI IS MORE THAN €6 + SHIPPING.

I'm interested - does the Zoom add any speaker sim in there as well?  I ask cos the samples have a distinct DI'd sound, and I'd love to hear what it sounds like with either a speaker sim or recorded from a mic'd cab...
NO, THE AMP SIM IS OFF, AND OTHER EFFECTS AND EQ AS WELL...JUST THE REVERB...THE DISTINCT SOUND YOU HEAR MAYBE IS COMING FROM THE DIRECT CONNECTION TO THE PC SOUND BOARD. I BELIEVE THERE WOULD BE SOME DIFFERENCES RECORDING A MIC'D CAB.

ALSO, I HAVE FOUND THAT A TILLMAN BEFORE THE VALVY GIVES THAT LITTLE EXTRA PUSH AND A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY - WITHOUT CHANGING TOTALLY ITS SOUND. MORE ON THAT, YOU KNOW WHERE THE VALVY TOPIC IS...

Awesome, I can't wait to build this
WAIT TO SEE YOUR VALVECASTER, THEN! 

[jayp5150]

Just finished a Phase 90 (Tonepad board).

I think if I do one again, I'll do a few things differently. Don't really need the vibrato switch--would like to mess around with a blend instead. It was ok, but not the vibrato I'm used to hearing (I had old Fender amps in my head, I guess).

The feedback switch is an on-off-on, so I've got 22k, nothing, and 47k. Honestly, it sounds best without the feedback r, and I couldn't get the phase I wanted there without some squeeky noises on the 22k setting (remedied by rolling the depth back a bit--I didn't want to sacrifice the good phase--it'll prob stay bypassed anyhow lol).

The depth was an added 500k pot in series with the 1M, so it goes from stock to more shallow.

It's hard to really see the contrast of the purple since it's all so dark, but it's much more defined in person. My wife painted this, and I did the lettering and clear. That's a purple LED, too (this is for my cousin--he likes purple and black, so we went all out lol).

[Barcode80]

Here is the P-t-P layout I created.

do you use visio for your layouts? i've wanted to try it but i can't find any templates and premade components and i'm just not skilled enough to do them myself

[arma61]

3 audio clips I made...
http://web.tiscali.it/renegadrian/ac%20dc.mp3
http://web.tiscali.it/renegadrian/whitesnake.mp3
http://web.tiscali.it/renegadrian/demons%20eye.mp3

Renegadrian! awesome sound and very well played clips too!!! great job!, I know nothing about tubes, I always though about huge equipments when talking about tubes, but this little monster..... what a sound!

Ciao
Armando

[Renegadrian]

3 audio clips I made...
http://web.tiscali.it/renegadrian/ac%20dc.mp3
http://web.tiscali.it/renegadrian/whitesnake.mp3
http://web.tiscali.it/renegadrian/demons%20eye.mp3

Renegadrian! awesome sound and very well played clips too!!! great job!, I know nothing about tubes, I always though about huge equipments when talking about tubes, but this little monster..... what a sound!

Ciao
Armando

Sono felice che ti siano piaciuti...Ora costruiscine uno pure tu!!!
(Glad you liked them...Now you got to build one!!!)

Ciao

[danielzink]

My first box etch !!

Took 3 tries to get the press n peel right - but it paid off !

Tantalus fuzz



Dan

[Beros]

Modded my Vox Wah.



The one switch is a range switch, which switches between three different caps. The other switch is for switching inductors between a red Fasel and the stock inductor. I am really satisfied with my placement of the switches.. Very discrete. Other than that I also did the standard Q/vol/mid trimpots. Works like a charm and it will get a pink LED some day. I just can't decide where to put it.

Cheers!