Ibanez Super Tube?

[dpresley58]

Played a gig last weekend with a guitarist that had an old Ibanez pedal called the Super Tube, or something like it... He'd mentioned it was only made for a short while and that he'd owned it for 20 years, +/-...

Anyone know something about this beast, or could steer me toward a schematic? He used it as a semi-clean boost, and it really got his sound out front.

[Rodgre]

It goes by the name STL. I have one as well. It's from the series that became the -10 series.

This is a total sleeper overdrive. It's like a Tube Screamer with more control over the sizzle and brightness and a bit more gain if you want it. I love it.

http://www.geocities.com/j4_student/ibanezSTL.gif

Roger

[dpresley58]

It goes by the name STL. I have one as well. It's from the series that became the -10 series.

We have a winner... That's the one I saw in his rig, and thanks, Rodgre.. I'll go try to chase down a schem for it.

[Rodgre]

I just added a link to the schem in my post.

http://www.geocities.com/j4_student/ibanezSTL.gif

[PharaohAmps]

Wow, you guys are quick!  Schematic link removed.

It's basically a Tube Screamer, with an extra filter stage (the "Bite" control) that acts to shape the distorted signal.  I have one, and use it regularly - it's a nice Tube Screamer style pedal with a bit more control, the Bite knob lets you do a bit of tweaking to your mids post-distortion.  It's also very similar to the older Super Tube Screamer pedal.  I have a fondness for oddball Ibanez overdrive / distortion pedals, and the STL is one of the better ones.

The MT-10 Mostortion is still tops in my book, but the FC-10 Fat Cat (Rat-based,) and the DS-10 Distortion Charger (discrete opamp, much like the later CR-5 Crunchy Rhythm Soundtank, plus an added Baxandall tone stack and an enhancer) are both really good.  The DS-10 needs some mods in order to pass low frequencies - it's WAAAY bright.  Any of the 10- and L-series overdrives are pretty decent. 

The STL would be dead easy to build, you'd just need a dual pot for the Bite control.  It's a 20K C taper (reverse audio?  I can never remember) but you could build it with a 20K A pot instead, just wire it backwards.  You can "808" the output buffer if you like.  I would probably change C6 from a .047 to a .082 or a 0.1 for more bottom (I did on mine,) and you can of course ditch the FET switching if you're going DIY.  It's only two dual opamps and one transistor, after all.  I shouldn't think it would be all that hard to build.

Interesting note:  The MXR Distortion II employed a similar setup with a sweeping filter, though its filter was considerably more extreme.  Talk to some of the cats here about pre- and post-distortion EQ for a real education in tone-shaping.

Matt Farrow

[dpresley58]

You guys are great... thanks...
Gotta go revise my christmas card list for two new entries...

[Mark Hammer]

I keep meaning to add that extra stage to an existing TS.  I lucked into some nice little dual-ganged 20k slider pots with about 3/4" travel that seem completely unsuited for anything else.

They don't HAVE to be 20k, though.  You will note on the schem that each 20k section is in series with a 1k5 resistor, such that the total resistance between pins 1 and 2 of IC1 can range between 3k and 43k.  If all you can find is a dual-ganged 10k pot, you can cover the range from 3k to 23k, which will still provide some range of adjustment, just not the entire range.  Alternatively, you can use a dual-ganged 50k and stick some fixed resistors in parallel with the pot sections.

Again, the point is that while the schem shows 20k pot sections, the circuit will "work" with a bunch of other values.  You may well find out that only part of the range interests you anyways, or that a different cap (and range) is more interesting.  If my understanding of the circuit and math are correct, the stock circuit provides some boost at centre frequencies ranging from 109hz up to 1560hz, which makes musical/timbral sense.  A dual 10k pot would restrict that to 204hz up to 1560hz, which is a disappointment only for those who wanted to really goose the low end.  Again, this assumes my understanding and math are correct.

[TheBigMan]

I've been using an ST-9 Super Tube Screamer for around 18 months.  Very nice sounding pedal that I WILL get around to tracing out.  Honestly. 

[Bernardduur]

Wow.... I need to add that to my TS clone


Even more knobs 

[Dirk_Hendrik]

I've been using an ST-9 Super Tube Screamer for around 18 months.  Very nice sounding pedal that I WILL get around to tracing out.  Honestly. 

Don't. I've been there already.
The ST-9 and the STL are identical from an electronics point of view.

@dpresley58
The STL is not "what became the the 10-series." It's just the "Master" or "L"-series. These do get mixed up so very often. The Masters are way sturdier build.

[Paul Marossy]

Has anyone here ever done a PCB layout for this circuit?

[blooze_man]

Schematic links are not working.

[Mark Hammer]

Not me.  But thanks for reviving this thread.  It reminded me that I bought the chips to make an MT-10 Mostortion clone, and never got around to it.  I need to put one together to see what the fuss is about (although "the fuss" is admittedly the stated preferences of a few select people).

The Supertube puts the variable resonant boost after the traditional clipping stage.  Apart from that, it's the same old familiar TS clipping stage and tone-control stage, although the input buffer makes use of the other half of a dual op-amp, rather than being a standard bipolar input stage.

But I have to wonder what it might sound like by placing the resonant boost before the clipping stage, rather than after.  Indeed, the older Ibanez OD-855 used essentially the same tone stage as the TS-9, but placed it ahead of the clipping stage.

The schematic can be presently found here: http://www.experimentalistsanonymous.com/diy/Schematics/Distortion%20Boost%20and%20Overdrive/Ibanez%20STL.gif

[Paul Marossy]

There's also a schematic for it here: http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/SUPTUBE.GIF

I'm thinking about building this one just for fun. It would be easier if there was a PCB layout to go by...

[Phorhas]

But I have to wonder what it might sound like by placing the resonant boost before the clipping stage, rather than after.  Indeed, the older Ibanez OD-855 used essentially the same tone stage as the TS-9, but placed it ahead of the clipping stage.

The schematic can be presently found here: http://www.experimentalistsanonymous.com/diy/Schematics/Distortion%20Boost%20and%20Overdrive/Ibanez%20STL.gif

Basically is boosts frequencies, like you said. Placing in before the clipping stage drives that stage harder in specific freq. - from too low to be noticeable (with some changed values and a clipping stage that has a "classic" 720 Hz low-cut) to honky mid range tones. I use this set-up my self and it allows for many different distorted tones.

[Paul Marossy]

Just an FYI: I found a good thread on this at the forbidden forum. PCB layout is available there.

[wavley]

Wow, you guys are quick!  Schematic link removed.

It's basically a Tube Screamer, with an extra filter stage (the "Bite" control) that acts to shape the distorted signal.  I have one, and use it regularly - it's a nice Tube Screamer style pedal with a bit more control, the Bite knob lets you do a bit of tweaking to your mids post-distortion.  It's also very similar to the older Super Tube Screamer pedal.  I have a fondness for oddball Ibanez overdrive / distortion pedals, and the STL is one of the better ones.

The MT-10 Mostortion is still tops in my book, but the FC-10 Fat Cat (Rat-based,) and the DS-10 Distortion Charger (discrete opamp, much like the later CR-5 Crunchy Rhythm Soundtank, plus an added Baxandall tone stack and an enhancer) are both really good.  The DS-10 needs some mods in order to pass low frequencies - it's WAAAY bright.  Any of the 10- and L-series overdrives are pretty decent. 

The STL would be dead easy to build, you'd just need a dual pot for the Bite control.  It's a 20K C taper (reverse audio?  I can never remember) but you could build it with a 20K A pot instead, just wire it backwards.  You can "808" the output buffer if you like.  I would probably change C6 from a .047 to a .082 or a 0.1 for more bottom (I did on mine,) and you can of course ditch the FET switching if you're going DIY.  It's only two dual opamps and one transistor, after all.  I shouldn't think it would be all that hard to build.

Interesting note:  The MXR Distortion II employed a similar setup with a sweeping filter, though its filter was considerably more extreme.  Talk to some of the cats here about pre- and post-distortion EQ for a real education in tone-shaping.

Matt Farrow

I used to have a fat cat, loved that thing, wish I knew what happened to it.  One of the many things that people have "borrowed" from me I guess

[Mark Hammer]

Just an FYI: I found a good thread on this at the forbidden forum. PCB layout is available there.

I started perfing it last night, and got about halfway through.  I think I may be able to finish tonight, so no point in taking time to make a PCB.  I'm cheating just a little because I went with a 2+1 diode combo like the SD-1, rather than the traditional 1+1.  My plan is to flip the order of the clipping and resonant boost stages, and drop the frequency range of the boost by increasing the value of that .068uf cap in the feedback loop.  I'll report back when I'm done and have something substantive to report.

[Paul Marossy]

I am intrigued by that resonant boost stage. That looks like a fun thing to do some experimenting with.

[Mark Hammer]

Personally, I think it might be fun to have one of those before AND after the clipping stage.  Instead of using an op-amp for the input buffer, just revert back to the original bipolar stage and use the spare op-amp section for the additional resonant booster.