Ruby Amp Not Clean

[jimmy54]

Hi fellas,

I've built a Fetzer-Ruby amp using the vero layout from runoffgroove.  I used a LM386N-1 chip and an MPF102. 1K pot for gain and 100k pot for volume.  The problem I have is that I cannot get a clean tone out of the it.  There's plenty enough volume but it distorts if the Ruby volume is greater than about 1.  To get any clean tone out of it I must have the guitar volume at 4 or below (using humbuckers).   Is this normal?

I've check everything I can think of and can't find anything up?  Any ideas, dodgy 386 etc?

Cheers

[octafish]

Sounds normal to me. 386's never really get clean and the fetzler is supposed to colour the sound.

[janus]

mess around with that pot on pin 1 and 8  connecting those 2 together really max it out gain wise. If you just connect to one of them (1 or it seems to reduce the gain. Not sure if it would sound better but it would give you a little more headroom.This is based on my experiments with the smokey clone and the lm386 just messing around trying to see what happens if I did this or that. I tried the ruby and failed miserably..my ruby started with anticipation then transformed to depression and ended in a fit of subtle rage ...but I might try again.

[TheBigMan]

A Standard Ruby will be pretty clean, especially with a Strat, and even more so if you run it at 12-18V rather than 9V.  You'll need an LM386-4 for that though.  I wouldn't expect a Fetzer-Ruby to be clean at all, given that it's front end is a booster.

[vanhansen]

Something you can try is to add a gain control to the Fetzer.  Replace the 1.5k source resistor with a 1k-B pot.

[jimmy54]

Thanks for the advice/suggestions fellas.  I think what I'll do is build a Ruby (without the feltzer) and see how that goes.  I can then maybe switch between the two for clean/dirty.

Anyone know where there is a vero layout for the Ruby as all I can find is the perf version at runoffgroove? 

http://www.runoffgroove.com/ruby.html

The bassman mods sound interesting (I like the sound of the description of "smooth and sparkly cleans ").  Has anyone done this mod and how does it compare to the stock Ruby?

[TheBigMan]

http://www.indyguitarist.com/torchy/amps_emulation/ROG%20Ruby/ROG%20Ruby.GIF

BTW did you use my layout for the Fetzer-Ruby?  If so then I'll mark it as verified.

[jimmy54]

Hi Big Man, pull yer knickers up and make me a cup of tea

Yes, I've just noticed it was your layout, so thanks. Not sure about marking it as verified though as I have another issue (which is probably due to my incompetence rather than errors in the layout) and may be normal.  When the volume is over half way up and the gain is raised, there is a mad high volume squealing, like feedback.  It's OK when the volume is backed down though, you can then crank the gain.  The tone is more like a fuzz than overdrive though.

Any opinions on the bassman mods to the standard Ruby anyone?

[TheBigMan]

Two sugars!

That squealing issue has been reported before with the Fetzer-Ruby, there was a thread a week or two back.  IIRC it was fixed by lowering the value of the volume pot to 10K as on the standard Ruby.

[jimmy54]

I'll try that, cheers.