Two Questions about the Shaka pedals

[StickMan]

Question 1:

What's the deal with the IRF520's as clipping diodes?  I don't understand why you need to use these monster power MOSFET's.  Why not just use a pair of 2N7000's?


Question 2:

Has anyone tried replacing the mini-booster section with a MOSFET booster?

Thanks,

dave.

[WGTP]

IIRC we had some discussions awhile back about Mosfet's as clippers.  The arrangement in the Shaka uses the diode built into the 520's which Aron liked.  To actually use the Mostet part requires this connection.  You can also use the 2N7000, it may have different results.  Search for the Fet clipper thread.

http://aronnelson.com/gallery/WGTP/MosfetDiode

Reading this suddently made me think that a modular Shaka could be made using the standard op amp as the first stage and then the other variations could be switchable.  You can put whatever stage you like after the op amp.  Mu, Vulcan, Blackfire, CS, Fuzzface, TS, Dist.+ etc.  

[StickMan]

I was actually thinking about making both the diode clipping stage and the booster stage switchable.  An alternative module for the diode clipping might be the original LEDs in the first Shaka version.

[Doug_H]

Has anyone tried replacing the mini-booster section with a MOSFET booster?

You can replace the minibooster with all kinds of stuff. Check out Aron's Shaka SL for an example using CS JFET stages. The Shaka 3 is an early design and used to be sort of a "point of entry" for this group around 7 years ago or so. Everyone either experimented with it or built one or made their own mods etc..

BTW, the Shaka 3 is a very good pedal and still stands up well today, IMO. My modded Shaka 3  is on my pedalboard right now. It sounds great.

Doug

[aron]

Mu, Vulcan, Blackfire, CS, Fuzzface, TS, Dist.+ etc.

I've done all of the above. I'm not going to tell which ones were the best until people start building my Shaka pedals again. 

[StickMan]

I don't know if I count as "people", but I trotted down to the local components store and picked up the bits and pieces, including a pair of IRF510 MOSFETs the other day to start goofing around with it.  I'm pondering putting a way more elaborate tone stack on it, having switches for the booster and diode modules and then figuring out how to get all the controls on a BB sized box.

I'm sure I'll have more questions in the next week or two.

dave.

[burnt fingers]

Aron,

I assure you a Shaka is in my future.  I actually put my tube reamer through a mosfet booster I built and it was cool.  So cool to me that it is going to be part of a new overdirive I am working on. 

[aron]

Cool! I standardized on the front end of my Shaka Pedals. It's like the Shaka HV and these sound very good.

[StickMan]

Aaron,

Would it be safe to assume that "Shaka Braddah" is from the Hawaiian?

Secondly, I've seen mention that the original SB used LED's for clipping diodes, but I haven't seen a schemo that indicates how.  Were these in the OA feedback or where they in the shunt to ground section?

PS:  I've already designed the enclosure graphics.  I've been using the Creative automotive colours, and the body is going to be a BB sized box in a pearlized white, with the a decal covering the entire top.  I hosed a dragon image from an online temporary tattoo store catalog, and laid out all of the lettering.  It looks very cool.  I'm still not sure how many toggle switches it will have, until I play with the various diode schemes.

thanks,

dave.