Cheap TS Clone with JRC4558D... very mod-able...

[SolderBoy]

Sorry if this is already common knowledge...

Saw a pedal called an "Aria Warp Driver" on sale at a local music shop the other day.  I'm not much of a guitarist these days, but boy, when I plugged it in it sounded just like a tube screamer.

& there's a very good reason for this - it is!...  well a clone anyway - part for part - even down to the JRC4558 chip, and C1815 transistors.

Cost me about $50US.

And it comes in a chunky metal stomp box - a bit bigger than a boss, plus the battery isn't under the stomp pedal lever part, but in a separate compartment underneath, so easy conversion to true b/p with a stomp switch- no more messing with relays. 

The circuit is well spaced on the board, and there's plenty of spare space in the box - so very mod friendly... 

[jimbob]

can you post some board and body pics?

[SolderBoy]

enjoy...

shame I had to crop out most of the hand modeling...




Another cool thing is that, with an allen key, you can easily remove that blue plate from the top.  this would be a good place for extra pots etc...


SB

[jimbob]

Thanks- I always enjoy looking at the guts. Always curious. Seems reasonably built. 50 bucks dont sound too bad either.

[SolderBoy]

Yes it looks a good build - even the jacks seems to be good quality.

50 bucks dont sound too bad either

Especially considering that almost right next to it in the glass counter was a re-issue 808... FOR $300!!!!!!!!! (AUD) ($220US)

I've just re-read RG's old article about the TS, and for those interested, those couple of resistors in the output stage make it a TS9 instead of a TS808...

[goosonique]

Good one solder boy ....yes this is indeed a good candidate for cheap 'tweakable' pedal.

[SolderBoy]

Oh, and there was another Aria pedal on sale there too - it was a very good sounding (but fairly subtle) chorus/flanger.  I think it was called "cool vibe" or something...  probably another clone.

[Mr.Huge]

Here's the manufacturer of the pedal in China... It's made for Aria and probably others.

http://www.elecaamps.com/ep-warpdriver.htm

Enjoy.

-Mr. Huge