Dyna Comp MOds

[Barcode80]

Anyone tried any of this or know of any other cool mods for the MXR Dyna Comp? I recently fell into one for a mere 20 bucks in like-new condition (not even a scratch in the paint) and I found this batch of mods:

http://www.monteallums.com/Product_links.html#DynaComp

seems a little pricey, especially if I can do it myself. Any cool ideas?

btw, I never realized how INDESTRUCTABLY these MXR pedals are built. no wonder they are so popular!

[Jay Doyle]

As compressors go, there aren't really any mods that make that much of a different sound. In looking at that mod kit, and this is just my opinion, I don't think that it is worth the money. He has the transistors originally used in the Ross, but those were nothing special. I'd switch out the transistors to 2N5088 or 89s, MPSA18s would work too. You can audition a couple of 3080 chips...

Wait. Search for "Ross Compressor" and in a recent thread I go through all of the things that I know about to improve a Ross. A Dyna Comp is the pedal the Ross was designed from, just with a lot more filtering.

[markm]

I've heard tales of the original transistors being noisier than say a 2N5088 but, I can't really say.
Too bad the 5088 doesn't have the same MOJO though......
The germ diodes from what I have been told, make no difference and may in fact be worse in the circuit than silicon.
I posted the germ diode in dyna-comps question sometime ago and the general consensus was it was useless.
Do a search for this topic and you'll see.

[analogmike]

Why does the mod kit include the same chip which is already in the pedal?
What do germanium diodes have to do with a dynacomp circuit?
Are the transistors tested to noise and matched and labelled as Q1 to Q5?
THis kit makes no sense to me.

[markm]

Why does the mod kit include the same chip which is already in the pedal?
What do germanium diodes have to do with a dynacomp circuit?
Are the transistors tested to noise and matched and labelled as Q1 to Q5?
THis kit makes no sense to me.

Exactly.
I thought the same thing after seeing this kit and confirmed my thoughts by asking the panel here the same questions.

[Jay Doyle]

Why does the mod kit include the same chip which is already in the pedal?
What do germanium diodes have to do with a dynacomp circuit?
Are the transistors tested to noise and matched and labelled as Q1 to Q5?
THis kit makes no sense to me.

I've got to agree. Unless the 3080 is tested for noise there isn't any point in putting another one in there. Ge diodes would be more trouble than they are worth I would bet because of leakage. It wouldn't effect the tone at all. As for the transistors, I think I've mentioned my opinion once or twice before... :-)