Introducing the "Cream Pie" !

[Dragonfly]

....  its a super easy to build germanium booster that, so far in tests, sounds pretty damn good !  i'm not sure why i never bothered to set up a germanium transistor this way before, but i'm glad i tried it. very few parts, nice sound, and pushes an amp into overdrive nicely....

mine biased at about 33k on the collector resistor, so you can probably use a 50k trimmer if you dont have a 100k "handy"...
take a few seconds and breadboard it...i think you'll be glad you did.

have fun !

AC

btw...if you want to build the PNP version (for AC128, OC44, etc transistors), just swap ground and +9v...easy !

[Dragonfly]

...and heres a quick and easy perfboard layout for the Cream Pie....

[markm]

Damn! You beat me to the punch Andy!!
Now that looks interesting indeed.
Enough so that I did a PCB Layout for it 
Go here>>>http://aronnelson.com/gallery/album15

[KerryF]

Hows this compare to the Sparkle Boost or the Range Pig (If you have tried it) or any other popular boosts?  I will breadboard it as soon as my Germanium comes in... whenever it does...

[markm]

I have yet to build it but I suspect it will sound good but just what it will sound like, I don't really know.
However, if anyone puts this thing together using my layout, please let me know as mine is Unverified at the moment.

[Seljer]

To use this with a PNP and postive ground you'd reverse +9V and ground? and its its now CBE with the npn in the layout you'd make it EBC for a pnp?

[markm]

I beleive the pinout would remain the same.

[Dragonfly]

Hows this compare to the Sparkle Boost or the Range Pig (If you have tried it) or any other popular boosts?  I will breadboard it as soon as my Germanium comes in... whenever it does...

very different from either, but "most" different from the SB...

its fuller range than the pig, not as bright as the SB...creamy

i'mn gonna get it off the breadboard and box it up today.....ive only tried it with a couple small amps and a tele and 335 so far, but it sounds very good...

AC

[Dragonfly]

Damn! You beat me to the punch Andy!!
Now that looks interesting indeed.
Enough so that I did a PCB Layout for it 
Go here>>>http://aronnelson.com/gallery/album15

your layout should work just fine....

btw...picked up some 1590bb's yesterday...and i finally know where theres a post office in austin   ...i havent got my work schedule for next week yet, but expect a tuesday mailing 

AC

[markm]

your layout should work just fine....

btw...picked up some 1590bb's yesterday...and i finally know where theres a post office in austin   ...i havent got my work schedule for next week yet, but expect a tuesday mailing 

AC

No problem my friend I mean hey......I've made it this far huh? 
I think I may build mine as a + ground.
Mainly because I don't have the right Germs!!
Talk to ya soon Andy,
   MarkM

[Dragonfly]

your layout should work just fine....

btw...picked up some 1590bb's yesterday...and i finally know where theres a post office in austin   ...i havent got my work schedule for next week yet, but expect a tuesday mailing 

AC

No problem my friend I mean hey......I've made it this far huh? 
I think I may build mine as a + ground.
Mainly because I don't have the right Germs!!
Talk to ya soon Andy,
   MarkM

be sure to let me know what ya think of the Cream Pie....

i just soldered up the perf...getting ready to drill and assemble....

[petemoore]

think I may build mine as a + ground.
  Looks like conversion from PNP to NPN on this one is as easy as reversing the PS polarity and swapping the transistor.

[Barcode80]

any chance of a Si version?

[slacker]

any chance of a Si version?

Just put a Si in there, possibly won't sound the same, but it should work fine.

[Dragonfly]

ok...i went ahead and boxed it up......took a while 'cause i'm watching the bengals/panthers game

conclusion...this thing frickin' RULES !  plugged the 335---->Cream Pie---->Silvertone tube amp.......HOLY CRAP ! i've got it biased to 5v using a 33k resistor....CV7112 (OC140) germ....wow....

ok...i'll try to get sound samples posted...i have to leave for work in a bit, so it might not be today, but i'll try....

AC

[Dragonfly]

ok...here are some "super quick" sound samples...this is only showing the "higher gain" gritty boost, REALLY pushing the amp....it'll also do a much cleaner boost at lower output levels...but i like it pushing the amp into overdrive !

ES335----->Cream Pie---->Silvertone tube amp---->sm57----->crappy recording program   ...and monitored thru crappy speakers  !
no EQ added...no verb...no nothin'..

All the samples are "without the Cream Pie" first, then "Cream Pie engaged".... !

AC


http://h1.ripway.com/acarrell/creampierhythm.mp3

http://h1.ripway.com/acarrell/creampieblues.mp3

http://h1.ripway.com/acarrell/creampielead.mp3

[KerryF]

Sounds really good.  Sounds pretty close to the Sparkle Boost actually.

[Barcode80]

if i remember tho, the sparkle is much brighter. am i wrong?

[KerryF]

Yea, but it sounds close other than that.

[Dragonfly]

if i remember tho, the sparkle is much brighter. am i wrong?

the SB is definitely cleaner and brighter....if you dont want to "change" your tone, except to add a bit more definition, the SB is good...plus you "can" grit it up into a light overdrive....

the CP has more midrange, is naturally "grittier"...think "meaner rangemaster"

the SB has more dB's of boost....

i  use the SB for chicken pickin', as well as some other basic boost needs...the CP looks like its gonna be my "go to" rock lead / rhythm booster...

definitely a bit different from one another, though sound samples will always be subjective....

AC