Fab Tone Question for Martymart

[Jamforthelamb]

This question is mainly for Martymart, but if anyone else can answer that's cool.

Marty, I was reading this thread: http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=36327.0 and I was wondering what you ended up with on your Fab Tone? I have one as well, and I like it's high gain abilites, but would like to be able to make it sound a little less "digital" like the mods you suggested in that old thread. I'm not wanting to re-invent it into something it's not, I just want to clean up it's sound if that makes any sense. Make it more usuable.

For anyone else who is reading this there is a schematic for this pedal here: http://www.geocities.com/diygescorp/ (site is currently down).

Thanks!
JFTL

[Meanderthal]

 Obviously I'm not Marty, but...

I have one. I would describe it as sounding like a cross between a BMP and a pedal with the word 'Metal' on it. Never noticed anything 'digital' sounding, but it sure can sound awful harsh...  Actually, it kinda freaked me out, it looked (and its name implied) like it was shooting for a vintage tone, but instead, it's all blood, guts, fingers and toes...

Maybe a small value cap across the output to smooth down the extreme treble a bit?  First thing I would try(if mine bugged me).

[MartyMart]

To be honest I can't remember ! I'd have to open it up and take a peek.
Some of the suggestions make sense still, I'm sure that I smoothed it out a little
and changed the diodes, possibly to some 1N4001's, as i'm quite fond of that sound.

MM

[ambulancevoice]

"Here's some things that I've played with for improved sound/tone :

Treble control has a 2k resistor R26 and 8n2 cap C18 going to ground from the wiper.
Playing with that combo can give more control and increase/decrease the
boost/cut freq
Bass control has a 330n cap from wiper, increase this for deeper bass
boost or make it a 33n -100n for more "mid" type boost

There's a 10k resistor from lug 1 of the gain pot, so not letting it clean up
too well, reducing that down quite a bit, perhaps 470 ohms is good also
a 370ohm 10u cap off inverting input of ic 3 causes some serious gain
that can be reduced with a 2k2 or so

The diode to ground are 1N4148's, I swopped one to a 1N4001 which is
nice and not symetrical, a pair of 1N4148's in one direction would also
do it .
Input cap C102 is a 0.047 and pre distortion there's C8/C9 0.047 and 0.033 caps - could play with those for more bass/roll off some bass

Marty."

"There's quite a bit of room on the board, so I've stuck in a few trimmed
sockets and I'm still playing !
Diode changed to a 1N4001 is very nice, with a bit of bass/treble cut
there's a nice sound with gain at 9 o'clock, I reduced the resistor off
lug one to an 820ohm - just cleans up a little at min gain, still a touch
of crunch.
I have a 150n cap on the bass pot too
I'm quite liking it now

Marty."

[Jamforthelamb]

Marty: Which diodes were the ones you where playing with (if you can remember). There are 5 of them on the board, all the same type. There are 2 toward the bottom of the board that seem to be going to ground. Is that them ?

ambulancevoice: That's the post I've been referencing. I just wanted to see if Marty could tell me what he ultimately chose in the end.

Thanks!
JFTL

[MartyMart]

On the schem they are D4/D5 to ground clippers off the 47k/10uf node.
I think that I changed one of them to a 1N4001 in the end
The others are part of the switching using fets.
MM

[Jamforthelamb]

Ok, cool. That's what I thought.

Thanks!
JFTL