electrolytic cap instead of tant in Red Llama?

[paperhouse]

i built a red llama over the weekend (my first build!) and being the complete n00b that i am i saw the polarity marked on the tant cap and i assumed that it's supposed to be electrolytic (i didn't know tant caps were polar  ) so i put an electrolytic cap on there of the same value (10uf). it works fine and it sounds pretty good. i'm going to build another one and throw them both in the same enclosure, and it would be nice to have some variety between the two. is it safe to leave the electrolytic cap in there? can anyone make a guess as to what the tonal difference would be, if any? i'll do a report once i build the double red llama.

[Dragonfly]

Electro is fine.

Jeorge Tripps (Mr. Huge) said he simply "preferred" the sound of a tantalum in that circuit.

[paperhouse]

thanks! i used your layout btw - it was very easy and it worked on my first try!

i'm going to put the double red llama in one of these enclosures, a'la the copperhead:



http://pedalpartsplus.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PPP&Product_Code=1067&Category_Code=DRI

[Dragonfly]

thanks! i used your layout btw - it was very easy and it worked on my first try!

i'm going to put the double red llama in one of these enclosures, a'la the copperhead:



http://pedalpartsplus.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PPP&Product_Code=1067&Category_Code=DRI

Nice !

I'm glad you liked the layout !

[Pushtone]

Wow, two footswitches in a vertical 125B!
Nice drill job there.

I never thought that was possible or wise but it looks good and very do-able.
I guess one stomp will turn one off and the other on.


BTW, I used a film cap in place of the tant in my version of the RL. 
I think the value was 0.47. I though it needed less bass.
Like in this thread...
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=60807.0
Some good info in that thread.


FWIW - if you like the sound of the Llama and up up for a major wiring challenge look at the Double D at runoffgroove.com
It's a two channel distortion much like what your building there in your dual Llama.
But the Double D Bounce channel gets a higher gain sound than the Llama.
The Jiggle channel gets a cleaner sound than the Llama.
Might interest you if you've got a spare 4049 around. But beware...21 off board wires to deal with.

[paperhouse]

wow, i'll take a look at the double d, but i don't think i'm ready for something so complicated yet. i didn't drill the case - pedalpartsplus.com has them for sale on the link that i posted under the pic. i actually haven't ordered it yet. they have really cheap 3pdt switches so i'm going to place a big order when i get some more money.

[Pushtone]

Well in that case I guess a 3PDT switch is guaranteed to fit.
Although those holes look very close to the edge 



Ya know, for the couple of bucks extra that that Aron charges in the store for 3PDT switches it goes a long way in supporting the forum.
Just wanted to give the store a plug. Do what you feel you have to.

And I can bet ya a hundred bucks that Aron will get them to you faster than anyone else can.

[paperhouse]

yeah, i didn't even see them at the store here. i'll buy some here with some more vero board. this is addicting!

the case is made by the some people that make the tonefactor/mojo hand copper head case, designed by our very own dragonfly:



http://www.tonefactor.com/proddetail.php?prod=Copperhead

they look like 3pdt's, unless they use a relay for TB + LED.

[Dragonfly]

they look like 3pdt's, unless they use a relay for TB + LED.

They're 3PDT's

[paperhouse]

they look like 3pdt's, unless they use a relay for TB + LED.

They're 3PDT's

excellent, thanks!

[twangquack]

That Double-Llama will be nice! That'll be a fun pedal ...

+1 on using film caps when you can (smaller values) on the output cap. An old bandmate tried my Red Llama clone with switchable 10uF/ 4.7uF/ .32uF and he prefers 4.7 and .32 as the two output cap options, so that'll be on the Christmas present I'm going to make him -- MOSFET Boost and Red Llama in single enclosure, in series, MOSFET into RL and both true bypass. Using the Duncan tonestack calculator program, I worked up some good values for the single tone control for the MB circuit and for the modified AMZ Presence/Tone control for the Red Llama (2-knob, Tone and Body control) ... goes from very slight mid-boost to only moderate mid-scoop. He likes that slight mid-boost, but not as much as Tubescreamer territory. This will definitely be a DD-sized project.

I still have the electro 4.7uF in my own Red Llama (sounds OK) but the 10uF has been changed to tant and the .32uF is film ... I may change out the electro to two 10uF tants in series but I'm not sure there's a solid sonic reason for me to do this at this point. I'll use the tants in the friend's pedal, though. I recall the two I've already soldered/heat-shrink tubed/prepared measure 5.2uF, something like that. Close enough.

Looks like you'll have JUST ENOUGH room in that Copperhead clone! I tend to go with the DD-sized box so as not to paint myself into a corner -- the 5-knob pedal (Hot Harmonics with AMZ Presence/Tone #1) I just finished is a good example ... glad I didn't go smaller, but I'd have made things fit if I had to, with smaller box. Sometimes you just have to find a way to make it all fit!

Also +1 on Dragonfly's layout: one of the very nicest I've ever seen!