Tube boost + overdrive running off a 9 volt battery

[josh1324]

Also, sorry for the late reply, I have exams right now and I'm really busy lately.
Here are the values:
R1 1M
R2 22K
R3 22K
R4 470K
C1 47nF
C2 47nF
C3 1uF (electrolytic)
C4 10nF
VR1 B50K
VR2 A100K
VR3 A100K
The tube is the 12au7 by JJ Eletronic.
The input voltage is ~9,23v

[josh1324]

Okay, I tested all of the things through an amp, here are the results:
Tip of input cable: normal
Pin 2: Normal
Lug 1 and 2 of gain pot: No sound whatsoever (I stated earlier that this pot is broken, so i tested it with the pot bypassed all together, and with pin 3 of the tube left unconnected.)
Pin 7: No guitar sound, but a weird constant tone
Pin 6: Quieter than just bypassing the effect
Before and after tone circuit: Quieter than bypassing the effect (I realized later that the tone isn't grounded, the connection broke, but i don't think this would change anything.)
Before and after the volume pot: Quieter than bypassing the effect.

[Ark Angel HFB]

By record, do you mean literally record it? Or just jot down roughly how loud it is?

poor choice of words, sry. Just take notes... you'd be surprised how after you try five or six things... you can't really remember what that first thing sounded link.

[Isak]

hi guys.

I didnt wanted to open a new post for that cause probably it's something simple.
I use the valve for my synths.
The problem is that the gain is still hearible when turning the gain pot fully CCW.
Any Ideas on how to make the gain begone?
I build with the original specs, no mods and no tone.

Cheers,
Isak E.

[Ark Angel HFB]

Drop R2/R3 to 10k makes it a pretty nice booster for me... a lot of clean raw db boost.

[Isak]

״Drop R2/R3 to 10k makes it a pretty nice booster for me... a lot of clean raw db boost״

Sorry for asking, dose it refere my post?
If I reduce r2 and r3 will it make the gain begone?

[Ark Angel HFB]

״Drop R2/R3 to 10k makes it a pretty nice booster for me... a lot of clean raw db boost״

Sorry for asking, dose it refere my post?
If I reduce r2 and r3 will it make the gain begone?

Try it and see...

[Isak]

I'll try that today, thank you

[josh1324]

Okay, I tested all of the things through an amp, here are the results:
Tip of input cable: normal
Pin 2: Normal
Lug 1 and 2 of gain pot: No sound whatsoever (I stated earlier that this pot is broken, so i tested it with the pot bypassed all together, and with pin 3 of the tube left unconnected.)
Pin 7: No guitar sound, but a weird constant tone
Pin 6: Quieter than just bypassing the effect
Before and after tone circuit: Quieter than bypassing the effect (I realized later that the tone isn't grounded, the connection broke, but i don't think this would change anything.)
Before and after the volume pot: Quieter than bypassing the effect.

Ark Angel, what do you suppose might be wrong with my pedal?

[Ark Angel HFB]

Okay, I tested all of the things through an amp, here are the results:
Tip of input cable: normal
Pin 2: Normal
Lug 1 and 2 of gain pot: No sound whatsoever (I stated earlier that this pot is broken, so i tested it with the pot bypassed all together, and with pin 3 of the tube left unconnected.)
Pin 7: No guitar sound, but a weird constant tone
Pin 6: Quieter than just bypassing the effect
Before and after tone circuit: Quieter than bypassing the effect (I realized later that the tone isn't grounded, the connection broke, but i don't think this would change anything.)
Before and after the volume pot: Quieter than bypassing the effect.

Ark Angel, what do you suppose might be wrong with my pedal?

sorry I missed your post.. ok... ok... (you are using the valve master or the valve caster.) I think you may be using the valvecaster which is fine, but means me having you audio prob at the gain pot was a waste and I still need you to audio probe both sides of the cap that comes off pin 1.

Ok well here are a few things...
1. (This only applies if you used the valvemaster.) Lug 1 of the gain pot is the signal before the gain pot. If you are not getting good sound there... then there is a problem before that gain pot...

the following should be helpful to both the valve caster and valve master.
2. In line with the above I seriously think your problem are your Cathodes. In the valve caster the gain pot works as a variable cathode resistor. In both versions Increasing the Cathode resistance drops the volume of the pedal... I have mine right now around 10k but will be testing a few changes to lower the value.

3. It does mater that your tone is not grounded... without being grounded there is no were for the signal to bleed to meaning the tone control won't work.

DO THE FOLLOWING
Bypass whatever you have coming off pin 3 and pin 8, and connect both to ground. (Test the pedal afterwards. Also check for sound at Pin 1 of the tube.)

2. If the above doesn't work test with another tube.

3. If that doesn't work... >_> well I'd suggest removing the tube and considering gas to start the fire but we can keep trying other things.

[Isak]

Hi Ark Angel HFB,

that is much much much better!!!
thank you for that.
i can still hear the drive but much lower, its only heritable when rising the resonance of the filter.
i guess this is as low as it can get right?

[Ark Angel HFB]

Hi Ark Angel HFB,

that is much much much better!!!
thank you for that.
i can still hear the drive but much lower, its only heritable when rising the resonance of the filter.
i guess this is as low as it can get right?

You could try a lower value... 5k even 1k... it won't hurt to try... for me between 10k and 33k were what I like for guitar. You only get distortion when you hit the stings hard so you get this great ability to change your sound by just playing softer or harder.

[josh1324]

[quote author=Ark Angel HFB link=topic=63479.msg892306#msg892306 date=13

sorry I missed your post.. ok... ok... (you are using the valve master or the valve caster.) I think you may be using the valvecaster which is fine, but means me having you audio prob at the gain pot was a waste and I still need you to audio probe both sides of the cap that comes off pin 1.

Ok well here are a few things...
1. (This only applies if you used the valvemaster.) Lug 1 of the gain pot is the signal before the gain pot. If you are not getting good sound there... then there is a problem before that gain pot...

the following should be helpful to both the valve caster and valve master.
2. In line with the above I seriously think your problem are your Cathodes. In the valve caster the gain pot works as a variable cathode resistor. In both versions Increasing the Cathode resistance drops the volume of the pedal... I have mine right now around 10k but will be testing a few changes to lower the value.

3. It does mater that your tone is not grounded... without being grounded there is no were for the signal to bleed to meaning the tone control won't work.

DO THE FOLLOWING
Bypass whatever you have coming off pin 3 and pin 8, and connect both to ground. (Test the pedal afterwards. Also check for sound at Pin 1 of the tube.)

2. If the above doesn't work test with another tube.

3. If that doesn't work... >_> well I'd suggest removing the tube and considering gas to start the fire but we can keep trying other things.


[/quote]
I will try to get those results to you asap, but it is the valve caster, not master. Do you mind me asking what the difference is between the two?

[Ark Angel HFB]

I will try to get those results to you asap, but it is the valve caster, not master. Do you mind me asking what the difference is between the two?
[/quote]

More or less it is the same... some things are changed around like a pot is add in between the two stage and acts as a gain pot. the old gain pot becomes a constant resistor.

[josh1324]

sorry I missed your post.. ok... ok... (you are using the valve master or the valve caster.) I think you may be using the valvecaster which is fine, but means me having you audio prob at the gain pot was a waste and I still need you to audio probe both sides of the cap that comes off pin 1.

Ok well here are a few things...
1. (This only applies if you used the valvemaster.) Lug 1 of the gain pot is the signal before the gain pot. If you are not getting good sound there... then there is a problem before that gain pot...

the following should be helpful to both the valve caster and valve master.
2. In line with the above I seriously think your problem are your Cathodes. In the valve caster the gain pot works as a variable cathode resistor. In both versions Increasing the Cathode resistance drops the volume of the pedal... I have mine right now around 10k but will be testing a few changes to lower the value.

3. It does mater that your tone is not grounded... without being grounded there is no were for the signal to bleed to meaning the tone control won't work.

DO THE FOLLOWING
Bypass whatever you have coming off pin 3 and pin 8, and connect both to ground. (Test the pedal afterwards. Also check for sound at Pin 1 of the tube.)

2. If the above doesn't work test with another tube.

3. If that doesn't work... >_> well I'd suggest removing the tube and considering gas to start the fire but we can keep trying other things.

Okay, both sides of C2 (the capacitor coming from pin 1) have sound going through them, but they are extremely quiet. I think I may have found my problem though, the volume level before C1 is equal to the volume of bypassing the entire effect. However, before my true bypass switching circuit (where i would plug in the input and output of the effect) is much quieter. here is the schematics I used for that: http://www.beavisaudio.com/projects/Looper-Switcher/True-Bypass-Looper-With-LED.png . Do you see anything wrong with that? Or do you think it's just how i hooked it up?

[Ark Angel HFB]

sorry I missed your post.. ok... ok... (you are using the valve master or the valve caster.) I think you may be using the valvecaster which is fine, but means me having you audio prob at the gain pot was a waste and I still need you to audio probe both sides of the cap that comes off pin 1.

Ok well here are a few things...
1. (This only applies if you used the valvemaster.) Lug 1 of the gain pot is the signal before the gain pot. If you are not getting good sound there... then there is a problem before that gain pot...

the following should be helpful to both the valve caster and valve master.
2. In line with the above I seriously think your problem are your Cathodes. In the valve caster the gain pot works as a variable cathode resistor. In both versions Increasing the Cathode resistance drops the volume of the pedal... I have mine right now around 10k but will be testing a few changes to lower the value.

3. It does mater that your tone is not grounded... without being grounded there is no were for the signal to bleed to meaning the tone control won't work.

DO THE FOLLOWING
Bypass whatever you have coming off pin 3 and pin 8, and connect both to ground. (Test the pedal afterwards. Also check for sound at Pin 1 of the tube.)

2. If the above doesn't work test with another tube.

3. If that doesn't work... >_> well I'd suggest removing the tube and considering gas to start the fire but we can keep trying other things.

Okay, both sides of C2 (the capacitor coming from pin 1) have sound going through them, but they are extremely quiet. I think I may have found my problem though, the volume level before C1 is equal to the volume of bypassing the entire effect. However, before my true bypass switching circuit (where i would plug in the input and output of the effect) is much quieter. here is the schematics I used for that: http://www.beavisaudio.com/projects/Looper-Switcher/True-Bypass-Looper-With-LED.png . Do you see anything wrong with that? Or do you think it's just how i hooked it up?

no I don't see anything wrong... but you should be getting more volume than barely unity from the first section... I'd suggest by passing your gain pot with some jumpers and test from there...

also make sure pin 8 is connected to ground.

[josh1324]

My gain pot is jumpered to ground, the pot isn't working . And I double checked that my pin 8 was grounded when I was looking at the two cathodes

[Ark Angel HFB]

My gain pot is jumpered to ground, the pot isn't working . And I double checked that my pin 8 was grounded when I was looking at the two cathodes

So barely unity after the first section... then above unity at pin 7...

Have you tried a different tube?

[josh1324]

I haven't gotten around to it yet, I don't have another tube :/ is there any name brands of tubes you would suggest?

[Ark Angel HFB]

I haven't gotten around to it yet, I don't have another tube :/ is there any name brands of tubes you would suggest?

well i put JJ's in my amps but since you already have one of those... idk... maybe find something from ebay for cheap?

Also don't be afriad of starting over if things don't work... sometimes the best thing to do is just rebuild it.