Tube boost + overdrive running off a 9 volt battery

[Ripthorn]

The tube will be hot to the touch, but it shouldn't be melting anything, etc.  If it has a fartish sound, that sounds like a biasing problem.  What current is your transformer rated at?

[frequencycentral]

Update: I rebuilt the valvecaster and the buzz disappeared, but... It has a crappy sound! No sustain and a farty distortion...
Ok, I'll try to debug it--- just a question: is it normal for the tube to be quite hot (sorry for the n00bish question)?

Post your voltages!

[lazerphea]

Sorry man, you're right!
Here are the voltages I measure at the tube's pins:
pin 1: 3.64
pin 2: 0.18
pin 3: 0.09
pin 4: 0.09
pin 5: 11.57
pin 6: 5.05
pin 7: -0.14
pin 8: 0.09

[frequencycentral]

Sorry man, you're right!
Here are the voltages I measure at the tube's pins:
pin 1: 3.64
pin 2: 0.18
pin 3: 0.09
pin 4: 0.09
pin 5: 11.57
pin 6: 5.05
pin 7: -0.14
pin 8: 0.09

They look pretty good, apart from pin 6, which is 3v less than it should be. Check the resistor value, and for shorts/bridges.

[lazerphea]

They look pretty good, apart from pin 6, which is 3v less than it should be. Check the resistor value, and for shorts/bridges.

Ok, I'm a total n00b... I switched R3 with R4!
Now everything's ok! I thank you a lot, frequencycentral!!
Tomorroy I'll try to rebuild the twincaster, and I'll post some news about it!
Thanks again man!

[frequencycentral]

They look pretty good, apart from pin 6, which is 3v less than it should be. Check the resistor value, and for shorts/bridges.

Ok, I'm a total n00b... I switched R3 with R4!
Now everything's ok! I thank you a lot, frequencycentral!!
Tomorroy I'll try to rebuild the twincaster, and I'll post some news about it!
Thanks again man!

Cool - up and running - that was a simple fix! Well done!

[lazerphea]

Cool - up and running - that was a simple fix! Well done!

Thanks thanks thanks!

[biggy boy]

No Mine only gets slightly warm to the touch.

Glen

[Ripthorn]

I should confess that i have never actually built the valvecaster, but I am doing some other tube projects.

[kristoffereide]

I just finished mine last night, and it sounds great!!! Full warm tone. A little hiss way way in the back, but I'll get to that. (any ideas what it could be?) I built mine in a BB, so I have the option for a twin. I like the look of a glowing tube, so I put a orange LED in the middle whole in the socket (i just jammed a 3mm in there). Looks amateurish, since I lost my socket screwes, but it works! I also keep the voltage to the tube on constantly, I just bypass the signal. Don't know it this is a good idea, but I guess off-ing and on-ing the DC to the tube isn't best for the tube...

[biggy boy]

Looks good!
I like the glow.
Ya It ok to leave the heaters going while it is in standby or bypassed, that way it is ready to go when you stomp on the switch.


Glen

[kurtlives]

Nice build

Almost all pedals are setup so the circuit is always drawing current, no matter if your signsal is going trhough or not.

If you cut the voltage everytime you hit the switch you'd have heater issues. You'd have to hit the switch and wait while the heaters "ramp up" and start emitting electronics before you got sound.

[kristoffereide]

yes, you are right. When I think about it, all pedals only bypass the signal...

[tranceracer]

Looks amateurish, since I lost my socket screwes, but it works! I also keep the voltage to the tube on constantly, I just bypass the signal. Don't know it this is a good idea, but I guess off-ing and on-ing the DC to the tube isn't best for the tube...

The black screws look good to me, matches the black knobs! 

Yes, as Kurtlives said keep the tube powered and just bypass the signal.  The tube changes tonal characteristics (at least mine does) as it warms up.  I personally like my Valvy's tone when it's still cold, has a more gritty tone.  After it warms up (20 minutes) the tone becomes a smoother overdrive.

[frequencycentral]

I should confess that i have never actually built the valvecaster,

Isn't there some law against that around these parts?

[Ripthorn]

I'm waiting for my account to be deactivated as we speak... I have a few 12au7's, but no sockets and my submini project is taking a lot of free time (but almost done).

[frequencycentral]

I'm waiting for my account to be deactivated as we speak... I have a few 12au7's, but no sockets and my submini project is taking a lot of free time (but almost done).

I've reported your confession to the moderator. Pleading 'no sockets' is no defence. This kind of behavior really shouldn't be condoned or tolerated.


























.........and what the hell is a 'submini tube'

[biggy boy]

All this talk about submini tubes, could give a guy a inferiority size complex.
No honest, it's normally bigger like a ValveCaster.......

[frequencycentral]

Quote from Mrs Biggy Boy: 'Oooh Glen - yours is the BIGGEST Valvecaster I've ever seen!'

[biggy boy]

Quote from Mrs Biggy Boy: 'Oooh Glen - yours is the BIGGEST Valvecaster I've ever seen!'

LOL
Ya but she was only saying that, to distract me while she took money out of my walet to go shopping.