Tube boost + overdrive running off a 9 volt battery

[Renegadrian]

While you need one in a high voltage circuit, you can just avoid a standby in this low voltage circuit...
You may want to send the 12V from the 7812 to the heaters and the 18V (with some filtering indeed) to the plates (pins 1&6) for a little extra headroom.

[doitle]

Yeah that was my plan. 12 to the heaters and the full 18 to the plates. I thought if I wired it with two switches, a standby and an on then I could use the standby as a true bypass switch with only 1 DPDT and still have filament power and a LED switched on a second DPDT.

Basically, flick on power: Filaments start to glow and LED turns on, plates become powered.
Flick off standby: Rock and Roll
Flick on standby: True Bypass

I'm pretty much trying to avoid using a stereo input jack as a switch or buying a fancy 3PDT.

[Ripthorn]

I like the idea of a "standby" true bypass switch, but  my concern is whether you intend to turn the effect on and off during a song and if the standby will be a stomp switch or not.  Just something to think about.

[doitle]

I'm no performer.  I just like to mess around with these things. I was planning to use "Flick" switches like on the front of some amps. I'm not sure what to call them.

[doitle]

Upgraded to a slightly larger 9.6V Wall Wart and the hum almost entirely went away. Funny thing is the original one I was using was the Roland Adapter for my Micro Cube. This new one is some goofy Chinese brand that I don't even know where it came from. I'd have though it would work the other way around but you never know I guess. Also I realized that I forgot to solder one of the lugs on the volume pot... (I wonder why it cuts out when you touch anything?) I got my room mate to make this little demo since he can play better than I can:

http://doitle.markdelano.com/stuff/valvecasterdemo.mp3

This was a Ibanez RG120 into a Carlsbro Keyboard Amp with a line out into the sound card line-in recorded with Audacity.

First is clean, then 50% gain, then 100% gain. Still haven't boxed it up yet. I've been a little busy with other stuff. I bought an old tube radio to maybe try to build a little amp out of or something next. Thank you Valvecaster for getting me interested in the world of tubes.

[Pigyboy]

Hi and thanks for letting me into the forum.  Could some one please post the latest Valvy schematic using a 12AU7 with all of the newest mods and corrections.  I have been searching the thread but am a bit confused as to the most updated information.  Thank You.

[frequencycentral]

Hi and thanks for letting me into the forum.  Could some one please post the latest Valvy schematic using a 12AU7 with all of the newest mods and corrections.  I have been searching the thread but am a bit confused as to the most updated information.  Thank You.

Yeah, this thread is rather long now! Maybe someone should gather all the key information and start a new thread with a link back to this thread.........

[Pigyboy]

Hi and thanks for letting me into the forum.  Could some one please post the latest Valvy schematic using a 12AU7 with all of the newest mods and corrections.  I have been searching the thread but am a bit confused as to the most updated information.  Thank You.

Yeah, this thread is rather long now! Maybe someone should gather all the key information and start a new thread with a link back to this thread.........

That would be a beautiful thing..

[Pigyboy]

I think I found what I was looking for on page 53.  Looks to be the latest layout.
Thanks

[doitle]

I built mine off the schematic in the very first post of this thread it works well. I haven't decided if I'm happy with the way it sounds though or if I want to try doing anything else like adding clipper diodes or something. I could probably add a switch to add the diodes and take them back out when I just wanted a tube overdrive right? Also thinking off adding a full wave rectifier to try to get a simple octave effect out of it though I haven't done enough research yet to put that plan into action.

[Pigyboy]

Any suggestion using matsumins valvecaster layout on page 53 to voice it for a bass guitar?

[trad3mark]

Hey all.

Started work on my Valvecaster 12AU7 today. It's not going great though. I have true bypass, but no effect output. However, i think i MIGHT have the pins wrong on my valve. When you look at the image below, the one that ISN'T SOLDERED TO ANYTHING is supposed to be pin 9, but i think i have it backwards like. I'm working off of this schematic:
http://www.beavisaudio.com/projects/ValveCaster/MatsuminValveCaster.gif

and i made this vero:


And as a bonus, here's pics
1. The valve. I forgot to order a socket lol, but PLEASE check if i have the pins right. Is the one that's not soldered 9 or 1?
http://i41.tinypic.com/33nayyr.jpg

2. Slightly different pic of the tube
http://i42.tinypic.com/2eol010.jpg

3. Top side of the board
http://i44.tinypic.com/ip33u8.jpg

4. Underside of the board. Black lines indicate track cuts.
http://i42.tinypic.com/25hzn7p.jpg

5. Pot Wiring
http://i39.tinypic.com/35d836c.jpg

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

EDIT:
also, the tube does glow, so i don't think it's a problem there.

[doitle]

You have pin 9 unsoldered. That is correct. I just checked it against my valvecaster. Not sure what's wrong with yours. Maybe take voltage readings at each pin and I could compare them to mine? Might tell you where to start troubleshooting.

[trad3mark]

i would if i had a multimeter....

did you build yours on vero? there's so many vero's out there that i ended up making my own, but it'd be handy if i had another that's verified to check it off.

[doitle]

I built mine on socket. It's sad because yours looks a thousand times better than my build. : )

[trad3mark]

hmmm... quick question. The original schem has an electrolyte, but all the vero's just use a standard cap. which should i be using?

[doitle]

As you can see in mine I used an Electrolytic. Don't know that that would cause your build not to work though...

[frequencycentral]

@ trad3mark: I notice you're using a ECC81/12AT7. The 'standard' Valvecaster tube is a ECC82/12AU7. I'm not sure if anyone has used a 12AT7, but you may find it's an issue. Also, I've posted volategs from my working Valvecaster at various points in this thread - be aware that your voltages may differ as you're using a different tube type.

[trad3mark]

nah it's been confirmed with 12AX7's, 6111's, 12AY7's, so it's not the tube type. it's gotta be a wiring issue of some sort. 

[Renegadrian]

trad3mark welcome in this fabolous TUBE world! And also thank you for another vero layout - it might be handy to someone...

I made a much smaller layout some time ago, just search for it and some variations (toneless, etc) in the gallery, in my personal folder. Those layouts are quite smaller and all verified by myself and some other fellas around, so you can use them as a guide if that can help you!

Pigyboy, I successfully use my Valvy #001, which has standard values and no tone control, in my band. I play the bass in a Queensryche tribute ATM and the Valvy boosts the signal in the best way, and doesn't cut the low frequencies. I dunno about the other layouts, I know that mine are verified - feel free to take a look at them.

http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/Renegadrian/