A pedal I made myself. High treble OD.

[henrymop]

This is a high treble over drive. It might be weird in the second transistor, but it worked for me and sounded great.
I looked at and double checked several times the schematic, and sure it's right. But, since I'm imperfect, it might be wrong. But I doubt it ("the being wrong about this" part).

[Jered]

  If you box it up your probably going to want a pull down resistor at the input and a capacitor on the output. Cool circuit.

[DougH]

Your 223 "treble boost" cap will have no effect since you are shorting it out.

[John Lyons]

Yes, the ground connection to the right of the treble boost cap is shorting out the cap.
Maybe this was an option?

john

[henrymop]

I'd try your suggestions, if I had the j201s to do it.

I do remember that the treble boost cap did boost the treble, quite a bit, actually. Hmm. I'll have to try some other stuff out when I get the chance.

I was kind of hoping that someone would make it and record some sound clips. Also, maybe make some improvements, like the ones you said.

If you box it up your probably going to want a pull down resistor at the input and a capacitor on the output.

The pull-down resistor starts inbetween the input and the first transistor, and end at the ground right? If that's true, would 100k be too much?

Wouldn't having a capacitor at the output change its sound? Wouldn't having a pull-down resistor at the input change its tone.

Hey, I just got an idea. Maybe I could put a potentiometer somewhere around the treble boost cap.

Is that second j201 even doing anything?

Thanks for the fast replies.

[snoof]

Try 470k or 1Meg for the pulldown resistor.

Caps at the input and output may or may not change the sound depending on how large or small it is.  choose values that sound the way you want it to. 

I don't think that 2nd FET is doing anything, but someone more skilled will chime in i'm sure.

[petemoore]

  Q1 needs a gate bias resistor to bias ?
  The Source bypass cap is jumpered and can be omitted.
  Q2 looks like, or at least I don't understand why the source would be tied to V+, might sound cool that way somehow, interesting bias arrangement 10k pot to Q2 gate, no input staging cap on q2. 
  None of the transistors have staging caps for DC blocking to allow individual bias points be set.
  I'm interested in how it works and what the bias points are.   

[frank_p]

You could put a resistor or a variable one (pot) instead of the short (as to create an AC filter).  Impossible that the cap will do some "job" here: the two "plates" of your cap are on the same connection this way, there is no was a variable potential in time will appear there.  The electrons will balance between the two surfaces of your cap.  Plus it is like if they were tied, both ends to ground.  I am repeating what is already said, but check out cap theory about what I said...  

[Andre]

  Q2 looks like, or at least I don't understand why the source would be tied to V+, might sound cool that way somehow,

It isn't. The source of Q2 is connected to ground, so the 18k resistor won't do anything to the sound.

André

[earthtonesaudio]

Bizarre.  I can't believe it works.
Looks like the second JFET is acting a bit like a series/shunt diode, since there's no DC connection to the drain.  The only other thing it could be is a voltage-controlled resistor, but again due to the diode properties.

[henrymop]

If I had the j201's available, I'd make the pedal and record it on my computer(using a SB Live! 24-bit, though). That is, if I recorded the schematic correctly, which I really hope I did, because it sounded great.

It'll be about a week before I have any money to buy some parts and stuff. And, as far as the second transistor being hooked up that way, it was an accident, but the end result sounded good, so I kept it the way it was.

Is anyone interested in making this and finding out for themselves if the suggestions on this page make it sound better or different?

Sorry if I'm pushing the "can someone make it, please" too much. But, thank you for the replies!

[frank_p]

Please, breadboard it and give some measurements.  Or give something from the simulation you have made.  You understand that there is a lot of: not "standard for us" things going on in you're conception.  If you are sure that your creation is working, give us some clues so we can say something to you.  Did you made a prototype or it is just an idea of what you would like to do ?  Put some light in...  Not to be interpreted in a bad way please...  You say you don't have the J201 in there.  This is not so important, but what did YOU PUT in there.  Please tell us so we can reply to you...

[henrymop]

I actually built this and played my guitar using it. And I do remember getting a big treble boost when I put that capacitor in there. Nothing smoked or anything, it worked as long as it was plugged in.

The reason I can't build it is because I broke one of the legs of the transistor off when I was trying to solder it, and it was my last one. But, fortunatly, I have the other two, so I'll try to use them, as another schematic.

You understand that there is a lot of: not "standard for us" things going on in you're conception.

Yes, that's why I kind of like it. Because, if there's something relatively new to this, like using a transistor as a special diode, then that would be cool if I found it out for myself. Of course, if I'm doing something that just doesn't work, then... well, it doesn't work!

But, I know for a fact that this pedal I made did work. The only part I doubt slightly is when I recorded it on a schematic. But, I checked several times carefully.

[frank_p]

But do you understand that there is too much components that are not "working" for you here...  If you don't, post and some will give you some clues. Don't worry if you said "I am sure"...  But, not everything is all right. (Just ask how to improve your design instead of assuming (I am telling you that really gently... Sorry I don't speak English well to put it in a gentle way..)...

[henrymop]

I understand.

[frank_p]

No... No... No..., don't take it all wrong...    .  In what state is your PCB or breadboard, can you replace your transistor somehow ?

  Q1 needs a gate bias resistor to bias ?
  The Source bypass cap is jumpered and can be omitted.
  Q2 looks like, or at least I don't understand why the source would be tied to V+, might sound cool that way somehow, interesting bias arrangement 10k pot to Q2 gate, no input staging cap on q2. 
  None of the transistors have staging caps for DC blocking to allow individual bias points be set.
  I'm interested in how it works and what the bias points are.   

Dig in what other said to you please  !!!
Pete is telling you some hints...

BIAS POINTS ...  where are they ? 
Search for them (in DC) and then in the extremes of AC...  Search, and after.. what do you see...

[petemoore]

  Nothing at all wrong with having fun and learning and copping cool, novel tones.
 I've corrected debugs and wondered where the really cool sound went, 'it sounded great broken'...and missing the cool tone that disappeared when the 'fix' came.
 It could be bold experimentation could unlock some cool sounds, and conventional wisdom doesn't necessarily take strange circuits seriously enough at times.
 We look for what we expect to see, we notice what's missing and intuitively make 'corrections'.
 

[frank_p]

But around what we can see in that circuit, what could someone make around this "seed" and make it grow...  I mean how could someone do something about it as to make this guy first circuit sound like it's not worth nothing. (You Could could say: tell me yourself what it could be...) but hey, we have seen the the Tillman topic going on... and on, and on...  .   OK... There are some things that I can see that are not really working. Others that are worth correction.  And other that are worth expansion.  Could this be a point of consideration or we are all...   (Maybee I am ...  .  Sorry, I have no talent for faking).  Can someone make this guy proud of what he has tried to do ?  The thing is' I am sure there is..., otherwise there would be no place for multiple FETs circuits  .

[Jered]

  OK I threw it on the breadboard. Doesn't work as drawn. By-passed volume is half when circuit is engaged. the .022 cap does nothing. If it was working for you, then its probably just a mistake on the schem.
  Jered

[henrymop]

Figures.