Clean boost

fuzzo · April 13, 2009, 01:23:56 PM

Hi,

I would like to do another clean boost, but I don't which one I can make. I've already done Zvex Sho , LPB1 (great) and AMZ booster (BS170). I would like to do a clean boost that add a little thing to my sound, a boost with a "personality" .

Any ideas ?

Maybe take the first stage of a nice tube amp and transform it into Jfet boost (like I saw in layouts gallery with a boost based on first Marshall stage) ?

Andi · April 13, 2009, 02:42:19 PM

Basic op-amp gain with a BM tone control or sommat?

fuzzo · April 13, 2009, 03:10:36 PM

I don't like the BM tone and its mid scoup.

Acutally I need one knob (boost or volume).

QuoteBasic op-amp gain with a BM tone control or sommat?

Why not, but the question is the same, how create something fine and not so neutral.

m-theory · April 13, 2009, 03:15:27 PM

QuoteI would like to do a clean boost that add a little thing to my sound, a boost with a "personality" .

You're not describing a clean boost, imo. I would strongly recommend you try a peppermill. Yeah, I know that it's a mild overdrive circuit, but it's also a terrific, slightly dirty boost. Either that or a minibooster, although that can be pretty distorted, imo. Depending on how you run your amps, that may or may not work for you.

m-theory · April 13, 2009, 03:17:04 PM

QuoteAcutally I need one knob (boost or volume).

Either just a minibooster or a Peppermill with no gain knob...just use a fixed resistor in place of that pot.

slacker · April 13, 2009, 04:05:57 PM

Try Mark Hammer's The Crank, that's clean if you want it to be or you can dial in a bit of grit.

MikeH · April 13, 2009, 04:09:12 PM

The stratoblaster, Brian May Treble Boost, and Dallas Rangemaster all certainly have what I'd call personality.

Also Yun's rocketboost. That one's got personality too.

Andi · April 13, 2009, 04:22:41 PM

Quote from: fuzzo on April 13, 2009, 03:10:36 PM
I don't like the BM tone and its mid scoup.

You said you didn't want neutral... and the BM tone control is easily tweaked, especially with the Duncan Amps tool.

fuzzo · April 13, 2009, 04:33:57 PM

thanks for all your answers.

QuoteEither just a minibooster or a Peppermill with no gain knob...just use a fixed resistor in place of that pot.

Yeah the AMZ mini booster seems to be cool , I'll try to find some soundclip or youtube vids. I could add a trimpot inside to have a gain control.

The Perppermill is a tube pedal from tube town, no ?

QuoteMark Hammer's The Crank

I don't know that one, I'm gonna look for informations.

QuoteYou said you didn't want neutral... and the BM tone control is easily tweaked, especially with the Duncan Amps tool

I did that on my Big muff and DS1 tonestack in using Ducan amp tool . But I don't like this EQ control, I don't know why maybe too extrem for me, I prefer the Rat tone control or simple low pass filter.

QuoteThe stratoblaster, Brian May Treble Boost, and Dallas Rangemaster all certainly have what I'd call personality.

I've to finish a dallas range master with range pot (cf. D*A*M red booster) so I really want a " clean boost" . I don't know the Stratoblaster.

Actually I need one knob 'cause I've already drilled my box for one control.

ayayay! · April 13, 2009, 04:38:35 PM

To my surprise, the Trotsky Drive earned a place back on my board. Placed last in the chain. Using a 2n2222, gain all the way down, volume all the way up. Asymmetrical clipping. Great booster with just a wee bit of squishy dirt to keep it from being too clean. Very responsive to picking dynamics.

Plus, you could leave the diodes out altogether or add a lift switch for them.

Der Groovemeister · April 13, 2009, 06:00:48 PM

My favourite booster is the Fetzer Valve. It adds a bit of Tweed to your sound. Very nice imho.

Gus · April 13, 2009, 07:04:53 PM

Have tried the beginner project or
http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/gusOverdrive.gif
?

svstee · April 13, 2009, 10:57:43 PM

Maybe the Omega?
http://www.runoffgroove.com/omega.html

BAARON · April 14, 2009, 01:12:52 AM

Quote from: fuzzo on April 13, 2009, 01:23:56 PM
Maybe take the first stage of a nice tube amp and transform it into Jfet boost

I second what Groovemeister said. If you want a jfet booster that mimics the first stage of a tube amp, a Fetzer Valve is a good starting point. That said, unless you hit it with a pretty hefty signal you probably won't get much grit out of it, so it'll stay pretty clean if you're plugging your guitar straight into it. Building it with a J201 might get you some unboosted clipping if you have hot pickups.

Here's a very in depth look at the Fetzer. There are a few complete variations of it posted on the page, as well as lots of information about tweaking it.

http://runoffgroove.com/fetzervalve.html

The French connection · April 14, 2009, 08:55:11 AM

Quote from: Gus on April 13, 2009, 07:04:53 PM
Have tried the beginner project or
http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/gusOverdrive.gif
?

Fuzzo, I've buiild all the booster you've done plus the Gus booster from the beginner project, and this last one is my favorite. It gives some grit to the sound and a nice tone too...And it's so easy to make. Try it you'll be very please!

Thanks Gus for this nice little booster!

Salut!
Dan

fuzzo · April 14, 2009, 09:12:13 AM

thanks guys

Actually I realize there's any booster better than another one, everybody has different ears and different tastes. So the only solution to find a good one it's to do a booster and if I don't like it make another .

m-theory · April 14, 2009, 11:01:51 AM

Doesn't hurt a bit to make a few to try out. You'll never know what you really prefer until you've auditioned some worthy candidates. They cost nearly nothing, and take veyr little time to build, so it's not as if you're out a great deal to experiment with different flavors.

armstrom · April 14, 2009, 01:31:44 PM

Since you said you don't like the mid scoop of the BMP tone control you could try something like this.

I've been toying around with this circuit in spice simulations. I got the tone stack from this site: http://members.tripod.com/roymal/ReverbTone.htm (lest anyone think that it's my own design). The first gain stage is just something I've been working on to drive my DSP board. The tone control is kind of a "tilting" control that boosts bass or treble while cutting the other end (if you boost bass it will cut treble). At the middle position the frequency response curve of the active tone control is dead flat. I'll have to recreate the spice model if anyone wants to see the frequency response curves of the entire circuit.

You could increase the 10K pot used for the gain control in the first stage with a larger value to get more gain. You could also ditch the 100K volume pot on the output and just use the gain control for a volume but since the gain pot has DC on it it could be a little scratchy. The master volume control always seems like a good idea for a pedal since you never know what might be attached to the output!

Edit: Oops... that 1n cap after the first gain stage needs to be much larger. As close to 1u as possible... maybe 470n or something. Otherwise the lows are rolled off WAY too much.

superferrite · April 14, 2009, 08:56:45 PM

It ain't really clean, but the Sparkle Boost is classy and adds just a touch of hair.

fuzzo · April 15, 2009, 10:30:06 AM

Cool schematic armstrom but not really what I'm looking for. It seems to be a cool thing, I put in my documents book.

QuoteIt ain't really clean, but the Sparkle Boost is classy and adds just a touch of hair.

I'll see what it is.

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Clean boost