Has anyone built (for their own use) either the Peavey tube-sound distortion, or the Crate distortion patent circuits?

Or, does anyone have any sound clips of these circuits?

Thanks
Rob

If you search on Youtube for the Ampeg VH-140c you can find some demos of the distortion, which is two of those Crate stages along with pre-gain tone-shaping and post-EQ.

I have 2 Crate amps with the flex wave distortion,and its not my favorite,I much prefer the MosFet clipper distortion circuit that Crate used over the Flexwave design.The flexwave is more OD less gain,but sounds OK with a boost going into it like an Omega or the like.
The MosFet design is a more high gain distortion.IMO YMMV of course.
The Crate MosFet clipping circuit is real close to the Shaka series circuits in its design.
I havent heard the Peavy one so IDK on that.
Hope that helps,Bryan

Thanks for the information. I found a schematic for the Ampeg VH-140C, and looks really close.

Brymus,
Do you happen to have the Crate MosFet clipping schematic?

Yeah,I will find which hard drive I put those on.
PM me an E-Mail address and I will send you some.

The use of SLM's patented distortion ranges from the revered VH-140C and its variants to cheapest Crate practice amps. Basically the tone ranges from awesome to complete suck. It's a great example how the actual distortion circuit is not nearly as important as the overall voicing of the amp.

The same goes with the Peavey's "Saturation" circuit. They used it in their top line models as well as in the cheapest practice amps.

So, if I make the distortion part of the VH-140c, I should also make the pre gain tone shaping stage?               

I was thinking of making the pre stage with the distortion stage. And than adding a tonestack at the end, I like the baxendall myself.

I have made in Eagle the two stages as separate schematic/pcb boards. The power supply I duplicated, and thinking of using two 9 volt batteries.

If anyone would like to see these, please let me know. It would be nice to get others opinions on my layouts.

Absolutely, if you want your distortion circuit to sound even remotedly the same as the channel on VH-140C.

I added the designs, and the Ampeg VH140c schematics onto the Layouts Gallery. Just do a search for Ampeg, there are three files I uploaded. Ampeg VH140c, Crate distortion, and Crate pre gain tone shaping.

The Crate distortion is just the two stages of the Ampeg distortion. Added some components at input and output. Not sure if these values would work or not (took from a distortion article I read). The power supply is directly from the Ampeg schematic, and not sure if need all the parts? I was thinking of using two 9 volt batteries to get 18 volts for this project. Looks like it is around 13 volts at the IC.

The pre gain tone shaping circuit is directly from the Ampeg. The out put would connect at the pin 2 on the distortion (and remove R2, R12, C13, and C14 on the distortion circuit).

Please look over and let me know of any errors.

Thanks
Rob

Quote from: teemuk on March 11, 2010, 11:45:07 PM
The use of SLM's patented distortion ranges from the revered VH-140C and its variants to cheapest Crate practice amps. Basically the tone ranges from awesome to complete suck. It's a great example how the actual distortion circuit is not nearly as important as the overall voicing of the amp.

The same goes with the Peavey's "Saturation" circuit. They used it in their top line models as well as in the cheapest practice amps.

Ha ,one of mine is a cheaper practice amp.Maybe if I had the Ampeg version I would like it better.
The GFX I have does sound better with it than the smaller practice amp.But looking at the schematic I like the sound of the mosfet clipping circuit in it better.
I am going to send Rob the Crate schematic zip you gave me Teemuk,pay it forward, I am still grateful for you sending me those they have been a big help in understanding my amps.
Bryan

Hey Rob I rar'd my entire Crate folder and sent it to you.
Enjoy,Bryan

Quote from: Brymus on March 12, 2010, 11:09:31 PM
Hey Rob I rar'd my entire Crate folder and sent it to you.
Enjoy,Bryan

Hi Brymus!
is it possible to host the .rar file somewhere for us all to see?

I just started another thread about my solid state Levin retro 15 amp from around mid 90's.
Pics, parts, layout:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=83129.0

Thanks Bryan, I got your email. A lot to look over.

Ericohman, I started to read your tread about your amp. And the distortion section looks like the Crate patent circuit. I am starting a project based on the Ampeg VH140c (same distortion circuit), and have put these on the layout gallery. Read my previous entry on this tread.

I have not heard from anyone if they have looked over the circuits I started. Please if anyone could review them, and let me know what if I need to make any changes?

Quote from: ericohman on March 13, 2010, 02:31:46 PM

Quote from: Brymus on March 12, 2010, 11:09:31 PM
Hey Rob I rar'd my entire Crate folder and sent it to you.
Enjoy,Bryan

Hi Brymus!
is it possible to host the .rar file somewhere for us all to see?

I just started another thread about my solid state Levin retro 15 amp from around mid 90's.
Pics, parts, layout:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=83129.0

I wouldnt know where,and really dont feel like hosting them anyway,half of the schematics I sent Rob can be found at SSguitar.com
If you/anyone wants the folder send me a PM and I will e-mail it to you,Bryan

I posted accouple of Eagle schematics I made up of the Ampeg VH140c. If you type ampeg in the search in the gallery you will find them. One is of the Ampeg VH104c itself. The other tow are the pre gain stage, and the last is the distortion stage. For the distortion stage I added some components at the input to use as a stand alone distortion (basically R2, R12, C13, and C14) remove them and tie the pre gain output to the pin 2 connection and it is the Ampeg VH140. The power supply section i am not sure if one needs all those components?

So, would someone look this over and tell me what they think of this? The pre gain stage is my best guess at what is needed, and what was there for the switching of the channels. And also look at the power requirements?

Also, is this the Flexwave distortion circuit of Crate?

Thanks
Rob

Quote from: caspercody on March 25, 2010, 05:41:44 PM
is this the Flexwave distortion circuit of Crate?

Scott Hull (Pig Destroyer guitarist/Crate endorsee) was told by Thom Keiffer (designer) that it is.

So the Crate patent distortion circuit is their Flexwave circuit? Just probably have different pre stages for the different amps?

Thanks
Rob

Sorry for necro'ing the thread, but I thought some of you might be interested (and this forum has helped me during the development)
I've just released a VST amp sim that is based on the Crate Fexwave circuit (as well as on VOX Cooltron).
It was made for KVR Audio developer challenge and is available for free.



You can grab at at either of the places:
www.soft-amp.com/flextron
http://www.kvraudio.com/product/flextron-dc14-by-axp

I have never tried one of these PC emulators, what do you use to plug your guitar into your PC? Is it just the microphone input?