Maestro USS-1 Universal Synthesizer System Clone

[thedefog]

Hey guys,

Has anyone ever attempted to build this thing or does anyone have a layout or even a partially created layout for it? I have the zip file of schematics for it hosted on my website:

http://www.thedefog.com/media/uss-1.zip

The majority of the parts are still available, and some of the less common transistors used can be subbed for some modern equivalents. The MFC4040 Organ divider is even available (nte754). I could plug this thing into Eagle and make an okay single sided layout if need be, but I have limited experience with layouts and the ones I've done aren't exactly pretty or very efficient.

Just from looking at the schematic, I see a few mods that could be made as well to add some more functionality (Filter modes, envelope modes, volume controls, etc). The slider pots could be replaced with standard 16mm. This could probably be housed in one of those sheet metal enclosures that are used for looper and bypass set ups whereas each effect could be controlled with a separate stomp switch instead of the original rocker switches.

If there is enough interest, perhaps we could pull some resources here and put together a nice layout to have professional boards made for it. Any takers?

[Mark Hammer]

A buddy of mine had one and sold it about 2 years ago.  Probably took a year and a half to sell it.

I'm not that certain it holds anything magical.

[frequencycentral]

^^^

Another Maestro/Oberheim FET phaser design without resistors between D and S. What FETs are they using? And what Vgs?


EDIT: Thanks for hosting the schematic - very interesting.

[thedefog]

A buddy of mine had one and sold it about 2 years ago.  Probably took a year and a half to sell it.

I'm not that certain it holds anything magical.

I'm willing to throw down $150 in parts to find out if it does 

[theehman]

Had one years ago.  Pretty interesting unit but too huge to keep around so I traded it to Sand Mountain Music in Texas for an EH Queen Triggered Wah.  I think it could easily be redone in a smaller layout using 16mm pots.  I remember there was a lot of empty space inside the thing.

[gigimarga]

The only demo of a Maestro USS-1 that I can found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMwuhOkLhzo&feature=related

And a demo of another fabulous effect from Maestro, Maestro Rhythm 'N' Sound G-1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-23TNWurY0&feature=related

I hope that some very skilled people will try to clone them

[thedefog]

Just found some decent internal pictures of it:
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2009/11/maestro-vintage-guitar-synth-effect.html

Just looking at these pictures, I think even with DIP parts a modern PCB board for this could be much smaller, like 60% of the original.

I like how they mounted the trimmers on the opposite side of the pcb to make it easier to adjust later on. I hate when they make the trimpot access terrible on commercial stuff, that drives me nuts.

[Mark Hammer]

I guess one should think of it as a "Maestro's Greatest Hits": phaser, sample & hold, octave, and envelope modifier. :icon_biggrin:n  Kinda like the Ibanez UE400 or MXR Omni.