Planning on building this TS808 clone..

[timelessmelody]

Hi all,
Im planning on building this (my first) TS808 clone. My first question is: does the schematic for this build im planning on look like the normal TS808 schematic?  http://diy.musikding.de/images/stories/screamer/screamerschalt.pdf will it sound very similar to the stock one?

Also, if you look at this: http://www.musikding.de/images/product_images/popup_images/1618_1.jpg under the '1J63', there is a silver wired connection - do you think this is just a bit of wire (same as I'd use to connect the pots) soldered in?

any help would be excellent.
many thanks.

(the description of this kit i've been linking to is: 'The Screamer is a project to build 2 famous overdrive pedals, the TS-9 and TS-808. Both versions are nearly identical, there are just 2 resistors different. The Screamer also features an additional switch, it is used to switch between symmetrical and asymetrical diode clipping.')

[slacker]

Hi

Yes that schematic looks like it is a stock Tube Screamer, just with an asymmetric clipping modification. They have used some different sort of capacitors than the originals, which some people think changes the tone slightly, but it will sound like a real Tube Screamer.

There's some good information about the TS here http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/TStech/tsxtech.htm which explains the small differences between the different versions.

there is a silver wired connection - do you think this is just a bit of wire (same as I'd use to connect the pots) soldered in?

Yes it looks like it;s a piece of wire used as a jumper.

Hope that helps

[timelessmelody]

hi, thanks for getting back to me.
yeah the clipping mod is switchable though, so as i just want it like a normal tube screamer, if i left it switched to symetrical clipping would that be the stock sound?
cheers!

[tubelectron]

Hi timelessmelody,

Yes, You can have the stock sound with Der Screamer : I have built it first with the symmetrical 2x1N4148 clipper, I compared it to an original 1981 TS-808 of a friend, I compared it to a T-REX Alberta (which is a quasi TS-808 clone), it sounded the same. Later, I preferred an asymetrical 2x1N4148Si+1x1N34Ge clipper, and a slight boost in the bass : the tone was deeper and smoother IMHO. Here it is - built from the MusiKding PCB :





A+!

[timelessmelody]

hey bruno,
thanks very much for getting back to me, thats a great help.
i'm sorry, but i don't really understand the variations of clipper. if i build it exactly like they say you should, and have it on symmetrical clipping, will that be the same as the 808 (and, like you say, the alberta)? or do i need to change some of the clips/not install the clipping switch atall for that? any help be excellent.

also, is there any chance you'd be kind enough to post the entire guts of your pedal, as im interested to see how you fitted it all in there, as im planning on getting the same size enclosure you have made yours with. many thanks!!

[tubelectron]

hi again timelessmelody,

i'm sorry, but i don't really understand the variations of clipper

There is 3 diodes instead of 2 : 1N4148+1N34A in series // 1N4148 alone, instead of 1N4148 // 1N4148. It is what I have finally done by preference (along with some other changes) but it is not what is done in the TS-808 - hope I'm clear...

if i build it exactly like they say you should, and have it on symmetrical clipping, will that be the same as the 808 (and, like you say, the alberta)? or do i need to change some of the clips/not install the clipping switch atall for that?

If you use the symmetrical clipper 1N4148 // 1N4148 , and this is exactly what is done in the TS-808, then you don't need any clipping switch.

also, is there any chance you'd be kind enough to post the entire guts of your pedal, as im interested to see how you fitted it all in there, as im planning on getting the same size enclosure you have made yours with

Indeed ! I need to take the requested pics, load them and post them here - I'll do it tomorrow or Sunday. The re-used casing (enclosure) comes from a junk-sounding Belcat chorus, which has nearly the dimensions of the Hammond 125B die-cast box.

A+!

[timelessmelody]

hey, sorry, what i meant was i've no idea about changing certain parts out etc.
if i build it as they say you should with the clipping switch, but leave the switch to symmetrical clipping, will it sound like a stock ts808?
many thanks.

[slacker]

Yes if you just leave the switch set to symmetrical clipping it will be just like a stock TS. If you only want symmetrical clipping you can leave off the switch and replace D3 with a piece of wire.

[tubelectron]

Hi timelessmelody,

Slacker gaves you the right "on the PCB" explanations - sorry, I thought you were a bit more experienced about DIYing a pedal !

Here are the requested pics - hope they will help you - the PCB is protected by plastic foam and cardboard from dangling and microphonics.





A+!