Krankenstien FET version from GT labs

[Brymus]

I breadboarded the Krankenstien from from Old Mike at GT labs (Russian forum)
Sounds killer,much like Dr Boogie,has hiss like DR Boogie too...
My only changes were to keep the voltages as posted on the schematic by adding 1k to each R8,R14, and a 500K volume pot vs 1M.
I also wired the 3rd lug of the drive pot to ground instead of Vref ,this reduced the hiss,anyone know why ?
After going through the GTlab schematics they are all meant to be build on the same PCB,by just changing component values.
Anyway I have verified the circiut,if anyone else wants to try.
Comments ?
I will try to get some sound clips tommorow...

[deadastronaut]

nice one bryan, look forward to the mean clips on this.......

[euronymous0001]

kudos for the build!

i tried this one and did not succeed. there was sound but it was bad. i have a couple of question.

1. how many trimmers did you use and what resistors are those if aside from the 470k trim?
2. are you referring to the layout used on buzzefall?
3. does it really sound like the clips on the site?

thank you in advance

[Brymus]

kudos for the build!

i tried this one and did not succeed. there was sound but it was bad. i have a couple of question.

1. how many trimmers did you use and what resistors are those if aside from the 470k trim?
2. are you referring to the layout used on buzzefall?
3. does it really sound like the clips on the site?

thank you in advance

1) There is only one two trimmers,the 470K (I used 500k pot),and I replaced R2 with a 50K pot so I could dial in 4V like on the schematic.
I changed R14 from 2K to 3K,and R8 from 1K to 2K,this was to keep the voltage drops like those posted on the schematic.

2) Yes the Buzzfall layout can be used for any of the designs on that page,you just have to build the tonestack off board(on the pots)

3)It's pretty close ,I think the ones they had posted sounded better,I will mess with it more today and try to get some clips recorded.

Sadly the links to the sound clips no longer work.
I can't remember which one I liked best, but there was one that really stood out to me as sounding better than any other pedal I had heard before.
I didn't build a pedal yet it's just on my breadboard,but it is a pretty large circuit,so its easy to make simple mistakes.
You should revisit it,it took me 2 hours to breadboard the whole thing and de-bug my mistakes.
I used J201s in place of the KP303 A and E JFETs.
I had read the MPF102 is a better replacement for the KP303A,but a J201 sounded better.

[askwho69]

Nice another highgain stuff!

[Brymus]

Thanks to a suggestion from Alex (Earth tones Audio)
I replaced the 100uf (C16) with a much lower ESR 10uf cap,BIG hiss reduction,like almost none now !!!

Will update more this evening.

[askwho69]

can you edit the schematics for the updates of the components too? im watching this thread

[Brymus]

Hopefully this will inspire more people to experiment with these schematics.
Here are my voltages as recorded in these two sound clips.
I noted all the changes on the schematic,as well as the voltages for all the FETs ,and MOSFETs,and the power rail.
Sorry for the messy test sheet,and sloppy playing  
Here are the Q voltages:
  Drain,  Gate, Source
Q1 4v   ,  0v,  .46v        
Q2 6.1v,  3.7v, 1.8v        
Q3 5.7v,  4.5v, 2.6v
Q4 7.3v,  1.8v, 48mv
Q5 9.2v,  7.3v, 7.8v
Q6 9.2v,   0v,  6.7v

R13 is 180K not 180r

MP3 -1 mids scooped and treble up (too much)
http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/Brymus/Krankenstien/Krankentest.mp3.html

MP3 -2 mids up, sweep down,treble down
http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/Brymus/Krankenstien/KrankenMIDS.mp3.html

EDIT OH yeah,recorded with an Epi LP into my EVJ half stack,into a large diaphram mic at 18" center,into Reaper DAW.
No EQ,or any thing else.
I did duplicate the track and pan left and right for stereo playback,but no FX or EQ of any kind.

[Brymus]

I think this one sounds seriously mean live.
And I think it could be improved as well.

If you look at my voltages they could be tweaked better,or maybe just swap Q2 and Q3
and add a 100r in front of the 9.2v supply.
I intend to try the other schematics out and report back too,so stay tuned...

[euronymous0001]

i would revisit my failed krankenstein build!

the sound clips from the site AFAIK sounds HIFI compared to yours but i thinks that with the same setup they should not be part apart.

[Brymus]

the sound clips from the site AFAIK sounds HIFI compared to yours but i thinks that with the same setup they should not be part apart.

I agree the sound clips they had posted did sound better to me too but I remember they added a little reverb and maybe compression.
So I re-recorded ,this time straight into the PC,where I added a cab sim VST and a little compresion.
The lead track has a little delay as well.
I tried to play the same riff as the last MP3 but added a solo on another track.
I think it sounds a bit better,what about you guys?

http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/Brymus/Krankenstien/KrankenstienCabSim.mp3.html

[askwho69]

have you breadboard this or PCB?

[slacker]

High gain distortion's not really my thing, but that sounds great.

[twabelljr]

I think it sounds great, and your efforts are appreciated. That is a heavy metal monster. Lovin it!

[deadastronaut]

 

oh yes!..

\m/   \m/   

[askwho69]

It really sounds f*ck*ng awesome!

[deadastronaut]

hi bryan,

could you please do a clip without the tonestack...just curious!...

[Brymus]

Thank you very much for the kind words guys 

[Brymus]

hi bryan,

could you please do a clip without the tonestack...just curious!...

Uhmm it sounds REALLY bad with out the tonestack.

Here is the final version and a live clip into my 18 watt with Jensen Jets
And then one straight into my PC with cab sim.
I altered the power rail more and tweaked the EQ for better bass and mids,plus a couple other minor changes.
I think theres plenty of bass to be had by tweaking the EQ rather than messing with the pre amp itself.

Here live into 18 watt
http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/Brymus/Krankenstien/Krankenstien18watt_jensenjets_BBE_compresion.mp3.html
And straight into the PC with cab sim,I added BBE and compression to both clips too.
http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/Brymus/Krankenstien/Krankenstien_Cabsim_BBE_compresion.mp3.html

I think thats all I am gonna do with this preamp emulation,Its serious hard core gain,but thats all it does.
If your a hard core, high gain player you should see if its your thing especially if you like the Krankenstien head.
I am sure the EQ could be tweaked even better but I am anxious to try the Soldano and Mesa Boogie designs from GT labs too.

[askwho69]

Nice gonna try this