Ludwig Phase II Clone Tech Notes

[R.G.]

Strictly non commercial.....
I'll talk to the guys about a group buy (if they're interested).
TBH I'm happy to just order a couple of boards for myself.
Would one of the guys have gerber files for this?

As I said, talk to Jimi, Dino, and Keppy. For their (huge) contributions to getting this thing running, I'm letting them call group buys or any commercial production on boards. The copyright on the boards remains with me. It's licensed for small number (1, 2, 3...) reproduction for individuals. I retain all other licensing. Yes, I have gerber files.

I'm doing it this way because of the history of unscrupulous people simply copying and selling my work in the past.

You are right, getting quantity of copies makes the per-unit price go down. Really, getting over 100 pieces is the key to getting decent PCB prices.

[UKToecutter]

R.G.

Yep, left a PM for Dino.
Totally understand your remark about the great unwashed copying and selling your work.
I'm happy to pass the fabricators details to one of the project leads if they wish to use them, and purchase the boards from one of those guys.
I priced up 100 boards.  Came out at £4.67 (approx $7.42) for the pair.
TBH, I don't see 100 people willing to tackle something as complex as this, but it certainly brings the price down.

Thanks for the reply.

Regards

Andy

[digi2t]

Got your PM Andy.

Forwarded my reply to R.G and Jimi. DOAH!! forgot the fourth Musketeer, Keppy. I'll forward it to him as well.

Keep us posted.

Dino

Sidebar; I'm presently going over both my units, playing with the trimmers, listening to results, and recording voltages. My contact to the Ludwig family came up empty insofar as technical documents from the factory. So, I'm trying to amass as much data as I can, and compile it into a fairly simple set up procedure, so one can adjust the trimmer voltages, and get the unit sounding like (or close to) an original. The only difficult part is splitting the differences between the units since both were tampered with, but I should have some solid numbers for decent performance. Once I have everything down, I'll try posting a video, going through the settings, so you can listen to the sound.

[pinkjimiphoton]

 

see your pm's guys.

[digi2t]

I've written this up on the other thread as well.

Looking at the original Ludwig diagram of the console board, R32 on the console board should have been a trimmer, or maybe even a control pot. I was studying the fuzz side of the circuit, and this resistor, sitting opposite a diode, caught my fancy. "I wonder what would happen if I play with the resistance value here?", I wondered. So, I wired up a B1M pot, and swapped it into R32's place. It has the effect of determining the choppiness of the signal when the unit is in Fuzz/Percussive mode. With a pot in it's place, it act like the "Smooth" pot on the Tremulus Lune. At the 0 end, you here the percussive ticking, but the signal is not chopped. As you dial up the resistance, the signal gets more and more chopped, like a square wave tremolo. R32 is a 470K resistor, so it's basically a happy medium of both ends. Would have made a nice "Smooth" control on the unit. And Hey! what's one more trimmer?

Back to my lab... mmmuuuaaaaaaaaaahhhhaaahhhhahhhhaaaaaa 

[pinkjimiphoton]

dude, i think i may try that!

i know...vintage, schmintage, if i cared about looks i'd have married a supermodel. as if.

[digi2t]

I don't know if you read the other thread, but I did a complete cap change out on one unt. Wrote about it over there. The results are worth while.

[pinkjimiphoton]

i'll look, i think i saw that you said you did that...things have been nuts lately, so i'm a little out of touch.

[jooks]

What a fantastic project!! I´d love to build one of these but have never tried toner transfer before. I imagine this might not be the best project to do my first transfer (I see debugging hell in that direction ) So my question is does anyone have a pcb for sale?

[pinkjimiphoton]

well, at this point, keppy's is a working build, but slightly different from the prototype that's been worked up.

the prototype board will be available soon, so keep your eyes peeled. i believe uktoecutter has a batch being made. folks are just a little leary i guess...the first of these boards to be built will be the actual prototype!

again, keppy verified it can be done...now we need to verify the project itself.

[jooks]

I asked a Swedish pcb maker for a price today but Im afraid it will cost an arm and a leg for a oneoff.

Looking forward to this build. It seems very well planned and documented! YouTube sounds of the first built clone were very nice also:-)
I've sent uktoecutter a pm. If anyone is planning a batch I'm very interested!

[pinkjimiphoton]

there's a batch being planned, i believe dino will be distributing them. stay tuned.

[digi2t]

We are having a small quantity of PCB's done. First sets are claimed by those who worked/contributed to the project, and the balance will be sold on a first come, first serve, basis. I can't give a lead time, since they are being done at "non-rush" speed to save on expense. All I can say is to keep checking the "For Sale - Wanted" section of the forum in a few weeks for an announcement. It will be a very limited quantity (I'm estimating 10 set, more or less), so they might go pretty quickly.

There is no profit being made on these boards, but I will be adding a surcharge (reasonable amount TBD) to the final cost. This surcharge will be a donation to support the forum. After all, this is the place where this project happened, and the contributers will always be available here to support any troubleshooting questions.

I'll be responsible for distributing/shipping the boards, but since the exact number being claimed by the project contributers will only be known when they become available, I am NOT taking any advance orders. Please don't PM me asking for "set asides".

Cheers,
Dino

[jooks]

Ok, I´ll keep my eyes open:-) I just have to build this one! The swedish pcb maker got back to me and they wanted 140$ without drilling for a oneoff. I want this bad but that was a bit steep.

[pinkjimiphoton]

ummmm....

anyone ever heard of a ludwig phase ONE?

supposed to go see a "ludwig guitar pedal" but "in a box, like a stompbox"...


anybody ever heard of something like this?

[digi2t]

There is a write up at Harmony Central about a "Mini Phase II", here's the link; http://www.harmonycentral.com/products/101503

It's also mentioned here; http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?1090447-Rolling-Stones-equipment-round-1970

But... other than hearsay, this seems to be a proverbial "bucket 'o' steam". Never seen even a picture of one. Who's got one? Yetti? 

[pinkjimiphoton]

as soon as i can get a chance, i'm massatooshitz bound bro, to see if the yeti is real.

[pinkjimiphoton]

dicking around with the ludwig earlier

http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=172147#

[petey twofinger]

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/msg/3004630602.html

[digi2t]

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/msg/3004630602.html

Both these units are on Ebay (same seller, same pics).

I'm sorry, but this guy is a schiester. He says that he's had the working one "checked out by a tech", cleaned up, and has "no issues". Well, if his tech is so good, why doesn't he just fix the other one. I made a couple of offers on the busted one, some back and forthing, and then I cornered him on this point. He never answered me back. Pure snake-oil. A pox on him.

And yes, I did sell one of my units about 2 months ago. It also went with my personal guarantee, phone number, address, and unit support for as long as the buyer owns it. The buyer also had it for 3 weeks before I could collect my money. It went to a righteous dude down in Texas, for 3400$. We emailed at length, before and after the sale, and I know that this guy will cherish it for a good long time. I'm glad he's got it. He's also got his name on the Synthi Hi-Fli reissue waiting list, and he's told me that he would be willing to send me the unit once he gets it, so I could try it, and trace it. So, it goes like this in my book....

Ludwig Phase II, in excellent working condition and personal guarantee - 3400$

Walking the straight and narrow, and meeting some fantastic folks along the way - Priceless!

Update on my clone; The boards are fully populated, and I'm wiring right now. The case needs to be drilled, and the treadle is ready. Should be boxed within a week or two. Stay tuned.