For the millionth time...

Govmnt_Lacky · August 23, 2011, 08:41:05 PM

Attenuate...... No

Amplify/Boost...... Yes

Earthscum · August 23, 2011, 09:03:22 PM

Why not make a Tillman? It's apparently common among the "on-board booster" people because it's clean, and good on the battery life. If you want more boost, do 2 in series.

http://www.till.com/articles/GuitarPreamp/

boogietone · August 23, 2011, 09:14:21 PM

Quote from: Earthscum on August 23, 2011, 09:03:22 PM
Why not make a Tillman? It's apparently common among the "on-board booster" people because it's clean, and good on the battery life. If you want more boost, do 2 in series.

http://www.till.com/articles/GuitarPreamp/

If the goal is to have simple clean volume boost with no effect on tone or level of dirt, this won't do it. You want to boost the very last signal in the chain not the first. I read the request as the equivalent of a foot switch controlled master volume that boosts the signal into the power amp by maybe 3-5 dB. (Govmnt_Lacky: clarify if this is not what you mean). Placed anywhere else risks overdriving or overdriving more an effect or the guitar preamp. Anyone of the clean boost pedals mentioned should work. Unless you want to really scream above the band, you don't need much actually.

Govmnt_Lacky · August 23, 2011, 09:26:05 PM

As stated before, I am building this for a tech friend of mine. He said he would like something that he can "kick on for leads that adds a little extra clean punch!"

I took this to mean he wants a clean boost that he can use for both clean AND dirty leads. I guess it is not that important if he is running a dirty lead lick BUT, I don't want him to stomp the switch for a clean lead and end up with an overdriven signal

It may be just a matter of adjustment but, I used to have a Cream Pie booster and it ended up clipping after about 40% of the pot rotation

CynicalMan · August 23, 2011, 09:27:21 PM

Quote from: Earthscum on August 23, 2011, 09:03:22 PM
Why not make a Tillman? It's apparently common among the "on-board booster" people because it's clean, and good on the battery life. If you want more boost, do 2 in series.

http://www.till.com/articles/GuitarPreamp/

Or just put a 4.7u cap across the 2.2k resistor. With this kind of booster it's often necessary to tweak the drain resistor for 4.5V on the drain for maximum headroom.

defaced · August 23, 2011, 09:30:10 PM

How about approach this from a different angle? If his amp has an effects loop that is transparent, you can put what equates to a second master volume in the loop for a solo feature. That will almost certainly give you a clean boost (unless he's driving the power amp into clipping, in which case, you can't get a clean boost anyway).

Govmnt_Lacky · August 23, 2011, 09:34:46 PM

Unfortunately, I don't know what his amp situation is

Won't know until tomorrow afternoon. I am still gonna breadboard the SHO. He is a simple guy. I don't know if he will want to get involved with his effects loop. I think he is more set in his ways and wants a box at his feet he can just STOMP!!

Kearns892 · August 23, 2011, 09:36:19 PM

Doh! I was thinking you were the one in UK! I'm East Coast US.

I have a 5kC pot I used when I was testing my SHO layout so it has been soldered up once, the tab has been broken off and it's a split shaft that's a little longer than typical, so it's not quite new, but could be fine if you don't mind that. However a lot of people say they have good luck with the linear pots. I would breadboard it and if it is what you want but has an awkward feel let me know and I'll send it your way.

bakerlite · August 23, 2011, 09:38:16 PM

google the DOD FX10

might be a nice pedal for your needs

i used 3 dod201's back in the day for sessions and i loved them.

Hides-His-Eyes · August 23, 2011, 09:39:01 PM

Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 23, 2011, 08:41:05 PM
Attenuate...... No

Amplify/Boost...... Yes

The amp has a limit. There's nothing you can do to the pedal itself to give the amp more headroom.

Give him a compressor and trick his ears?

Govmnt_Lacky · August 23, 2011, 09:43:50 PM

@Kearns:

PM me with demands and also... Is that a PCB mount pot?

EDIT: Sorry.. you edited your post as I was posting. I guess its not a PCB pot. Or it is and the legs are broken

Everyone:

I think I am just going to have to explain what I have learned today which is the fact that there is only SO MUCH boost you can get before the signal starts to clip. All I can offer him is a circuit (SHO, LPB, etc.) and he will need to find his happy place with it.

Seven64 · August 23, 2011, 09:47:27 PM

fwiw the magnus modulus has a volume knob that stays clean......

Earthscum · August 23, 2011, 09:50:39 PM

Why can't you put Tillman pre's in a box as a boost?

"3 dB gain. You don't need much gain, and given the guitar signal level and the 9v supply voltage, there isn't room for much gain." (from the link)

I'm partial to fet gain, I'll admit it. Fets are extremely easy to design around for me.

The bonus is that there's no knob, just the boost. If he wants something to just kick on and get boost, I'd say this is at least worth throwing in the breadboard to try.

Govmnt_Lacky · August 23, 2011, 09:55:42 PM

Quote from: Earthscum on August 23, 2011, 09:50:39 PM
The bonus is that there's no knob, just the boost. If he wants something to just kick on and get boost, I'd say this is at least worth throwing in the breadboard to try.

As simple as the circuit actually is, I have to agree

I will try this on the breadboard and see how it works out.

head_spaz · August 24, 2011, 12:01:00 AM

You want a CLEAN, powerful booster?
Checkout Merlinb's Glass Blower GTI.
Its got LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of clean headroom.
A bit of magic really... surfing the rails.

Enzo · August 24, 2011, 12:27:30 AM

Hi, I just signed up.

Someone mentioned that this project was best put after the preamp and before the power amp. SOmething in the FX loop would be ideal. If I read right, G_L didn't want that because the client wants something to stomp on. ANy reason the stomp box can't be in the FX loop?

I saw no suggestion for it here, but often discussed is use of an EQ pedal in the loop for a clean boost. Is that outside the bounds?

Assuming the client HAS an FX loop.

boogietone · August 24, 2011, 01:11:21 AM

Quote from: Enzo on August 24, 2011, 12:27:30 AM
Hi, I just signed up.

Someone mentioned that this project was best put after the preamp and before the power amp. SOmething in the FX loop would be ideal. If I read right, G_L didn't want that because the client wants something to stomp on. ANy reason the stomp box can't be in the FX loop?

I saw no suggestion for it here, but often discussed is use of an EQ pedal in the loop for a clean boost. Is that outside the bounds?

Assuming the client HAS an FX loop.

No reason at all. The loop is the best place for it. Just because it is in the effects loop doesn't mean it can't be stompable. This is exactly what I do. Yes, you may have extra cable runs if you are not otherwise using the effects loop (and, for the purists, must suffer the extra capacitance), but for practically all live situations this will not matter in the least unlike it can from the guitar to the first pedal. It is the guitar to first pedal pickup impedance/cable capacitance issue that the Tillman is meant to help with. If he is already using the effects loop (where typically time based effects go anyways - echo and verb in particular) just slap it on the pedalboard at the end of the chain. Guys who use a volume pedal stick it there. This is just an active volume switch - no tone, no drive, no mojo sweetness - just pure volume boost - assuming I understand correctly.

An eq pedal also works great. I have an MXR 10 band that I use on occasion. The Tillman in a box should work just fine. You can even pack the effect in a "buttonless" box and run just a control cable out to a switch on stage that controls a Millennium bypass or a Boss flipflop back at the amp to turn the thing on and off. Heck if he has any digital/MIDI processing with a MIDI controller there is possibly a MIDI controlled switch that could be used. This all depends, of course, on the friend's stage setup and personal constraints.

Many ways to skin this cat. Pretty much only one place to put the pelt.

Ronan · August 24, 2011, 07:51:42 AM

Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 23, 2011, 09:26:05 PM
As stated before, I am building this for a tech friend of mine. He said he would like something that he can "kick on for leads that adds a little extra clean punch!"

An LED/LDR across the MV will do that, footswitchable with a pot to control the LED and volume cut for normal volume. Switch the LED off for boost.

Mark Hammer · August 24, 2011, 08:57:39 AM

Quote from: Hides-His-Eyes on August 23, 2011, 09:39:01 PM
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 23, 2011, 08:41:05 PM
Attenuate...... No

Amplify/Boost...... Yes

The amp has a limit. There's nothing you can do to the pedal itself to give the amp more headroom.

Give him a compressor and trick his ears?

People keep complimenting me on pithy quotes of mine that capture something well. This time it's my turn to dispense the praise. I can't think of any better way to capture the crux of the matter than the highlighted phrase. WELL done!

Kearns892 · August 24, 2011, 09:25:09 AM

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the idea isn't to magically surpass the amps headroom, but a pedal that itself will color the sound as little as possible. The amp will always be your upper limit on amount of headroom available, but I think the idea here is that you don't want a pedal to be your limiting factor.

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