U-boat. NEW Smooth sub-octave / synth effect!

[Spence]

Thanks!

[deadastronaut]

just bumping this because it just deserves it...

ive been getting into looping a lot recently, and need a 'faux' bass...so this will be perfect so i don't keep having to change guitars..

does it behave with a  5 string bass btw..just curious. (for a ridiculously unusable low end  )

nice one merlin.

[John Lyons]

I still need to finish mine that I started many months ago. 

[deadastronaut]

yep, got a few things in the  ''to be completed'' pile too..

but this seems to good to let lie... ..

the sustained note tracking clip on merlins site sounds great...very clean and non jerky..very cool.

[johnk]

thanks for posting the pdf for this pedal Merlin. I just etched, built up and tested a the board for mine today.
I was wondering. since i'm using an LM833 for U4, am I supposed to omit R19? (it's working with it in there).
I also noticed that the schematic posted on page 1 of this thread has a 1K for R27 and the pdf file has it listed as a 1M. which one is correct?

pics of my build so far:

etched board top:


etched board bottom:


populated and tested board:


I just need to get a pcb mounted DC jack for it and then i'll mount it in its enclosure.

[merlinb]

Great work!  

the schematic posted on page 1 of this thread has a 1K for R27 and the pdf file has it listed as a 1M. which one is correct?

Either will work, but I changed those componentns to 1Meg+100nF to reduce charging current when switching. A (pathetic) attempt to reduce power consumption. Stick with 1M+100nF.

[bluebunny]

Great work!  

Yeah, nice work.  But do the top two pictures match the stuffed board in the third??

[johnk]

yes. it's the same board.

[johnk]

well, I couldn't wait for the PCB mounted DC jack so I just used a standard panel mount one.
I also added a Jfet booster to the output so I would have complete control over the output of the clean signal. I also wired mine to be true bypass.

here's a couple of pics of the completed pedal. I used a picture on the web of an actual U-Boat speed dial and ethched it onto a Hammond 1590B enclosure.

[johnk]

BTW, I really like the sound of it. is there any way to make it track a bit better with a bass? (a bass is all really I play)

[chi_boy]

BTW, I really like the sound of it. is there any way to make it track a bit better with a bass? (a bass is all really I play)

John,

Are you by any chance the JohnK from "JohnK Custom Vintage Guitars"?

Thanks,
George

[anotherjim]

BTW, I really like the sound of it. is there any way to make it track a bit better with a bass? (a bass is all really I play)

Maybe lower the 2x 10k resistors in the pre-filter (4k7?) and possibly also raise the 1uF envelope follower cap (2u2?).

[johnk]

John,

Are you by any chance the JohnK from "JohnK Custom Vintage Guitars"?

Thanks,
George

yep.

[chi_boy]

John,

You have a very impressive collection of bass overdrive pedals on your site.  Many of the descriptions mention mods for bass.  I am trying to learn about such mods and was wondering if you have shared those mods anywhere online.

You also have a great sounding overdrive of your own design.  Do you sell PCB's, kits, posted schematic or any other information for that project?   From what I read there was a very limited production run of boxes and none since.  Seems a shame to let such a nice project disappear.   Do you have any future plans for it?

[johnk]

John,

You have a very impressive collection of bass overdrive pedals on your site.  Many of the descriptions mention mods for bass.  I am trying to learn about such mods and was wondering if you have shared those mods anywhere online.

You also have a great sounding overdrive of your own design.  Do you sell PCB's, kits, posted schematic or any other information for that project?   From what I read there was a very limited production run of boxes and none since.  Seems a shame to let such a nice project disappear.   Do you have any future plans for it?

Hi. Thanks.
unfortunately, I don't sell kits or PCBS or schematics, and I've built and modded so many of them now that I don't really have any info on the mods since each one requires different circuit changes.

[merlinb]

BTW, I really like the sound of it. is there any way to make it track a bit better with a bass? (a bass is all really I play)

Most likely double the values of C3, 4, 5 and 11.

[deadastronaut]

hi merlin, i have been putting this off for ages, but now i have a free breadboard at last, and a 4013/833n on their way to me

so i'll go for it....i particularly need this to add a bass to my live looping pedal setup...sounds ideal. the synth sounds cool too, nice work man.

so here come the inevitable ?'s...

is this schemo  fine or have you modded anything since designing it? (i'll be going true bypass on my build and will add the trim on top too)

[merlinb]

No I haven't changed anything. Knock yourself out!

[deadastronaut]

will do..

[Luke51411]

Rob, THcustoms has a version of the Uboat that is slightly modified as well. I think he tweaked the envelope detector part of the circuit a bit and it is designed for true bypass. I built it on his pcb and Love it! It might be worth breadboarding that version as well.