Small Clone - Heladito, is it adjustable?

[aballen]

Hey guys,  I've been working on a small clone using the Heladito PCB from tonepad for the contest, and I have some questions about this chorus.

About the pedal

• I have the stereo board attached.  Both tested and working with a 4PDT for true bypass
• I have both a speed and depth pot attached
• I've done cap switching via a DPDT on-off-on switch.  Three settings are fine for me, and its much smaller than a rotary switch.

The pots don't really seem to do much for me, and I'm not sure if this is just how the pedal works, or if I messed something up.  At the extremes it gets a bit ring-mod sounding, but I would say the first 75% of the pot range has no affect on the sound, for both pots.  Rather than having a modded and flexible pedal, it seems to be really only good when I get it in to its sweet spot.

At this point the lower strings(the bassier ones) sound a bit wobbly... not really chorus, and the higher notes, should nice and shimmery, like a chorus.

For the cap switching I'm wondering if I messed something up.  I have a on-off-on switch.  The top two lugs have a 220pf cap, the middle two lugs a 75pf and the wires back to the board, the bottom two lugs also have a 75pf.  I'm expecting to get three settings.  295 pf(bottom), 75 pf(middle), 150pf(top).  This appear to have an affect on the rate when the knobs are all the way over in ring mod positions, no where else.

So, have I messed up the cap switching?  I thought running caps in parallel is the equivalent of adding plates to a cap, so you simply sum them up.  
do I need a bigger spread on the capacitance values?
Should I expect more from this pedal, or is this simply how it works, with 75% of the pot range having no affect?  Maybe that is why the EHX version has just one knob and one switch?
Should I remove the stereo board?  Is it possible I'm just pulling to much power from a 9v battery?

Any ideas would help here, and if I'm simply expecting too much from this pedal, please just say so.  Sounds perfect for playing Nirvana, but I'm concerned it may be a one trick pony and I need a PT-80 as well.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Personally, I think you aimed quite a bit HIGH with your cap values. The recommended starting point is around 47pF. You may want to try the same idea except.... put a 47pF on the center, 22pf on one side, and a 51pF on the other side of the switch.

This way you get 47, 69, and 98pF settings.

As for the pots.... you are using the 1M Rev log and 10K linear that are required... Right?

EDIT: Sorry.. I mis-spoke about the caps. Got mixed up with the CE-2   Although, I wouldn't go quite up to 295pF. Maybe 180 or even 200.

[aballen]

Yeah, 1MC and 10KB for the pots.  I thought he 150 being the stock position would be required.  I can tighten up the settings to 100, 150, 200 with a 100pf, 50pf, and 150pf cap, 50 in the center.

Should I expect more from the pots though?  I can definitely get that "come as your are" sound out of it, but I'm surprised by the lack of affect with the pots.  Really, it seems like 75% of the range does nothing.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

I thought he 150 being the stock position would be required.  I can tighten up the settings to 100, 150, 200 with a 100pf, 50pf, and 150pf cap, 50 in the center.

I think I remember using 100, 150, and 200 for mine. Don't be affraid to experiment to find what YOU like 

Should I expect more from the pots though? Really, it seems like 75% of the range does nothing.

I don't remember this with my build. I remember the pots being pretty interactive with the sound. You may need to investigate this further.

The good news is that it WORKS and the pots have "some" effect. Double check your pot wiring (remember... on the Tonepad layout, you are looking at the BACK of the pot), also check that Ra and Rb are correct (jumperd, installed, or not installed), also, check the 2.2uF cap attached to the Rate pot. If this is bad or reversed then you will have issues.

Good Luck 

[bluebunny]

Should I expect more from the pots though? Really, it seems like 75% of the range does nothing.

I don't remember this with my build. I remember the pots being pretty interactive with the sound. You may need to investigate this further.

+1!  Both pots on my tonepad build definitely make an audible difference throughout their travel.  Sorry I can't offer more advice, but be reassured that it's capable of more than it seems you're getting from it at the moment.  Definitely follow GL's suggestions for places to look for problems.  Good luck!  (It's the best chorus I've built/bought after 30 years of looking...)

[aballen]

Here is what I got so far.

Ra, jumpered
Rb, empty

I also have another jumper going from pin 12 of the 4047 to GND

The 2.2uf tant cap appears to be in correctly to me.

My 1MC was backwards.  Though if they are backwards, would it really matter?  As long as the middle is correct, the voltage divider just goes the other way right?.....oh, wait... not necessarily true for a log pot correct?

Should I be checking the trim pot voltage?  I have not really played with that either, I've noticed the pdf shows the base at 4.5V

[Perrow]

As you're dealing with a (reverse) log pot, the taper will be different depending on how you install it, so I'd say it does matter.