Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
 
Fuzz Central Home Page -> Fuzz Central Forum -> Effects Projects -> Tone Benders
Post Info TOPIC: Tone Benders
Col


Status: Offline
Posts: 27
Date:
Tone Benders
Permalink  

I noticed in the Tonebender info you recommend removing the resistor between the tone and vol pots to get a bit more volume. I'd say that this is a definite as I did this almost immediately after getting mine working. I tried it with 'Red Spot' germaniums first but it had very little volume and loads of hiss. I rebuilt the board with some AC125 transistors and it now works perfectly but could do with a little more volume even with the resistor removed. It sounds awesome when used with a rangemaster clone for solos but the sound isn't right for my current band and being positive earth I can't use it on the same power supply as my other units. For playing along with 70s punk/glam or stoner rock in the house it's fine.


I tried replacing the transistors with PNP silicon versions one at a time but didn't have any success.


The best sounding pedal of this type I have built was a clone of a 'Jumbo Tonebender' which uses BC184C silicon transistors. The pedal is stable under all temperature conditions, is negative earth and has all the volume and fuzz I'm likely to need. I have been using it for all my gigs recently with a negative earth version of the rangemaster clone for solos and have had no problems whatsoever with either.


All my circuits are built on stipboard. If I get the time I'll copy some diagrams onto the computer and send them in for anyone who's interested.


Col



__________________
fuzzcentral


Status: Offline
Posts: 84
Date:
Permalink  

The ToneBender 3-Knob is definitely a great circuit, even though it's not as aggressive as the MKII Professional   There are so many different versions of the 3-Knob to experiment with that's it's almost ridiculous...even though they'll all sound basically the same.

You could always convert the 3-Knob to NPN Germanium, which would use a negative ground arrangement so it would work with the same power supply as all the other pedals.  I think Small Bear Electronics (www.smallbearelec.com) has started carrying NPN Germaniums   If you do convert it for use with an external power supply I would crank up the value of the power supply filtering capacitor to about 100uF and add a polarity protection diode...just in case.

Phillip



-- Edited by fuzzcentral at 14:25, 2004-12-09

__________________
Fuzz Central DIY Effects
Axis Guitar Effects
Col


Status: Offline
Posts: 27
Date:
Permalink  

I have put a 9v socket on all my pedals as I use a regulated supply (Frontline, 5x9v leads) specially for this after having had so much trouble with batteries in the past. Should I still use the cap and diode as I have never done this in the past? I always make sure that the electolytic caps are rated at 16v or above as I have heard that they can explode if they are connected the wrong way round or given too much power.


I did have some noisy breakthrough when being powered off a generator at a festival in summer even with bought pedals but have never had any trouble when using the mains.


Col



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Fuzz Central Home Page -> Fuzz Central Forum -> Effects Projects -> Tone Benders
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard