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Vintage threads from the first ten years
Colorsound Tone Bender problems
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 5/8/1999 12:43 PM |
|
Will |
Colorsound Tone Bender problems Anyone have any idea what's going on here? Here's the description: built according to scehmatic on RG Keen's site, substituted 250k pot for 2M Fuzz control. Basic DPDT used for true bypass without indicator. I'm getting some sound with the effect, but the effected volumei s WAY lower than the regular volume - the fuzz is noticeable, there's just no volume. Here's the kicker: removing Q2 (the second transistor in the darlington type pair) results in a huge increase in both distortion and volume. Selected NTE158s used in all transistor positions, all test good on DMM and in other circuits (used sockets for transistors). Tried replacing sockets, same thing. Ideas, anyone? |
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| 5/8/1999 1:04 PM |
|
aron |
That's weird. I built the ToneBender and it doesn't suffer any of those problems. In fact, I had higher hFE gains in my first version that was PNP (hFE of 140). I then converted it to NPN and used different transistors with hFE of 85 and while softer, it's still OK. I think it might be something in your wiring. Aron |
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| 5/8/1999 4:46 PM |
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| Will |
Yup, it was the wiring (or lack thereof.) Checked the PCB, looks like I had a couple of resistors backwards (had to cut a trace to get the mirror image.) Funny thing is, though the fuzz sound is louder than the straight sound, the other way with only 2 transistors sounded better...! I'd better draw that one up for future reference... |
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| 5/9/1999 11:37 AM |
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| C. Hütter |
Hi Will! You have got an interesting em-mail address. Are you into classics? CU Carsten |
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| 5/9/1999 11:40 AM |
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| C. Hütter |
Hi Aron! I'm still waiting for your Tonebender mods. I guess you're quite busy with your own designs (Shaka ..., The Rocket). I really would like to finish my Soul/Tonebender. CU Carsten |
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| 5/9/1999 3:33 PM |
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| aron |
I was working on it and then I bought a ton of NPN Germanium transistors. So I converted my ToneBender to NPN. I am still working on it but you are right, I got sidetracked with the Shaka III because it sounds so good. I will get back to the ToneBender soon. Aron |
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