Hey! So here are two recent builds!
First is a Moodring that I modded quite a bit. I completely changed the tone section (used the Tenebrion tone section), made the predelay brighter and removed some bass before the PT2399 and in the feedback loop. That makes the range of the tone knob really nice, and it is less noisy than a standard Moodring (if anyone wants details, I'll post them of course)
Then I decided to open the BTDR2 and I removed the resistor going from pin6 of the last PT2399 in it to the lfo. So now I have a NON MODULATED BTDR2!! :D I also jumped the first resistor at the input that's part of a lowpass filter, to get a slightly brighter sound out of it.
And of course I added a modulation section (from the Deluxe Pitch Pirate) so I can now modulate it as I want, and because it's the last PT2399 in the brick that's modulated, it sounds really really nice. In a previous build I modulated the predelay, but I wasn't entirely satisfied.
I didn't have any purple pedal, so... (and yeah the led is purple too)
Crappy demo here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze0KcDpPnHA&t=41s
(https://i.imgur.com/PVwm5wc.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Q97oQrc.jpg)
Next is a Really cheap compressor by Mictester. Just a beautiful optical comp, that's slightly gritty with the compression maxed, and very easy to build. I love it.
I had a drilled enclosure laying around so I added a bright switch and a compression indicator led (with a small vero daughterboard)
I think I changed a couple things but I can't remember... :)
Not proud of the wiring, it was a quick build.
(https://i.imgur.com/npXeiZs.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vyTL4uU.jpg)
Sweet builds! Is it difficult to get the belton brick apart without breaking anything?
Quote from: Luke51411 on September 03, 2017, 06:20:41 AM
Sweet builds! Is it difficult to get the belton brick apart without breaking anything?
No, it was actually quite easy! Just don't rush it and you'll be good.
Excellent! Might give it a go on my next reverb build! The modulation you added, is it just a more subtle modulation? Is it just pre set or is there a control for it?
Nice! I never could stand that modulation so I may give this a try.
Quote from: Luke51411 on September 03, 2017, 06:38:42 AM
Excellent! Might give it a go on my next reverb build! The modulation you added, is it just a more subtle modulation? Is it just pre set or is there a control for it?
The modulation can be subtle or it can be over the top. the "s" and "d" pots are for speed and depth of the modulation.
The Belton Brick without modulation is really nice, very springy! I really like it.
Quote from: chordball on September 03, 2017, 07:03:50 AM
Nice! I never could stand that modulation so I may give this a try.
Yes I never really liked it either. It's good to hear a non modulated brick!
Great builds, and kudos to ripping apart a Belton. I never even thought about opening the case up!
This is DIY at its finest. I love how much you modded the Moodring and really catered it to your wants/needs.
The Belton brick mod sounds interesting. Do you have any more info you can provide on this mod?
Cody
Huh, I honestly thought the Bricks were epoxy potted (aka Gooped). Interesting.
a hacked brick! this is next level
Quote from: somnif on September 03, 2017, 10:47:25 PM
Huh, I honestly thought the Bricks were epoxy potted (aka Gooped). Interesting.
I thought so too.
Hmmm maybe it would be worth it to trace one and include diy belton bricks on self designed boards like super small 1590A reverbs etc.
Thanks guys!
I remember reading somewhere (maybe here) about someone taking a Btdr1 apart, so that gave me the idea.
There's some schematics floating around the internet, supposedly of the Btdr1, but it seemed to more or less match the Btdr2.
Taking it apart is easy, it's not gooped, so if you're careful you can cut the side and slowly lift one side of the plastic and then the other.
On the schematics you can see a 220k going from pin 6 of the middle PT2399 to the oscillator. If you take the 220k out there's no more lfo, no more modulation. As simple as that. It's labelled R27 on the Btdr2 I used, you can see it on the bottom left of the pcb on the gut shot.
I also took out R28 (1st 10k at the input) to cancel the lowpass filtering at the input of the brick (gut shot: 3rd pin is the input, it goes to C2 then to R28 and another cap to ground)
Without the case the brick is much smaller, which can be very convenient too! :)
Pretty sure the Malekko spring reverb is not a brick but a 3x smd PT2399 circuit.
(http://ada.graudal.dk/bdtr2/bdtr2_schem.JPG)
Thanks for the info! Great builds, man!
Thanks for the Schem. I think I'll try to jam a Chasm Reverb in a 1590a, at least in the long run...a lot on my workbench right now :(
Quote from: Andlord on September 04, 2017, 03:50:57 AM
Thanks for the Schem. I think I'll try to jam a Chasm Reverb in a 1590a, at least in the long run...a lot on my workbench right now :(
I don't think the schematic is verified though, so you may want to breadboard it first! (and search DIYSB, I'm pretty sure someone over there cloned a BTDR2)
Quote from: selfdestroyer on September 03, 2017, 10:08:01 PM
This is DIY at its finest. I love how much you modded the Moodring and really catered it to your wants/needs.
The Belton brick mod sounds interesting. Do you have any more info you can provide on this mod?
Cody
Couldn't agree more. This is why I'm very humble about describing myself as a DIY'er. This guy's over here cracking open (then successfully modding) Belton bricks...I mean, DANG!
Quote from: mrclean77 on September 05, 2017, 04:24:50 AM
Quote from: selfdestroyer on September 03, 2017, 10:08:01 PM
This is DIY at its finest. I love how much you modded the Moodring and really catered it to your wants/needs.
The Belton brick mod sounds interesting. Do you have any more info you can provide on this mod?
Cody
Couldn't agree more. This is why I'm very humble about describing myself as a DIY'er. This guy's over here cracking open (then successfully modding) Belton bricks...I mean, DANG!
Ha ha thanks guys! It was really not complicated, and I took the idea from either here or DIYSB, so... :D
I want to own everything you make. I love the totally minimalist outside appearance of them.
Quote from: Dminner on September 06, 2017, 06:56:10 AM
I want to own everything you make. I love the totally minimalist outside appearance of them.
Thanks!! Means a lot as I'm always blown away by your work!! :)
I managed to get apart a brick, from zooming in on your pic it looks like R27 is removed is that correct?
Quote from: Luke51411 on September 15, 2017, 06:32:18 PM
I managed to get apart a brick, from zooming in on your pic it looks like R27 is removed is that correct?
Yes, R27 is the resistor that connects pin6 of the 3rd pt2399 in the brick to thr lfo, so if you get rid of it, no more modulation! :)
QuoteOn the schematics you can see a 220k going from pin 6 of the middle PT2399 to the oscillator. If you take the 220k out there's no more lfo, no more modulation. As simple as that. It's labelled R27 on the Btdr2 I used, you can see it on the bottom left of the pcb on the gut shot.
I also took out R28 (1st 10k at the input) to cancel the lowpass filtering at the input of the brick (gut shot: 3rd pin is the input, it goes to C2 then to R28 and another cap to ground)
Really interesting!
How did you manage to open the brick? I thought that all the components were embedded in goop...
Quote from: Coda-effects on September 17, 2017, 11:22:51 AM
Really interesting!
How did you manage to open the brick? I thought that all the components were embedded in goop...
Apparently only the 1st gen bricks were gooped. We all just assumed after that point. We've been fools!
Quote from: somnif on September 17, 2017, 12:41:26 PM
Quote from: Coda-effects on September 17, 2017, 11:22:51 AM
Really interesting!
How did you manage to open the brick? I thought that all the components were embedded in goop...
Apparently only the 1st gen bricks were gooped. We all just assumed after that point. We've been fools!
Yep, it's not goop, it's just some sort of plastic/resin that doesn't stick to the components too much. It's really not that complicated to take it apart.
Not bad at all to take apart. I was overly cautious when I took it apart but it seems pretty sturdy. Even if I don't decide to mod it, it will be nice how much less space it takes
Much Awesomeness Here
That Moodring! Awesome builds. You are a wildman!
Thanks guys! :)
Quote from: Luke51411 on September 18, 2017, 04:18:14 AM
Not bad at all to take apart. I was overly cautious when I took it apart but it seems pretty sturdy. Even if I don't decide to mod it, it will be nice how much less space it takes
oh yeah definitely, it's so thin without the plastic case!
Just to let everyone know, I was making a ping reverb and wanted to see if I could take apart the BTDR3 to make it a little bit smaller, and it was definitely gooped. I was able to get the outer plastic casing off, but then all that was left was this hard epoxy brick, which would probably be very time consuming to take apart without bricking the brick.
Can we hear it? I'm really interested.
Quote from: blearyeyes on December 24, 2017, 01:12:42 AM
Can we hear it? I'm really interested.
Hey, I wanted to make a quick video for the BOTY thread, so here it is. Sorry for the really poor quality, I only have my old laptop right now, but it'll give you an idea of the sounds you can get! :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze0KcDpPnHA&t=41s