This is my Decopunk/Atompunk style Valvecaster pedal.
I love the sound of an overdriven tube amp but I also love the convenience of a battery powered, solid state amp. What to do? Enter Matsumin Valvecaster. This is a simple, low voltage pedal that drives a 12AU7 tube to pretty convincing overdrive.
I like the retro feel of tubes and I thought this clever and rich pedal circuit needed a stylish home in keeping with the feel of its main component.
I spotted 2 vintage Weston electrical meters online and the idea hit me, mount the valve externally and make a show of it. I took cues from the shape of the upper plinth and the meters viewing window and after some careful measuring of the tube, socket and meters body I made a template and cut 6 cooling fins from 2mm aluminium. After further measuring I drilled the tube hole and mounting points. I used 5mm hex stand offs between each fin. After a lot of sanding and finishing the radiator was done.
I removed all of the meters guts and external fittings and drilled where I needed to for the power input (no room for an internal battery) and pilot light ( a fender amp jewel light with a led imbedded in it with translucent silicone for diffusion. The Valvecaster has 3 controls, volume, tone and gain. The meter had 4 terminals so I fitted a 4th pot that switches on and can set the brightness of a 3mm led that illuminates the tube from below emulating a tubes glow. I drilled out the meters original brass terminal screws and used them as control knobs.
The input and output jacks fit amazingly well owing to the efficient and space saving point to point wiring of the circuits components onto the valve socket itself. I used a daughter board on the foot switch which makes true bypass, ground connections and hook ups a cinch.
And there we have it, a real tube based, Machine age style overdrive emulator pedal...as used by The Rocketeer!
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc438/tomlauten/9314ED6D-1BAB-4228-8026-89D6038E77D5.jpeg)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc438/tomlauten/576F9E2A-1482-4783-96BA-EAFB7A2D6EC8.jpeg)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc438/tomlauten/59C5058A-6FFA-4BE1-A66F-FF808280D806.jpeg)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc438/tomlauten/DFC8E4C8-E991-4BFE-95E9-A63096E2D88F.jpeg)
Holy! Taking it serious, aren't you? Probably the most awesome and unique pedal I've seen so far...
Lol...thanks! Sometimes I gotta "go big or go home"! My business is special effects so my prop making hat goes on.
That is very pretty. I'm in awe!
This is gorgeous! Looks like something straight out of one of the "Fallout" games!
Thanks folks!
Fabulous! Style, looks, all the story behind it recycling that meter... effin' awesome!
Wow, that's beautiful. I really like the cooling fins.
Absolutely fantastic! Very unique morphing with outstanding 'almost Steam Punk' ingenuity. Looks a treat. :)
I'm wowed, sir. Wowed.
Thanks very much everyone!
Quote from: Gnarcade on June 27, 2018, 02:26:05 PM
This is gorgeous! Looks like something straight out of one of the "Fallout" games!
+1 That looks incredible!
Thanks again, just did some basic decals...I'll post some shots later.
And with the graphics....
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc438/tomlauten/CC385ED4-E7C1-4C8C-AF65-8BC88CCFB57C.jpeg)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc438/tomlauten/0C6105AA-5C28-4A13-ABDD-CB39105C96D1.jpeg)
That is spectacular! Nothing else like it so 1st place for originality!
That is really FUN!
Any way to see inside?
Need to see guts or it's a rehoused Behringer. ;D
That's a gorgeous build. How did you do the graphic?
Quote from: culturejam on June 29, 2018, 11:48:19 AM
Need to see guts or it's a rehoused Behringer. ;D
That's a gorgeous build. How did you do the graphic?
😂😂😂😂😂😂
There's not much to it but I'll have a peek inside next week. Owing to the meters design there is an "upper and lower floor". I'll warn you now though, once it works I tend to jam the lid on these "maf'ks" and make them look pretty on the outside.
I found a font online and popped it into MS Paint. Had to install a couple of plug ins.
After printing plain paper tests I printed the graphics in colour onto water slide transfer paper, sealed them and applied them like a model kit.
wow, ive seem some interesting ways of incorporating tubes in enclosures but this is awesome. looks like it was made 50 years ago! very nice indeed
😁👍
you really don't even have to play it. just having it around it's cool enough to be a conversation piece
This is both inspired and inspiring. I love steampunk, diesel punk, atom punk stuff. This is my new favorite pedal. Great job!
Thanks Dan and Lee, very much appreciated!
this is all ways of awesome. Really love what you did there, has a great vibe to it
Simply brilliant! 8)
Thanks guys...stop tempting me to turn out a kit! 😬
Nice. Great vision.
Did you distress the aluminum plates and hardware so as to match the apparent age of the meter and especially the terminal / knobs?
oh wow this is freakin amazing! great job
I did a bit of aging on the aluminium and the other hardware, as you say, to try and pull everything together in terms of "patina"
Haha that's so awesome!! Amazing work! But I too want a gutshot!! :)
Here you go folks....
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc438/tomlauten/478787A3-F4DD-44A1-9B34-DA0975FD7967.jpeg)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc438/tomlauten/49DCAE65-B5AE-4087-A9F8-DADA554EB199.jpeg)
Wow! Wow! Wow! :o :o :o :o :o