Messages

1

VFE Projects / Re: Bumblebee

« on: November 05, 2018, 06:23:57 PM »

Okay.  Feeling a little inspired (?) by the posts here - http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=28860.0 - I'm going to edit my post and pass on the Bumblebee until I finish building and boxing the other circuits I've started.  Maybe the risk of missing out will motivate me!

Also talked my self out of buying a used Hwy 1 Strat this morning, thinking I need to play my existing guitars more before buying another ... even though it played great and I was pumped to mod the heck out of it a la Robbie Robertson ... minus the bronze dip ...

Moderation is a challenge for me ... but you've probably figured that out already ...

2

Global Annoucements / Re: Projects Page update

« on: November 02, 2018, 10:14:40 AM »

Sweet update!  Looks great and easier access to most commonly needed files.  Nice work!

3

Global Annoucements / Re: VFE Sale coming Thursday Nov 1st - for a good cause

« on: November 01, 2018, 10:06:23 PM »

Ordered a White Horse and an Alpha Dog.

Thanks Brian (and, of course, thanks Peter).

Have to say that I'm with others who are amazed a family in a western, industrialized country needs to raise funds for a basic surgery.  Very thankful for the system where I am.  Still, feeling for Peter and happy to have offered a small contribution.

4

Tech Help - Projects Page / Re: Delay Biasing for Dummies?

« on: October 23, 2018, 10:57:10 PM »

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  Much appreciated.

Proof I'm a dopey beggar ... it never occurred to me to use my test probe and a looper pedal for biasing. 

With those in play, I think I got the "Clock", "Bias 1" and "Bias 2" trimmers dialed.  Maybe even the "Balance 1", "Balance 2" and "Repeat" trimmers?  No self-oscillation at full CW position on the delay time, mix and repeats pots, but lots of repeats, starting at similar volume to the original signal before fading out.  So that's good, right?

Still, I'm embarrassed to say I have no idea what the "Level" trimmer does since I can't detect an audible change in signal at any test point or at the circuit output no matter how much I tweak it.  I've scrutinized the schematic and it looks like it sets the signal level from one MN3005 to the next (?), but I've very little confidence in my circuit interpretation skills ...

Would any of you familiar with delay circuits ... or maybe even this one ... be able to shed light on the function of the "Level" trimmer and how to set it (link from OP: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8HPHm7M8U3zNTZrSDZnMG5Ub3c/view)?

Thanks again!

5

Tech Help - Projects Page / Delay Biasing for Dummies?

« on: October 22, 2018, 10:12:34 PM »

Hi all.

Wondering if there's such a thing as general, but effective instructions for biasing an MN3005 delay ... preferably without an oscilloscope?  If you know of something like that, then I'd really appreciate it if you could point me in the right direction.

Asking because I built up electricb's Analog Delay (Maxon AD-900 / https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8HPHm7M8U3zNTZrSDZnMG5Ub3c/view), but there are no biasing instructions.  He was kind enough to provide some reference documents:

- Instructions for MN3008 version from freestompboxes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MME5E1GFaOBb-6xN6fMEdc4ghryU8rEh/view
- Link to diystompboxes thread about MN3008 version https://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?PHPSESSID=39ktmc3jnq3q5k4f6tb482kss6&topic=109774.20
- MB Dirtbag Deluxe BOM: http://www.madbeanpedals.com/projects/Dirtbag/DirtBagDeluxe.pdf

... but I'm not getting the values indicated in the instructions for the MN3008 version pretty much at step 1 (i.e. I turned "Clock" trimmer to 7KHz ±200Hz, but don't get 110 to 140KHz when I turn the Delay pot CCW.  And step 2 requires an oscilloscope ...

Thanks!

PS.  Lame question #2: how do I find the mid-point of a 25 turn trimmer after it's installed on the board?  They just seem to endlessly spin in either direction?   

6

General Questions / Re: Tractor beam build

« on: October 15, 2018, 06:22:12 PM »

That would be the Zener chart on page 7 of the switching board BOM (see http://www.madbeanpedals.com/projects/VFE/VFE_SwitchingBoard_v2.pdf).  It calls for a 16V zener at D2 on the switching board if you're building a Tractor Beam (i.e, a 1N4745A like this one in the MB cart for the v2 switching board: https://www.mouser.ca/ProductDetail/512-1N4745A). 

7

Open Discussion / Re: what are you guys listening to at the moment?

« on: September 12, 2018, 05:47:56 PM »

Went to see The Proclaimers last night.  I thought they were great.  Very tight and working hard even after all these years.  Definitely not relying on touring the one hit album either. 

Anyhoo, this was the opener:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyC-VbcO0Z0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyC-VbcO0Z0</a>

One girl, one vocal mic, one guitar into a mic'd Pro Junior.  Super-impressed at her composure and vocal range, never mind the finger-style ... which I can't do for the life of me ...

8

Build Reports / Re: An apology

« on: September 10, 2018, 12:58:33 PM »

Well, that explains why I couldn't find the pcb website when I googled "ProfessorPoopyPedalPanorama" ... 

9

Requests / Re: Way ?uge

« on: September 04, 2018, 10:42:38 PM »

Isn't the Aquaboy kind of an Aqua-Puss when you add the optional modulation board?  Might have that wrong though, I kind just buy PCBs, stuff parts then try to make sounds like I heard when I was a kid!

10

Open Discussion / Can you see my weener?

« on: August 19, 2018, 09:43:48 AM »

I'm working stage crew this weekend for the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues festival.  Last night The Family Stone were the headliners.  The backline folks didn't have enough wahs to go around (LOL!), so I loaned my MB Weener Wah to the lead male vocalist/keys/guitar player.  Crappy picture from my cell cam, but it's the bright green LED pedal he's playing with here on Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).



It sounded way better than when I play it!  Thanks Brian for a great project!

11

Open Discussion / Re: NGD + Opinions Wanted

« on: August 03, 2018, 07:53:44 PM »

Honestly I’d play it like it is for a while before changing anything. You never know it could turn out to be great the way it is once it’s been broken in a bit.

If not I vote ...

SD Twang Banger Strat bridge with a Tele gold foil neck.   But then, I did almost every mod and swap except that on a sweet-feeling MIM strat and still never bonded with it ... so traded it for a Tele!

 

12

Open Discussion / Re: To hell with decline!! Let's talk about our personal projects happening now!

« on: July 13, 2018, 12:04:25 PM »

I'm rubbish at pictures, but a couple of recent builds:

 

VFE boards from Madbean.  Faceplates from Haberdasher.  Love them both.  They'll replace the Cardinal tremolo and CAYA chorus on my pedalboard before band starts back up in the fall.

Also rehoused a Classic Tremolo from JMK PCBs. 

 

Nice sounds, but a little switch click that I can't get rid of.  Offering it up as-is for $25 USD (tracked shipping cost more-or-less) along with a populated, JMK Super Phaser PCB.  PM if interested.

 

13

Open Discussion / Re: Top mounted jacks.... one day, I'll get it right.

« on: July 12, 2018, 10:38:46 PM »

Damn, just put those up on the site and they'll fly of the shelves...ummm...baker's racks...

umm, yeah ... I could use one for sure.   Might save some enclosures.  Half of my 125B builds either have DC jacks colliding with PCBs or TR jacks colliding with lip on the back cover   

14

Build Reports / Re: Lots of issues with madbean projects.

« on: July 09, 2018, 07:49:34 PM »

FWIW, I've never had an issue with a Madbean board.  And I've built many of them.

Me too.  Well, at least no issues that didn't trace back to me ...

15

Build Reports / Re: Bluesbreaker

« on: May 28, 2018, 07:55:55 PM »

Your builds are incredible.  Nice work!