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Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: Ekimneets on December 29, 2018, 02:08:56 AM

Title: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Ekimneets on December 29, 2018, 02:08:56 AM
Hey all,

Sorry this took so long. The move and getting set up took a lot longer than I thought.

Learned a ton. To slow down and take my time, how to modify pots to obtain different values, a little about SMD's, capacitors and ripple, managing a messload of pots at one time, etc.

Big shout out to tcpoint for all of his help with parts and questions. To others as well for my usual abundance of questions.

Build materials: Xicon 1% MFR, Mainly 5% WIMA caps with a few 5%TDK/Epcos scattered in and a lone 5% Kemet. Nichicon Fine Gold electros in the signal path and other Nichicon in the power supply. TDK 5% (C0G) MLCC's. Gold plated pin/socket IC sockets. Mainly TI IC's. Mostly Alpha pots and  Bourns trims. Kobiconn power jack an switchcraft g enclosed guitar jacks.

What's missing": The name plate. I will have to find or make one.

Next up: Either the Uber tuber or Rabbit Hole, I haven't decided yet.

Thanks again for all your help.

-Mike(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181229/32cad62b3e6309afd43ef90f622fb257.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181229/6f6ae9d8c0a0a943e38fde0c7f83947b.jpg)
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: cooder on December 29, 2018, 02:56:54 AM
Very tidy, well done!
How do you like the sounds in it?
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Ekimneets on December 29, 2018, 03:43:32 AM
Cooder,

Thanks man, I work  very hard at the tidy part.

I like it a lot. I have not even begun to explore all it can do, but I have already gotten a lot of big sounds out of it and this thing is the most powerful OD ever.

I'm going to have fun exploring this one.

Thx again.

-Mike
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: alanp on December 29, 2018, 05:02:50 AM
Impressive! 8)
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Ekimneets on December 29, 2018, 06:45:50 AM
Thx Alanp. It was far and away my biggest build and I learned a lot.

Thx for your help.

I'm looking forward to the challenge of the uber Tuber and the rabbit Hole. I still think I'm more intimidated by the 1590a build because there is not much room for error.

Maybe, I'll do that next. Large to small.

-Mike


Typo'd from my iphone
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: mjg on December 29, 2018, 06:57:49 AM
Very nice work.  You should enter it into the build of the year contest.  The more entries, the merrier.  :)
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Ekimneets on December 29, 2018, 07:25:52 AM
Wow, thx. That's very flattering. Sure, can't hurt, but some of these guys are just soo good.

-Mike


Typo'd from my iphone
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: chongmagic on December 29, 2018, 01:27:25 PM
I'm working on one of these right now. I have a long road ahead of me. Great job, looks great.

How did you get the lettering on the enclosure? Silk screen?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Ekimneets on December 29, 2018, 03:10:08 PM
Hey Chongmagic, that's what it looks like to me. I got mine in a trade with another member here at MBP.

You might contact Kevin at Aion, as he was considering another run of these.  That's where this came from originally,

-Mike


Typo'd from my iphone
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: chongmagic on December 29, 2018, 03:24:19 PM
Will do thanks Mike.

I know Alchemy Audio worked with Aion on making a run of these too.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: tcpoint on December 29, 2018, 06:48:51 PM
Nice build.  Bet it sounds as good as it looks.
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: gordo on December 29, 2018, 09:47:45 PM
Nice part about boxing one of these lovelies up is that once you have it up and running you almost feel like you could make a dead chicken get up and run.

It, and the DC chorus that Aion has are both mind bending builds.  Looks really nice!
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Ekimneets on December 29, 2018, 09:52:20 PM
Thx TC, the more I listen the more I like, thx again for all your help with it.

Gordo, I've got the chorus and frankly I'm afraid of it. I'll get to it eventually though.

Now, I have to figure out what parts I'm missing for the uber tuber and rabbit hole and then decide on one of those two.

-Mike
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: chongmagic on December 29, 2018, 09:57:15 PM
The Uber Tuber is great I love mine.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Ekimneets on December 30, 2018, 09:18:53 AM
Cool Chong magic, I'm glad you like it. It really just depends on what I have the parts for at this point.

-Mike
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: skyled on December 31, 2018, 11:50:23 PM
The nameplate for the enclosure is a hidden page on the Aion website.

https://aionelectronics.com/project/l5-preamp-logo-nameplate/ (https://aionelectronics.com/project/l5-preamp-logo-nameplate/)

Here's the link to the actual enclosure page, but it's out of stock.

https://aionelectronics.com/project/l5-preamp-enclosure/ (https://aionelectronics.com/project/l5-preamp-enclosure/)
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Ekimneets on January 01, 2019, 01:12:59 AM
Quote from: skyled on December 31, 2018, 11:50:23 PM
The nameplate for the enclosure is a hidden page on the Aion website.

https://aionelectronics.com/project/l5-preamp-logo-nameplate/ (https://aionelectronics.com/project/l5-preamp-logo-nameplate/)

Here's the link to the actual enclosure page, but it's out of stock.

https://aionelectronics.com/project/l5-preamp-enclosure/ (https://aionelectronics.com/project/l5-preamp-enclosure/)
Thx, thats awesome./


Typo'd from my iphone
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: nzCdog on January 04, 2019, 06:59:30 PM
Hot! Great work Mike, pleased keep posting your builds they're a pleasure to behold :)
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Invertiguy on January 05, 2019, 12:35:51 AM
Wow, that looks incredible! Great work! I recently started gathering all the parts to put my own together, and if it turns out half as well as yours did I'll be a happy man! If I may ask, where did you end up sourcing the 2.5kA pots from? I can't seem to find suitable ones at any of my usual suppliers.
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Willybomb on January 05, 2019, 12:50:28 AM
These look like great boxes.  Might have to try one...
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Ekimneets on January 05, 2019, 01:26:08 AM
nzCdog, thx very much. I learned a lot and I love the pedal.

Invertiguy, I don't know how to link a thread. But if you go over to beginners Paradise and look a couple of post down there is an Aion L5 build post where I documented some of this and it specifically talks about how I made the pots out of A5k ones.

Willy, Do it you will enjoy it.

-Mike


Typo'd from my iphone
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: ahiddentableau on January 06, 2019, 06:06:56 PM
I dropped off the radar for a week and I totally missed this.  Way to go, neets!  Your build turned out every bit as beautiful as I expected.
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Ekimneets on January 06, 2019, 08:56:58 PM
AHT, thx for your confidence, not only was it fun, but it was an education as well.


Typo'd from my iphone
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: chongmagic on January 24, 2019, 04:16:47 PM

Ekimneets

I am working on one of these right now, almost to the point where I will have to mount the pots. I was wondering how you dialed in the distortion and comp/limiter values. Did you use the iPhone app as stated in the build docs? I have been reading through it and just wanted to get someone's take on it that had actually built it.
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: gordo on January 25, 2019, 01:35:34 AM
There's likely a way more clinical approach but I found that in the end I used a sig gen set to about what the specs were and then dialed it in by ear.  Even having the real amp next to me didn't make much difference.  It's a very weird compressor in how Moog approached a guitar amp and you just have to set it to what sounds best to you.  In real world use: I set the real amp to how much dynamic range I need it to be capable of.  Classic rock might need a higher setting, Blues and more dynamic stuff might need a bit less.  It's really interactive with the format you need it to be and the guitar volume.  In hind sight Robert Moog thought that guitar players thought WAY more about how we get our tone than keyboard players.
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Timko on January 25, 2019, 03:47:55 PM
I used the iPhone app to get me in the ballpark on my build from a couple years ago, then messed with the trim pots until I came up with a sound I liked.

This build is also one of the most satisfying from a sound perspective.  It literally turned my vintage Ampeg Rocket, filled with warm jazzy tones, into a chimey Vox just by changing the EQ on channel 1.   Couple that with the miryad of options on channel 2 and you have a pedal that can replace your entire drive section of your board just by adding a couple of boosts.
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: chongmagic on January 25, 2019, 03:51:18 PM

I was looking forward to trying to wrap it up this weekend, but just realized I don't have a 50kC pot, I received a 500kC by mistake.  :-\
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Invertiguy on January 26, 2019, 03:04:21 AM
Quote from: chongmagic on January 25, 2019, 03:51:18 PM

I was looking forward to trying to wrap it up this weekend, but just realized I don't have a 50kC pot, I received a 500kC by mistake.  :-\
Bummer, I'm in the same boat, just with different pots. I'm still waiting on the two 2.5kA pots to get here from Germany, they shipped out on the 7th and that's the last I heard of them.
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: DLW on January 26, 2019, 03:17:34 AM
Quote from: Invertiguy on January 26, 2019, 03:04:21 AM
Quote from: chongmagic on January 25, 2019, 03:51:18 PM

I was looking forward to trying to wrap it up this weekend, but just realized I don't have a 50kC pot, I received a 500kC by mistake.  :-\
Bummer, I'm in the same boat, just with different pots. I'm still waiting on the two 2.5kA pots to get here from Germany, they shipped out on the 7th and that's the last I heard of them.

Where did you find the A2k5 pots? I need some too.
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Invertiguy on January 26, 2019, 03:24:35 AM
I found them here: http://uk-electronic.de/onlineshop/product_info.php?products_id=1080
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: DLW on January 26, 2019, 03:40:40 AM
Thanks!
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: Invertiguy on January 26, 2019, 04:25:14 AM
No problem! Thankfully Aion included a source for them in the parts spreadsheet he made up for this project, I probably wouldn't have found them otherwise. That particular value is rarer than hen's teeth! I just hope they show up soon so that I can finally get this thing all put together!
Title: Re: Aion L5 preamp build (Long overdue)
Post by: chongmagic on January 29, 2019, 06:45:10 PM

I have some but they are knurled shaft and not smooth shaft, but they are indeed rare.