I'm jonesing for a heavy gain pedal. I have lots of OD, Muff, and Fuzz on hand. But I want, I guess, a distortion flavor. I would like a 1590B size or maybe even 125B, due to my current pedal board. Currently thinking about either building a Zvex "Box of Metal" or a Mad Professor "Stone Grey". Not looking for a Marshall Plexi amp-pedal thing so anything that's based on that, I'm not real interested in. Any others I should consider?
I built a Box of Metal and hated it, YMMV. In that territory I prefer my Dr. Boogie (don't use that much either though). I would also recommend looking into the Emma Reezafratzitz and DAM Sonic Titan.
Quote from: GhostofJohnToad on October 14, 2013, 10:31:40 PM
Any others I should consider?
I am obviously biased, but you shall check out the Blüe Monster. :)
Cheers
Bengt's Blüe Monster of course. Also consider a Chunk Chunk built our way...
First you'll need to make yourself a Fet matcher (http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/Richard-Boop-RLBJR65/album81/album75/Fet_Matcher_1.gif.html) and grab a multimeter. It's also worth reading this article on Fet matchery by RGKeen (http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/fetmatch/fetmatch.htm). Which is worth doing anyway.
Ours run J201s in Q1 and Q2, and 2N5457s in the other positions. The J201s had the cutoff voltages measured at about -0.3v, and 2n5457s about -1v.
Using the fetzer valve formula for biasing, (0.6 x supply voltage) + (0.7 x positive cutoff voltage), everything has sounded great straight away. As an example a 2N5457 with -1v cutoff would be biased at 5.4v + 0.7v = 6.1v.
For buffer stage at the end we used a 2N5457 with the highest cutoffs we had. We also swapped out C16 for a 10nF to remove some high end fizz.
Without a shadow of doubt - Triple Wreck, and use the layout from R Custom. I can send it to you. Do a search for my Styx Drive build, and you will see how I made it.
All the other high-gain pedals that I've tried sound to me like I am listening to a Mesa or an over-the-top Marshall through a telephone headset.
If you've built the Triple from R Customs layout, try it at 18v, even tighter.
If you use other layouts the boost side means you can't. But the boost is shite anyway.
Quote from: juansolo on October 15, 2013, 09:57:37 AM
If you've built the Triple from R Customs layout, try it at 18v, even tighter.
If you use other layouts the boost side means you can't. But the boost is shite anyway.
You and me exchanged a couple of e-mails dude haha you probably already forgot, yeah I did it from that layout and hardwired it to 18V. Sounds uber awesome. Best.
As a boost I used a simple LPB-1 post-dist. Sounds surprisingly good in this combo.
http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=11174.msg100667#msg100667
cheers!
My memory is utterly terrible *blushes*
I'd like to say it's old age, but it's always been bad. :(
Have a bounce on me ;)
Jok3r seems to be a connoisseur of high gain pedals
http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=11654.msg105527#msg105527
Check out the dragon armor post, and there's epic threads for the Black Forest on the other forums
Haven't built these yet but plan to do 1 or 2 in near future
Triple-wrecker upper decker.
Brutal awesome gain with a great EQ
great suggestions guys! Way more to choose from than I anticipated. Good thing I have a birthday coming up soon. ;)
You should build the Upper Decker and then tell me if I should finally build it! Plus, the name....my favorite. (I have low standards).
I'll probably build a couple different of the high gain monsters. Starting with the TripleWrecker. Just need to find a pcb. Any thoughts on where I can buy one, anyone? Is the RCustom the consensus? If so where do I get that? I think I will want to run it at a higher voltage too.
Quote from: GhostofJohnToad on October 17, 2013, 01:16:10 PM
I'll probably build a couple different of the high gain monsters. Starting with the TripleWrecker. Just need to find a pcb. Any thoughts on where I can buy one, anyone?
T-Wrex PCB Link in this post http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=11234.0
I have a verified modded HM2 board layout I will sell you a board for once I get the prototype run from Oshpark...Its a complicated build, but sounds amazing.
Ive built a few high gain pedals. I like the upper decker because it has a very strong bass presence. "amp simulator" is the description that wampler uses and I tend to agree. It kind of makes the windows shake in my study. This is 'metal' terrority though. I classify high gain as a difference sort of distortion effect.
Great demo, makes me want to build one. Does it fit in a 1590B ? ::) (if not, that may be a fun project in a near future)
Upper decker man, it's on my short list as well.
Quote from: BraindeadAudio on October 18, 2013, 12:31:40 AM
I have a verified modded HM2 board layout I will sell you a board for once I get the prototype run from Oshpark...Its a complicated build, but sounds amazing.
Can you put me down for one of these? I love my HM2...
Also, whT are the mods?
J
The Upper Decker (Wampler Triple Wreck) is hands down the heaviest, high gain, distortion pedal I have ever played. Nothing even comes close to the chug you can get off of it. Instant Metallica, White Zombie, and Tool sounds are right in there. It has so much gain its really ridiculous.
Madbean has a great layout for it if you want to etch your own, and if you are interested I have a couple fabbed sets of mainboard + daughterboard still available of my own layout in the for sale section: (link below):
http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=12062.0 (http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=12062.0)