Not sure if this is really that cool to post here, but I have a couple of discussion points on this awesome pedal
So yea I made a clone of the Clusterfuzz from Function(fx)
(http://i66.tinypic.com/25gqrki.jpg)
Firstly, its really cool. Everyone that likes fuzz should probably buy one, or at least build one to appreciate it.
Lots of sounds from overdrive to Lovetone Big Cheese - its the closest I have heard to copping that classic sound.
I adapted the vero layout from a popular vero website, but expanded it to fit across a standard vero board and make it less of a squash.
Next up I decided to use vero mounted pots, but rather complicated in a sandwich fashion. Quite a few jumpers and a bit of head scratching, with a liberal use of DIYLC to design the board. Uses an onboard rotary switch too.
(http://i67.tinypic.com/35mfpjt.jpg)
Worth noting early that I decided to ditch the no clip option having prototyped the vero to make sure it worked right and not really loving that option, plus something had to give because the mini rotary only has 4 options per pole.
(http://i66.tinypic.com/b870gx.jpg)
As you can see in the pictures the sandwich is acheived with headers, and the pins are actually the inserts from a row of headers but removed from the plastic.
I had to drill the vero to accomodate them more snugly, and individually solder each one. Honestly the amount of time I have spent on this.
(http://i68.tinypic.com/dw6txy.jpg)
(http://i64.tinypic.com/sq61yh.jpg)
(http://i66.tinypic.com/2yjyb86.jpg)
Because this was to be my coolest vero build ever I decided before boxing that rather than labels I would use the other pole of the rotary to add traffic light LEDs for the clipping modes.
(http://i67.tinypic.com/xnx7p0.jpg)
Something I noticed from my initial testing of the verification vero was that the pedal is really bright. Maybe its my amp or maybe the vero/schematic that was traced is wrong. I think it doesnt sound this bright on the youtube videos I watched...but anyway...it is what it is for now.
So I did some experimenting with the cap to ground after the tone control. This lead me to paralleling a 6.8nf and a 10nf for a few combinations to darken the tone a bit, ended up with this as an internal dipswitch. Those extra few rows of vero came in handy! At the extreme of clockwise, the same sounds can be acheived, but the roll off counter clockwise is more extreme. It would be cool to hear some thoughts on this, particularly if the 2.2nF indicated from the trace is correct, and how the value was arrived at. Other ways to add bass back would be interesting to discuss, too.
(http://i65.tinypic.com/2n1dee9.jpg)
Im quite proud that my vero chops have stood the test of time; its not a medium I have indulged in much since the first year or so of building pedals maybe 7 years ago now. We are very spoilt by the PCBs available today.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the read, and to Bean, Pickdropper and CJ et al the Clusterfuzz is really great.
Ciao,
Ian
post script.
I think if I were to do this again I would have planned to do the LED indication from the get go, and then wire it instead of an indicator LED for the footswitch; would have been cooler in hindsight. Also, I reckon I could have somehow managed to "vero-board mount" the switch for the filter if I had been smart.
Thinking about the bass response, Im wondering now about playing further with the filter switch capacitors. Do the designers have any thoughts on the potential effectiveness of that?
That is some seriously impressive vero work. Contest entry for sure.
Quote from: jubal81 on December 02, 2017, 02:45:22 AM
That is some seriously impressive vero work. Contest entry for sure.
Cheers. Im not sure anything I make is really worthy of celebration, especially the press-n-peel graphics were a bit shoddy on this one.
The sandwich is pretty cool I guess - probably a once and never again. I must have at least 12-15 in hours in this with the test build, de-bugs, modifications, additions, sound testing etc.
That's so cool. I'd love to build one to honor those guys.
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Quote from: jimilee on December 02, 2017, 03:09:11 AM
That's so cool. I'd love to build one to honor those guys.
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Yeah its kinda like full circle for me. Actually building an original design of bean and co, when I have been following their stuff for so long and been in awe of what they can do both design and execution. That and going back to vero, where I started out.
Its a great hobby.
I love the way it looks. Color, graphics, knobs and the inside is :o
Not to mention the indicator LEDs. WOw.
I'm amazed at their originality, they are all a force to be reckoned with when you put them all in one room so to speak.
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I love this so freaking much! Excellent idea and execution. I'm going to study those pics and see what i can steal...
You the man!
Nice. Board mounted pots are cool, board mounted pots on vero are impressive.
For connecting boards, apologies if you already know about pin headers like these: http://www.taydaelectronics.com/connectors-sockets/pin-headers.html (http://www.taydaelectronics.com/connectors-sockets/pin-headers.html) (link to Tayda, but you can get them anywhere). They might relieve you of having to break apart and solder the individual pins. The normal kind would space the board further apart than your solution, I think, but with the right angle headers you could get them pretty close.
Quote from: reddesert on December 02, 2017, 09:16:30 AM
Nice. Board mounted pots are cool, board mounted pots on vero are impressive.
For connecting boards, apologies if you already know about pin headers like these: http://www.taydaelectronics.com/connectors-sockets/pin-headers.html (http://www.taydaelectronics.com/connectors-sockets/pin-headers.html) (link to Tayda, but you can get them anywhere). They might relieve you of having to break apart and solder the individual pins. The normal kind would space the board further apart than your solution, I think, but with the right angle headers you could get them pretty close.
yeah I did indeed, used them before for sandwich PCB builds, but its been a while since I built much I either couldnt find them or dont have any left
all my stuff from suppliers arrived and I didnt order them because I didnt know I would end up sandwiching vero together. then when you get the bug I find I have to plow on rather than order more stuff.
thinking on it a bit more though those would have left very little exposed metal to be able to solder in a way that would allow vero construction to work in the way i did with both solder sides facing each other...so perhaps necessity being the mother of invention in this case was the right way forward...ho hum :)
great build and really impressive vero skills
Great build! Super vero-skills. I also started out with vero and have been spoiled by PCB's.
I just love board-mounted pots and doing that with vero is very impressive.
Serious awesomeness dude! 8)
cheers
I believe this was maybe my second or third vero build and I was so impressed with myself when it actually worked right.
Really a great circuit and your vero skills are incredible. That double board must have taken a lot of thought but one word describes it. IMPRESSIVE.
Most impressive! Great looking enclosure, and fantastic vero layout!
I went and build a baby version
(https://scontent.flhr3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/24799389_10154864170400870_658943024118482643_o.jpg?oh=92b3df251ffce43f512022e11df6e1ea&oe=5A908D42)
you can read about the development and see my contest entry here
http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=26943.0
That's rather large by your standards. 🤣
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SWEET builds! Both of them ;D
What did you use to secure the posts/standoffs in the full-sized build? Epoxy??
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on December 05, 2017, 01:35:36 PM
SWEET builds! Both of them ;D
What did you use to secure the posts/standoffs in the full-sized build? Epoxy??
nah they are just screwed through and bolted either side of the two veros - they are to hold the boards togeher, not hold anchor in any way to the enclosure - the board mounted pots and rotary secure the boards to the enclosure.
The baby is so cute! 8)
Quote from: LaceSensor on December 05, 2017, 05:08:14 PM
nah they are just screwed through and bolted either side of the two veros - they are to hold the boards togeher, not hold anchor in any way to the enclosure - the board mounted pots and rotary secure the boards to the enclosure.
Duuuuhhhhh!!! Now that you explained it, I realize how incredibly DUMB the question was. :P
Holy shit, that's awesome!! ;D 8)
The LED indicator for the clipping modes is brilliant!
I can only speak for myself, but I'm honored that you would want to build something that I/we designed.
As for it being overly bright, I think that might be some kind of error. I believe the trace that was done is correct (I looked at it and it seemed right). The production circuit is, in my opinion, kind of honky with a bit too much high cut on the input (which was a compromise we made to eliminate oscillation if both Fuzz and Volume pots are maxed-out). My original "final" prototype did not have this filtering on the input, and I actually prefer it. Hell, my original version didn't have any clipping options nor the input filter switch. Just four knobs. I basically designed it for me, and then Dave and Brian added all the great features that make it far more useful for a wider audience. :)
But damn, well done, sir.
Quote from: culturejam on December 06, 2017, 05:04:57 AM
Holy shit, that's awesome!! ;D 8)
The LED indicator for the clipping modes is brilliant!
I can only speak for myself, but I'm honored that you would want to build something that I/we designed.
As for it being overly bright, I think that might be some kind of error. I believe the trace that was done is correct (I looked at it and it seemed right). The production circuit is, in my opinion, kind of honky with a bit too much high cut on the input (which was a compromise we made to eliminate oscillation if both Fuzz and Volume pots are maxed-out). My original "final" prototype did not have this filtering on the input, and I actually prefer it. Hell, my original version didn't have any clipping options nor the input filter switch. Just four knobs. I basically designed it for me, and then Dave and Brian added all the great features that make it far more useful for a wider audience. :)
But damn, well done, sir.
Hey dude
Thanks for your comments and thoughts.
It's probably just my amp - black star artisan which is known for being bright.
I think it sounds great and the change to the treble cap suits my taste. It was actually fun to play around with. I'll probably see if I can get a chance to acquire a Real one once things like xmas, moving house and wedding are paid for 😐
I always thought imitation was sincere flattery so I'm glad you agree
Ian
Quote from: culturejam on December 06, 2017, 05:04:57 AM
The production circuit is, in my opinion, kind of honky with a bit too much high cut on the input (which was a compromise we made to eliminate oscillation if both Fuzz and Volume pots are maxed-out). My original "final" prototype did not have this filtering on the input, and I actually prefer it. Hell, my original version didn't have any clipping options nor the input filter switch. Just four knobs. I basically designed it for me, and then Dave and Brian added all the great features that make it far more useful for a wider audience. :)
Why do I get the feeling that "great features" wasn't how you originally drafted that sentence? :P ;D
Seconded on those LED indicators. That's pretty rad!
Quote from: EBK on December 06, 2017, 10:32:18 AM
Why do I get the feeling that "great features" wasn't how you originally drafted that sentence? :P ;D
We f--k up all his designs. He's been good about reeling in feature creep (something I am way way guilty of).
Quote from: EBK on December 06, 2017, 10:32:18 AM
Why do I get the feeling that "great features" wasn't how you originally drafted that sentence? :P ;D
Haha. ;D Nah, the additions were good ones. The pedal definitely wouldn't be as cool without them.
Brian and Dave come from a different philosophy of design than I do, and that's partly what works about our oddball setup. Those guys are usually looking to add tweakable parameters, and I'm usually trying to figure out how to reduce complexity.
I was just having some playful fun. I hope you don't think I was trying to stir something up. I have a lot of respect for you guys and your work.
Quote from: EBK on December 06, 2017, 03:58:02 PM
I hope you don't think I was trying to stir something up.
Not at all. I was actually more responding to Brian's comment than yours. ;)
Quote from: culturejam on December 06, 2017, 02:50:07 PM
Quote from: EBK on December 06, 2017, 10:32:18 AM
Why do I get the feeling that "great features" wasn't how you originally drafted that sentence? :P ;D
Haha. ;D Nah, the additions were good ones. The pedal definitely wouldn't be as cool without them.
Brian and Dave come from a different philosophy of design than I do, and that's partly what works about our oddball setup. Those guys are usually looking to add tweakable parameters, and I'm usually trying to figure out how to reduce complexity.
There are definitely two schools of pedal buildage that can basically be summed up as moar knobs goood and the simpler the better ;) Lovetone taking the former to a ridiculous level where most settings do fuck all, and when you find a good one you have to take a photo to have any chance of getting that sound again. I have to admit I started out in the former camp and have now firmly switched to the latter.
Quote from: juansolo on December 07, 2017, 10:18:27 AM
...Lovetone taking the former to a ridiculous level where most settings do fuck all...
I would have to disagree with you at least with the Lovetones. I have yet to build/use a Lovetone that had a "non-usable" or "useless" control. Even on the Meatball.... it just took a little getting used to ;D
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on December 07, 2017, 01:23:52 PM
Quote from: juansolo on December 07, 2017, 10:18:27 AM
...Lovetone taking the former to a ridiculous level where most settings do fuck all...
I would have to disagree with you at least with the Lovetones. I have yet to build/use a Lovetone that had a "non-usable" or "useless" control. Even on the Meatball.... it just took a little getting used to ;D
It's not that the knobs are useless, it's that it's very easy to get settings that don't do anything on a few of them, and when you do find that sweet spot, finding it again is nigh on impossible ;)
Wow that's so amazing, so inspiring, awesome work!! They look so cool.