What up guys,
Wanted to recreate that vintage Germanium goodness.
Pure unadulterated mojo! :D
Germanium does 2 things well:
Fuzz - softer than Silicon = Fuzz Face
Boost - for that vintage twang = Rangemaster.
Only added:
1. Bipolar charge pump for PNP Germs.
2. Range knob for input cap of the Rangemaster.
I used a Lin pot for the "Range" which was fine, but a reverse log may work better.
I suppose it depends on your capacitor choice as well.
I think I used a 10nF, 100nF and 100k pot combination.
Also the first time I tried axial caps.
Had no idea about the sizes until I received them so its a snug fit.
Tried to simplify wiring as well.
Ie board mounted pots, clear labels etc
As to using the charge pump, it works as expected.
I was also careful to physically isolate the power section from the audio section on the PCB.
As per RG's idea, I left pads to connect pins 1 and 8 to prevent a high pitch squeal coming through on the Range side.
I used a 7660SCPA, perhaps subbing a MAX1044 might act differently.
Charge pumps can be funny things sometimes.
Still gonna add a graphic overlay but inspiration has not come knocking as of yet.
Got 2 spare PCBs if anyone wants to trade.
(http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r559/mtmattan/Germanium%20Birth/IMG_20130307_191116_zpsdae5eaeb.jpg)
(http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r559/mtmattan/Germanium%20Birth/IMG_20130307_184402_zpsdf1f41f3.jpg)
(http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r559/mtmattan/Germanium%20Birth/IMG_20130305_150916_zps8f82c9b8.jpg)
(http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r559/mtmattan/Germanium%20Birth/8DDE9358-C36D-4F18-A035-8F6C951AD08A-390-00000043875755A0_zps6076e83c.jpg)
(http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r559/mtmattan/Germanium%20Birth/5C9B31F8-3DE0-4FF9-89FB-56FA9EA62D4E-390-000000437ECB380B_zps91ef316e.jpg)
(http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r559/mtmattan/Germanium%20Birth/A8C732E4-8791-4B92-B37E-1277B21A8B48-324-0000003CDD8E6019_zpse0579fca.jpg)
(http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r559/mtmattan/Germanium%20Birth/9DE81173-9421-42AE-9FEB-08600636F2BA-324-0000003CD7AE39C0_zpse43df455.jpg)
Matt
WOW. That enclosure is teh hottness.
Me likey!
I'm on a vintage trip too at the moment.
We can console each other in our quest for mojo madness!
love this!
I love the paint on this.. simplicity and beautiful.
Classy build! I currently have the parts and plans to do something similar with a FF and RM. I like that you made your own board layout, something I would like to do someday! As with all of your builds, A++.