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Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: eldanko on March 29, 2013, 07:19:18 PM

Title: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: eldanko on March 29, 2013, 07:19:18 PM
Howdy friends!

Sorry for the two month hiatus. Life has been nutty, and pedal building has had to take a back seat lately. Nevertheless, I found some time this week to bang together this little beauty.

Hats off to Chi_Boy for the absolutely fantastic pcb. I built it to spec (socketed the diodes in case I get adventurous later) and I'm really quite impressed. The Bass knob is pretty crucial to tailoring the drive to whatever amp you happen to be using, and the clipping switching is nice. I find myself on the "Fairy Dust" setting more often than not. Sounded great through my Super Reverb, and absolutely killer through my Chieftain... I always liked the ZenDrive through the Chieftain, so I'm not surprised.

I was feeling particularly snarky the day I was putting the artwork together. It's sort of my own little tribute to TGP.  ;D

(http://www.danekinser.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Unicorn-Drive-2.jpg)

(http://www.danekinser.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Unicorn-Drive.jpg)
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: pickdropper on March 29, 2013, 07:23:33 PM
That is freakin perfect.  Hahaha
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: hammerheadmusicman on March 29, 2013, 07:30:53 PM
Love it!! Great work dude!
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: Haberdasher on March 29, 2013, 07:50:58 PM
That looks great Dane!
Always wanted to say that :D
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: fendman on March 29, 2013, 07:51:13 PM
Very nice, I like the graphics very much...also clean and tidy build :)

Excellent
Mike
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: micromegas on March 29, 2013, 08:00:02 PM
uoh!

I only expect you submit that piece of art to the March context in order to hear the demo!!
it has to sound amazing...
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: jprizz on March 29, 2013, 08:01:33 PM
That is absolutely perfect, well almost... you should have used PIO caps or at least tropical fish ones, oh yeah and carbon comp resistors, and...  ;)
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: wolfingsworth on March 29, 2013, 08:08:34 PM
This is a lovely build! You do fine work! I really like the diode names. I hear those fairy dust diodes are expensive :)
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: LaceSensor on March 29, 2013, 08:55:21 PM
Awesome build. That pcb looks nice too.
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: whitebread47 on March 29, 2013, 08:58:54 PM
Amazing!
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: nzCdog on March 29, 2013, 09:00:53 PM
Oh man!  So much win :D ;D
Title: Re: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: jimilee on March 29, 2013, 09:11:50 PM
Are there real unicorn tears in there?
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: hammerheadmusicman on March 29, 2013, 09:33:20 PM
That's where the mojo is Jimi, in the unicorn tear diodes.
Title: Re: Re: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: jimilee on March 29, 2013, 10:16:07 PM
Quote from: hammerheadmusicman on March 29, 2013, 09:33:20 PM
That's where the mojo is Jimi, in the unicorn tear diodes.
Awesome
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: GrindCustoms on March 29, 2013, 10:49:11 PM
Hahaha! Love it! 8)

The execution in and out is beautiful.

Where can i get one of those board? Layout is nice.
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: gtr2 on March 29, 2013, 11:40:20 PM
Drooling...

Still time to enter that one I think.

Josh
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: aballen on March 29, 2013, 11:58:08 PM
Fairy dust definitely get you some mojo points. :)
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: Chi_Boy on March 30, 2013, 03:38:32 AM
Dang that looks good!!  Glad you like the board and thanks for the props!

-George
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: jubal81 on March 30, 2013, 03:49:25 AM
That is a real beauty. Nice one!
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: midwayfair on March 30, 2013, 03:55:12 AM
Most outstanding, sir!
Title: Re: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: ch1naski on March 30, 2013, 05:34:22 AM
I gotta do it....
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/30/u6usaduz.jpg)

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: Stomptown on March 30, 2013, 06:45:19 AM
Very nicve build! This video pretty much sums it up...

Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: eldanko on March 30, 2013, 01:09:24 PM
Thanks for the kind words friends! It was downright therapeutic to find a little time to build after a rather stressful month...

Quote from: jprizz on March 29, 2013, 08:01:33 PM
That is absolutely perfect, well almost... you should have used PIO caps or at least tropical fish ones, oh yeah and carbon comp resistors, and...  ;)

Those aren't normal 1N5158s. They're special diodes made from silicon mined from the asthenosphere layer of the earth's crust, which has a mineral density that is the best for guitar tone. The leads on the diodes are actually titanium, which conducts .00002% better than copper, but requires a very expensive pair of snips to cut. Only I can get these diodes, by the way.  ;)

Quote from: wolfingsworth on March 29, 2013, 08:08:34 PM
I hear those fairy dust diodes are expensive :)

Quote from: hammerheadmusicman on March 29, 2013, 09:33:20 PM
That's where the mojo is Jimi, in the unicorn tear diodes.

^ these guys know what I'm talking about.

Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: eldanko on March 30, 2013, 01:12:40 PM
Quote from: GrindCustoms on March 29, 2013, 10:49:11 PM
Where can i get one of those board? Layout is nice.

Give Chi_Boy a shout and see if he has any spares. He posted on this thread a little while ago.

Quote from: gtr2 on March 29, 2013, 11:40:20 PM
Still time to enter that one I think.

Didn't even think about that. If I have time to bang out a video today I will. Easter weekend is a tad hectic for us church players...  :P

Quote from: ch1naski on March 30, 2013, 05:34:22 AM
I gotta do it....
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/30/u6usaduz.jpg)

Now THERE'S some potential pedal artwork....
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: gtr2 on March 30, 2013, 01:40:13 PM
Quote from: eldanko on March 30, 2013, 01:12:40 PM
Didn't even think about that. If I have time to bang out a video today I will. Easter weekend is a tad hectic for us church players...  :P

Yeah, I've actually had to practice for this week.  :D

Josh
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: GrindCustoms on March 30, 2013, 06:26:25 PM
Thanks for the head up Dan! :)
Title: Re: Unicorn Drive - VIPfx Xtc Build
Post by: hammerheadmusicman on March 30, 2013, 06:36:42 PM
Quote from: ch1naski on March 30, 2013, 05:34:22 AM
I gotta do it....
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/30/u6usaduz.jpg)

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

I hope you don't mind, but that is going on my Apis build!!

George