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Build Reports / Re: Ocelot octave, boss oc-2
« on: February 01, 2023, 09:11:27 AM »
Thanks for the kind words everyone, it's just a really cool pedal that's fun to play and glad to have one back on my board
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Build Reports / Re: Blue Whale - Jimilee's Blue Morning
« on: February 01, 2023, 08:50:05 AM »
that is a clean build!
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Open Discussion / Re: Pedal photo booth
« on: January 31, 2023, 06:38:32 PM »
Wanted to give an update as there was some interest in this topic again. I have made some additions/revisions to my photo box setup.
First I opened up the top hole to let more light from the top of the box. Then to stop shadows I made holes on the sides of the box and used paper like the top of the box to help diffuse the light.
The lights I got were cheap clamp on lamps with led lights.
Here is a better look at my diy solder station light as well
Here is the whole setup when taking pictures of the pedals. Again, I'm just using my cell phone camera and all editing is with the stock camera app
First I opened up the top hole to let more light from the top of the box. Then to stop shadows I made holes on the sides of the box and used paper like the top of the box to help diffuse the light.
The lights I got were cheap clamp on lamps with led lights.
Here is a better look at my diy solder station light as well
Here is the whole setup when taking pictures of the pedals. Again, I'm just using my cell phone camera and all editing is with the stock camera app
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Build Reports / Ocelot octave, boss oc-2
« on: January 31, 2023, 07:52:18 AM »
Welcome back to the my trip down memory lane celebrating the boss thru hole analog catalog. This time I'm looking back at a pedal I used to own and fondly remember, the OC-2 octave, built on the pedalpcb ocelot. With a renewed interest in analog monophonic octaves, this seemed like the perfect time to share this one.
I used to own this in the late 90s/early 00s and sold it in favor of newer octaves like the POG or my trusty whammy. Unlike it's digital counterparts, the oc-2 is more rudimentary and limited in it's scope but that gives it a distinct flavor that digital can't do the same way. The oc-2 has pretty good tracking but not as good as something like the pearl octaver. Unlike some octave pedals, this only has the sub octaves, which I actually prefer because upper octaves are generally more fuzzy and can't do a clean sound unless you do digital. I really like using this with dirt for thick full chord sounds from single note runs. I also like using it in bass with some drive for synthy sounds. The glitchy nature of monophonic octaves can be really cool for certain genres and types of playing that need that but they can be controlled by learning how to play to the effect. For optimal tracking, use the neck pickup, avoid notes south of the 7th fret and stear clear of open strings. One thing I like to do Is use a compressor before the octave to give it a strong, clean note that's focused and precise to lock on to for the best tracking.
The build itself was simple. The board is packed pretty tight so mind those caps when soldering pots. I soldered the direct pot from the backside of the board to avoid burning anything. I didn't have any 2sk30a jfets so I used 2n5952 and did the leg twist. Other than that it was a pretty pedestrian build. Russian germanium diodes from @StompBoxParts. Black matte black enclosure with UV print. Went with a minimalist killmonger graphic for the ocelot. Black and yellow color scheme looks really sharp imo and I'm pretty happy with the end results. Back in December I filmed this dirty clip of the ocelot being used with the promethium in the second half of that clip.
All in all a great pedal that's often overlooked and rarely overshadowed. For a simplistic analog octave in a small form factor and low parts count the ocelot can't be beat.
I used to own this in the late 90s/early 00s and sold it in favor of newer octaves like the POG or my trusty whammy. Unlike it's digital counterparts, the oc-2 is more rudimentary and limited in it's scope but that gives it a distinct flavor that digital can't do the same way. The oc-2 has pretty good tracking but not as good as something like the pearl octaver. Unlike some octave pedals, this only has the sub octaves, which I actually prefer because upper octaves are generally more fuzzy and can't do a clean sound unless you do digital. I really like using this with dirt for thick full chord sounds from single note runs. I also like using it in bass with some drive for synthy sounds. The glitchy nature of monophonic octaves can be really cool for certain genres and types of playing that need that but they can be controlled by learning how to play to the effect. For optimal tracking, use the neck pickup, avoid notes south of the 7th fret and stear clear of open strings. One thing I like to do Is use a compressor before the octave to give it a strong, clean note that's focused and precise to lock on to for the best tracking.
The build itself was simple. The board is packed pretty tight so mind those caps when soldering pots. I soldered the direct pot from the backside of the board to avoid burning anything. I didn't have any 2sk30a jfets so I used 2n5952 and did the leg twist. Other than that it was a pretty pedestrian build. Russian germanium diodes from @StompBoxParts. Black matte black enclosure with UV print. Went with a minimalist killmonger graphic for the ocelot. Black and yellow color scheme looks really sharp imo and I'm pretty happy with the end results. Back in December I filmed this dirty clip of the ocelot being used with the promethium in the second half of that clip.
All in all a great pedal that's often overlooked and rarely overshadowed. For a simplistic analog octave in a small form factor and low parts count the ocelot can't be beat.
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Build Reports / Re: DeadRinger 2022
« on: January 31, 2023, 05:56:28 AM »
Another great build and nice save. I love me some sd-1 and fuller knew what he was doing when he made this one, a real classic that you did with class here.
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Build Reports / Re: Sushi box Blackeye
« on: January 31, 2023, 05:54:21 AM »
This one is sooo cool, even with the flawed layout by sushibox. The build, the concept and execution is top tier and the color scheme is fantastic.
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Build Reports / Re: High Noon (Man O' War) Delay #2
« on: January 31, 2023, 05:50:51 AM »
Another killer build dude, great job!
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Build Reports / Re: Baron of Arizona (Fraudhacker) Flanger #2
« on: January 28, 2023, 08:36:03 PM »
Another solid build, cleaner than the last one
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Open Discussion / Re: When you have a teenage daughter.
« on: January 27, 2023, 06:40:31 AM »I feel you Brian. I've got 3 girls and the wife. The dog and I used to be the only guys in the house but that changed; him surgically, me from having my sanity removedI don't have kids at all, but knowing what a bunch of pigs men can be I'd have to think raising girls would have shorted my life span considerably.
Believe me, being married to woman and raising a daughter is good for my personal temperament. But, it poses some serious freaking challenges, haha!
Gordo, trust that girls can be every bit as gross as boys........The things I have seen
Facts. Wife and two daughters, male dog and cat both neutered...everyday they are trying to kill me-physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, spiritually lol love the hell out of them still
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Build Reports / Re: Blue Steele
« on: January 24, 2023, 01:46:46 PM »
That would be an awesome name for a metal zone project
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Build Reports / Re: Blue Steele
« on: January 23, 2023, 07:03:00 PM »KillerUnless Zoolander is official cannon it's against company policy lol
I know you have a super theme going, but I half expected zoolander lol
I totally agree (though they can be cheap crap sometimes) Tayda's selection is super deluxe.
Good lord Chris, you're a machine!I'm not a machine Drew, I'm efficient, there's a difference haha. Some pedals have come and gone so a full group shot no. But this boss collection I'm working on I will be taking a group shot of. It's a full vision that has come together really organically since I decided last fall to start it. I feel it's my best, most consistent work to date. I'll likely by done with them all by the end of spring.
You ever think about (or maybe you have and I missed it) taking a group photo of all your builds?
Of course you might need a super wide-angle lens to capture tham all in one shot!
This one looks killer as always!
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Build Reports / Re: Karaoke chorus
« on: January 23, 2023, 06:52:48 PM »I don't need another chorus …do I?The FOMO is real with this one
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Build Reports / Re: Blue Steele
« on: January 23, 2023, 01:05:08 PM »She's a beaut! Hell even the footswitch nut is lined upI really like it stock, great pedal and another great offering from Brian!
Love the BD, have only played the stock version thoug
Another banger, Chris!Tayda gives me so many wonderful colors for caps 😂Always wanted to get some yellow caps, but they've never happened for me
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Audio/Video Demos / Re: MadBean Total Recall
« on: January 23, 2023, 11:36:50 AM »
good job Dan, total recall is the best. I ended up doing the high impedance resistor swap for when I use my SGs. Sounds great dude!
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Build Reports / Blue Steele
« on: January 23, 2023, 11:11:36 AM »Welcome back friends to the boss appreciation celebration 🎉🎊 🤣. This week Im going back to the late 90s for a true modern classic and one of the pedals that helped kickstart commercial pedal modding, the boutique transparent overdrive market and a mainstay on many pedalboards to this very day. That's right, the BD-2 blues driver. As Ms. Frizzle would say, seatbelts everyone!
I never had a stock bd-2, I've played my share of modded blues drivers and owned the Keeley super phat mod but this is my first outing on a regular old bd-2. Chuck did quite a write up on it so I won't get too techy, but it's essentially a discrete opamp fender in a box type pedal. The EQ section looks like a fender and the gain texture is more gritty like a tube amp vs the standard fair opamp low gain overdrive. It's a brighter voiced pedal so if you have a dark rig you might like that but it's easy to dial the treble out. The gain range is pretty wide and the dynamics kare where this pedal really shine. Much like a tube amp or a good fuzz face, this pedal is very sensitive to pick attack and volume knob changes. This is also a fantastic alternative to the congested mid focused low drain drives, and is also great as a boost or stacked with a TS style.
Build wise it was really straightforward and the included subs switch is nice for going between different guitars. On my strat I like to add a little more bass to fill it out a little more in the bottom end. Went with smd j201s since I don't want to pay and roll the dice on thru hole jfets. Also shout-out to @StompBoxParts for having the webs best selection of dual gang potentiometers, always coming in clutch💪😤. Matte black enclosure with UV print. For the artwork I went with Davos aka the Steel Serpent. David has held the title of the immortal iron fist at times and a rival of Danny Rand.
If you are looking for a good alternative to basic soft clipping opamp drive you should definitely check out a blues driver. There are lots of available mods, it's a simple build and it's a classic for a reason.
