Messages

Absolutely. No difference than if they were three separate pedals connected together or three in one box. Your input and outputs are just connected to the other 3PDTs or jacks depending on what order you are putting the FX in there.

Try this: make C3 and C6 470n. You can also socket C5 to try larger values there...maybe 100n or 220n.

It sucks, for sure. But, SMD transistors will be available forever and I don't think it will be too much of a challenge for people to deal with those on the DIY side. I stocked up on the TO-92's last year when the JFETS were first announced but there will be a good supply to go around for the next few years probably.

Excellent work all-around! Is that the Jack Deville bypass on your Chimera?

Check your voltages on the charge pump to see what you are reading. At worst, you probably will need to replace D1.

Here's the BOM.

You must use the VTL5C3 or the MI1210CLF-R for the two vactrols. The MI1210CLF-R is cheaper and works great.

http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=347
http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=1255

If you want to roll your own, use the 9203 photocell - haven't tested these in the build, though
http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=711

For the Mode switch, you can use either the 3P4T or 1P12T.
http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=46
http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=477

No, I won't be doing pre-orders again anytime soon. It's too much of a logistical problem for little 'ol me. But, I will be placing the order for those in a matter of days, so we are talking about a couple weeks or so until it's available.

I'm happy to report after months of toiling away that the Nautilus and Zero Point Deluxe are finished! I made the final tweaks today and I am completely satisfied with both. The Aquaboy Deluxe is not far behind...a few more tweaks on that one and hopefully that will be completed as well. I should have some tentative release dates for these in the next few days.

Here's my build of the Nautilus.

For smallbear, I use these:
http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=692

And these
http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=1195

Those dust covers are good for making sure the base of the pot does not contact any solder joints on the PCB and thereby shorting them.

I use this hook-up wire:
http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=126

I'm liking 22AWG much more than 24AWG now---it's a bit stronger and holds position well.

Jacks: http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=558  and http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=88

Looks like you have your input jack wired to the wrong row of lugs. One row is lifted when a plug is inserted and serve as dummy contacts (extra soldering pins). Insert a jack and audio probe the two rows of pins...one should have signal and one does not.

What about resistance change between the wiper and two outer lugs as you turn the pot up and down? Maybe the wafer is bad....both volume and tone are 10k---could be a bad source of pots. If you have output but no attenuation that seems like a possibility.

I would leave the hard clipper as symmetrical. For asym clipping in the feedback path, you can a second diode in series with either one---doesn't matter which.

I think I will add a note in the BOM to socket that 1M. It is a pretty big departure from the Klon, which uses a smaller value.

Hmm...that's a stumper. Do you have continuity between lug1 of the Vol pot and ground? There's no change at all when you turn the Vol pot?

No problem. Save that cap for something really cool. Could be a good guitar tone cap, too.

Right, when the soft clippers are engaged, you should have some signal drop from the clipping. When lifted (and with the hard clipper switch in the middle position) no diodes are clipping. So, at max gain on this setting you might get some motor-boating or oscillation. You don't want to use it at max gain without any diodes for this reason. You can eliminate this by reducing that 1M resistor in the feedback path...470k-750k. This will also reduce max gain overall with the diodes clipping, too, so take that into consideration since you may not like that.