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Topics - dan.schumaker

#21
Build Reports / 1590A BBD Delay
September 30, 2019, 08:33:28 AM
I am really happy with this, so instead of lumping it in with other stuff I have finished recently, I think it deserves its own build report :)

This is the Hologram Delay.  This is an (almost all) SMD BBD Delay, based on the Aquapuss, using an Xvive MN3005 chip.  All resistors are 0603, most caps are 0805.  I still have 1uF film caps and electrolytic caps as thru-hole components, as well as the transistors and IC's.  It has been a while since I have done any large scale SMD resistor and cap soldering, and it definitely took a few parts to get back into the swing of doing it :)  Overall, I am really happy with the sound of the delays.  They are definitely dark sounding delays, but it does sound really good.  This is the perfect delay to use for some rockabilly or some surf stuff.  The lower delay time settings really lead themselves to pseudo-reverb tones.

1977 Hologram by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
#22
Here is what I have been up to lately...

Robot Zookeeper - This is based on this seasons pedal du jour on TGP, the DRV 1981.  Basically its a RAT and a Klon buffer.  I added a clipping switch to go from the diode clipping to LED clipping.  It does sound really good, I can see what people are talking about.  I feel it might be a little bright with the diodes, but I like the crunch and growl I get with the LEDs.  I would have had this one done a few weeks ago, but I made a bonehead move of laying out the volume pot backwards   >:(  (And on that subject, I have been on a bad streak of laying out pots backwards on my board designs, I have never done that before, and I have 3-4 boards in my last two batches I have done that on!)
1965 Robot Zookeeper by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Amarillo Compressor - My favorite compressor that I have played through is the Diamond Compressor.  This is probably my third attempt to get it to fit in a 1590A, and I am glad I was able to make it work.  I played this one against my Lectric FX Zirconia Comp, and this one sounds just as good.  I am glad to be able to have this one to be able to add to my next 1590A pedalboard.
1963 Amarillo by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Hypnos Tremolo - I've been wanting to get a harmonic tremolo into a 1590A for a while now.  Looking around at different schematics, I found the Anharmonic tremolo on DIYstompboxes.  This is my working up of that circuit.  It has controls for Rate and Depth, as well as a frequency control and switch for just modulating the treble content or all of the signal.  The frequency control runs off of a 100k A dual gang pot.  There is also a jumper inside to go from Sine to Square wave.
1964 Hypnos by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

T-1000 - The first circuit I made a fabbed PCB for was the Tortenmann TA-100 overdrive.  It wasn't perfect, but it worked.  So this is me revisiting that circuit and cramming it into a 1590A.  This is a cool sounding lower gain OD, pretty amp like.  I liken it to the Colorsound Overdriver, where it gets some nice boosting of the signal, but if you crank the gain, you can get some nice crunch out of it.
1960 T-1000 by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Adonis - This is a 2-in-1 someone mentioned on a thread in TGP about pedals you wished people had made.  Analogman has the Sunlion Rangemaster and Fuzz Face, but someone wondered why there wasn't a Rangemaster and Prince of Tone combo pedal.  So here it is.  Standard Rangemaster with a switch for the range, and a Prince of Tone style OD.  I wanted to include an order switch, but couldn't find the right spot to place it.  I like this pedal, the Rangemaster boosting of the POT gives it that little extra that I sometimes wish it had.  (And yes, I know, its not a 1590A, I felt like branching out  ;D )
1958 Adonis by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Groove King - This has been one of my white whales.  It is based on the MXR Envelope Filter.  I have made probably 4-5 different prototypes trying to get this circuit right.  Finally I was able to make a board with no mistakes.  This one has a trimpot to be able to adjust the bias so it will work with both vintage and current production chips, a common problem people run into on this pedal.  It sounds pretty good for an envelope filter, maybe a little quiet, but still gets some good quack.
1959 Groove King by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
#23
Build Reports / 1590A Univibe & Klon
August 08, 2019, 11:56:05 AM
Here are two more circuits I worked up the last few weeks.  I've been on the lookout for some 9mm right angle dual gang pots to integrate into some of my 1590A boards.  I never had any luck finding them, as I have only been able to find the PC mount ones (like the ones Small Bear has).  I was turned onto looking at Thonk (https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/alpha-9mm-pots/) for some, and that was exactly what I was looking for.  So with some dual-gang pots on the way, I was able to finish up the Klon and Uni-vibe in a 1590A that I've been wanting to make.

The Rohirrim OD is my take on the Klon.  Pretty basic Klon circuit with a toggle switch to go between the 1N34A diodes and a pair of Red LED's.  I also integrated the relay bypass into this.  I am really happy with how the layout turned out and how it sounds.  It really has that transparent sweetness that Klon's are known for when using it as a clean boost.
1950 Rohirrim by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr


And the second is the Spiralizer Uni-Vibe.  I had the board for this designed well before I found the dual-gang pots.  I was trying to wrap my head around the most efficient way to use the PC mount pots on this one and was never really happy with any of the ideas I came up with.  So when I found the new pots, I ordered the board the next day!  This has that great throbby, swirly tone that a Uni-vibe is known for, it will make a great addition to the mini Gilmour board I am working on!
1951 Spiralizer by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
#24
Build Reports / Page Box Mk II
August 05, 2019, 08:10:00 AM
Some of you that have been around a while may remember my BOTY entry from a few years back, the Page Box.  This was meant to be an all-in-one Jimmy Page pedalboard in a box.  In the box was a Tone Bender Mk.II -> Phase 90 -> Delay w/ Modulation -> Effects loop -> EP-3 preamp Boost -> RAH. 

The original was built on Vero, and it was a total spaghetti mess on the inside.  I recently decided to take another look at the box, see if I could clean things up.  And here are my results:

1957-1 Page Box by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
1957-2 Page Box by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

And here is the original for comparison:
Page Box 3 by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr


#25
Open Discussion / New Pedal Storage Day
July 19, 2019, 04:55:03 AM
So as you all know, I have a bit of a problem with having built way too many pedals  ;D  My previous attempts at storing all my pedals worked for a little bit, but I was quickly running out of space.  And more importantly, Mrs. Schu-tone was running out of patience with pedals all over the house.  So doing some looking, I ran across this and decided to give it a try.

This is a sheet pan rack from a restaurant supply store.  Couple that with some full size sheet pans (26" x 18"), and I have a solution for my pedals.  One pan can hold a surprising amount of pedals on it (one alone can hold over 50 1590A's).  I am happy with how this turned out, and I like that I have a little room to expand in the future!
20190718_200207 by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
20190718_195907 by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
20190718_200017 by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
#26
Here are three new builds I finished up this week.  Nothing too exciting or ground breaking here.

First off is the Spin Doctor.  This is like a King of Tone, just two Prince's next to eachother (see where I got the name from, I crack myself up  ;D )
1942 Spin Doctor by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Next is the updated Rampart distortion.  This is a Big Muff with onboard relay bypass and a mids knob.  I built this one for a guy on thegearpage, but he flaked on me.  This one is built to Civil War specs.
1941 Rampart by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Last is the updated Fracas Fuzz.  This is a silicon Fuzz Face pedal.  I have BC109's in this right now.  I switched the tone control I had on the last version to be an input cap blend, which I feel is better suited to this circuit.
1943 Fracas by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
#27
So as I am looking to make some more demos of the pedals I build, I am thinking I want to do something a little more "professional" than now.  I want to stick to just shitty playing instead of shitty playing and shitty audio quality.  So I am looking for a mic to capture the sound from my amp.  I know I could use an audio interface and go straight from the pedal into the interface and into a DAW, but I am thinking I want to go the mic route.

So big question here, looking at mic's, I think I want to go with either the Sennheiser e609 or the venerable Shure SM-57.

I don't think I can go wrong with either option, just looking for input from people I trust (and I guess input from the people I don't trust too  ;D )
#28
Here is the last few I've been working on.

First is the Cosmic Rift Flanger.  Thomasha already beat me to a Electric Mistress in a impossibly small container, but here is my take on it.  I needed to go slightly longer on the board to get everything to fit on it and that left just a little less room for the relay bypass board, but the lid fit on just fine and it works great fully boxed.
1936 Cosmic Rift by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Next is the Secret Agent.  This is similar to the Cornish SS-3.  This has an always on Cornish input buffer, and I added a Baxandall tone stack to give control over the treble and bass content.  This is a pretty cool drive, being based in the Distortion+ family tree.
1934 Secret Agent by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Here is the Outcast OD/Fuzz.  This is based on the G2.  I originally had 1N34A's as the clipping diodes, but it was really quiet, and I didn't care for the sound at all.  Replaced them with BAT41's, and it roars to life.  I know the 1N34A's is what separates it from every other Muff, but I like the sound where it landed.  Like the Secret Agent, this one also has the Cornish Buffer in front.
1937 Outcast by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Lastly is the Wasteland.  This is the Cornish NG-2 Fuzz.  Lots of fun tones in here, playing around with the interaction of the Drive and Sustain controls.  Like the previous two, this has the always on buffer as well.
1938 Wasteland by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
#29
Open Discussion / Good Times with Arrow are over...
June 07, 2019, 05:10:02 AM
So I go to make an order with Arrow this morning.  Looks like free overnight shipping is done (for now), and they wanted to add a $12.99 handling fee for an order under $50.

Looks like that gravy train is over....
#30
Build Reports / 1590A 1+1 Pedalboard
May 22, 2019, 05:42:39 AM
Finally finished up my complete pedal board filled with my 1590A 1+1 pedals.  This started earlier this year with the layout for the Micro Chorus and I just expanded on that and said "I wonder if I could make a whole board with just one knob (and one switch) pedals."  And here is the result of that...
20190521_205139 by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
20190521_205149 by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Board itself is made out of finger jointed mahogany, with strips of dual-lock to hold everything in place.

All pedals have soft touch relay bypass.  Signal chain is:
I/O box
Siphon Envelope Filter (Micro V)
Medium Compressor (Dyna-Comp)
Swine Boost (Rangemaster)
Muscle OD (Dumble-like OD)
Straight Jacket OD (Marshall-like OD)
Spook Distortion (One-knob Big Muff)
Elevation Fuzz (Kay F-1 Fuzz)
Superstition Boost (One-knob Klon)
Muzzle Noise Gate (MXR Noise Gate)
MV-68 Vibe (Uni-vibe)
Rock Bottom Phaser (Small Stone)
Spectator Chorus (Micro Chorus)
Jormungandr Delay (One-knob Delay)
Reverb_1 Reverb (One-knob FV-1 Reverb)
Epicenter Tremolo (One-knob Tremolo)
#31
Here is a next batch of 1590A pedals I have made up.  I've had a crazy idea to make a full pedalboard with just 1590A pedals that have one control pot, one switch (I'm calling them my 1+1 pedals) and (mostly) built-in relay bypass switching.  I have a complete board assortment of them done, just waiting on making the actual board, so stay tuned for that  :D

So here is a few of them before the big reveal:
MV-68 - Univibe with switchable intensity levels.  This has two intensity settings that can be changed via internal trimpots.  The nice thing about this is that if I ever want to make a 2 knob univibe, I can just wire one of the trim pots externally.
1924 MV-68 by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Lagoon - This is a fixed wah pedal using an axial inductor.  This is just your classic crybaby wah circuit with switchable frequency.  A lot like the Fulltone Wah-ful.
1923 Lagoon by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Reverb_1 - This is a FV-1 based reverb pedal.  It has Shimmer, Plate and Room reverbs loaded in.  The knob controls the dry/wet mix of the reverb, and the switch chooses the reverb type.  The trim-pots on the inside control the damping and decay of the reverb.  The same board could be used for other FV-1 programs (I'm thinking a possible octave pedal, control for the mix of octave and switch between octave up, down and both)
1915 Reverb_1 by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Medium - This is a Dynacomp based compressor using a LM13700.  The control is your dry/compressed blend and the switch controls three levels of compression (kind of like the SP compressor).  There can be a little bit of a volume boost switching the three levels.  I originally had this with a blend and switch between three attack speeds, but the changes in attack speed wasn't super apparent, so I moved to the comp switch.
1929 Medium by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Jormungandr - This is a single knob delay pedal.  I know what you are thinking, that can't be that useful.  This works as a set and forget simple delay.  The knob is for the mix, and the control switches between three delay times.  Its nice to have a quick slapback when you need it, or to switch to a longer, spacier delay.  The trimpot on the inside lets you dial in the amount of repeats.  I also designed a EHX Full Double Tracking, it works, but it was just a little too noisy to be usable.
1919 Jormungandr by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Elevation - This is a take on the Kay F1 fuzz.  Obviously, the name is based on this being the Fuzz The Edge used on Elevation.  This is a huge sounding octave fuzz.  Fully of nastiness and synth-like octaves higher up the neck.  The control is between a brighter and a darker tone, while the switch changes the Q1 Emitter cap, giving different gain ranges.
1925 Elevtation by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
#32
Open Discussion / Wrestlemania
April 07, 2019, 12:24:36 PM
Is anybody else watching this tonight?  Or am I the only nerd here who enjoys this sports entertainment?
#33
Got a new batch of boards in last week, so I got to soldering this weekend.  Pretty happy with how everything turned out.  In a batch of 5 boards, 4 worked awesome out of the gate, the last one I need to look at a little more.  I don't think going 4 out of 5 is all that bad!

Vaporizor - This is based on the BYOC analog vibrato pedal.  Doing some looking, I had the crazy idea to replace the unobtanium BA6110 chip with another OTA chip.  I was thinking this guy had no chance of actually working, but lo and behold, when I turned it on the first time, I got some awesome sounding sea-sick warble!  It can get pretty intense.  I think that the ramp function is pretty cool too, I can definitely see the uses for that function.  There is a soft touch relay board hiding under the main board on this one.
1911 Vaporizor by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Rock Bottom - This is a 1590A version of the Small Stone Phaser.  For all that is going on with it, it really isn't that crowded of a build (maybe I am just numb to packing a board for something like this).  This has the classic sweep of the original, just in a smaller form factor.  I also have added a soft-touch relay to this guy.
1909 Rock Bottom by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Muscle - This is a single-knob OD pedal with a boost switch.  This gives some nice sparkly/jangly distortion to start with, and switching the boost on really thickens the tone, making it pretty creamy and smooth.  This was the first 1590A that I have the relay bypass on-board, and it really makes wiring this guy up a snap.
1908 Muscle by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Reflux - I've shared this phaser a few times before.  Like the Muscle, this one also has the built-in relay bypass, making wiring super-simple.
1910 Reflux by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
#34
Build Reports / Lone Wolf, Beef and Madness OD's
December 05, 2018, 08:39:07 AM
Here are three more OD's that I have been working on.  These are all based on Wampler OD's, and all have built in Relay Bypass switching.

First one is the Lone Wolf OD.  This is based on the Nobels ODR-S overdrive (which Wampler did as the Underdog).  This is a thick sounding overdrive with a really versatile EQ section.
1865 Lone Wolf by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
Next is the Maddess OD.  This is off of the Euphoria OD.  I really like having the bass control on this one, it really helps keep the sound nice and tight.
1864 Madness by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
Last is the Beef.  This is based on the Paisley drive.  Another good sounding OD, with some interesting tweaks on the standard YATS.
1863 Beef by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

I would also keep an eye out in the PIF section, maybe some of these boards will be making an appearance in there....
#35
Here are a few more builds I finished up in the last week or so.

First is the Ultra Flanger.  Thomasha beat me to this by a few days.  This is based on the Hollis Ultra Flanger, and I also included some of the mods to reduce ticking.  This does sound really good with no ticking.  I re-routed the power on this one so it runs on BL3207.  This is also the first 1590A that I was able to fit a Soft-Touch Relay Bypass in.  I am very happy in how that turned out as well.
1861 Shining Wizard by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
The next one is the Patina Compressor.  This is based on the Keeley 4-knob compressor.  I actually designed this board well over a year ago, but always had a dumb mistake in it.  So this is rev 4 of this board, and I was finally able to get it to work!
1859 Patina by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
Here is a modulated delay that I have also been working on.  I call this one The Dreaming.  It is a  double-time delay with modulation on it.  I have the depth of the modulation on a pot (flutter), but the speed is on a switch, with two different speed settings (middle is no modulation).  I also have added a second dry output for splitting it between two amps, as well as a warp control for feedback.  The Warp control has a switch to change how fast the feedback kicks in.  I wanted to include a relay bypass on the board, but I ran out of available pins in Diptrace!
1858 The Dreaming by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
This is the Gamma Ray Phaser.  This is based on the Whetstone Phaser (another OTA Small Stone).  I was able to get this down to a 125BB enclosure, and have added Relay Bypass to it.  This is another good sounding phaser, I like the different range options it gives, the Ring Mod-like speed setting gives some pretty cool sounds.
1857 Gamma Ray by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
#36
Build Reports / More 1590A's (FV-1 and PT2399 Delay)
October 19, 2018, 05:49:01 AM
Here are two more 1590A's that I have finished up. 

Chameleon_3 - I have had the FV-1 done for a while, just trying to find three good Reverb patches to do what I want with it.  I am planning on doing another one like it but with three switchable delays as well.  The three Reverbs loaded are  a Room, a Plate and a Shimmer Reverb.
1853 Reverb_3 by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
Magnetosphere - This is another dual PT2399 delay, like the Bison echo I posted a while ago.  I redid this one using the smaller sized SMD PT2399 chips.  The topology is the same as the Bison, just changed the routing of the delays.  On this one, dry signal goes into both delays, and the feedback loop from both hit delay 2.  If you know how the Space Echo mode on the Multiplex works, you know how this one works as well.  This one looks like there is a lot going on to stuff into a 1590A (which there is), but it is actually very easy to fit in a small box.
1854 Magnetosphere by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
#37
Build Reports / More 1590A Madess
October 10, 2018, 06:16:38 AM
So as you know, I have a slight 1590A addiction (Hi, my name is Dan, and I have a problem....).  So here are a few builds from my last batch of PCB deigns.  I still have a few more finished, just waiting on boxing them up.  On tap to box are another multi PT2399 delay, a program switching FV-1, Rat with clipping options, an optical tremolo and a few more.

Expanse Phaser - Ross Phaser (...phaser content, paging Jimilee...).  Three LM13700 SMD chips, controls for level, regen, speed and width.
1850 Expanse by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
Clairvoyant Compressor - Dyna-comp type compressor with a blend.  Thru-hole LM13700, controls for sustain, tone, volume and blend.
1849 Clairvoyant by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
Omega modulator, drone, delay, reverb chorus Noise Maker - This is based on the Sentinel noise maker from DIYstompboxes.  This is a really cool little box.  Almost like a multi-effect pedal in a small form factor.  You can get really convincing Reverb tones, Chorus tones and Delay tones just by playing with the knobs.  Controls are for Drone, Width, Speed and Depth
1843 Omega by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
Auroch Drive - Tube Driver like OD.  Can get really thick and tube like sounds.  Good for that later Gilmour sound.  Controls for Volume, Gain, Lo and Hi.
1848 Auroch by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
Curd Distortion - This is a Big Cheese in a 1590A.  There is no option for tone-stack bypass, but you still get the other three (including the swiss cheese setting.  Controls for Gain, Volume and Tone, switch between mid boost, mid scoop and gated.
1847 Curd by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
Heritage OD - Based on the Lovepedal OD named after the city Heritage guitars is in now.  A very nice transparent OD.  Controls for Vol, Drive, Tone and Glass.
1844 Heritage by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
1484 OD - Based on the Silvertone 1484 amp and twin twelve.  Controls for Vol, Gain, Treble and Bass.
1842 1484 by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
Woodward Overdrive Manipulator - This is based on the EQD Westwood OD.  Controls for Vol, Gain, Bass and Treble.
1841 Wormwood by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
#38
Build Reports / Chrono Trigger Dual Delay
October 04, 2018, 12:28:48 PM
Have you ever been playing your delay pedal, liking how it was going, but wanted a second parallel delay to go with it?  A parallel delay that you have full control over the time, mix and feedback?  If you have never wanted that, ignore the rest of this.  If you HAVE wanted that, this is the one for you!  I made up the Chrono Trigger as a parallel dual delay pedal.  Both delays have full control over mix, feedback and delay time.  When the pedal is off bypass, you get a single delay.  When you hit the dual footswitch, the second delay kicks in and adds to the crazy.

I am really happy with how this one turned out and how it fits comfortably in the 125B.  It was a straightforward build, nothing too crazy about it.  There are 2 J201's in there, with options for either the SMD or thru-hole version, that is probably the most difficult part of the build. 

And if you are wondering, my wife took the pictures after taking pictures of some greeting cards she makes.  I wanted to fancy up my typical photos  ;D
1852 Chrono Trigger Front by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr
1852 CHrono Trigger Inside by Dan Schumaker, on Flickr

Here is a quick and dirty You-Tube of how it sounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cZvIZb0RoE
#39
Build Reports / Bison Echo (1590A Binson)
July 12, 2018, 12:00:11 PM
Here is something I am really proud of fitting inside of a 1590A.  This is a take on a Binson Echo.  There are two PT2999 delay chips in here.  The first delay is a single repeat, the second delay works off of the first (If you have played with the Binson mode on the Multiplex, you know how this works). 

I really like being able to dial in some really space-y delay washes with this guy.  It also does a good job with almost slapback reverb type sounds.

While there was a lot going on in here to fit on a 1590a board, this was a pretty compact build.  Nothing too scary on here (other than the SMD's)  ;D

I do still have a few boards available if anyone is interested.  The build doc is with my other ones.
http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=27768.msg268780#msg268780


#40
Here is a few things I've had kicking around for a while, just got a chance to finish them up after the amp was done.

First two are some FV-1 pedals from PedalPCB.  Its the Octagon and the Unison Double Track



Next is the Tye Dye Parallel Delay.


And I've been wanting to do this one for a while.  I had the Tapanator system all made up and mounted on a board.  It worked just fine, but with 4 enclosures and wires everywhere, it took up space and just looked messy.  So I put everything in a 1590DD and am very happy with it (the inside is still a mess, but with the back cover on, I don't see it).