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Author Topic: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)  (Read 4160 times)

Bucksears

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Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« on: April 21, 2013, 01:16:39 PM »
Just finished the Voxy Brown external - i.e. not in a case yet. I had high hopes for this one, and it does sound good for the most part; it's just that it's too 'cocked-wah' for me when the boost is on. This is probably a testament to it's intent - to really nail that Brian May (or Mick Ronson a la 'Ziggy Stardust') lead tone. With the boost on, it really reminds me of the classic Runoffgroove 'May Queen' circuit, but with an EQ and gain control. If that's what you're looking for, the Galileo/Voxy Brown is the one to build. I built a May Queen about 5 or 6 years ago and didn't really like the sound all that much.

The non-boosted mode is ok, but I think I like my AC-Tone clone better overall for both low/med/high gain Vox-like tones. I'll have to play around with it a bit more before deciding whether or not to box it up.
Just my $.02
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jubal81

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Re: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2013, 02:42:16 PM »
I've hardly been using the boost much lately myself. It does nail 'that sound' when you use it, though.

I've got quite a few mods in mind for a new iteration, like:
Mosfet polarity protection
Lower-noise biasing method
Tinkering with the tone stack for more bass (I leave the bass knob on 11) - maybe see what a Bax does
Flatter freq boost, but add a toggle for the extra treble
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idgit

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Re: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2013, 05:47:42 PM »
the boost was the problem I had with the original Galileo.  It was an icepick, and although the gain was very useable and the tone was rich enough with my amp, I convinced myself I had to sell based on the boost.  so glad to have found the Voxy because I missed the CB30 side very much.  more bass would be a great mod, as well as a mod to allow low gain, too.

BAX is also a great idea.  The Gal really did have a nice gain, glad to have the chance to build something similar
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ch1naski

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Re: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2013, 08:04:15 AM »
Reviving an old thread.....jubal81, any word on ideas for the tone section yet? I've got my board put together (finally), and while it does do queen sounds pretty spot-on, I think the treble side of the stack could use a little taming for my setup.
The boost section, I think, is good for my setup. Nice.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 4
« Last Edit: September 24, 2013, 08:05:52 AM by ch1naski »
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jubal81

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Re: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2013, 09:29:14 AM »
Quote from: ch1naski on September 24, 2013, 08:04:15 AM
Reviving an old thread.....jubal81, any word on ideas for the tone section yet? I've got my board put together (finally), and while it does do queen sounds pretty spot-on, I think the treble side of the stack could use a little taming for my setup.
The boost section, I think, is good for my setup. Nice.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 4

I've been thinking about doing the AC30 sound with a completely different topology. Might have something to show early next year. The mu-amp setup makes it really easy when it comes to sourcing JFETs and getting a good sound, but I don't think it has as good a response - kinda stiff feel to me.

I think I've mentioned it before, but I keep the bass control all the way up and back off the treble to beef up the sound.

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"If you put all the knobs on your amplifier on 10 you can get a much higher reaction-to-effort ratio with an electric guitar than you can with an acoustic."
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selfdestroyer

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Re: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2013, 12:35:48 PM »
I ended up taking mine off the board and stripped a few parts for other builds. With my Fender Twin Reverb it was just to piercing and I could not get the sound I wanted out of it. It did sound 70% better on my Bassman 135 but still not the sound I was after. So I guess it was just not meant to be. I gave my 2nd PCB to Timbo and I hope he has a better experience than I had. I too have high hopes for this pedal since I love the AC sound.
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fendman

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Re: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2013, 02:15:31 PM »
I still use my Voxy Brown...more than I did when I first built it. I have it after the Faultline and it sounds good I don't use the boost that often.

Mike
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ch1naski

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Re: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2013, 02:51:57 PM »
Oddly enough, the boost is my favorite part so far....but I have yet to box it and really play with it so that may change

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jubal81

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Re: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2013, 05:11:38 PM »
Just thought of something. On the build doc, some of the values are in uF and could be confused for nF. It's trebly for sure, but crazy trebly could be a cap goof.
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"If you put all the knobs on your amplifier on 10 you can get a much higher reaction-to-effort ratio with an electric guitar than you can with an acoustic."
- David Fair

ch1naski

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Re: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« Reply #9 on: September 24, 2013, 08:27:34 PM »
If you're referring to the .68uF , I got that one. The "....... .68" almost threw me off :)

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ch1naski

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Re: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« Reply #10 on: October 07, 2013, 09:09:29 PM »
I realized what my issue could be. I'm testing it through a Maz 18, which is basically a souped up vox. The distortion side doesn't mix well with it.  Same if you play it through a vox amp, I've heard. I didn't bother trying the boost, I'm sure that will sound fine through it.

Guess I better wrangle my Tone King away from my son to do the testing.

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idgit

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Re: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« Reply #11 on: September 30, 2016, 08:45:00 AM »
Quote from: jubal81 on September 24, 2013, 05:11:38 PM
Just thought of something. On the build doc, some of the values are in uF and could be confused for nF. It's trebly for sure, but crazy trebly could be a cap goof.

Old thread revival because I'm getting to building this.......

I had the Catalinbread V1 and sold it because it was so piercing when boost was engaged.  It was out of control harsh.  The main reason I want to build this pedal is for the non boost side, but also maybe find a way to tame the treble boost....
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jubal81

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Re: Voxy Brown build done (no pics)
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2016, 11:40:25 AM »

Howdy!
Here's the schematic. The circuit on top is the main circuit and the one below is the treble boost. On the top one, try putting C7 on a switch with a larger capacitor, maybe 4.7n to 22n to add some lower end back to the circuit.


For the boost, you'll want to raise the values on C19 and C21. Try 47n for C19, 22n for C21 and 220K for R20.



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"If you put all the knobs on your amplifier on 10 you can get a much higher reaction-to-effort ratio with an electric guitar than you can with an acoustic."
- David Fair
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