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Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: raulduke on May 03, 2013, 04:12:01 PM

Title: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion (+Demo Clip!)
Post by: raulduke on May 03, 2013, 04:12:01 PM
Here be Dr Gonzo.

LM386-Amp Chip Overdrive/Distortion (based on the D*A*M Sonic Titan).

The toggle switch is an input cap selector switch. With a higher input coupling cap, this thing is great for stoner rock riffing. Also great for crunchy rhythm tones etc.

EDIT: Here is a clip of it in action:
[soundcloud]http://soundcloud.com/sj-audio-effects/dr-gonzo[/soundcloud]

Also, this little f***ker is LOUD (makes sense with the amp chip n'all) ;D

The enclosure is one of ColesBD's that he has for sale (antique copper finish). Really impressed by his enclosures so far. Gives us UK guys a bit of that powder coated enclosure love!

Because of the powdercoating, I also added a ground tab to the enclosure (you can see the mounting screw below the output jack on the first photo).

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa381/stevo83/Snapbucket/BE65B1E6-8A68-4144-9F11-9CA3BAA20F1C-7540-00000F339511F729_zps30e73bcd.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa381/stevo83/Snapbucket/69372B78-0E09-4B5D-A28B-17C6847015C5-7540-00000F338957E5C6_zps39ad055e.jpg)
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: spaceboss on May 04, 2013, 03:55:55 AM
That thing looks like it sounds wicked.  :o
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: lincolnic on May 04, 2013, 03:59:40 AM
Where'd those knobs come from? They're awesome! (As is the rest of this build!)
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: the3secondrule on May 04, 2013, 04:03:41 AM
Ooooh! Got a spare board for this one?
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: jimilee on May 04, 2013, 04:10:28 AM
Awesome overdrive...stoner rock riffing? WTF does that even mean? Can a brother just get some good classic rock? Sabbath,Zeppelin AC/DC???
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: nzCdog on May 04, 2013, 05:19:20 AM
Nice looking build man... those enclosures you guys have been using are awesome
Title: Re:
Post by: ch1naski on May 04, 2013, 06:02:16 AM
Quote from: jimilee on May 04, 2013, 04:10:28 AM
Awesome overdrive...stoner rock riffing? WTF does that even mean? Can a brother just get some good classic rock? Sabbath,Zeppelin AC/DC???
every time I hear that term, I think "master of reality"
Or even queens of the stone age.....
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: raulduke on May 04, 2013, 11:55:40 AM
Quote from: jimilee on May 04, 2013, 04:10:28 AM
Awesome overdrive...stoner rock riffing? WTF does that even mean? Can a brother just get some good classic rock? Sabbath,Zeppelin AC/DC???

Here you go:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoner_rock

Kyuss, fu Manchu etc i would class as stoner rock.

You can get a very good crunch tone out of this (ie. acdc) but I think it sounds best for low tuned riffage ;)
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: the3secondrule on May 04, 2013, 12:03:30 PM
Quote from: the3secondrule on May 04, 2013, 04:03:41 AM
Ooooh! Got a spare board for this one?

Nevermind - Just finished one up on vero. It's late, and the toddler is sleeping, so I haven't had a chance to crank it loud yet, but I think I'm gonna like it. Sludgetastic!

any suggestions for input cap values for the switch?

at the moment is going in an enclosure that is already drilled for a switch, so i might as well use it!
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: raulduke on May 04, 2013, 06:11:26 PM
Quote from: the3secondrule on May 04, 2013, 12:03:30 PM
Quote from: the3secondrule on May 04, 2013, 04:03:41 AM
Ooooh! Got a spare board for this one?

Nevermind - Just finished one up on vero. It's late, and the toddler is sleeping, so I haven't had a chance to crank it loud yet, but I think I'm gonna like it. Sludgetastic!

any suggestions for input cap values for the switch?

at the moment is going in an enclosure that is already drilled for a switch, so i might as well use it!

Well buggar; missed your post on that and I do have a few spare pcb's.

Can't remember what cap values I used (away from home right now) But i would recommend socketing the extra cap and see what you like best.
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: the3secondrule on May 04, 2013, 07:15:43 PM
well, probably wouldn't hurt me to build another  ;)

i'd probably still grab a board ...

J
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: DutchMF on May 04, 2013, 07:17:39 PM
Quote from: jimilee on May 04, 2013, 04:10:28 AM
Awesome overdrive...stoner rock riffing? WTF does that even mean? Can a brother just get some good classic rock? Sabbath,Zeppelin AC/DC???

I hear ya bro, but I can get that just from my amp and a good OD pedal (IE MB GreenBean, Egodriver) or a nice booster. For a good Stoner Rock sound, you do need some sort of Fuzz or stack a whole bunch of OD's, boosts etc, in combination with a cookin' amp... All the bands mentioned above will give you an idea of what it will sound like.... IT ROCKS!!!!

Paul
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: Stomptown on May 05, 2013, 03:27:11 AM
Quote from: raulduke on May 04, 2013, 11:55:40 AM
Quote from: jimilee on May 04, 2013, 04:10:28 AM
Awesome overdrive...stoner rock riffing? WTF does that even mean? Can a brother just get some good classic rock? Sabbath,Zeppelin AC/DC???

Here you go:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoner_rock

Kyuss, fu Manchu etc i would class as stoner rock.

You can get a very good crunch tone out of this (ie. acdc) but I think it sounds best for low tuned riffage ;)

Stoner rock is awesome! I listened to a lot of Queens of the Stone age back in the day and subsequently got into Kyuss. All really good stuff!
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: Parra on May 05, 2013, 04:59:20 PM
awesome build, inside and outside.
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: jalmonsalmon on May 19, 2013, 05:03:46 AM
Nice build dude!  I love those knobs too...
Does that pedal more or less sound about the same as the sonic titan? Get some clips going on your blog!


Cheers!
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: raulduke on May 19, 2013, 08:22:39 AM
Thanks dude!

Sounds exactly the same as the sonic Titan as far as I can tell.
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion
Post by: soldersqueeze on May 19, 2013, 09:10:26 AM
Do you still have any boards you'd part with? I'd really one of these, stoner-sludge is very much my mood at the moment :)
Title: Re: Dr Gonzo LM386 Distortion (+Demo Clip!)
Post by: raulduke on May 26, 2013, 12:17:18 PM
Hey Guys,

Sorry for the bump, but a few guys have asked me for soundclips of this pedal, so I've done one for ya.

See SoundCloud widget thingy in first post for the clip.

I think its pretty obvious what song this clip is 'influenced' (read ripped off) by ;)!