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Yeah, maybe "thin" wasn't the best choice of words, but I ended bypassing the buffer and bumping up C4 to 20nf (2x10nf) and it "thickened" up just enough. C4 is probably a good place for a fat switch mod.

Sounds really good with single coils, however with the Drive cranked I need to roll back the guitar volume a tad with humbuckers. Maybe the bias pot will help here, have to check that out again tonight. 

I may also try increasing R2 and/or R6. Hopefully I can get a good compromise for singles and humbuckers.

I agree - it works better with some lower-output pickups. I was considering adding a pre-gain control to just lower the input signal but then I remembered I have that on my guitar.   The bias pot, for me, just squishes out the attack. This pedal is definitely better for leads than intricate riffs.

Hey leftwing73, very nice.

How does it sound? I built my own DIY version, with the single tone control and an opamp buffer rather than the jfet.

I'm also running the tube at 40V rather than the +/- 12v.

Mike sounds a bit thin. The bias cotrol darkens things up but at the same time makes it sound a bit woofy. I prefer the bias turned down.

Thinking of trying the other tone control and maybe bypassing the buffer.

Curious how yours sounds

Mine sounds anything but thin. I can thin it out with the hi/lo eq controls at their extreme settings but in general this is a thick, rich , very 80's cranked-Marshall-sounding pedal.

Tasty :-)

I think the pedal is harder to use than to build.  Once it's dialed in though...

The MB Flunkee project is the opposite end of the spectrum.  Nowhere near as versatile or nuanced but nearly impossible to get a bad sound out of.

Yes exactly. It's got a learning curve. Turn a knob 1mm changes everything in some cases. About 90% of the sounds it makes are "meh" but the other 10% are insane. So much fun though.

Love the wrap-around graphics! Is that a sticker or a decal, or something else?

Thanks! Its one big waterslide decal.

another...

More pics

Hey everyone, just built this for a friend in Brooklyn, hence the name. This is a fantastic circuit - total freak show of a pedal. Nota terribly complicated build but drilling the enclosure by hand with little room for error is a challenge.

Beautiful - classy look and a very clean build.

Fantastic! What adapter are you using, mine wasn't powerful enough to run it?


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Thanks! I'm using this:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PowerPlug12--tc-helicon-12v-power-supply

12v, 1000ma. Works great.

I got the same thing on mine with the buffer and the voltages were way off on the trans.  I'd used a smd J201 and must have fried it installing it.  I replaced it and it solved the problem.  TBH I usually use this one in unbuffered mode anyway.  Great build!  I like the wrap around graphics, is it a vinyl decal or is that a waterslide?

Thanks! It's a clear laser waterslide decal with Minwax satin Polycrylic. I'm using a thru-hole J201 - I'll check the voltages but its probably not worth troubleshooting. It sounds killer just the way it is.

Hey gang, I just finished an Archibald build - the Rocket House. Running 12v, no buffer. I was getting some gating/compression with it on, but its got a much tighter, crisp attack without it. I've got it going into my Marshall TSL122 on the crunch channel and it its so good it just kicked my Guv'nor off the pedalboard. Wiring isn't super clean but it works. I also rigged up a power switch. Anyway thought you'd enjoy the ridiculous/obscure Simpsons reference.

Hey gang.

I've been lurking here for a while and I have my own microscopic company 73 Effects. This is a great discussion by some very intelligent level-headed dudes (until I started posting...) So thanks everyone for that.

My take on all this is pretty simple. if you want to be your own company or brand your pedals, do your own layouts or pay someone to do it for you. If you offer a production pedal with its own unique name, I think it lends more credibility to the builder if it's not based on a DIY project like from Madbean. Although that's even a gray area because you can get pretty creative with some of these builds enough to make it your own.

I've built some one-off pedals for people who want a Phase 90 or a chorus pedal or whatever and I'll use a DIY project. These I sell for a profit because they'll finance my own production builds with my own board designs.  I don't see anything wrong with that, and neither do my customers. They get a cool custom-build one of a kind pedal, I get funds to make more pedals. Win-Win.