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#51
Build Reports / Re: Polyphemus {One Knob Overd...
Last post by jessenator - February 10, 2026, 04:17:17 AM
#52
Open Discussion / Re: What are you playing? (gam...
Last post by jessenator - February 10, 2026, 03:22:55 AMI still haven't installed BG3... or RDR2...
I did do a large run of Tale of Two Wastelands. I think I've exhausted any and all interest I ever had of FO3. Just vanilla FNV from now on, but after a break.
Finally installed Fallout London and have been very pleased with it. Though, having to install GOG Galaxy to get it installed properly was a faff, if the only one.
I did do a large run of Tale of Two Wastelands. I think I've exhausted any and all interest I ever had of FO3. Just vanilla FNV from now on, but after a break.
Finally installed Fallout London and have been very pleased with it. Though, having to install GOG Galaxy to get it installed properly was a faff, if the only one.
#53
Open Discussion / Re: Got bored, building a bass...
Last post by phreek - February 09, 2026, 10:20:45 PMI did a ton of reading in there... Felt slight panic... Ordered a PCB from aion.
#54
Build Reports / Polyphemus [One Knob Overdrive...
Last post by Aleph Null - February 09, 2026, 04:26:20 PMThis all started with Jessenator giving me the bullying me for building in 125B instead of 1590B. I threatened to put a mosfet boost in a 1590XX just to spite him. That's not where I ended up, but the idea for this circuit did come to me while contemplating mosfets and revenge.
Polyphemus is a one-knob overdrive/distortion with internal voicing options that allow it to be tailored to a variety of rigs and use cases. The idea was, to do all the dialing in up front, then screw the thing shut and just rock! As it's built around a Super Hard On of sorts, it only seemed appropriate to name it after the original one-eyed monster!
The circuit consists of three gain/eq stages. The first stage is a high shelf filter that boosts everything above a set frequency by 20dB. Everything below that frequency stays at unity gain. The second stage is a simple mosfet boost, which is pushed by the first stage into clipping. The final stage is a low shelf, set at a similar frequency to the first. This flattens out the eq again. This makes for a "transparent" overdrive that emphasizes harmonics and retains clarity, since higher frequencies are saturated more and sooner. It also greatly lowers the noise floor!
Switches 1 and 2 set the capacitance/cut-off frequency in the HPF stage. Switches 3 and 4 set the capacitance/cut-off frequency in the LPF stage. HPF and LPF interact to shape the character of the gain, as well as the frequency response. Flat, transparent overdrive, various kinds of mid boost or treble boost, mid scoop, even distortion/fuzz is achievable. Heat sets the range of the Gain control. This is so that the headroom can be adjusted to suit your pickups and maximize the range of the Gain Control. Output is a volume control. With Heat dialed in, there is a moderate change in volume from the lowest to the highest Gain setting (maybe 6dB). I like to set Output so that the lowest Gain setting is about unity with bypass, but you could attenuate or boost to taste.
Here's a demo:
There's a little dedication to Jessenator on the PCB. 😘 I built mine in a 125B, as is my preference, but it'll fit into a 1590B with top mount jacks. Side jacks are possible, but you'd have to push the Gain knob up to accommodate them. And, of course, it's in green, Jessenator's preferred solder mask color.
As always, I have extra PCBs. If you want one, DM me.
Polyphemus is a one-knob overdrive/distortion with internal voicing options that allow it to be tailored to a variety of rigs and use cases. The idea was, to do all the dialing in up front, then screw the thing shut and just rock! As it's built around a Super Hard On of sorts, it only seemed appropriate to name it after the original one-eyed monster!
The circuit consists of three gain/eq stages. The first stage is a high shelf filter that boosts everything above a set frequency by 20dB. Everything below that frequency stays at unity gain. The second stage is a simple mosfet boost, which is pushed by the first stage into clipping. The final stage is a low shelf, set at a similar frequency to the first. This flattens out the eq again. This makes for a "transparent" overdrive that emphasizes harmonics and retains clarity, since higher frequencies are saturated more and sooner. It also greatly lowers the noise floor!
Switches 1 and 2 set the capacitance/cut-off frequency in the HPF stage. Switches 3 and 4 set the capacitance/cut-off frequency in the LPF stage. HPF and LPF interact to shape the character of the gain, as well as the frequency response. Flat, transparent overdrive, various kinds of mid boost or treble boost, mid scoop, even distortion/fuzz is achievable. Heat sets the range of the Gain control. This is so that the headroom can be adjusted to suit your pickups and maximize the range of the Gain Control. Output is a volume control. With Heat dialed in, there is a moderate change in volume from the lowest to the highest Gain setting (maybe 6dB). I like to set Output so that the lowest Gain setting is about unity with bypass, but you could attenuate or boost to taste.
Here's a demo:
There's a little dedication to Jessenator on the PCB. 😘 I built mine in a 125B, as is my preference, but it'll fit into a 1590B with top mount jacks. Side jacks are possible, but you'd have to push the Gain knob up to accommodate them. And, of course, it's in green, Jessenator's preferred solder mask color.
As always, I have extra PCBs. If you want one, DM me.
#55
Open Discussion / Re: Got bored, building a bass...
Last post by jimilee - February 08, 2026, 05:06:23 AMQuote from: phreek on February 08, 2026, 12:17:48 AMHere's a while thread on the Sun on FSB. There's a vero layout, on page 2. I don't read much past that.Quote from: jimilee on February 05, 2026, 09:04:05 PMhah I wish I was better with schematics! Hell if I were I'd cook up a sunn beta bass pre and be done with it lolQuote from: jessenator on February 05, 2026, 07:56:40 PMSadly byoc has closed up shop. Had a final sale end of 2024. Don't recall the reasons.I think the BYOC schematics are linked by someone over on pedalpcb.
I have a mbp Promenade in my build queue. I wonder of aleph null's Otolith could be optimized for bass (maybe just cap values?) That's a very versatile beast and can do super sludgy to punchy.
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https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?t=25813
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#56
Open Discussion / Re: Got bored, building a bass...
Last post by phreek - February 08, 2026, 12:17:48 AMQuote from: jimilee on February 05, 2026, 09:04:05 PMhah I wish I was better with schematics! Hell if I were I'd cook up a sunn beta bass pre and be done with it lolQuote from: jessenator on February 05, 2026, 07:56:40 PMSadly byoc has closed up shop. Had a final sale end of 2024. Don't recall the reasons.I think the BYOC schematics are linked by someone over on pedalpcb.
I have a mbp Promenade in my build queue. I wonder of aleph null's Otolith could be optimized for bass (maybe just cap values?) That's a very versatile beast and can do super sludgy to punchy.
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#57
Open Discussion / Re: Got bored, building a bass...
Last post by jimilee - February 05, 2026, 09:04:05 PMQuote from: jessenator on February 05, 2026, 07:56:40 PMSadly byoc has closed up shop. Had a final sale end of 2024. Don't recall the reasons.I think the BYOC schematics are linked by someone over on pedalpcb.
I have a mbp Promenade in my build queue. I wonder of aleph null's Otolith could be optimized for bass (maybe just cap values?) That's a very versatile beast and can do super sludgy to punchy.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
#58
Open Discussion / Re: Got bored, building a bass...
Last post by jessenator - February 05, 2026, 07:56:40 PMSadly byoc has closed up shop. Had a final sale end of 2024. Don't recall the reasons.
I have a mbp Promenade in my build queue. I wonder of aleph null's Otolith could be optimized for bass (maybe just cap values?) That's a very versatile beast and can do super sludgy to punchy.
I have a mbp Promenade in my build queue. I wonder of aleph null's Otolith could be optimized for bass (maybe just cap values?) That's a very versatile beast and can do super sludgy to punchy.
#59
Open Discussion / Got bored, building a bass. Ne...
Last post by phreek - February 05, 2026, 06:10:57 PMSup gang! It's been a minute.
Firstly, WTF happened to BYOC?!
Nextly, is there a bass muff layout somewhere? Also, what bass pedals are you rocking? Gonna be looking for ideas for more sludgy, doom-esque kind of affair.
Whatcha got?
Firstly, WTF happened to BYOC?!
Nextly, is there a bass muff layout somewhere? Also, what bass pedals are you rocking? Gonna be looking for ideas for more sludgy, doom-esque kind of affair.
Whatcha got?
#60
General Questions / Re: all-silicon Cosmopolitan o...
Last post by Aleph Null - February 04, 2026, 07:46:53 PMNah. Just slap a BS170 in the stock circuit and see what it does. You might have to change R12 if the bias is way off, but it probably won't be.