Recent posts

#61

Open Discussion / Re: Absence, update and reflec...

Last post by LaceSensor - September 13, 2025, 12:37:30 AM

Dude, you're legendary in these parts. Your work on the lovetone stuff hasn't been matched. Looking forward to your offerings.


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Cheers jimi

Reels are going up on Instagram; more and more details to come

#62

VFE Projects / Re: Distortion 3 - sub for 1n3...

Last post by greysun - September 12, 2025, 04:25:32 PM

I guess my question, as someone that barely knows how clipping diodes work, is: will I ruin a part around these diodes if I tinker, or is there a range of forward voltages that I should be staying within to ensure the 914s remain intact and I don't blow out the ic ?

Tinker away, you can't hurt an IC by swapping out passive parts.

FYI, LEDs have a very high forward voltage (~1 to 3 V) compared to silicon (~0.6 V) and Ge (~0.3 V).  In a feedback loop, LEDs give you more gain; in clipping to ground, LEDs will give you less clipping and more output volume. 

This is exactly what I found to be the case! Tried out a few iterations this morning - the DV9 edged out the 1n34a, but I liked the BAT41 and the LED was ... I don't know, crunchier? less controlled? Wasn't great, but in actuality they were all in the same buffet. I was able to get a bit more clarity from the DV9 than the others given my amp, so that's the winner here - but if I ever get my hands on some D9x variations, 1n60p or 1n4678's, I'll definitely tinker further...

Thanks for the help, folks! Now to print all those knobs I need for these pedals...

#63

VFE Projects / Re: Distortion 3 - sub for 1n3...

Last post by mauman - September 12, 2025, 01:06:21 PM

I guess my question, as someone that barely knows how clipping diodes work, is: will I ruin a part around these diodes if I tinker, or is there a range of forward voltages that I should be staying within to ensure the 914s remain intact and I don't blow out the ic ?

Tinker away, you can't hurt an IC by swapping out passive parts.

FYI, LEDs have a very high forward voltage (~1 to 3 V) compared to silicon (~0.6 V) and Ge (~0.3 V).  In a feedback loop, LEDs give you more gain; in clipping to ground, LEDs will give you less clipping and more output volume. 

#64

Open Discussion / Re: Absence, update and reflec...

Last post by lars - September 12, 2025, 03:01:53 AM

One of my things has a big muff front end but where the tone control is there is a set of state variable filters and a resonant frequency control to dial in a stupidly broad array of sounds, many of them borderline unusable (according to your taste of course).

This sounds amazing.

Nothing wild just a style I like, clean, not gimmicky, colourful. Inspired by 90s boutique (think Lovetone, way huge etc)

Perfect. There's a reason 90's boutique pedals are now some of the most valuable ever made:  Klon, Flange with No Name...good grief, those are 2 to 3 grand now.

#65

VFE Projects / Re: Distortion 3 - sub for 1n3...

Last post by jimilee - September 12, 2025, 01:12:12 AM

LEDs, 1n60p and 1n4678 make good clippers.


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#66

Open Discussion / Re: Absence, update and reflec...

Last post by jimilee - September 12, 2025, 01:07:16 AM

Dude, you're legendary in these parts. Your work on the lovetone stuff hasn't been matched. Looking forward to your offerings.


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#67

Open Discussion / Re: Absence, update and reflec...

Last post by LaceSensor - September 11, 2025, 10:51:30 PM

This sounds like a awesome endeavor, and I look forward to seeing what your design aesthetic is. It's tough to stand out in the pedal business, and sometimes I think companies try to get too gimmicky. Ultimately, tried and true, functional pedals that feel like a nice piece of gear always stand out.
I would recommend that if you make a Phase 90-style clone, add the Wampler "tremolo" mod on a footswitch. It's a really unique-sounding mod that I've never seen MXR make available, and it would really help your pedal to stand out in the sea of phasers. In fact, always put mods on a footswitch. No companies seem to do that. They always either have a ton of options on toggles, or nothing. And how many times do we play these pedals and think, "that would be a great feature on a footswitch"? How many overdrives could basically be two drives in one, but they give you only one footswitch? Just about all of them.
Players want footswitches, not knobs and toggles. We set tone controls and leave them (maybe switchable tone modules would be better than a tone knob?). Drives and fuzz pedals rarely have bias controls. Personally, I would rather have a bias knob than a tone control, because the tone control is probably just a Big Muff tone circuit slapped in there, or a simple treble cut.
Boring.

Thanks for the feedback

All the first pedals I'm putting out are in the dirt category.

Interestingly I agree with your thoughts on footswitchable options so a couple of mine do have that, mostly to change the bias or character on the fly.

Also I have a fuzz face with a wide ranging bias on the front (0.7 to 7.2v approx) so a wide range of, again, character available. Nothing ground breaking but useful.

Interesting you mentioned big muff tone controls. One of my things has a big muff front end but where the tone control is there is a set of state variable filters and a resonant frequency control to dial in a stupidly broad array of sounds, many of them borderline unusable (according to your taste of course).

So thanks for validating some of my features

I'll be dropping teasers over the next few days on instagram of the aesthetic. Again. Nothing wild just a style I like, clean, not gimmicky, colourful. Inspired by 90s boutique (think Lovetone, way huge etc)

#68

VFE Projects / Re: Distortion 3 - sub for 1n3...

Last post by greysun - September 11, 2025, 10:47:17 PM

Looked at the Dist 3 schematic, and if you've got the means I'd breadboard it test out what you'd like.

I've tried red LEDs in a tube screamer (landgraff), OD-1 (YATS' father), and a honey bee, but those are soft clipping scenarios. Scratching my head where I've done it in hard clipping configs. Maybe I tried it in a D+/250? Definitely didn't like them in a klone. Kind of strange that I've never tried them in a Rat!

It's one of the mods on a slow loris - I forget which one, but it allows to toggle select between the stock rat 914s and some LEDs. LEDs are louder and meaner for sure (I almost can't use the rat without them, otherwise I can never match my flat signal).

I just tried the DV9s - I might prefer them! Added a bit more clarity and range when I was playing with the levels and knobs (but I am on a jtm45, so they might just not be as bassy as the 1n34a, which makes them a bit better for my instance). Will try some others for sure.

Already built the pedals, so don't have enough parts left to breadboard em - but I did socket those diodes out so I can swap to my hearts content. Gonna leave one pedal stock for comparison.

I guess my question, as someone that barely knows how clipping diodes work, is: will I ruin a part around these diodes if I tinker, or is there a range of forward voltages that I should be staying within to ensure the 914s remain intact and I don't blow out the ic ?

#69

Open Discussion / Re: Fun with 3D printing…

Last post by jessenator - September 11, 2025, 09:59:23 PM

Alright here's the alignment "fork" part.

Tried to make it as condensed as possible for really narrow control spacing.

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You cannot view this attachment.

It should also be large enough to accommodate 22mm knobs

Still thinking about the block portion whether to have a screw anchor or whatever.

#70

Open Discussion / Re: Absence, update and reflec...

Last post by jessenator - September 11, 2025, 09:55:40 PM

Congrats! Big step to make it for yourself out there. Don't know if I'll always have an answer to questions, but looking forward to see what you put out there.