ChunkChunk experiment

[Mark_McQ]

Just tried some 2n5457's in the ChunkChunk. The Boogie 57 pedal uses these for a lower gain pedal, so I decided to see how it sounded.
First thing is it cuts the gain by about half. Dimed gain on the 2n's are about 50% when using the stock J201's.
With the 201's, I find that 0-1 on the gain pot is clean, then from 1 to about 5 it's tight crunch, then after that it's just cotton wool. With the 2n's, it seems to have a better, more linear range, rather than 3 'blocks'.

I've gone back to the 201's as I prefer more gain, but if you've built a ChunkChunk and found it a bit too much, I'd suggest at least giving the 2n's a try. You'll need to bias around 6v.

[madbean]

I'm really surprised that there was so much less gain with the 2n5457, but that is very good info, Mark.

I bet replacing just the first transistor with the 5457 and the leaving the rest as j201 would strike a good balance.

[Mark_McQ]

I had that thought too. I may do a bit more tinkering with it at some point.
Are there any tranny's that sit between the 2n's and the 201's?

[madbean]

MPF102?

Or Maybe 2SK117?