Aquaboy DX $, plus

[mrsmith]

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum and wanted to ask for an appx cost of building an Aquaboy DX with two MN3008's. I also wanted to ask how much delay time I might expect from such a build. Thanks so much for your help!

[Droogie]

It looks like about $55 to populate the board using MN3008s ($15 each at SB). This includes resistors, caps, diodes, trimmers from Tayda; ICS and Vactrol from SB. Add on cost of 5 pots, switches, enclosure, jacks, etc. from wherever you prefer....

Build doc says about 550ms—not sure if that's for both 3008 and V3205.

[mrsmith]

thanks!

[pickdropper]

With two MN3008s, you'll get half that delay time.
The MN3005 is what you need to get the 550ms.

[mrsmith]

Ok, that helps clear it up. Thanks!

[mrsmith]

So, for the newbie question: Where the hell do MN3005's live?

The Aquaboy DX instructions and a search at small bear and on the forums all indicate that MN3005's (and MN3008's and MN3205's) are very difficult to obtain. The ebay route seems like a great way to get fleeced.

Or which chips would one suggest subbing to get a decent sounding 550ms delay for the Aquaboy DX? Is it worth building the pedal W/O those hard-to-find chips?

Thank!

[midwayfair]

So, for the newbie question: Where the hell do MN3005's live?

They don't. Giant thread in the buy/sell area. No sense rehashing it all here ...

Use the v3205 if you need 550ms delay.

But if you're a new builder: This is one of the most difficult builds around.You need to get comfortable with a wide variety of troubleshooting techniques, or you could very well dump $70 down the drain. I won't say it's impossible. But almost one hundred builds it, it's the only build that's beaten me, and I've troubleshooted some very, very strange problems (heck, I couldn't even get the oscillator to work, and I've designed effects around that part of the circuit!).

There are a variety of very good sounding PT2399 delays that are better for beginners and intermediate builders.

[mrsmith]

Thanks, I've been going between building an analog delay pedal with modulation vs. buying one--I already have a decent digital delay. As the instructions say, there aren't very many analog delays with modulation, cheaper than $200. But it might be worth spending $150 on a Malekko or Carbon Copy. Or building the Zero Point SDX.

[jimilee]

What Jon said. I started building one and read all the problems with it and just opted to sell it instead. There are others here that, I have been told, sound just as good as the abdx.

[juansolo]

...Or building the Zero Point SDX.

^ This. I've built quite a few BBD based delays and I'm not building any more since the ZPSDX came along.

[twin1965]

I used v3205's. You get a nice gritty delay with these. Had some trouble with the clock.  Make sure you use the MN3101. PT2399 delays sound very good. I built the Multiplex Echo and it sounds fantastic. Trying to source MN3005's has become nearly impossible. Too many fakes and too expensive. I didn't bother!

[Scruffie]

The MN3101 instead of 3102 has to be an issue with the build, not the chip itself, need to look in to that more.

Alslo, yes 3005s are pretty much a bad idea but 3008s are still obtainable, and the DM-2 (which the Aqua Puss and subsequent Aqua Boy are based off) only had 300mS so I don't see why going with them is an issue if you *need* the extra headroom, they are easier to obtain... although i'm still slightly against using them as they dry up.

Or yes, the v3205 which bean has set up to be a decent substitute in this build, sadly after testing new ones vs older v chips vs MN3205 when I read all the complaints they are not what they were or even close to a 3205 but they are still very useable with the available tweaking.

[mrsmith]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm leaning now toward building a Zero Point SDX or buying a cheaper analog delay with modulation; however, I really would like to develop my building chops, so a BBD pedal might be in my future.

[DutchMF]

One word: Multiplex with add-on Modulation board(s)! I know that's actually six words, but it still is a good option!! I'm playing a bit of Devil's Advocate here, as I'm in the process of building an MN3005 Aquaboy DX myself, but I got those chips from a very reliable source which was not Ebay. I've got three, will use those, and then it's either MN3205's or PT2399's. PT's make very nice delays!

Paul

[midwayfair]

I'm leaning now toward building a Zero Point SDX

Again, are you a beginner builder? What have you built? I'm not trying to discourage you from building something, but the ZPSDX is still a very complicated build. Saying it's easier than an Aquaboy is kind of like saying that The Name of the Rose is lighter reading than Finnegan's Wake.