Mini ToneBender MkI

[pickdropper]

Just finished this for a gentleman on TGP.  It's a TB MkI with a voltage inverter circuit in a 1590a. He wanted it a more traditional build with simple graphics similar to the original. I couldn't fit Tone Bender in a single like like the original, so I staggered the Tone and Bender. I used a Pewter Vein enclosure for the first time, which has a cool textured look, but has basically zero contrast when laser etched (the text is basically invisible). So I had to back fill with black acrylic paint and then clean it up with alcohol.





I actually did two boards, one with adjustable bias and one with fixed bias. I built both to verify. Soooo, since I had an extra populated board, I threw it in a Bowie-esque silver sparkle enclosure I had kicking around. I went with period-incorrect graphics similar to the Tonebender MkII, because that's what I wanted to do. ;-)

[jubal81]

Impeccable. Great layout and definitely prefer the clean lines on 'yours.'


I've been thinking it'd be fun to do a layout like that with SMD IC and power supply parts on the backside so just the MOJOs are visible.

[jimilee]

Classic pickdropper, so. Lean and neat. First one looks like a tombstone.


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[pickdropper]

Impeccable. Great layout and definitely prefer the clean lines on 'yours.'


I've been thinking it'd be fun to do a layout like that with SMD IC and power supply parts on the backside so just the MOJOs are visible.

Or you could confuse people and put the Mojo on the underside and the SMD parts on top. ;-)

[pickdropper]

Classic pickdropper, so. Lean and neat. First one looks like a tombstone.


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You know, it does sort of look like a tombstone.  I hadn't thought of that.

[storyboardist]

Holy crap that's clean. What a layout! Well done.

[Bret608]

Wow! This is actually the first time I remember seeing a MkI on a fabbed PCB at all, much less in a 1590a. I'm sure the bias trimmers help as this circuit is very picky about transistors. If you have a big enough stash of germaniums with a range of gains and leakeages, it's not as hard to build as people say. Anyway, I like the look of both these builds quite a lot.

[wgc]

Cool builds!  I like the pewter wrinkle finish. Kind of a throwback look but with a modern 1590a sans serif spin.

Have to laugh at this thread because I just yesterday finished an npn smd tonebender layout. I also did one variant with smd and npn germs. No mojo and submojo.

But also smiling because of the lone smd resistor on the switch pcb.

[Adam_DIY]

Wow they look amazing simply wow. 

[cajone5]

Awesome work. So clean. Wish I could build in those tiny enclosures and maintain my sanity

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?

[flanagan0718]

Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?

Kan I Haz PCB two?  <('o'<)

-Mike-

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?

Kan I Haz PCB two?  <('o'<)

-Mike-

LOL.... actually I was referring to a full build. How much for a completed build?

[pickdropper]

Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?

I quoted $180, but ended up cutting it down to $170 as an apology for how long to finish it.

[pickdropper]

Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?

Kan I Haz PCB two?  <('o'<)

-Mike-

I am actually going to post my semi-annual list of PCBs that I have for sale.  These will be included in that.