easy tremolo circuit, will this work?

[casey]

i found this on the net....will this work?  it seems really easy!

http://www.designnotes.com/CIRCUITS/vibrato.htm

[cd]

It would work better with a buffer on the input and output.  Add to the fact that the 566 is expensive and hard to find, and you might as well build the EA Tremolo.

[idlefaction]

I'd be tempted to build an easier LFO, but yeah that would work fine.   not sure if that 566 circuit would draw too much current or whether it even has a speed control tho;  if you pull the LFO out of the EA Tremolo and use the LED-in-the-collector to shine onto the LDR it would also work great.  

the downside is that it will always sound quieter when you kick the trem in, and if you have any low output impedance device before it (eg vox or dunlop wah, many vintage fuzzes) you'll also lose a lot of treble.

the upside is that as long as you don't have any spikes on the power line from the 566 it will have absolutely no noise, and it's dead simple to build :-)

good luck!

[Transmogrifox]

I think a 555 timer would be a fine replacement for the 556, but you have to get the datasheet and look at the app notes to use the 555 properly.

[cd]

Yup, a 555 is a much better idea.  Mesa uses one in the Tremoverb.

[zachary vex]

use a low-current cmos version of the 555 whenever possible to save yourself the current spikes on your power supply and grounding.

http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/1503

[Transmogrifox]

thanks zvex.  It looks like the data sheet offers a good diagram for application of the device that I think most people can follow.

[Torchy]

I think a 555 timer would be a fine replacement for the 556, but you have to get the datasheet and look at the app notes to use the 555 properly.

Erm, The 566 is a function generator, in this app it is producing a triangle wave output from pin 4. The 555 is a simple timer that can be used as an astable. It isnt a pin-for-pin replacement for the 566. And the 556 is just a dual-555.

Data Sheet
http://www.eng.iastate.edu/ee423/EE423/labs/fm_lab/ne_se566.pdf