Been playing with this on the breadboard, seems to have potential. As shown there can be a diode clamp before the volume control for an overdrive, or leave them out for a booster. (The trimpot is adjusted for 4.5v at Q2's collector.) A resistor can be placed between Q1's emitter and Q2's collector to clean things up if desired. Something fun to mess around with.
(http://joe.csoft.net/keep/gain_stage_idea1.png)
(http://joe.csoft.net/keep/gain_stage_idea2.png)
Thanks for that, and welcome back, Joe. We kinda missed you. :icon_smile:
Sounds great, some lovely overdrive at higher gain even without diodes on the output. I've got a fair bit of squealing oscillation at maximum gain (using a BC179C and BC109C) will try a limiting resistor in line with the gain pot tonight. Many thanks!
The wave form reminds me of some DC coupled experiments I've done with a bootstrap cap. The way you do it, as an old op-amp with a pair of BJT, can be turned into a simple class A amplifier also.
(http://sound.westhost.com/p36-fig3.gif)
Cheers.
So, what's new/interesting/special in the present schematic (except of DC coupling)?