Hi all,
First off, I am kind of multi-tasking with a few projects going so I have some posts on this board which I am still minding, just haven't got the info some of you requested in reply to my request for help just yet, I haven't forgotten about your effort and kindness to help me. I am kind of... uh well.. I think I have ADD or something lol, I always have multiple things going on.
Any ways, I have a '70's 50w 2x12 combo amp, 3 12ax7's pre, and solid state power. I would ultimately like to build an all tube amp, but don't think I am ready for that just yet. I am, however, dying to work with tubes. In the mean time, I thought I might build a tube overdrive pedal. The Tube Driver on GGG.
I have a few questions though, and I am hoping to get some advice from you all.
1. I have found the Diodes on Mouser ( 2 1N4007's and 2 1N4148's-or 1N914's that are listed on the parts list), but the descriptions don't say "diode" specifically, I think a few said semiconductor, and something else. If the part number is correct, its the correct part right? I think the Mouser part numbers were the same as above but preceded by 512 or something. Also, what are the -T, or -D at the end of the part number on some of these parts?
2. I am not too crazy about using DC jacks, wall warts or whatever... I know they are cheaper in the long run, but I prefer batteries. I know the project is for 12.6v power, and the parts layout suggests a DC jack or Transformer. Anyone know how to wire a transformer, or what transformer, or a schematic for it, or another solution besides an enormous battery, or multiple cells..? Does using a transformer involve building another small circuit or something?
3. Is this project only going to work correctly/safely with a 12AX7? Or, can other preamp tubes be used?
4. With the amplifier I have, will this stompbox provide a more saturated overdrive sound? Will it be too much and sound muddy? I am basically looking to make my amp sound... maybe more "tube-y", have more overdrive, something like that. I guess I am asking if it will augment the tube overdrive sound, or just muddy things up?
5. Anyone know of a good place to buy a tube socket, and tube? I have seen tubes in music shops, but never the sockets--I have owned my amp for 10 years, played it an average of 4 times a week and haven't had to change the tubes yet lol, so don't have much experience with them. Also, is there any modding required to mount the tube socket into an enclosure? How would I go about this? Is it clear-cut, they have mounting brackets or something?
6. Off Topic: Something just dawned on me, and I remembered I wanted to ask your advice. I was skimming through posts and read someone mention that they gutted old electronics, radios and the like, and salvaged parts from them. I felt kicked up-side the head all of the sudden and could only think of one word, "DUH"...I don't really think that's a word, but I felt amazingly stupid in that moment... Anyways, I am an admitted audio-whore, or so my neighbor calls me everytime he sees me arrive home from a flea-market or swap meet with another audio "thing" in my hands. I have a decent portion of my garage full of what I used to think of as novelty items, mostly audio stuff from transistor radios to old recording machines, and old record players (when I say old, I really mean from 20 to maybe 60 years old at the oldest) that I just liked the look or style of, and maybe had fun cleaning them and using them from time to time. I felt really idiotic as I suddenly began to realize that I may have some cool old useful parts just lying around and I hadn't even thought about it before then. My question is, what years or decades would you say a lot of these parts, transistors and stuff (the desireable or usable parts for building stompboxes), were used in? I am guessing the same time-frame that the stompboxes I enjoy were built in, 60's, maybe 70's?? Any ways, I just wanted to know before I started tearing apart everything I owned looking for gems and nuggets. If you must kill my hopes of finding some old germanium transistors...please do it softly lol.
If you have actually read this whole post, I thank you immensely. If you actually spend the time to answer all this, I think I owe you a first born or something.
Thanks a whole lot, I really appreciate the help. Matt. :D
I tear apart stuff for parts all the time. That's actually where I get almost all of my parts from. (Small Bear helps for specific things for the "must have" must do right boxes) I think that I've built maybe four distortion boxes without spending any money except for the enclosures which were just those $2 electrical light switch box's.
My girl freind made a rule that would probably be a good one for you to follow. Don't tear apart anything that still works. It sounds like you have a wicked garage full 'a' stuff and even if it's no good to you, if it still works, it's probably usefull to someone. But if you spend alot of time at flea markets and junk shops you can probably get broken stuff that's chock full o' great parts.
One thing that I should mention is that you shouldn't probably tear apart all your stuff hoping to find a specific op amp or transitor, even though there's an off chance it will be there. That is not to say that you won't find useful transitors and other semiconducting tidbits, it's just that the numbers probably won't match the ones on the schematics.
This is actually what I like most about being a part vulture. You need to learn more or less how the circut works in order to make substitutes. It won't sound just like it would with the exact parts, but how many times have you heard that someone just started using a part that was cheap and common and it ended up sounding great. (Wha inductors, tube screamer op amps, FF negative feedback...) Just the other day I learned how to test transitors that I couldn't find the data sheets for... and all becouse I'm cheap and trying to make the wrong parts work!
As for timeperiods, I don't know. The only thing that I will say is that there is a real sweet spot if you're looking for resistors and caps that seems to be from the mid '90's up. In alot of things, the parts got really small, almost half as big... perfect for little effects boxes.
As for your other questions, I'd check out the AMPAGE sight. It's specifically for amps so you can find things like the replacements for those 12AX7 and also how that might change your tone.
Well... this response is getting as long as your question :D so... :wink: so long
Right on. Thanks much for the advice. I too think it would be a good idea to not destroy some of the good working stuff.
I loved that page by the way, really cool resources on there, thanks!
Anyone have anything else to add? About the Tube Driver?
Thanks again, Matt.
Anyone....please?
I am hoping to start at least collecting the parts for this over the weekend, actually I will probably start trying to build it, so I am really hoping for a few words of wisdom. I don't want to annoy so I won't keep bumping this message up top after this.
Thanks much, Matt.
its a cool circuit. you need soem tube parts. i got quite a bit of stuff big film caps. tubes. some small transformers. if you wanna use the back to back thing to step up the voltage. or i fyou just want to run 12.6v i ave some of those too..
you could have the voltage transformer for a couple of bucks. i would even throw in some caps.
Yeah, thanks Ansil. I'm definetly interested. I went out yesterday and bought almost all the parts I needed. I didn't get original 4558 IC, I got the NTE equivalent, which I hope is nothing like the nkt275 NTE equivalant because those sucked. I also didn't get original 1N4007's I got some NTE's as well.
I am looking for a good tube socket, and a tube I guess. I have a bunch of preamp tubes laying around, but mostly older sovtec 12ax7's the crappy ones.
I also don't know what I need as far as power supply. I tried to read all the posts I could here about the Tube Driver. I am guessing from reading, correct me if I am wrong, but using a dc jack and then plugging a wall wart into that won't heat the tubes properly? or something?
It's difficult for me because I rely heavily on JD's wiring diagrams on GGG, so unless it's spelled out for me, I wouldn't know how to use a transformer, or how to change it so the plates get more heat.. or tube heater things get more juice.
You can contact me here luckynumber13black@yahoo.com
I need a chassis mount socket, a tube 12AX7, ECC83, or anything that would soung good in there...
I have some film caps but all they had were large V ones so they are huge. I would like a transformer, but I am afraid I wouldn't know how to wire it with changes suggested in past posts about the tube getting enough V for heat and stuff.. or whatever it was. You probably know more than I do what I need.
Thanks Ansil, Matt.