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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: user on January 20, 2007, 01:21:41 AM

Title: Question for Parallel Universe builders
Post by: user on January 20, 2007, 01:21:41 AM
I currently built the parallel universe pedal. Everything works fine except that im not getting enough amplification at the 5th pin of the LM-386. THe oscillations and gate pots work ok. When i probe around with the Cd player (at the minimum possible volume), i get the expected amplification and the 5th pin and slight distortions. But when i plug my guitar in, i hear only a faint amplification and even that only when i turn on the Oscillation switch.
I heard that this pedal was supposed to be a crazy Fuzz, so does it alone provide the Fuzz?? I did my setup like:
Guitar>>PU>>Amp
I hear no Fuzz..Am i missing something? Am i supposed to use other dist pedals before the PU to make it work properly?
And is the fuzz supposed to heard straight out of the 5th pin because thats the only thing that i thought would do the fuzz thing, because this circuit is basically nothing at all. Thanks in advance.. user!!
Title: Re: Question for Parallel Universe builders
Post by: MartyMart on January 20, 2007, 06:58:02 AM
You may have the signal bleeding to ground some where
Get out your DMM and check all I/O and ground connections are good also check for
any solder "blobs" etc

MM
Title: Re: Question for Parallel Universe builders
Post by: reverberation66 on January 20, 2007, 01:42:51 PM
word to what he said above.  this is a crazy fuzz freakout box, it makes all kinds of sick sounds and you don't need any other effects to make it happen.  good luck.
Title: Re: Question for Parallel Universe builders
Post by: liakos on January 20, 2007, 02:02:57 PM
i have an other problem when the oscillation in on and the pedal is bypassed there is a bleeding problem i and when you play with the frequency pot you hear a theremin-like sound but the pedal is bypassed! :icon_eek:
any ideas??
Title: Re: Question for Parallel Universe builders
Post by: funkbass187 on January 20, 2007, 02:20:07 PM
its supposed to make the theremin like sound just by turning the freq. knob, but i think its only supposed to do that when you unplug your guitar. i'll go check mine out later and see if it does the same thing, i used a momentary button for the oscillator so i havent really had that on when bypassed.
Title: Re: Question for Parallel Universe builders
Post by: user on January 24, 2007, 10:07:27 AM
Quote from: MartyMart on January 20, 2007, 06:58:02 AM
You may have the signal bleeding to ground some where
Get out your DMM and check all I/O and ground connections are good also check for
any solder "blobs" etc

MM
I have blobs. Im building on stripboard  btw. Do blobs bleed signal? And yeah i dont have any signal at the ground contacts. The thing just doesnt seem to amplify much. ANd i dont have any guitar signal at the 3rd pin which is the input for the LM386.
Title: Re: Question for Parallel Universe builders
Post by: MikeH on January 24, 2007, 10:17:46 AM
Mine is stupidly loud.  In fact, I'm thinking about ways to decrease the output.
Title: Re: Question for Parallel Universe builders
Post by: user on January 24, 2007, 10:25:58 AM
Quote from: MikeH on January 24, 2007, 10:17:46 AM
Mine is stupidly loud.  In fact, I'm thinking about ways to decrease the output.
i guess youll have to replace the 5k level pot with another one with a wider range like 50k . Am i rite?? ???
Title: Re: Question for Parallel Universe builders
Post by: MikeH on January 24, 2007, 01:52:47 PM
I've tried everything from 1K to 100K and I still can't get it below line level.  I've tried linear and audio taper too.  I've thought about simply adding a resistor in the audio path at the output to bring down the level.  Not sure what effect that will have on the output impedence though, and if whatever effect it may have would be a bad thing.
Title: Re: Question for Parallel Universe builders
Post by: handwire on January 24, 2007, 01:58:13 PM
try grounding the out in bypass mode, instead of the input, that may solve the oscillation bleed in bypass
Title: Re: Question for Parallel Universe builders
Post by: liakos on January 24, 2007, 06:08:04 PM
thanx for the replies  ;)