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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: eddie_bowers on December 08, 2009, 03:51:11 PM

Title: Anyone try a Bluesbreaker clone with a NPN boost on the output
Post by: eddie_bowers on December 08, 2009, 03:51:11 PM
I'm very happy with my modded Bluesbreaker clone, but would like a bit more output.
Has anyone tried Gus Smalley's NPN Booster on the output? It looks like the easiest (least componants) way to do this to me.
I don't want to put it in a bigger box and I think I could stuff that circuit in there.

-Eddie
Title: Re: Anyone try a Bluesbreaker clone with a NPN boost on the output
Post by: eddie_bowers on December 16, 2009, 04:05:34 PM
Any other suggestions on how to get a bit more output?
Title: Re: Anyone try a Bluesbreaker clone with a NPN boost on the output
Post by: raulgrell on December 16, 2009, 05:00:19 PM
I tried something a while back which worked pretty well, used a quad op-amp to make a variable high pass filter in the input, followed by the bluesbreaker, then a regular opamp gain stage... awesome sound driving a tube amp and can sound pretty damn fuzzy with the bass in the input turned up.

No schem, pretty standard "modules".
Title: Re: Anyone try a Bluesbreaker clone with a NPN boost on the output
Post by: Ben N on December 16, 2009, 05:32:02 PM
The NPN Boost works fine after any overdrive, IME.
Title: Re: Anyone try a Bluesbreaker clone with a NPN boost on the output
Post by: eddie_bowers on December 16, 2009, 06:27:25 PM
Thanks guys. I will give it a shot.
Title: Re: Anyone try a Bluesbreaker clone with a NPN boost on the output
Post by: Ben N on December 16, 2009, 06:43:33 PM
I should add that I have not really tried overdriving the NPN Boost--rather, I set the overdrive for unity or maybe just a couple of decibels of boost or so, and then let the NPN do the rest. I'm sure if you hit it hard it will clip, and I can't tell you how that sounds.
Title: Re: Anyone try a Bluesbreaker clone with a NPN boost on the output
Post by: eddie_bowers on January 11, 2010, 01:13:28 PM
I finally got around to trying this. I was able to make it just small enough to fit in the space next to the stomp switch.
It works perfectly.  Now I can turn down the gain to just barely clipping, but still get some boost.
I will take some photos to show.