Hi!
I want to build acoustic simulator effect pedal. But i cant find anything else than Boss AC pedals. Is there any other pedals that are worth building?
And schematics should be available, otherwise i cant build it.
Thanks!
here's the one from Boss pedal modified by Nabo. http://img11.imageshack.us/i/myac2.pdf/
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/7946/ac2partssized.gif
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/1309/ac2pcb.gif
here's another one From MARK HAMMER http://img232.imageshack.us/i/woodyschematic.gif/
http://img27.imageshack.us/i/woodylayout.jpg/
So still. Boss AC is the pedal I should build?
Quote from: served on July 11, 2009, 12:35:11 PM
So still. Boss AC is the pedal I should build?
yes, this is ac boss but already modified remove some parts like switches but the main effect is still here.
http://img11.imageshack.us/i/myac2.pdf/
ok ill give it a try! Thanks!
Hello,
I am a big fan of acoustic guitar simulators, so, I had along the time the next ones:
1. Behringer AM100 - without true bypass, plastic enclosure and some hiss, but cheap...so if you play as me only at home it's the a very good solution: a few dollars and no headache with DIY-ing
2. Boss AC-2 - without true bypass, well made, but not so cheap...as almost any Boss pedal it sucks the tone (on my setup the combination Boss-->EHX it's a disaster)
3. Nabo's clone of AC-2 - you can made it true bypass, no buffers, better controls than Boss (even in my build a pot has only a little effect), enough components to solder, but, what's worst, the PCB is huge...I sold it because I can't find a proper enclosure for it (I think that it must to be something like 3 Boss stompboxes in a row)
4. Mark Hammer's Woody - true bypass, half components than Nabo's AC-2 clone (I've built it in 2 hours or less...), very good sounding, the controls are very effective (don't use a dual 10K pot...use 2 different 10K pots for top and bottom)...the only little problem is that it needs 2 batteries or a bipolar power supply (I've read that is a version with a single battery, but I couldn't find it).
So, after my taste, the winner is Mark Hammer's Woody (thx a lot Mark again)... :icon_wink:
Well im going to build that Nabo version.
But now i cant print it in correct size.
Real pain.
And what about this C37 (1uf cap) Close to R38 R41 R44. It doesnt have a place.. What does it mean?
And where is the switch knob that alternates the sound? Shoult it be added, or its removed for purpose?
I was listening to the Woody sample again this morning, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much better (and convincing) it sounded in comparison to my Behringer unit. And the Behringer is an AC-2 clone.
I can't post it from here, but I'll try to post the single-battery adaptation that Oliver Alex in Germany graciously contributed. haven't tried it out myself, but he indicated that the changes he made improved bandwidth and noise as well as making it wallwart-friendly.
oh damn, that would be awsome.
If you say its actually more worth it, then ill go for it also. Not much to lose.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/Mark_Hammer/Woody.png
Quote from: Mark Hammer on August 27, 2009, 07:38:44 AM
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/Mark_Hammer/Woody.png
Is there a layout for this schematic?
/Krister
Perhaps, but I am not aware of it.
Quote from: Mark Hammer on August 27, 2009, 11:33:14 AM
Perhaps, but I am not aware of it.
Well, i kinda like to try it, maybe i should do a layout for it if it's not allready done :icon_neutral:
/Krister
I think some folks would appreciate that. Generous offer on your part. :icon_smile:
But how will it sound with humbuckers?
Depends on the humbuckers. For most, not especially wonderful, though some humbuckers have a clear sound with extended range. If they're overwound humbuckers, don't expect anything that sounds particularly acoustic-like. You can sometimes make a silk purse from a sow's ear, but it's hard to make a space shuttle from one. :icon_wink:
that nailed it.
I hope ill remember it.
But now, ill try to make a layout or zeta55 is already finishing?
Quote from: served on August 27, 2009, 05:40:42 PM
that nailed it.
I hope ill remember it.
But now, ill try to make a layout or zeta55 is already finishing?
It's on the way. I'll post later in this thread.
/Krister
Care to check the schematic for errors?
I got the layout almost finished, aiming to fit it in a 1590B sized box.
(http://www.zeta-sound.se/woody/Woody.JPG)
/Krister
Looks fine to me.
Here's my old layout and pcb:
(http://www.freewebs.com/overed/newwoodypcb.gif)
(http://www.freewebs.com/overed/Woodlyout.jpg)
So there was a layout allready done.
Anyway, here's another one:
http://www.zeta-sound.se/woody/WoodyDIY.rar
Please check for errors.
I'm gonna try it myself, but there's a few others I got to build first.
/Krister
Outstanding! I'm honoured.
Thank you so much, guys ;)
when do we get a sound clip?!
Quote from: Doc on August 29, 2009, 10:03:14 AM
Here's my old layout and pcb:
This is very elegant. With what software have you designed your layouts.
Beatiful presentation !
Wow thats awesome.
Now i can start acting. ill add phots after i finish.
Hi.
I have built one. But having trouble to get it working.
Ill add IC voltages to check if something is wrong.
Maybe some one would help me out.
And here is a datasheet for the IC-s http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/25382/STMICROELECTRONICS/TL074.html
So here we go.
IC1:
1 : 4,5
2: 4,5
3: 1
4: 9
5: 4,5
6: 4,5
7: 4,5
8: 4,5
9: 4,5
10: 4,4
11: 0
12: 4,3
13: 4,8
14: 4,5
IC2
1: 4,5
2: 4,3
3: 4,5
4: 9
5: 3,8
6: 4,5
7: 4,5
8: 4,5
9: 4,6
10: 4,5
11: 0
12: 1
13: 4,5
14: 4,5
Quote from: served on September 21, 2009, 10:19:36 AM
I have built one. But having trouble to get it working.
Ill add IC voltages to check if something is wrong.
Your components are fine. The layout and the redrawn schematic of zencafe do have some mistake. Take a look at IC2C, the junction of R23, R11, and R22 SHOULD BE at the inverting input(-) of the opamp not on its output.
That's what I'm eyeing so far, my eyes are tired at this moment... :icon_twisted:
Wow. Huge thanks to you. I would really want you to take a fresh look tomorrow if you can. If its ok by you.
Quote from: served on September 21, 2009, 02:55:14 PM
Wow. Huge thanks to you. I would really want you to take a fresh look tomorrow if you can. If its ok by you.
Actually i cant find a mistake? Could anybody also check zetas version?
EDIT: So basically did Zeta55 draw a faulty schematic and then made a wrong PCB out of it? If so, then i understand whats wrong. And i think i have to make a new PCB now.. damn.
Quote from: served on September 21, 2009, 05:19:03 PM
...
And i think i have to make a new PCB now..
Because of that one small bug? :icon_eek: Fix it on actual PCB, it won't be anything huge, will it? :) T.
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn156/DimebuGG/Woody_top_partsCORRECTION.jpg)
1. Remove the 22K resistor labeled R24 in the previous silkscreen and install a JUMPER.
2. Relocate your R24 by drilling two holes just below IC2 (SEE ABOVE ILLUSTRATION!!!).
3. Cut a trace between points AB and CD as you can see in the illustration.
4. Finally, connect points C and B. (Don't ask me how.)
Hell yeah! I got it working. Now ill box it and ill take a Photo for you.
And how do you like it?
I have to confess that, for something which was generated almost purely by a bit of theory and some co-opting of circuit fragments from here and there, without ANY empirical noodling around, I was really pleased with how good it sounded the first time I fired it up. Other than Oliver Alex's mods to run it off 9v, nothing has been tinkered with or adjusted since the original. Sometimes, you just go with your gut and things work out well. :icon_biggrin:
Having said that, I have not ever used it with a humbucker equipped guitar, or even with a P90, so I'm curious about the experiences of other people using other instruments.
Did you know this?
http://www.biyang.com.cn/Products.asp?Id=57
:o Well Mark, looks like one of your pedals made it into commercial production.. I just bid on one 45,- euros. And will reverse it to see if it matches your design.
Interesting!! This one has 4 knobs, so if it is the same basic design, they have modded or added something. I find it amusing that they went with the same name and a font that was very similar to what I have on the schematic. Rather than miffed, I'm sort of honoured. The basic work was really that of Jules Rykebusch, and they've done all the legwork to turn it into a commercial product, so more power to them. If it finds its way into the hands of tens of thousands of Chinese kids who wanna rock, so much the better. I give out stuff freely and don't plan my life out in the hopes of being rich (although last week's trip to Gruhn's got me thinking....).
But step 1 is to see if it's just the name that's the same or if it is actually the same essential design. Heck, for all we know, it is a further improvement. :icon_smile:
I must give this a try I guess as my AC-2 clone got some intolerable hiss in the higher frequency. Actually, I already have my layout(before zeta posted his own) on this using a JFET input buffer, a dual, opamp, and a quad opamp and runs still on a 9V supply.
Quote from: DimebuGG on September 21, 2009, 01:11:00 PM
Quote from: served on September 21, 2009, 10:19:36 AM
I have built one. But having trouble to get it working.
Ill add IC voltages to check if something is wrong.
Your components are fine. The layout and the redrawn schematic of zencafe do have some mistake. Take a look at IC2C, the junction of R23, R11, and R22 SHOULD BE at the inverting input(-) of the opamp not on its output.
That's what I'm eyeing so far, my eyes are tired at this moment... :icon_twisted:
That's a stupid mistace I never noticed.
I'll get a new one posted as soon as possible.
I'm glad you got it debugged and working "served"
/Krister
Quote from: Mark Hammer on September 23, 2009, 11:42:25 AM
If it finds its way into the hands of tens of thousands of Chinese kids who wanna rock, so much the better.
:-\ Probably, each individual unit already found it's way through the hands of lots of chinese kids before it was sold..not a good thing really.
Quote
But step 1 is to see if it's just the name that's the same or if it is actually the same essential design. Heck, for all we know, it is a further improvement. :icon_smile:
I bought one.. Ill put up the details for those interested, when I reverse it.
Pretty neat actually, wanting to build one for a very long time.
And yes it was the name in that font that immediatly rang a bell.. funny stuff I wonder if there are more pedals from this manufacturer that we can trace back here.
Here's an updated version, shure hope this one is free from errors :icon_redface:
http://www.zeta-sound.se/woody/WoodyDIYrev1.rar (http://www.zeta-sound.se/woody/WoodyDIYrev1.rar)
/Krister
Do anybody have demos of your DIY clones of this pedal? The demo of the manufacturer is just awful!
The zipfile on my website contains a sound-sample.
I failed with my build. Im going to make a new one i think. I really dont know whats wrong with it, but it doest do the job.
Has someone actualy built it?
Quote from: served on September 27, 2009, 01:02:19 PM
I failed with my build. Im going to make a new one i think. I really dont know whats wrong with it, but it doest do the job.
Has someone actualy built it?
I built one last week and it works.
I have made a new PCB layout that will fit in a 1590B enclosure.
I do like the sound of this thing.
It sounds nice when used with my Tele, but only if I play chords.
If you play single notes it has a sort of metallic sound.
I will post the transfer and the layout and maybe a soundsample shortly.
Here's a picture of my prototype:
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx161/andre_schaap/TheWoody.jpg)
The final PCB is a bit different because I made some errors on the first one and used the wrong schematic.
To make it fit in a 1590B the wires to the controls and jacks will need to be soldered to the copperside of the PCB I guess.
Nice!
But I would recommend for those who want to build this circuit to use a stand alone 500K pot instead of trimmer. IMO, this is much better this way having a lot of tonal options.
:icon_wink:
thats a good thinking. Ill do that.
Just so that expectations don't go to inflated, as the original schematic writeup indicates, the intent was not to provide an acoustic "modeller", but rather something that would sound vaguely acoustic if you were required to play rhythm behind someone in a band situation. It does that part well. I would not for one moment expect anyone to sound like Tony Rice or Ricky Skaggs through it.
I am glad that there is confirmation of a viable layout, and some interest in it, though. :icon_biggrin:
I put together the board for this the other night, still need to get around to doing the offboard wiring. That will have to wait until after the move.
Did you build Zetas layout?
If so, ill wait for confirmation, i hope you have time to work with it.
I'm actually working with Doc's layout. It is a little big, though...
The Biyang AC-8 follows Mark's original schematic.
Since it uses a simple 9v supply, the opamps are connected to 9V and ground and all ground references (bar the volume control) are replaced with a Vref reference. Constructed by a 10k/10k and 2x 100uF voltage divider. One other difference is on the input stage.
Input pulldown res is 2.2M (orig 1m) and the input cap is 0.1uF (orig 1uf) and the gain resistors used ars are 100k/120k instead of 10k/12k thus keeping the gain the same.
I only played through the unit on my strat and found the sound disappointing and lacking bass reponse. Marks soundclip sounds much better.
And I recall having breadboarded a modified version of Oliver Alex's 9v version once that sounded much better too (the signal only split once. One side was the treble/distortion and the other side was the unaffected signal with a variable active bass boost)
Wow, that was fast! Thanks for the confirmation. I know it might sound silly to say so, but there is a certain thrill in being able to say "Hey, I've been pirated by the Chinese!" :icon_lol:
Just out of curiosity, what is the 4th control for? I'm guessing that it is simply the gain trimpot moved from the board to the panel, but it might be something else too.
Yes, top is the gain trimpot..
As I said, the basic circuit is exactly your design. Only adapted for a single supply in the most basic way.
Now I want to make it sound better, I can try converting it to a split supply see if that matters, but first I will increase the input cap to 1uF
Hi.
So i rebuilt it. Used Zetas Rev1 version.
I have a problem. The Bottom knob doesnt have any afect. Could some one hav a look at it?
Ill post some sound samples too.
Quote from: Mark Hammer on September 30, 2009, 08:59:47 AM
Wow, that was fast! Thanks for the confirmation. I know it might sound silly to say so, but there is a certain thrill in being able to say "Hey, I've been pirated by the Chinese!" :icon_lol:
I think you have to sponsor a kiddush, Mark. ;)
Maybe, but I'm not so sure that egg rolls go with pickled herring. :icon_wink:
Hi.
So i recorded a soundclip. I changed Bottom knob to 15K because 100kohm pot range was until 3 o clock and from there it didnt have any affect. Now it works fully.
I dont know if it sounds right. I spent some time with it and made a pretty long recording about 6 minutes. Because you just cant get the point if you listen a recording for 30 sec.
Its up here http://rattalaagrid.ee/Ardi/woody%20rev%20A.mp3 feel free to download it.
I will make pictures also.
Quote from: served on October 07, 2009, 03:22:21 AM
Hi.
So i recorded a soundclip. I changed Bottom knob to 15K because 100kohm pot range was until 3 o clock and from there it didnt have any affect. Now it works fully.
I dont know if it sounds right. I spent some time with it and made a pretty long recording about 6 minutes. Because you just cant get the point if you listen a recording for 30 sec.
Its up here http://rattalaagrid.ee/Ardi/woody%20rev%20A.mp3 feel free to download it.
I will make pictures also.
Just had a look at the schematic, the bottom pot should infact be a 10KA pot, so the 15K you put in there should do better just as you noticed.
I'll listen to your soundsample later today.
/Krister
Quote from: served on October 07, 2009, 03:22:21 AM
Hi.
So i recorded a soundclip. I changed Bottom knob to 15K because 100kohm pot range was until 3 o clock and from there it didnt have any affect. Now it works fully.
I dont know if it sounds right. I spent some time with it and made a pretty long recording about 6 minutes. Because you just cant get the point if you listen a recording for 30 sec.
Its up here http://rattalaagrid.ee/Ardi/woody%20rev%20A.mp3 feel free to download it.
I will make pictures also.
Sounds right to me. I would have turned the bass up a bit and the top down, for the purposes of making the recorded version sound a little bit more like an acoustic, but it sounds like it is working the way it should.
Pictures
(http://static2.nagi.ee/i/p/515/62/128907372c26ce_l.jpg/1)
(http://static2.nagi.ee/i/p/515/62/12890739868427_l.jpg/1)
Here's yet another update of the project files with the correct pot value:
http://www.zeta-sound.se/woody/WoodyDIYrev2.rar (http://www.zeta-sound.se/woody/WoodyDIYrev2.rar)
Soundsample sounds nice, It's on my list of things to build :)
/Krister
Here's a soundclip and some picture's of my 1590B Woody:
Woody Soundclip (http://andre58.50webs.com/mp3/Woody%20demo.mp3)
(http://andre58.50webs.com/pics/The%20Woody%201.jpg)(http://andre58.50webs.com/pics/The%20Woody%202.jpg)(http://andre58.50webs.com/pics/The%20Woody%203.jpg)
It sounds cool, but I'm not sure how practical it is for me at least. I guess to my tone deaf ears it sounds like my Strat through a tube amp with no distortion. Maybe after fooling around with EQ. I guess that's why I have been looking at some of teh Piezo systems out there. Cool build though.
Another thing you might want to look at is the Bill Lawrence Q-filter, which is a high-L inductor that can be wired into your tone control circuitry a variety of ways to get tones unavailale with just pot/cap combinations. I don't have any first-hand knowledge, but it is claimed that with single coils, the Q-filter can get a decent quasi-acoustic response, especially with the bridge pickup. I have also heard from users that, like the simulators (and like piezo bridges) this wasn't something that was going to fool anyone into thinking you were playing a Guild or a Taylor, but useful nonetheless.
Quote from: Andre on October 29, 2009, 06:36:45 AM
Here's a soundclip and some picture's of my 1590B Woody:
Woody Soundclip (http://andre58.50webs.com/mp3/Woody%20demo.mp3)
(http://andre58.50webs.com/pics/The%20Woody%201.jpg)(http://andre58.50webs.com/pics/The%20Woody%202.jpg)(http://andre58.50webs.com/pics/The%20Woody%203.jpg)
I'm almost afraid to ask. Is that sample an unprocessed guitar, followed by processed, or is it all processed with two different settings?
I ask (and am afraid to ask) because the first part sounds exactly like what I was aiming for, while the second most definitely does not. The first part sounds very acoustic. Very nice tone. The second, not so much.
QuoteI'm almost afraid to ask. Is that sample an unprocessed guitar, followed by processed, or is it all processed with two different settings?
Unprocessed followed by processed it is i'm afraid. :icon_confused:
It was recorded with the amp's pre-amp out to line-in of the computer.
It does sound better than the soundclip.
I will try and do a soundclip using a microphone.
Quote from: Mark Hammer on October 30, 2009, 11:31:53 AM
I'm almost afraid to ask. Is that sample an unprocessed guitar, followed by processed, or is it all processed with two different settings?
I ask (and am afraid to ask) because the first part sounds exactly like what I was aiming for, while the second most definitely does not. The first part sounds very acoustic. Very nice tone. The second, not so much.
It sounds like an acoustic guitar fed into the woody acoustic sim... ;D
Is the layout verified already?
thanks
a2
I think that Boss AC is better than this one. Woody just doesn't make that much of a difference. AC costs pretty low also, so I should have bought AC but hey, building is fun, so I am glad I tried this one!
Quote from: zeta55 on October 07, 2009, 02:06:59 PM
Here's yet another update of the project files with the correct pot value:
http://www.zeta-sound.se/woody/WoodyDIYrev2.rar (http://www.zeta-sound.se/woody/WoodyDIYrev2.rar)
Soundsample sounds nice, It's on my list of things to build :)
/Krister
Is this the layout you tried served? boss is good but i don't like the bypass on it, and you're right building is fun even if the boss, beringer and boston is cheaper! hehehhe
by the way i open a heavy metal boston a while ago ang was shock! wtf most of the components has good components than boss... it has panasonic style caps they're using.
A2
I know this topic hasn't been updated for over 3 years, but I just breadboarded the Mark Hammers Woody with changes from Oliver Alex entitled revision 2. I have it plugged into my Telecaster. The 100k Volume pot works fine. The 10k "bottom" pot does seem to have quite an effect on the tone, but the 10k "top" pot and the 500k trim have no effect at all. Unfortunately, I didn't have two TL074 ICs on hand so I used a TL084 for IC2. I'm thinking there must be a bigger difference than I thought between the two chips. I might just switch them on the breadboard to see what happens as they both have the same layout. Has anybody else tried using chips other than the TL074 for this project?
Update: I just switched the two op amps and the Woody sounds exactly the same. The bottom and volume pots work and the trim and top have no effect. I'm pretty sure I have the rest of the parts in the right place and the specified values for the rest of the schematic. I'm stumped. Has anybody else had this problem? ???
I've always wondered about this...
Ubertar hexaphonic pickup ----> 6 'woody's, one processing each string and fine tuned for that frequency --- > mini mixer
Has anyone tried anything similar (with fuzz,octave down effects etc - - anything that'd benefit from string-to-string isolation)
Sorry for my late replay.
It just doesn't work that well.
I would buy that Boss pedal and make it truebypass.
The Woody does something but the same time it does nothing.
So its a minor effect. Boss pedal makes a huge difference.
Like ANY non-digital acoustic simulator, the Woody works with the treble content already present in one's guitar signal. It can be expected to sound lousy if used with overwound humbuckers or P90s, and have a more robust effect with single-coil Strat-type pickups.