http://www.smallbearelec.com/Projects/TweakO/fig32.jpg

...but I think I've accomplished something good here.

I completely re-thought the mechanics based on things I'd seen other people do. This design is much easier to build and maintain, and cheaper as well! That Alpha switch is an absolute godsend: small, reliable and inexpensive. By using it, and a better but less-expensive board (my own FR-4 now and not RS phenolic!), I have been able to knock several dollars off the retail price of the kit. Why would I do that? Consider: People walk into stores and spend almost as much as I'm asking, but for a piece of junk in a plastic case with cruddy components. If you can spend the same money (OK, maybe a little more) and some of your time to wind up with a superior product that reflects your needs and tastes, why wouldn't you? I figure that the more I lower the economic barrier to pedal-making, the more people will visit the Cave.

Clearly, the drilling and layout templates can be re-used for lots of the usual two-knob suspects. So I'm pleased...now to make time to re-work the Tremulous Bear!

SD

Nice Steve..... a good beginner project made even better!

ive heard Some people have had issues with the Alpha switch breaking, have you had this happen?

that was the first pedal i ever built.

too bad i didnt like it much.  i robbed the switch and pots and box.

I like the idea of mounting the board on the top... that is what i always try to do... i cant stand all the wires that hung out of mine when i made mine.

I sort of wish i had kept mint complete, so i could come up with some mods for it.  

on mine the fuzz knob was like a blend of clean and fuzz.  turn it to the right fuzz, left clean... middle, mix of fuzz and clean... is that how it was supposed to work.

Brian--

Joe's original circuit used a 10K pot for the fuzz, which didn't give enough control over the clean/dirty to my ears. Yes, mine works as you describe it.

Alpha--

This is the first report I've had of reliability problems with the Alpha switch.

Quote from: smallbearelecBrian--

Joe's original circuit used a 10K pot for the fuzz, which didn't give enough control over the clean/dirty to my ears. Yes, mine works as you describe it.

that was a long time ago.  i had no idea what i was doing.


did you ever consider adding a (ahem) better starter project?  I didnt really find the tweek-o's tone very universal, or to be something that i thought a lot of people would like.

I was actually really disappointed when i built mine and almost gave up on DIY.

Brian

Quote from: Brian Marshall

did you ever consider adding a (ahem) better starter project?  I didnt really find the tweek-o's tone very universal, or to be something that i thought a lot of people would like.

I was actually really disappointed when i built mine and almost gave up on DIY.

Brian

Funny, my Tweak-O only made me want to build more stuff, though I'm still using it a couple years later.

i dont know, ive never been a fan of the blended distortion/clean sound.  like the sparkle drive.  it just sounds like crossover distortion with out the gating to me.  i was expecting soemthing more along the lines of a fuzzface i guess, which is actually what i built next, and never got that one to work.... i think i fried one of the tranys.

I'm not meaning to get on anyones case or anything.  it just seems to me like you could send the diodes to ground and forget the feed back loop.  less parts, and a more traditional sound.

brian