MXR Distortion+

[Mark Hammer]

The only popping I want to hear in my effects is if Larry Graham plays them (if only!).  If you have the opportunity to use the pop-free series arrangement of caps, use it.

Stick a .056 and .27uf cap in series.  A SPST toggle or footswitch is then wired in to shunt the .056uf cap.  When the switch is open (effective series capacitance = .046uf), you get the bass-loss-with-gain-increase effect.  When the switch is closed, the capacitance value switches to .27uf.  You don't lose the bass loss entirely (rolloff will be at 125hz at max gain with a 4k7 fixed resistor), but you DO lose the switch pop entirely by providing a constant uninterrupted path for the caps to discharge.

Trust me, you really DON'T want to have a high gain pedal plugged into a big amp turned up without pop protection!  "Hey, I wonder what this sounds like?  Oh....it sounds like....um.....blown speakers".

As for resistor switching, that is easily done with series or parallel resistors without any popping resulting.

[petemoore]

Maybe It's a little hard to form the question...I'll try again...
 THere's a 4k7 and a .047uf coming from the gain knob of the DIst +.
 Instead of reducing the R by half and increasing the C by about 2x [by substituting 2k2 and .1uf]...
 What about running a parallel R/C of 4k7/.047uf to the existing 4k7/.047uf...with a switch on the second R/C,
 So with the switch off it would go gain pot>4k7>.047uf>OA pin
 with the switch 'on' there would be a parallel path of 4k7>.047uf...does this theory [providing a parallel path of R/C to the existing R/C which sets Max gain] work?
 The only real difference is that where the 4k7's and .047uf's meet there would not be a connection [well if I were to use a SPST switch]
 The reason I'm asking is that it would be easier [providing it would work] to leave what's on the board on the board and simply 'add' another 4k7 and .047uf parallel to it.
  Having enough troubles figureing out equations, this one throws a new twist to the figureing, but I wonder if the path of least resistance takes over and all current would go to the lowest R in a parallel path...I'd be using 5% resistors and one would probably be lower...
  I'd like if someone who could figure this out for me could understand the concept and shoot it down or say it's worth a try///

[petemoore]

Test indicates that leaving the 4k7 and .047uf intact and adding a parallel seriesed R/C [4k7 and .047uf] to it increases distortion.
 Cool mod, very easy this way and can be put on a SPST switch for convenient A/B-ing

[petemoore]

Geez that works great.
 definitely increased Dist [two 'bits'] and IMO is an improvement.
 The Ge diodes, [only pedal I have besides FTM with them] really crunch great...
 I of course [like I always do] put boosters in front, and a Micro Amp with 5534 after it...Custard Pie and Crossroads...came out very well nailed down tonewise with the Mini-Booster in front of it.
 I hadn't pulled this one out for a while because it was sounding weak the last time I tried it, with the MiniBooster on/off, makes for a real nice rythm/lead tones.
 So I guess I'm not really reporting so much on the Dist+ as a hybrid combination...report is Real Good though....
 The Dist + is a 741 based circuit, a 1n34 clips one side, a NTE158 [B/E junction diode] clips the other, has the parallel 4k7 and .047uf [added to the gainset path]...all film caps and a Warp Control 'twangy bite' mod.
 The minibooster has the noiseless biasing mod.
 The Micro Amp...I've been using alot of as of lately...hammers the front end of the Tube Amps Input....
 Anyway makes a real nice "Super Rock" distortion...I like the way these three guys get along in the Efkts chain, the MA is real good at hammering my tube amps, as is the Minibooster but in a different way, both is cool, all three is amazing, Dist+ and Micro Amp is great for dropping gain for rythms and other uses.
 I've been trying that with this, this with that with the other...etc. and find that using simple gain stages [like 1 OA] and chaining them seems to work well for attaining 'layered'...'increasing' gain stages. Finding 3 'little' stages that work good alone and with the others i the chain takes time but is worth the effort IMO especailly for stage use. I haven't actually tried this chain on stage yet, but preliminary results are quite favorable.
 I can get 'round' [MA only] "OD" Ma and MB [or dist + and MA], and heavily crunched sounds with these three.
 Actually most Boosters I've tried will goose the front end of a Dist+ with good results. The output side seems more picky about what boosts the Distorted sound  to 'good' results.

[Mark Hammer]

Actually most Boosters I've tried will goose the front end of a Dist+ with good results. The output side seems more picky about what boosts the Distorted sound  to 'good' results.

Yup.  Said it before and I'll say it again.  Not all, but MANY differences between pedals are a function of how much gain is applied internally and what THAT gain results in when paired with the clipping threshold adopted and the signal you feed it.  Most distortions can be made ruder with a bit more gain up front.