Clapton Mid-boost circuit - anyone build one?

[Craig V]

Hi,

I've seen the schematic posted here a few times, but never a PCB or anything.  Has anyone built it?  It would make a good standalone stompbox I think.


Thanks.

[erio fraga]

You can find PCB and parts lay-out in

http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/ECmidbst.zip

I want to build the EC midboost, but I’m still waiting to receive some components. I know JD  have built it, checked his message in this forum posted last May 25

http://www.diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=22043&highlight=  

Rgds

Erio

[Lonestarjohnny]

Craig, I got 2 of them built, 1 for a friend and 1 for myself, really a nice boost and mild overdrive that I like a lot.
JD

[Craig V]

JD,


Did you ever get them to work well with a Strat?  I wonder if the circuit would be less bright if its in the guitar.  Did you drop either of them into the guitar cavity?

Thanks.

[cd]

There's another thread on this a couple months back (not the one posted above.)  Lots of good info in there.

[Lonestarjohnny]

they work great as a foot pedal, there is a schematic in the schematic archives here, way down toward the bottom of the list under E.C. mid booster, also a schematic at Blue guitar, I started my pedal at C1 and put it on a  switch , you could use any kind of a toggle or rotory Switch here, I think it started out with an 47 nf cap, i put a larger value on the other side of the switch, that way it would work with my Paul or Strat, the 47 was a tad bright for my Strat.
No, I never have put 1 in a guitar, have worked on several guitars with it in there though.
JD

[Gilles C]

You can find PCB and parts lay-out in

http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/ECmidbst.zip

I want to build the EC midboost, but I’m still waiting to receive some components. I know JD  have built it, checked his message in this forum posted last May 25

http://www.diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=22043&highlight=  

Rgds

Erio

I built one when I made the above pcb layout for it, but I wasn't very impressed with the sound.

Maybe it's because of the pickups I have on my Strat (Texas Special).

I should try it again. I still have the board not far.

Gilles

[Lonestarjohnny]

I know a lot of guy's will not agree with me on this Gilles, but I don't use overwound P/U's, I don't think you need them, I try and use somethin that needs the help of a distortion/ booster/ Fuzz pedal, and I can always adjust the P/U's down on my guitars if i feel the P/U is to hot, alot a of the guy's I work for are amazed at how good a 300 dollar strat can sound when it's adjusted properly like my China Doll, she's a reversed Headstocked Strat made in China with a Floyd Rose Style tremelo that i'm not fond of but after getting it set properly is working out O,K, for me, I'm a Bigsby type of guy, but you've never seen my collection of guitars or amps, if you ever do you'll understand my saying this.
the first pedal I built sounded really good, the 2cd so,so, I changed the transistors out in it and rebaised it, now it sounds very good, the tranys were the same type, just a lil less hfe, I know the circuit is sensitve to what trannys you use.
JD

[Gilles C]

Well, I normally don't use overwound or hot pickups, but with that Strat it's a little different.

When I built it, I had the SRV sound and feeling in my mind. I still feel the same everytime I play with it...

It has a fat sound by itself, and doesn't need anything, except a Fender tube amp, to sound good.

And when I began building effects, that was my main guitar. Beside that one, I only had an Aria with Humbuckers.

So I think that I should test again all the effects I built and tried only with the Strat, and use my other guitars now. (That includes the EC Mid Boost that  I should also put in a box).

Check the SuperNova soundclip on this page for example of what  I  mean.

http://members.tripod.com/gillcar/id20.htm

I always thought it sounded better on the Aria than on the Strat. Less harsh.

And I remember now that when I tried the EC Mid Boost, I found it sounding too bright. And as I prefer a fat sound...

But since then, Mark Hammer showed me how to make a Treble Booster sound good...  :wink:

Speaking of Bigsby, that's also one of my favorites. The first Gretch guitars that I saw had one, and when I bought my StarFire DeArmond, it helped me to make my choice. That and the Dearmond pickup, of course :twisted:

http://www.wholenote.com/resources/revmain.asp?i=1799


Btw, some info about Treble Boosters that  I found interesting...

http://www.europeanmusical.com/BSM/bsm_best.html

http://www.treblebooster.com/booster_instructions.doc

Added... http://hometown.aol.co.uk/oldradioparts/semiconductors.htm

[Fret Wire]

Those links are interesting. A rotory switch is much nicer with a Rangemaster. Alot easier to change during a gig for different guitars or amps. I noticed the Crispy-Cream booster used an AC128/01 heatsinked transistor. The other site pushes the OC 44 and OC 76. "Soaked in a ball of resin, and dried for 3 days". Cute way of saying it has an epoxied ckt board.