tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post636213748555569631..comments2024-03-27T15:26:01.893+00:00Comments on Guitar FX Layouts: Catalinbread SFT IIIvIarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08416945174853142251noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-37847320519312977642024-01-28T01:50:03.800+00:002024-01-28T01:50:03.800+00:00One more thing! I used 2n5457s, which work great....One more thing! I used 2n5457s, which work great. I experimented with 2n5458 and 2n5459. The 2n5458 worked in some spots, but I settled on 2n5457 for q1-6.NJGTRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18172572559990036490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-89124684274764364622024-01-28T01:46:23.490+00:002024-01-28T01:46:23.490+00:00I wanted to add that there was some serious hum wh...I wanted to add that there was some serious hum when I engaged the “stoner” switch, which abated when I boxed it up. It’s a really good sounding pedal with a lot of sounds available. If you’re building it, read through the comments above, as well as the documentation for Aion’s version. NJGTRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18172572559990036490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-508603658756053792024-01-27T14:15:27.168+00:002024-01-27T14:15:27.168+00:00I just finished building this, and thanks to Alex ...I just finished building this, and thanks to Alex for the original layout, as well as Iczico and Aion for their posts. Everything works great, though the pedal is absurdly loud! I may follow Ciaran’s suggestion of putting a volume pot on a switch for two preset volumes and no additional circuitryNJGTRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18172572559990036490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-81605836134885634832021-11-14T15:40:19.307+00:002021-11-14T15:40:19.307+00:00@HGE Contraptions: I just did my own trace of the ...@HGE Contraptions: I just did my own trace of the SFT V2 and can confirm that the 470k resistor does go on the input as shown, not after the 100n capacitor. There is no gate resistor on the first JFET.<br /><br />However, the original SFT V2 uses a 470uf filter capacitor, and it turns out this is critical. I originally used 100uf and experienced the bass oscillation everyone's talking about. But after confirming everything else in the earlier trace is correct, I replaced the 100uf capacitor with two 220uF's in parallel and it went away.<br /><br />So to anyone with the oscillation issue... increase the PSU filter cap, either 2x 220uF or a 470uF, and see if that fixes it. <br /><br />A couple other minor differences, probably changes in production and not tracing errors: the first two mu-amp stages have 10k resistors in between the source and drain of the two JFETs, while in mine these were 1k, as in the third stage. Also, the bass pot limiting resistor was 10k in mine, compared to 4k7 in the original trace.<br /><br />The FSB trace was an early unit while mine was later, so I suspect they changed these values along the way and that mine represents the updated circuit.aionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15983340238930606626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-34104675305487887872021-02-21T18:37:03.168+00:002021-02-21T18:37:03.168+00:00Hi, i retried this project this week. I redid the ...Hi, i retried this project this week. I redid the Vero. The pedal works, but its does not sound good. The only usable setting is -> Stones -> Bass all the way down, Treble all the way up, Gain at maximum. When I turn up the bass it starts to hum really low, when I engage the Stoner mode, it just is noisy as hell. I did the 1M resitor on Q1 Gate, changed the 470k like described above. I just use J201, and I only have those around. Where should I start?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08712680265291270262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-51002352805765124442020-11-18T17:27:56.409+00:002020-11-18T17:27:56.409+00:00I built this effect and used 2SK170 JFET (I twiste...I built this effect and used 2SK170 JFET (I twisted legs to match DSG topology). Unfortunately I had exactly the same symptoms as other users: dark tone and at Stoner settings sound after 10 seconds of use became splattered and disappeared. Reset (remove and re-plug) restarted pedal but after few seconds situation has repeated.<br />I checked schematics of FSB and layout match it perfectly the same as my vero build. I dig further and found schematics on pedalpcb (https://www.pedalpcb.com/docs/SOFTii.pdf). This schematic is almost the same as on FSB forum with one exception. There is additional 1M resistor that connected Q1 gate to ground. Once I applied this change to vero (it is easy to add on left bottom corner of layout), this pedal became exactly the same as on Youtube videos. First - sound was consistent on Stoner settings all the time, it did not splattered anymore or disappeared. Second: sound stopped to be very dark. It became exactly the same as on Youtube with the same spark. I even checked how Bass and Gain reacts comparing to ProGuitarShop video and it is the same.<br />I highly recommend to add 1M Q1 Gate to GND. I believe that some builders were OK without this resistors perhaps they were forced to match JFETs to somehow make it work, probably some transistors are more prone to connecting gate to ground then others. I tried BF256B, J201, 2SK170, 2N5457 and there were some differences between them without 1M resistors on Q1 gate to gnd, some of them (J201, 2N5457) were very prone to oscillations. Once 1M was applied between GND and Q1 gate, there were not too many differences between transistors, all were pretty consistent.Iczikohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01820509657980412941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-12348523177394004762019-12-04T08:44:39.535+00:002019-12-04T08:44:39.535+00:00Does 18v change the drive/fuzz sound significantly...Does 18v change the drive/fuzz sound significantly?mcferrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18275299837418153350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-46810978353825583972019-12-04T08:42:33.966+00:002019-12-04T08:42:33.966+00:00Thanks for this pedal! I build it and it works. Ju...Thanks for this pedal! I build it and it works. Just asking myself if it sounds like the original. The drive/ is on the slower/fuzzy side and in stoner mode at full drive there is almost a gate/compression fx after low notes. Is that as it should be? I also moved the 470k resitor to the right place. Could it be the mpf4393s? Thanks!mcferrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18275299837418153350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-72324271589282217912019-08-05T09:20:47.994+01:002019-08-05T09:20:47.994+01:00Please read my comment below (HGE Contraptions is ...Please read my comment below (HGE Contraptions is still me , I only changed the google name for the Blogger in posting):<br /><br />''HGE Contraptions5 August 2019 at 06:28<br /><br />Hello Alex/IVIark<br /><br />For the first time ever in my 120+ pedal building adventure :)) this particular pedal came back from the owner.<br /><br />There is a clear mistake in the schematic and subsequently, all over the internet and in the vero as well.<br /><br />If we look at the input, the 470K resistor connected to the first leg of the 100nF capacitor, that should be connected to the second leg of the 100nF! then going to ground as it is.<br /><br />like so: https://i.imgflip.com/379mgx.jpg<br /><br />The problem is that it being like that...(it depends on the adapter current,I have 9.71 V), the bias at Q1 will start to drift because it has no reference with the 470K resistor connected like that. It starts to sound strange/and splattered, like a dying battery. As others noticed, if you simply unplug the power and put it back, it ''sounds ok again'', like a ''reset''.<br /><br />Please correct this in the schematic, it's quite important.<br />With the 470K resistor leg moved 2 rows below from the 100nF upper leg to the lower leg of the 100nF, the bias remains constant and not drifting and so the pedal sounds as it should after 1-2 hours when it used to do this.<br /><br />I think I have to write this comment everywhere haha.<br /><br />Thanks guys! Pedals sounds phenomenal.''HGE Contraptionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13124050879741157587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-56303091624786067162019-08-05T06:28:21.579+01:002019-08-05T06:28:21.579+01:00Hello Alex/IVIark
For the first time ever in my 1...Hello Alex/IVIark<br /><br />For the first time ever in my 120+ pedal building adventure :)) this particular pedal came back from the owner.<br /><br />There is a clear mistake in the schematic and subsequently, all over the internet and in the vero as well.<br /><br />If we look at the input, the 470K resistor connected to the first leg of the 100nF capacitor, that should be connected to the second leg of the 100nF! then going to ground as it is.<br /><br />like so: https://i.imgflip.com/379mgx.jpg<br /><br />The problem is that it being like that...(it depends on the adapter current,I have 9.71 V), the bias at Q1 will start to drift because it has no reference with the 470K resistor connected like that. It starts to sound strange/and splattered, like a dying battery. As others noticed, if you simply unplug the power and put it back, it ''sounds ok again'', like a ''reset''.<br /><br />Please correct this in the schematic, it's quite important.<br />With the 470K resistor leg moved 2 rows below from the 100nF upper leg to the lower leg of the 100nF, the bias remains constant and not drifting and so the pedal sounds as it should after 1-2 hours when it used to do this.<br /><br />I think I have to write this comment everywhere haha.<br /><br />Thanks guys! Pedals sounds phenomenal.<br /><br />HGE Contraptionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13124050879741157587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-80756937521332635472019-07-15T09:56:40.370+01:002019-07-15T09:56:40.370+01:00Hello Tom, really sorry. Did not try with anything...Hello Tom, really sorry. Did not try with anything else, and I also matched my MPF4393 (physically selected all to be the same by measuring from what I had). :( HGE Contraptionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13124050879741157587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-60462641163220663422019-02-21T12:32:02.279+00:002019-02-21T12:32:02.279+00:00What transistors did you have in Q2 till Q6 when y...What transistors did you have in Q2 till Q6 when you had j201 in Q1Tom_Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07152920291335042642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-9910393114721719932019-02-20T21:28:15.037+00:002019-02-20T21:28:15.037+00:00This is probably going to be my first pedal build,...This is probably going to be my first pedal build, would 2n5485s work in place of the mpf4393s? I know this post is quite old so i hope someone can help me out with this!Tom_Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07152920291335042642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-33518930436040763862019-02-11T13:32:11.139+00:002019-02-11T13:32:11.139+00:00Was a little reluctant but I finished this. Sounds...Was a little reluctant but I finished this. Sounds great with matched Motorola MPF4393 transistors!<br />A little noisy however, and very touchy when you don't play in stoner mode with too much gain but, it's over the top so I get it. It doesn't squeal or anything at all. <br />For those asking still, the switch is really simple to wire up, using this numbering and the layout SW number notations:<br /><br /> 1 |(4)<br /> (2)|(5)<br /> (3)| 6<br /><br />Here is my built and a youtube sample also:<br /><br />https://hgecontraptions.blogspot.com/2019/02/hge-contraptions-catalinbread-sft-ii.html<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNEEkHNQ3p0HGE Contraptionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13124050879741157587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-62715082241694103922018-08-19T13:56:07.097+01:002018-08-19T13:56:07.097+01:00Hm, I ran out of MPF4323, all of them appear with ...Hm, I ran out of MPF4323, all of them appear with 2.3-3.0V, so I tried with J202 and the first one I picked from the pile had 4.5V. Pedal works fine at one settings (with switch pins 2 and 3 connected), but when I switch to another (pins 4 and 5 connected, or 22u cap connected to Q5 source), the sound is too prone to microphonic and it has some kind of vibrations.RankoThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17851674550152263396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-7432687986697484502018-08-19T13:31:41.686+01:002018-08-19T13:31:41.686+01:00Thanks a lot! I have a problem with my build - it ...Thanks a lot! I have a problem with my build - it works, but sound sucks, so I've measured drain voltages on Q1, Q3 and Q5 and got 4.5, 2.3 and 5.1 V. I will try to replace Q3 and see what happens.<br /><br />What about Q2/4/6 - do they have to have some special properties or not?RankoThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17851674550152263396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-36165643432239449872018-04-02T13:19:51.318+01:002018-04-02T13:19:51.318+01:00I came back to this after leaving it in my junk pi...I came back to this after leaving it in my junk pile for almost two years.. the layout is absolutely fine, the way the switch is wired is also fine - no need to alter anything on the layout. The tricky part is getting the JFETs to bias.<br /><br />Since there are no trim pots and in any case, adding trimpots to force a mismatched bunch of transistors to bias will alter the character of the pedal anyway, you need to buy a bunch of JFETs and plug away until you get between 4-5v on the drains of Q1, Q3 and Q5. Mine does have a touch more distortion than the original, but if I turn the gain pot a little lower than they do in the demo videos it sounds pretty much spot on. It has that SFT character - great pedal in my opinion, and great work by the guys here at tagboardeffects for doing the legwork for us and making the layout - thanks guys. <br /><br />So, take notes of the voltages as you test different transistors; you will get there eventually. In my experience 2n5458's won't work well.. I never got a reading above 2.5v with 2n5458s. Luckily I managed to score a batch of MPF4393s; there was enough so I could swap them out until it biased up correctly. Good luck guys.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01823451021891341548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-80518184430716539262018-03-30T20:42:41.870+01:002018-03-30T20:42:41.870+01:00Thanks for answering Will! ;)
The caps in any of m...Thanks for answering Will! ;)<br />The caps in any of my layouts can be whatever you prefer.<br />I just use those "redish" ones cause they are easier to read when spanning 2 rows instead of the normal 3.<br />Just a question of practicality.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02431893143306628176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-20321237096630815542018-03-30T18:44:57.810+01:002018-03-30T18:44:57.810+01:00Ceramic caps, or rather the use of them in these p...Ceramic caps, or rather the use of them in these projects is really a personal preference. Unless they are the 20% variety. That may be a little too far off of the needed value, then again that might just be the "Mojo" that will make it sound special! <br /><br />It seems that ceramic caps are often used because of space constraints, or perhaps because of the temperature sensitivity of nearly all other types. <br /><br />Personally I never use ceramics if I have an alternative, and if I do I only use the mlcc variety of ceramic cap. but truthfully I have never been able to hear much of a difference at all. Even so I think you are correct about 1nf being the limit. I prefer Panasonic's and I use many box cap types as well.<br /><br />Looking at the schematic at least one of the 4n7 caps is in a critical spot, it is part of the Treble control, or low-pass filter. I would try to avoid a ceramic there, but as I said there may be space constraints. The circuit (vero) board can only be so large to fit in the enclosure .... <br /><br />Good luck and happy building ....<br />Will<br /><br /><br />Will Kenworthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16422000200136139825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-88966802610997449322018-03-30T03:11:28.816+01:002018-03-30T03:11:28.816+01:00This uses 4n7 ceramic caps? Is that right? I thoug...This uses 4n7 ceramic caps? Is that right? I thought you weren't supposed to use ceramics for values over 1n?A2Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06949420035156254582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-24715520575621450802018-03-13T23:56:05.995+00:002018-03-13T23:56:05.995+00:00In my SFTII schematic this effect have a 470uF not...In my SFTII schematic this effect have a 470uF not an 100uF, could this be the source of the problem?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06413133433065558206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-58140353509298519832017-12-30T13:42:06.685+00:002017-12-30T13:42:06.685+00:00Thx, but I know what was wrong - switch was broken...Thx, but I know what was wrong - switch was broken :(<br />This effect is one of my favorite!<br />Cheers!Cinekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00355728419438926071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-50394487302974993062017-10-16T15:07:25.603+01:002017-10-16T15:07:25.603+01:00Sorry for the late answer. I solved the problem by...Sorry for the late answer. I solved the problem by using a 12V power supply instead of 9V.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10489701435120880665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-59808552774858990172017-08-24T14:11:48.358+01:002017-08-24T14:11:48.358+01:00I have this same problem as Greg. Gain is full but...I have this same problem as Greg. Gain is full but after few seconds is lower and lower. When I sw2 & sw5 put together (only put in and out) is something like reset and effect works fine next few sec. Greg or someone - do you have any solution?Cinekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00355728419438926071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847048658257278783.post-13468624226496686302017-08-01T16:22:39.207+01:002017-08-01T16:22:39.207+01:00Hi all,
I'm hoping someone can help point me i...Hi all,<br />I'm hoping someone can help point me in the right direction with debugging this build.<br />I've built it all and the circuit lets the signal through when engaged but the gain is weaker than demos. <br /><br />The main problem I'm having though is that I get a weird squeal when stoner is engaged. Here's a quick vid to explain better in terms of pots involved:<br /><br />https://photos.app.goo.gl/1Bwv7Qc03aNyy5g03<br /><br />Can anyone think where to start with debugging? <br /><br />DPDT switch is wired lkike this:<br />https://photos.app.goo.gl/d839CmHh40PKJbrE2<br /><br />Solder on the veroboard looks like this:<br />https://photos.app.goo.gl/Vqg7srdPfQ6kB6a03<br />https://photos.app.goo.gl/YRxqSaZpcJJ4YAnO2<br />https://photos.app.goo.gl/O91edceJB54DqYpu1<br /><br />As far as I can tell the 3pdt switch is fine.<br /><br />Give me a shout if you need other info that might help.<br /><br />Cheers<br />Elbeeelbeeukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07120739147011219424noreply@blogger.com