Friday 1 April 2011

Lovepedal Amp Eleven

Hmmm this looks similar to something else too ....

 


Sean told everyone that this wasn't a clone of his "good friends" best selling pedal and was in fact a Kalamazoo.  I'll leave you to look at the following comparison and make up your own minds.  

Amp 11 / Timmy comparison:




Amp 11 / Kalamazoo comparison:


93 comments:

  1. Being a rookie in this DIY field I need some help with the connections to the pots and jacks etc.
    Soldering the components to the board is no problem but I don't quite understand where the cables from the board goes. For instance, what does "Bass 1" mean? And why is there no "Bass 3"?
    Can anybody please help explain this.
    Thanx
    Peter

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  2. The pot numbering is as per this pic:

    http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j6/IvIark_2006/DIY/Pot20numbering.jpg

    If you don't see a Bass 3 then that lug has no connection. In this instance you could link Bass 2 and 3 but it isn't absolutely necessary. Good luck with the build.

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  3. Thanx a lot!
    I'll get right to it.

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  4. Hi there. Just put this togheter and compared with my Lovepedal OD eleven. Same S***. Save some money !

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  5. Hi!
    Built this one, and it sounds great from clean boost to nice and smooth overdrive and even fuzzy tones with drive full and playing with bass and tone from zero to max through my Tele and a Bassman.
    What is the boost side of the original Amp 11? I'll probably try with the SHO.
    Thanks for the great layouts!

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  6. The boost side is a COT50, but to be honest I'd probably go for a SHO too. Glad you're pleased with the results, if you have a chance take a few pics of the guts and post me the links please, I like to keep a collection of pics of verified builds that people have done. Cheers

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  7. I'll send you the link soon. (amp11, creamy dreamer, npn fuzz face)
    All great layouts, even my biggest enemy the creamy dreamer works too! :-)
    I faild about five times with other bigmuff projects :)

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  8. Thanks for the great resource(s)! In looking at your layout and then the schematic at FSB (by Whitekeyhole), it looks like yours differs in the power filtering portion. Any particular reason for that? Thanks!

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    1. You're very welcome. Yes, whitekeyhole did the schematic verbatim, this is my interpretation of what matters (IMO). Sean puts a 100n cap in parallel with the main 47uF filter cap all the time because in some instances it helps deal with noise from higher frequencies. It doesn't make any difference at all in 9V effects so Lovepedal waste a lot of 100n caps.

      I don't include a reverse polarity protection diode most of the time because most people use a daisy chained regulated power supply and I feel it is unlikely that anyone is going to plug a positive ground supply into this negative ground effect. I will include it sometimes if the space presents itself, but I won't increase the board size specifically to do it unless someone wants me to.

      The 100n after the current limiting resistor to vbias is extra filtering which is of no benefit in a low voltage circuit, and the less said about the 47u before AND after the current limiting resistor, the better.

      I will say that by omitting the current limiting resistor and diode, my layout will be running at a slightly higher voltage that an original and so may have slightly more headroom.

      I'll be happy to do another layout which adds a few extra columns and make it a complete match if someone would like it. I just think (for me at least) it would be additional soldering and components for no audible benefit.

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    2. No need to draw anything up on my account. I'll take your word for it! Still learning all this crazy/fun stuff. Thanks again!

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  10. this is seriously verified? I get basically no response out of the drive pot. ive rebuilt the circuit twice already. compared it to the timmy, looked it over with the schematic.. i dont get it. is this just a ridiculously transparent pedal or what?

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    1. Ha ha, it's definitely verified. Upload a high res front and back pic somewhere and I'll see if I can spot anything.

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    2. no, no its fine. im an idiot. i have a container of ceramics and picked one with 104 on it, without thinking and threw it in there. suffice to say it was .1uf. really crying for all my wasted time. found a 101 in my box after some digging and works fine. lol

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  11. Silly question - I assume that B pots means linear here?

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  12. Built this, sounds very good indeed, really wide range of drive levels. Cheers Mark.

    Also, put a delux 60 in front in the enclosure rather than a COT 50, and it sounds great.

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  13. What type of cap is the 100p between d3 and d1?

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    1. The symbol is for silver mica, basically because I've got some in that value and size, but you could use a ceramic in there.

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  14. Hi mate, my 1uf's are radial. What orientation would I have them both?

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    1. The output cap would be negative to Volume 3. Not sure about the other cap which goes from the Bass control to the 4.5V rail. The best bet in cases like this is to build it up with everything in place except that 1u, power it up and then with your multimeter measure the voltage at both points the cap will be connected. Connect the negative leg to the lowest voltage.

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    2. Ok nice one mate, I'll report back for reference to anyone else who may encounter the same.

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    3. By the way Vince, i built that Devi monster today...
      http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2011/05/devi-ever-us-fuzz.html?showComment=1337264982894#c4242858618990469705
      +m

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  15. No luck.. All I get is a VERY high pitch squeal that changes pitch when prodding all over the board,including the switch? I tried flipping the 1uf with no change..All grounding and wiring looks ok.

    Any ideas?

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    1. Should add that I do get a clean (ish) signal pass through.

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    2. Did you ever get it working? I also have polar 1uf caps and am wondering what the correct orientation is for the one that connects to Bass 2.

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    3. Sorry, missed this comment. But no I have a low patience threshold..I prod,poke and bin ;o)

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    4. Just finished it. 1uf cap goes with the negative leg to Bass 2.

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  16. Got the pedal up and running today. After doing some trouble shooting, I noticed that there's a difference between the schematic by whitekeyhole found here: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7q1BYMkCQGo/TxSQo9uzsHI/AAAAAAAAAkY/xROmSX0_eLs/s1600/AEL.png and the Vero

    Hopefully this will make sense: in the vero, Drive 2 and Drive 3 are connected by a 3k3 resistor which isn't in the scheme. Then, in the scheme, R5 connects that one lug of the drive pot to pin 6 of the opamp. Yet in the vero, there's a direct path from Drive 3 to the equivalent lug in of the opamp (I figured out that some of the orientations are labled differnetly).

    Does that make sense? Am I missing something? I probably am since I'm still making noob mistakes. If so, my bad. But if there is an error, I wanted to mention it. I feel like w/ my build, there's a little more gain than in the demos and I'm wondering of that might be caused by that 3k3 not being in the path to the opamp (in the vero)

    Thanks!

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    1. EDIT: Ok, that first 3k3 I mentioned IS in the schematic, but it does not connect Drive 2 and Drive 3. Sorry about that.

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    2. Yes if you look at both pot setups, they're both doing the same thing. With the final whitekeyhole schematic, in the counter clockwise position lugs 1 and 2 are connected and so because of the link between 2 and 3 it effectively bypasses the pot completely. So this is the minimum gain setting with only the 3K3 between the inverting input and the output. With the way it's done in my layout (same as the Timmy), the inverting input connects to lug 3, the output to lug 1 and the 3K3 connects between lug 2 and 3. So in the counter clockwise position the 3K3 is effectively connected directly between pins 1 and 3 putting the resistor in parallel with the pot and so giving you a total resistance of just under 3K3 which is the low gain setting. In both cases the high gain clockwise setting puts the full pot value between the inverting input and output.

      It really wouldn't be worth modding because the results would be the same, but if you really wanted it to line up with the schematic, then you'd connect pin 1 of the IC to lugs 2 and 3, and lug 1 would connect after the 3K3 resistor where lug 2 is shown in the layout.

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    3. Hey, thanks man! I really appreciate that explanation (and this site!) Really helpful in getting me to better understand what's happening under the hood of these colorful boxes.

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  17. I used this for my gig last night and it rocked! I barely touched any of my other pedals all night, and a lot of the time, found myself leaving it on and using my guitar's volume to get the proper amount of distortion out of it. I'm curious about using this as a bass overdrive. I hooked it up to a bass and bass amp today but it didn't distort at all. It only passed clean signal through when on or off. From what I've read, I'm thinking all I'd have to do is change the input and output caps. Does that sound right? I'm all for experimenting, but if someone has an answer before I start throwing parts around, that would be much easier. Thanks in advance.

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    1. Thanks for the feedback, Paul Cochrane certainly came up with a great circuit here.

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  18. Weird, I built this one and the4 EA trem with no good results, the trem has no real effect, the volume knob works just no fx, and the Amp 11 I get nothing dead. But I have success with your hotcake, Keeley 4 Knob and Klon buffer.

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  19. http://revolutiondeux.blogspot.com/2012/01/lovepedal-amp-eleven.html

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  21. Can someone tell me what the long 47u is?

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  22. Hi, this is first one that I have build, and... IT IS ALIVE! :) But.. Im not sure about Volume pot, I connected third pin to board, second to output on the switch and grounded first pin (then volume pot started to work). Bass knob is working counter clockwise and I get a lot of noise when the Tone knob is kranked.

    Anyway, it is working and that makes me happy :) Aqua LEDs are magic :0)
    Sorry for my English. I try my best.

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    1. must. have. aqua. LEDs. Where did you get them from?

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    2. banzai music :) they are not much different from the green ones, don't be disappointed ;)

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    3. Thanks for the tip - I probably would have been disappointed if they're that close to green.

      Congrats on the first build working! You're hooked now, you know....

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    4. Thanks. Hooked You say... That might be passable. I have build seven overdrives already and I'm gathering parts for BAJA REAL TUBE DRIVE. I hope its gonna stop eventually. My power supply i running out of juice ;)

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  23. Hi IvIark - Kudos to you for a truly amazing website. This has been an eye-opening experience to say the least. The hard part is deciding what to build first, so many great pedals.

    OK, my stupid question: I just wanted to confirm that the "-" mark on both the axial and radial 47u caps in this Amp11/Timmy board are the negative leads, right? Thanks! Judah

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    1. Correct, glad you're enjoying the blog

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  24. Hi IvIark!

    I'm a beginner and I'd like to build this stompbox and I'm asking about the way you wired the pots.
    I agree with the drive and volume pot. But I'm asking for the bass and tone pots.
    If I follow the same logic on the schematic, Bass 1 & 2 would be connected together where "bass 2" is written on the board, and bass 3 would be connected where "bass 1" is written.
    The same thing for the tone : tone 1 & 3 would be inverted.
    I know your wiring works, but I don't understand why it's the correct one.

    On this site http://revolutiondeux.blogspot.fr/2012/01/lovepedal-od-eleven.html , there are arrows on pots. I gess they give informations about wiring, but I can't find their signification.

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    1. I'm not sure I understand your question completely, but does this help?

      http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/Pots/

      Scroll down to "trimmer resistor".

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    2. As for the actual pot lugs you connect, wiper(middle lug) is always 2, if you exchange 1 for 3 you just get a "reverse" operation. Sometimes such a thing is desirable (compressors come to mind, at least to me where having "less" is kinda "more" and hence CW).

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    3. The tone is wired that way because it's a variable low pass filter, as you increase the resistance in the pot the corner frequency lowers and so cuts out some treble. With the pot wired with lugs 1 and 2 connected to signal in and lug 3 connected to signal out when the pot is turned fully clockwise it will offer the least resistance and so not cut and treble out, as the pot is turned counter clockwise the resistance will increase and so the low pass filter will start to cut out treble which is what we associate with a tone pot. With lugs 1 and 3 swapped this would work in reverse, hope this clears things up.

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    4. Thanks guys! Your informations really help me to understand how it works. But just a last question. I hope I'll be clear enough.
      If I look on the Goran link, I see this symbol for a pot :
      1 --/\/\/\/\-- 3
      . . . . |
      . . . . | 2
      (Forget the "." There just here because it's not possible to make more than 2 spaces)
      If try to apply this exact symbol on the schematic to wire the lug pots, I obtain for bass :

      1 ---/\/\/\/\--- 3
      . |____|
      . . . . . | 2

      but on the veroboard I read :
      3 ---/\/\/\/\--- 1
      . |____|
      . . . . . | 2

      In the same way for tone, I obtain :
      . ____| 2
      . | . . |
      3 ---/\/\/\/\--- 1

      But on the veroboard I read :
      . ____| 2
      . | . . |
      1 ---/\/\/\/\--- 3
      and you explained me why this one is the right way.

      So my question is : how do know which way is the right one to wire the pot?
      I have the impression the way pots are drawn doesn't matter, either you know how lugs have to be connected, either you try. If the pots doesn't react as it should be when you turn it, you just invert lugs 1 & 3.
      But I prefer think I'm wrong, there is a logical information on the schematic I miss.

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    5. Yeah basically you have to think about what the pot is going to be doing for you and where it is logical to have the minimum and maximum resistances. If the situation requires no resistance fully clockwise, like a tone pot, then it will be wired with 1 + 2 together and 3 as the output. If maximum resistance is required fully clockwise, like a gain pot, then it's usually wired with 1 as input and 2 + 3 as output, in the case of this pedal you can see that gain 2 and 3 are linked via a resistor. Other times a pot is used as a mixer, like a Vol pot, where 1 and 3 are the 'inputs' and 2 is the 'output'. If you want to know more you should check out R G Keen's Secret Life of Pots.

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    6. Ok! Thanks a lot for your explanations! They are very helpful.
      I think It will be easier for me with experience.

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  25. I built that one abd is not working, I built a cot50, an eternity and plexi800 but that one failed, I followed all the layout and no signal but true bypass is working fine, where is the output on the board? please let me know, thanks!

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  26. Anybody gonna put a layout for the Lovepedal OD 11? Not too sure what they changed

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  27. Hey, just finished this one and it is awesome!!! I' think I'll be doing a duel pedal with this and the Deluxe 60, as a few other guys have suggested. Just one note, I swapped 'bass 1' to lug 3 so that the most bass at FCW. Not sure if you all did the same and didn't mention it. Looking at the video, it seem the Bass pot works this way.

    Cheers Thommo.

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  29. Great site have built a few vero's from here I am a little confused about this one though where does drive 1 hook up to on the board everything works except the drive pot regards and thanks

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    1. Answered my own question was a solder bridge great pedal thanks to all who make these fine vero conversions available and to those who make this site possible it has brought new life in me

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  30. Does anyone have a parts list for the Amp 11? I really want to build this one next.

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  31. Hi - no disrespect intended, but - isn't this really the "OD Eleven"? The "Amp Eleven" has the COT50 built in - with a second stomp switch for on/off of the COT50. The stock behavior, as I understand it, is the AMP on/bypass bypasses the COT50 as well - i.e. the COT50 is subordinate, as opposed to being a discrete, serial effect in the same box. Anyway - tagboard is truly awesome.

    I have created a layout inclusive of the COT50 (I am considering putting a SHO in as an alternative boost circuit). I also added a 3PDT toggle switch that switches between the stock behavior (subordinate COT50) and having two discrete effects with the COT50 in front - such that one can run it as a COT50 with the Timmy/Eleven circuit bypassed, an (OD) Eleven w/COT50 bypassed, or a COT50 into AMP-Eleven serially - in the one box. It's not a pretty switch config, but it works very nicely without additional b.s. on board.

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    1. It was an Amp 11 that was reversed but what you say could well be true, often when dual effects are reversed if one part of it is well know then it tends to be ignored assuming everyone knows what that circuit is, and they just concentrate on the unknown.

      But thanks for the info so everyone knows how to do it if they want the complete thing.

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  32. Hi Ivlark,
    I am not having any luck with this build i'm afraid.
    Admitedly I am new to this stuff so my tech knowledge is extremely limited.
    I have built this twice, checking everything over and over and over again, making sure their are no shorts as I go, I have also followed your offboard wiring diagram to the detail and am yet to see any results.
    All I am getting is a faintly lit led but there is zero signal coming through the pedal.
    Can you please help as I am totally at a loss as to what to do next????
    Am happy to post some pics if you need to see what I have done, just let me know what you need and I will publish somewhere online, maybe my instagram might be easiest?
    Cheers and thanks in advance
    Jeremy

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    1. All good, I just got back from my local Jaycar and the guy down there suggested I hardwire the pedal so it was always on, taking the switch out of the circut, which I did and it now, thankfully works.
      Sweeeet!!!

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    2. At least you know your circuit works. Just need to figure out what the issue is with your offboard wiring to the switch. Did Jaycar charge for the advice? :-)

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    3. Na, the guy was really cool and only too happy to help, he used to build pedals and amps in his younger days so he had some great tips and advice.
      He also showed me how to wire up the switch which I have now done and added into the circuit, so the pedal is now a complete working unit, I am so stocked with this, it is such a great sounding pedal, better than I expected!

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  33. Hi lvlark,
    thanks for your amazing work here. I was wondering which type of pots you would suggest for this design. Linear of log ?
    Cheers, Esist

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    1. They are all B pots in the original as per the notes, and so linear

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    2. Ahhhh, I oversaw the KB labels again and again, even after reading the comment on ABC pot labels. Sorry for being mentally blocked.
      Thanks.

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  34. I built this one after giving away my Timmy build and I regret using linear pots.... they just don't make sense IMHO. The range is all screwed up it seems to me.
    Not sure if this has anything to do with the pots but it also sounds quite "muffled" unless i have the bass almost full and tone closed...

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    2. wonder is this is a waste of time to..let me guess..its squeals, hums, whistles or does not work ...you can keep wires short and apart in all of these veros and they whistle and squeal ..this website has to be a joke

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    3. rick, i hate to tell you this, but you are completely wrong. there are some effects that will hum, mostly germanium builds, that's how they were back in the day and that's how they are when they're cloned. some effects need shielded wires input and output wires to prevent cross talk or interference. if you're getting humming, whistling, etc. you need to ensure that you're 9V wires are not near the signal path.

      you're apparent issues are due to mistakes in your build, not the layouts themselves. the problem is with the one controlling the soldering iron.

      as i said to your last rant, if a layout is marked as verified it has been built and works correctly. if you've been trying to build some of them and it doesn't work that means there's an error in your build. i'm sure someone would gladly help you out, if you were to ask. there are plenty of us that have build these effects without issue, just take a look at the forum.

      don't blame the layout for your build issues. you haven't asked for help before, so how can anyone help you? don't take your frustration out by blaming the layouts.

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  36. Did anyone else have issues with major squealing that would change pitch with the tone knob? I have built a few of these and the last 3 i have done have had the exact same issue. Tried different IC's and even TL072's no fix. Then replaced all caps, all pots, then rebuilt (twice) - still the same issue. Non responsive bass control, extremely sharp/tinny tone, and relatively poor gain. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

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  37. Anyone added an on off on toggle switch I would like to add one. I would like to know where i would wire up the toggle. Thanks for your help

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  38. Thank you for posting this! Can this safely run at 12v? I thought I heard that the original can run between 9-18v, but wanted to be sure before subjecting this build to >9v. Thank you again!

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  40. How is this od11 wired in with the cot50? I was interested in building a complete amp11....great site BTW!!

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    1. IvIark posted a great off-board wiring layout that includes dual effect wiring. I used it in my Amp Eleven build and it works great. It allows you to engage either/or/both effects with LED indicators for each. Search for "Offboard Wiring" in the site map and you'll find it. It's a fantastic pedal!

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  41. Nice...I'll try wiring it up tomorrow. The cot 50 sounds awesome, can't wait to run them together. Thanks!

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  42. Does this circuit reverse the polarity of the signal? Ive been told that if theres an even ammount of gain stages, it doesnt. Is this true? This circuit has 2 stages, right? I also see the input going into the posative side of the op amp. Does that mean its a non inverting circuit?

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  43. This pedal sounds even better with the bass control removed. Noticed my bass knob wasn't working. Forgot to solder top leg of 1uF cap. Once I fixed it didn't sound as good, clouded the midrange. Clipped it and the clarity came back. Who needs a bass knob! (usually I like having a high pass filter...)

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  44. Pedal sounds great, but even with the bass at 100% (zero cut) it seems like it is missing some low end. Any tips on resistor/caps values to try modify to increase the bass in the circuit?

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    1. You could try to increase the input cap, and the output cap. And the 1uF in parallel with the 33nF, but I afraid that this circuit has the amount of bass almost at its maximum.
      You could increase the 3.3k resistor in series with the Bass pot, this will filter some treble getting more bass, but even less overall gain.

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    2. Thanks for the tips, when I looked again, I saw for both 1u caps i had 0.1u, doh! Which makes for an interesting treble booster type pedal.

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    3. hello ivlark, i found another version of amp 11 including Boost but,only issue according to the original citcuit i don't have any idea how the wiring
      should connect.i see in1 and out 1 in 2 and out 2 can you please give me any tip for this please.thanks

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    4. Hi Damian. I assume with this being Lovepedal that it will just be an Amp 11 with a COT50, but would need to see the pedal to see if any tweaks had been made to either circuit. In/out 1 and 2 will probably just refer to the two circuits. So you would wire a COT50 in to the first stomp switch and then the Amp11 into the second with them in series with each other.

      If you look at Dual Effect Example on the Offboard page, you could follow that with the two independant circuits and get the same results. Then you could choose whether you wanted the boost before or after the Amp 11 circuit, or even include an order switcher so you could choose either option.

      http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/02/offboard-wiring.html

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