We set out to take a classic design with lots of history and make it obviously something new.
We took the op-amp version of old PI and inverted one of the stages, brought out the midrange, tightened the bass, and most importantly, added a Germanium transistor output!
Yes, this is a opamp-transistor hybrid. Don’t be miffed by op-amps in your pie folks, the germanium touch at the end makes everyone smile around the shop here.
Wow Alex, you're on a roll!
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ReplyDeleteCurrently building this using Alex's layout on the forum and noticed a difference. The 22K in the top left corner is 220K on the original. Is there an advantage to switching to 22K? Thanks, Alex!
ReplyDeleteI've transferred it to DIY Layout V.2 and made a mistake copying the values.
ReplyDeleteThe resistor on the top left corner is meant to be 220K.
I've corrected that.
Thanks for the heads up!
Bookmarked, I can't wait to try this out!
ReplyDeleteYowza, that one looks brilliant!
ReplyDeleteGreat! 3mm red leds? diffused?
ReplyDelete3mm should be fine. The LEDs where not specified. Should test different ones.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone finish this actually? Mine does not sound at all like the video. Has a huge output, but the sound is thin and very trebly. Tried with a low hFE SI transistor as well, was a little bit better, but not much. I also tried to take the signal from after the opamp sections and already there it was quite trebly, though by far not as harsh as at the end. But to me it seems that all bass is actually gone. I checked the component values several times, but I can't find an error in my build...
ReplyDeleteI haven't built it myself but the layout was verified by Steve E in the Forum section.
ReplyDeleteHave you checked for usual culprits?(cuts,bridges..)
Of course that wasthe first thing to do. As I said: it does not sound like it is completely wrong, but simply bad, not similar to the video at all. I still have enough volume, the tone control does something, but the result is very poor. Maybe I have a bad component somewhere, I'll doublecheck that too (though I measure all components before using them). Just wanted to know others results, because the videos can often "cheat" a bit.
Deletei think you're problem is your transistor. in your original question you mention you used a low gain Si transistor, when that's not what you should be using. if you look on the layout the transistor is marked as a ac187, which is an NPN Ge transistor. not sure of the hfe or leakage, but without a doubt you NEED Ge in order to make it sound right.
DeleteThanks for the reply Zach. Actually I tried both: AC187 (sounded horrible) and 2N2369 (sounded a little bit better). I tried the lowest leakage AC187 I had, which I had to admit is still quite leaky - at least it would be for a Fuzz Face type of application.
DeleteAnd you did use all 1uf and not 1nf right?
ReplyDeleteYep, all 1uF.
DeleteJust finished my build and sounds great with 3mm red diffused LED's, Japanese diode (sounded about the same as an 1N34A), and an MP38A w/ low hfe (<40). The transistor doesn't matter much (sounded ok with a 2n3904 even), as this is just adding to the already massive clipping of the diodes/op-amp. Even Keeley himself admitted the germanium was mostly for marketing and to add a slight twist to the op-amp muff. He recommended low hfe's to start with.
ReplyDeleteThis pedal has it's own thing going for it so it's worth a build if you like op-amp muffs and want a different flavor (or just want your low gain germaniums to work).Thanks again for all your great layouts, Alex!
Any good alternatives for the AC187?
ReplyDelete(i can only find AC176's as NPN GE trannies at my usual sources)
Any guesses on the hFE range?
too much noise...not like regular big muff..when i don't play it has something like loud ground noise but when i play it sounds fantastic
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