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Crate gxt-100 is now a BENGL two more related mods needed
Somebody asked why the heck I'd mod this thing.....because I can't, and probably will never afford what I really want.
Sooooo Here is where I rather happily stand with this little beast...... It's not a GXT anymore
BENGL= Boogie and ENGL
MODS:
Mains: 1) Removed mix function (R79) making effects loop the main amp input with fx mix as master volume for amp only.
Very usefull if u want a master... use a jumper cable from fx send to return or stick any eq or fx in there.
2) Removed broken reverb unit.... will reuse reverb send as tuner out, reverb ret as a monitor input.
3) Added a ch1/ch2 split switch and a buffer (see od). now the original send can be clean channel only,
while the od channel feeds an independent output. This allows two completly different processing
chains for example: Clean w chorus reverb and David Gilmore delay, OD with delay, small reverb and 4x12 sim.
4) re reouted reverb footswitch control to the Clean channel overdrive function, now its on a toggle and footswitch.
5) Removed speaker.... replaced with custom 8" studio monitor. What I hear is what the PA gets.
6) Added interface box which mixes 2 fx chains and an aux input, feeds the internal amp, provides an lm386
headphone amp, a hiz record out, a hi z slave amp out and a balanced line with pad and ground lift.
powered via an RCF 50hz cut filter feeding the fx procs.
7) Not installed as yet, an input mute to make soundguys happy when changing guitars.
Clean: 1) minor treble eq tweak.
2) od function on footswitch and toggle, EQ MOD Needed here.
OD: 1) Changed R35 to 330k, Changed R40 to 3.3k (ENGL spec). More compressed at higher gains, mid gains are
easier to do quick articulate runs while playing chugga chugga stuff.
2) Added switchable pre low cut, C28 switches from 100n (orig), 44n and 22n. I leave it at 22n
3) Made the unused half of IC3 into an Anderton Frequency booster set for 80hz or 120hz switchable.
it usually sits at 80 for adding that Diezel bottom to the Englesque tone. Best of both.
The circuit comes off at R68 and is followed by the split switch sending OD to its own fx send.
4) Not implimented as yet, a way to adjust the mid boost function (turn it down!)
5) Added a modified HK redbox MK3 to od output. More of a 4x12 Eminence (Ampeg) cab tone.
Result: Every in and out needed for Home studio, stage and bedroom use. A Mark2 type set of tones on the clean,
An ENGL Savage meets Diezel tone on the two od's, a WYHISYG foldback system and all 4 tones on the footswitch.
Not to mention two fx sends and an additional monitor/mix input. And it gets out of the way of the lead guitar
player. Both processors sit neatly on top velcroed to a removable board. The aux input facilitates adding a modeler
to expand to 6 channels via an A/B switch on the input side. Works rather nicely.
The mod help I need is in regard to both mid boost controls.
On the Clean channel I'd like to switch between the original boost, very bluesy, to a thinner one.
I dont fully understand whats going on with c80, c9 , Q26 and r18. My only other option is to
change the gain and output pots to 20k and switch between a preset clean and variable OD
using two pots in parallel and switching the wipers. A trick I use on OD pedals to get two presets.
On the od channel I'd like to lower the mid boost level, I'm guessing R61 could be changed to a trimpot
to make it variable. I might consider adding a defeat or enable to Q27 to allow it to affect both od channels
If I need a Marshall type grind. I simply need to cut it back a little.
As you can see, Ive taken it to a place people like line6 are just starting to go. It does the job and I will consider it finished
(yeah right!) once I finesse the mid boosts. I'm torn between tweaking V2 for better cleans or leaving it as is for the sweet OD
tones and gritty clean and just using a pristine clean through the aux in. I'll probably leave it alone.
Sooooo Here is where I rather happily stand with this little beast...... It's not a GXT anymore
BENGL= Boogie and ENGL
MODS:
Mains: 1) Removed mix function (R79) making effects loop the main amp input with fx mix as master volume for amp only.
Very usefull if u want a master... use a jumper cable from fx send to return or stick any eq or fx in there.
2) Removed broken reverb unit.... will reuse reverb send as tuner out, reverb ret as a monitor input.
3) Added a ch1/ch2 split switch and a buffer (see od). now the original send can be clean channel only,
while the od channel feeds an independent output. This allows two completly different processing
chains for example: Clean w chorus reverb and David Gilmore delay, OD with delay, small reverb and 4x12 sim.
4) re reouted reverb footswitch control to the Clean channel overdrive function, now its on a toggle and footswitch.
5) Removed speaker.... replaced with custom 8" studio monitor. What I hear is what the PA gets.
6) Added interface box which mixes 2 fx chains and an aux input, feeds the internal amp, provides an lm386
headphone amp, a hiz record out, a hi z slave amp out and a balanced line with pad and ground lift.
powered via an RCF 50hz cut filter feeding the fx procs.
7) Not installed as yet, an input mute to make soundguys happy when changing guitars.
Clean: 1) minor treble eq tweak.
2) od function on footswitch and toggle, EQ MOD Needed here.
OD: 1) Changed R35 to 330k, Changed R40 to 3.3k (ENGL spec). More compressed at higher gains, mid gains are
easier to do quick articulate runs while playing chugga chugga stuff.
2) Added switchable pre low cut, C28 switches from 100n (orig), 44n and 22n. I leave it at 22n
3) Made the unused half of IC3 into an Anderton Frequency booster set for 80hz or 120hz switchable.
it usually sits at 80 for adding that Diezel bottom to the Englesque tone. Best of both.
The circuit comes off at R68 and is followed by the split switch sending OD to its own fx send.
4) Not implimented as yet, a way to adjust the mid boost function (turn it down!)
5) Added a modified HK redbox MK3 to od output. More of a 4x12 Eminence (Ampeg) cab tone.
Result: Every in and out needed for Home studio, stage and bedroom use. A Mark2 type set of tones on the clean,
An ENGL Savage meets Diezel tone on the two od's, a WYHISYG foldback system and all 4 tones on the footswitch.
Not to mention two fx sends and an additional monitor/mix input. And it gets out of the way of the lead guitar
player. Both processors sit neatly on top velcroed to a removable board. The aux input facilitates adding a modeler
to expand to 6 channels via an A/B switch on the input side. Works rather nicely.
The mod help I need is in regard to both mid boost controls.
On the Clean channel I'd like to switch between the original boost, very bluesy, to a thinner one.
I dont fully understand whats going on with c80, c9 , Q26 and r18. My only other option is to
change the gain and output pots to 20k and switch between a preset clean and variable OD
using two pots in parallel and switching the wipers. A trick I use on OD pedals to get two presets.
On the od channel I'd like to lower the mid boost level, I'm guessing R61 could be changed to a trimpot
to make it variable. I might consider adding a defeat or enable to Q27 to allow it to affect both od channels
If I need a Marshall type grind. I simply need to cut it back a little.
As you can see, Ive taken it to a place people like line6 are just starting to go. It does the job and I will consider it finished
(yeah right!) once I finesse the mid boosts. I'm torn between tweaking V2 for better cleans or leaving it as is for the sweet OD
tones and gritty clean and just using a pristine clean through the aux in. I'll probably leave it alone.