Pedal Parts TS808 clone kit ... no boost.

[foonting]

while being experienced at 'passive' electronics and pickup making I had a go at my first pedal kit a few days ago: a Pedal Poodle (Pedal Parts UK) TS808 clone. Well, I was delighted that it worked ... and sounds really great (a lot better than my Bad Monkey) ... but it appears to have no 'boost' at all. In other words with 'level' fully up, the volume is the same as the clean signal. I am wondering what the heck I've done wrong, as I would have expected at least some signal boost. The pedal specs are here http://pedalparts.co.uk/wp-content/u...oobCreamer.pdf
I'd be grateful for the odd pointer as the pedal sounds really good.

[pdf64]

Are you using high output humbuckers?
Clipper circuits are more or less limited to +/-0.6V peak level = 0.43Vrms
Consider replacing each diode with series pairs, or LEDs etc.
Pete

[Chuck Raudonis]

I had the same problem with a different kit. You can replace the diodes with LEDs, but the level of distortion will drop. It will turn more into an overdrive. Good sound, but it seems that you like the Sunday you've got.

You want to increase the volume but not change the distortion. I ended up changing the voltage divider at the output to give it more juice. I ended up halving the value of the equivalent of R14 in mine and it worked great. YMMV.

[foonting]

I had the same problem with a different kit. You can replace the diodes with LEDs, but the level of distortion will drop. It will turn more into an overdrive. Good sound, but it seems that you like the Sunday you've got.

You want to increase the volume but not change the distortion. I ended up changing the voltage divider at the output to give it more juice. I ended up halving the value of the equivalent of R14 in mine and it worked great. YMMV.

When I've got a bit of time I'll hunt down a couple alternative resistors to try at R14 ... thanks for the suggestion.

[foonting]

Are you using high output humbuckers?
Clipper circuits are more or less limited to +/-0.6V peak level = 0.43Vrms
Consider replacing each diode with series pairs, or LEDs etc.
Pete

mostly low output SCs and the odd PAF ....

[pdf64]

So for a signal path
low output single coil -> tube screamer -> amp
the tube screamer gives no boost? Something wrong there; double check that all resistors are the correct value (to the schematic, don't rely on the pcb overlay). ie if R8 and R16 were switched over then there would be low volume.

'I ended up changing the voltage divider at the output to give it more juice. I ended up halving the value of the equivalent of R14 in mine and it worked great. YMMV'
There isn't a voltage divider at the output; R14 is the emitter resistor, it could likely be doubled or halved without affecting things much.
Pete

[Chuck Raudonis]

Ok....must have read that one wrong...

Thanks Pete!

[foonting]

So for a signal path
low output single coil -> tube screamer -> amp
the tube screamer gives no boost? Something wrong there; double check that all resistors are the correct value (to the schematic, don't rely on the pcb overlay). ie if R8 and R16 were switched over then there would be low volume.

'I ended up changing the voltage divider at the output to give it more juice. I ended up halving the value of the equivalent of R14 in mine and it worked great. YMMV'
There isn't a voltage divider at the output; R14 is the emitter resistor, it could likely be doubled or halved without affecting things much.
Pete

Hummm I got the multi meter and probes out and R22 looks problematic ... looks lile it's reading up as .5 but that seems to be the only fault. can't work what I swapped it for lol!

[Mark Hammer]

1) I've found that the maximum output level can vary with the hfe of the transistors used for the input and output buffer stages. IN principle, it ought not to, but it does in my experience.

2) The tone control stage is, in many respects, a gain stage. If yo replace the 1k feedback resistor with something a little higher, like maybe 3k3, you'll get more juice out of the unit, without affecting the tone in any noticeable way.