FX86 DOD Death Metal - Any other pedals as awesome?

[Guitarist]

Hi I'm finding it hard to get an old FX86. So wondering if there's anything else as deadly sounding (not the HM-2 which sucks)?
thanks,

[Mark Hammer]

DOD produced a bunch of distortions that really only differed in terms of what their maximum gain was, and a few bands of fixed pre-emphasis. That's not a diss, but more a comment on how much the different flavours and genres of distortion - be they death metal, grunge, blues, or whatever - depend on the sort of tone-shaping before and after the clipping point.

If you look at the schematic, that first op-amp stage with a 2N5088 sub-circuit is a resonant booster. Similarly, the subcircuits built around Q3 and Q4 are also resonant boosts. I suppose DOD could have simply produced a pedal like the old Akai G-Drive, with complex pre-emphasis controls, and post-clip tone-shaping, but that was expensive, cumbersome, and likely wouldn't have sold. Instead, they stuck with a standard "clipping engine", built in some of the needed resonant boosts to deliver the basic genre-tone, and a couple of user-controls for tone-shaping, making it possible to stick in their standard-size pedal chassis.

[Guitarist]

OK, thank you. Looking at the schematic, that makes a lot of sense.

[doctor]

OK, thank you. Looking at the schematic, that makes a lot of sense.

The provided schematic is absolutely wrong.

Here is the genuine schematic.

[Mark Hammer]

The initially-supplied schematic is very close to the factory one. It simply omits all of the additional electronic buffering and switching. I haven't compared the two with a fine-tooth comb, so there may well be some small errors, but the general signal flow - apart from the e-switching - follows the same shaping I described in my earlier comment. It is not unusual to see schematics for Boss, DOD, and similar manaufacturers redrawn, minus the e-switching and accompanying buffering, to simplify the circuit for both discussion and building/cloning by those who would rather opt for the simpler 3PDT switch.

This is not a criticism of anyone or anything. I just wouldn't want anyone to think that the initial schem was dead wrong, or deliberately deceptive.

[tedmich]

There is also a DOD FX-86B which adds several components. These cost $50 on ebay and were cheap when new, they are unique for having no gain control ("we snapped it off!!") but I can't imagine they do anything too special, a Randall in a box perhaps, and my AMT Fatal Tube can do much the same.

these are nothing special either

[J M Fahey]

The secret for any pedal to be revered in its own Temple is to be used by some Guitar god.

Actual electronics inside are not that important.

[Guitarist]

Oh the FX86 does something special or very close to it. Soloing is wonderful though sending some pF to ground smoothed it out. But as the old ones are hard to score right now. To get rocking, I may get one of these Tight Metal pedals as they're also exemplary and of the Top 3. Note the single diode, asymmetric clipping which is more characteristic of tubes.

[tedmich]

don't forget the Tight Metal Pro now only $300, which by odd coincidence was what my last 5150 cost...

[Guitarist]

I know its crazy that a pedal is as much as a full tube amp. You just may've talked me into getting the pro model. Steve's Music here in Canada has free shipping and only 5% tax. You get a lot of extra features for $100. Then I could sell off a couple other overdrives including a Honey and an 808.

[tedmich]

If it works for you go for it, especially since the $ goes to James Brown, one of my favorite amp designers. My main amp is a Peavey Ultra+ modified so I have no need for pedals (except a bit of delay in the loop )

[J0K3RX]

Or, you could build the TM and save yourself some cash... I have built several not to mention the Tight Rock as well which is nearly the same with the exception of the SideTrak (A/B box) built in and a few component value changes. BTW - Your schematic has a few mistakes

FWIW... I have a 5150 and I like it but, the Tight Metal into a good power amp (Tubeworks MosValve MV-962) and the 5150 doesn't stand a chance! It spanks the 5150's @ss and sends it to bed without any dinner Even if I run the TM into the FX return of the 5150 it sounds better! The Amptweaker stuff is some seriously brutal circuits, can stand up and trade punches with some of the best tube monsters out there and walk away at least with some respect if not a belt!

[Guitarist]

We we'll see I plan on wiring in the Amptweaker pedal tomorrow. A quick listen into a mixer didn't qualify it, to me, as a full preamp yet but we'll see.

And Tedmich, if I may implore what mods did you do to the Peavey Ultra+? I haven't yet tried on but I modded a XXX with a few changes to good affect. Also preamp tube type subs matured the tone some.