Early vs. New Gnomeratrons?

[the_carl]

Noob question: What's the difference between the first-run Gnomeratron VTFs and the current run of VTFs? Is it only diode options, or is there anything significant? I'm just confused because the first run has started popping up hella cheap on TalkBass.

[McSpunckle]

The front end on the fuzz circuit is different. After the first run, I changed to a MOSFET input that doesn't load down the clean blend as much. So, the new ones have brighter sounding and somewhat louder clean blends. It also makes the signal really smooth out in "magic" mode (because of the way MOSFETs saturate). The clean tone controls on some newer ones (and any new ones I'm gonna make) also cut the volume less.

Now NEW ones, as in the ones I'm building from this point on, are a bit different. The circuits are better isolated, and the fuzz circuit doesn't have the "boom", because sometimes it basically sounded like the clean blend was going even if it wasn't-- so I decided if it sounded like the clean blend, why not just do it with the clean blend? Too, the output booster is only on the fuzz circuit (the clean has a booster too, of course-- there's just not control on it). All the volume variation happen with the fuzz circuit, so why boost the clean too, yaknow? The new ones also have mini toggles on the side that add a lot of the function of the "deluxe" pedals.

Uhmm... yeah! I think that's it. I stopped doing the diode sockets because I hate doing it and I think it's a bit overkill.


Oh, one more thing. Price! Every time I changed them, I really kinda made them do more, so they got more expensive. They started at $130 (which was stupid), then jumped to $175 just so I wouldn't want to kill myself, then to $200 when I added the little side switches, and now they're $250 with all the features, and I'm doing whatever I can to not go any higher. The Minis are staying at $150, so there's a cheaper option.

[the_carl]

Awesome, thanks! Always cool to get a response from the builder.