Modifiying pedals

[The4455]

So I built a Dan Armstrong Blue Clipper a while ago, and I tried to use it at a band practice the other day and it was loud enough turned up all the way, but I'd like it to be a little louder at 12 or even 3. How do I go about making a pedal louder?

[skullservant]

You could add a clean boost at the end of it, or you could increase the output capacitor

[McSpunckle]

That thing is gonna have a pretty limited output. It's got diodes at the end of the circuit, AND a high impedance before the volume control. That's done for tone... I guess it'd be too bright otherwise.

Anyways, the best thing to do is slap a booster after the volume control. Either an SHO or an LPB would do, and wouldn't be any harder than what you already built.

If you wanted to experiment, remove the resistor (10K in the schem I found) before the volume control. That'll get you a bit more volume, but I suspect it'll sound harsh.

[The4455]

Thanks you guys, I'll try it out tomorrow.

[The4455]

ne of the pedals I'm working on calls for a 820k resistor, but I didn't have any. So I used a 1M resistor is that okay?

[McSpunckle]

What's the pedal? Alas, there's no universal rule for that sorta thing.

[Jero]

What's the pedal? Alas, there's no universal rule for that sorta thing.

This. It all depends on the circuit, &/or the placement in the circuit.

[The4455]

It's your bazz fuss, Culture Jam.

[Jero]

It's your bazz fuss, Culture Jam.

The bazzfuss layout on CJ's website (and almost everywhere else) just has a 10k resistor that goes from Collector to 9v positive. Not sure where the 820k comes into play?

[multi_s]

So I built a Dan Armstrong Blue Clipper a while ago, and I tried to use it at a band practice the other day and it was loud enough turned up all the way, but I'd like it to be a little louder at 12 or even 3. How do I go about making a pedal louder?

what did you use for diodes? an alternative to adding a booster is just to play with some values.

i would either stack a few diodes in series instead of just 1 or use an LED. It will clip at higher levels so you will effectively get louder signals passing through the clipping stage. This will increase the headroom which might make it less distorted sounding or change its tone so to compensate just add more gain before the diodes. You can do that by switching the 150k in between the out and (-) input of the opamp. If you make it 2 serial diodes, double the value (to 300) if you go with LEDs try going even higher, 470k or just experiment with what sounds good. If 2 is not enough use as many as you wish.

Im actually not sure what schematic your using but when i say "150k" i meant the one seen here

http://circuitdiagram.net/dan-amstrong- ... ml/blue-cl

[The4455]

It's your bazz fuss, Culture Jam.

The bazzfuss layout on CJ's website (and almost everywhere else) just has a 10k resistor that goes from Collector to 9v positive. Not sure where the 820k comes into play?

Sorry, I meant to say Culture Jam's Inline 8 distortion pedal, my bad, sorry.

And thanks Multi_S

[Jero]

Sorry, I meant to say Culture Jam's Inline 8 distortion pedal, my bad, sorry.

Right on, I'll look into it...and I wasn't doubting you on the 820k res. I thought maybe I missed something (new layout/mod/etc).