So this was originally going to be a post about modifying a Yellow OD for more output volume. Here's the text I was originally going to post:
"Hello, I recently purchased a BYOC Yellow OD (the last one I think, because it's out of stock now and there's a disclaimer that there likely won't be any more because of the scarcity of the op amp chip). Anyway I really like it, a lot more than my Ibanez TS Mini. I love the EQ curve of it. I've noticed two things though;
1. I'm noticing the volume seems to randomly come up and down a little bit when the pedal is engaged. It's only really noticeable on a clean channel, and I mostly use it as a boost for a dirty channel, which I think it could probably be solved by re-flowing all the solder joints. No big deal, I've done that with every pedal I've built. But I'd be open to any suggestions as to what it might be specifically.
2. I'd like to modify it for a little more output volume. There's an audible drop in volume when I use it on a clean channel, I think it's sort of dealt with by the compression of the heavily overdriven channel on my amp. Like I said, I don't use it with a clean sound a whole lot, but I'd prefer it be at unity gain if not higher output. So based on my limited knowledge of electrical engineering, I think that means swapping out resistor 12 or 13, but I'm not sure if that should be for a higher or lower value, and how much higher or lower."
So before I posted that, I plugged it in and tried it out just to make sure I was describing my issues correctly. The gain knob gets stiffer when you turn it past about 11 o'clock, which I had noticed the whole time but didn't really think much of it. I mostly use it as a metal boost type thing with the volume all the way up and the gain knob at about 8 o'clock. Anyway up until turning it past that 11 o'clock position, it basically sounds fine, but after that it basically turns into a gated fuzz. Which is cool but not what I'm after. What's more, I just listened to a demo of an actual Boss OD-1 (what this pedal is a clone of) and noticed that it's a very clean pedal with the gain turned all the way down. When I have the gain all the way down on my Yellow OD, it's already pretty distorted. I've heard of things like that happening with fuzz pedals that use germanium clipping diodes, but the diodes in this pedal are silicon and I'm pretty sure they're not used for clipping in the circuit. But I could be wrong about that.
So I guess I'm asking, 1. I'm sure at least one of those issues is related to the pot. As per the schematic/parts list it's an "A1M Audio Drive pot," Would getting a new one solve the output volume issue as well? 2. Which component should I change for more output volume and to what value?
I'm 99% sure I haven't accidentally put the potentiometers in the wrong sockets, but I'll definitely check that when I get around to cracking it open. Whenever I have this all sorted out, and when the coronavirus quarantine ends, I'll finally paint it and whatnot. The anime nerds among you will like the color scheme I have planned for it. I think it's the last Yellow OD from BYOC because it was displayed as out of stock shortly after I got it and there's a notice that there likely won't be any more due to the scarcity of the op amp chip. So I want to make you all proud with it.
Below is a picture of the schematic for reference.
Thanks in advance.
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