Build Your Own Clone Message Board

I borrowed bits and pieces from the DOD 409, DOD FX-20B, and also Rick's Causality 4 for this one.

4x OTA phase stages via a pair of LM1700s. Fixed feedback (for simplicity). Fairly versatile LFO in terms of speed. The traditional "depth" control works more like a frequency-emphasis control (for lack of a better term). I've marked it "Freq". Maybe I should change it to "Rick"?

Sounds pretty good. Does wah-like phase all the way to Pac-Man type sounds. It does NOT sound like a Phase 90.

Obviously, there are a ton of tweaks that can be done to make it more versatile. But my goal was 4 fully swept stages with as few parts as possible, and with as few parts values as possible.

With humbuckers, if you hit the strings really hard, there is some clipping (but it actually sounds cool). I will make a few more tweaks to see about reducing that. But it's not a major issue, at least with my gear.

Comments and criticism are very welcome.

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Function f(x)
TightCamera - Gear Reviews

Screw it. I added another pot and a switch. I figure if you go to this much trouble, you might as well put some spinnin rims on there.

Added a feedback/resonance control. It makes the circuit a lot more versatile. This basically acts as a traditional Depth control.

I also added a switch that shorts the feedback entirely. This result is a subtle, throbby vibe-like sound. A little pitch bend, a little choppy. Sounds pretty good on higher speeds, but hard to hear at lower speeds. It's on the mild/subtle side, but I rocked some barre chords with it going at medium-high speed, and I could've sworn I was in the middle of p_wats living room.

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Function f(x)
TightCamera - Gear Reviews

Do you think it would be possible to make a little breadboard clip of this layout, sound interesting for sure.

Have you tamed the clipping at the input, or this could be settle to taste with a trimpot?

Thanks for your awesome work!

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I'll see about a clip. I'm out of town this weekend (and busy the rest of this week), so maybe next Monday.

The clipping was the result of something touching on the breadboard that shouldn't have been touching. Now I can't get it to clip at all.

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Function f(x)
TightCamera - Gear Reviews

Can't Touch This! Too doo doo doo!

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Looks great Culturejam.

I only just discovered this part of the Forum recently (being the idiot I am), and I can't wait to built some of these cool circuits.

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My Site/Blog: http://www.sj-effects.com/.

Thanks, raul.

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Function f(x)
TightCamera - Gear Reviews

How many times have I told you to stay out of my living room, dammit?

Looks like a great circuit! I am partially to swirly craziness.

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Dog Is Blue - Toronto garage folk duo

Ah I only just saw this here, had just posted a few observation in the CW thread, then I found you'd modded the schematic here but not there. I have issues with the unbuffered regen path....

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http://www.frequencycentral.co.uk/

Dying to build one of these.

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http://srceffects.com/

Custom knob sets and effects. Free shipping in USA.

I need to make one final addition to correct an issue that Rick brought up. It sounds great as is, but it might cause impedance/loading issues with other pedals in the chain. So I need to add an output buffer.

I'm going to record a clip soon. Probably Friday.

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Function f(x)
TightCamera - Gear Reviews

I'll be interested in how this progresses - having a bit of a thing about phasers at the moment, glad there is no fet matching for this one. Thanks for sharing CJ

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To err is human, blaming someone else shows management potential

The original schematic is actually good to go as is. I'll get around to a layout in the next couple weeks. In the meantime, anyone should feel free to make their own. I may have some time tomorrow to record a clip with my iPhone.

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Function f(x)
TightCamera - Gear Reviews

Took longer than a couple weeks to get to this, but it's done. It's not the prettiest layout in the world, but it's very compact. I used 1/8-watt resistors to save space. I gave up on the SMD version.

I was trying to get it to be less than 5cm x 5cm to get cheaper pricing, but I just couldn't quite pull it off. So the final is 2.05" x 2.00", which is still pretty good.

I'll let you guys know once the layout is verified.

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Function f(x)
TightCamera - Gear Reviews

That is a beautiful layout Eff!

Just look at all those shameful vias.

Nah, to be honest, I've given up on trying hard to avoid using vias. It's just another tool in the process, so there's no reason not to use it.

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Function f(x)
TightCamera - Gear Reviews

Just ordered a set of protos. I'll let you guys know how they turn out (in a couple weeks).

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Function f(x)
TightCamera - Gear Reviews

Don't be shy to send me a proto....

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what's wrong with vias??

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Nothing at all wrong with using Via's.

A circuit of that complexity, on that size of PCB is going to need them at some point for sure.

I think there is a perception that not using them adds to PCB-layout-fu bragging rights.

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My Site/Blog: http://www.sj-effects.com/.

Nothing, honestly. I think I've still got some lingering snobbish attitudes from the earlier days of FSB. Basically anything anyone did was bad. But layout choices were a key point of criticism. Via = shame!

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Function f(x)
TightCamera - Gear Reviews

My prototype PCBs have an easy-to-fix (on the schematic) flaw. I will order another round of protos and then hopefully we can begin mass producing these.

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Function f(x)
TightCamera - Gear Reviews

I'm pretty sure you can mark me down for one.

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Bump Because I want an audio sample

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I've got the problem fixed, but I don't have the cash to order more boards at the moment. Maybe next week.

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Function f(x)
TightCamera - Gear Reviews