Next Build: BYOC's New Overdrive 2 Kit...

[mrmudcat]

Does hoping involve sending cash to Vood?

Of course it does but ive got it covered:rockon:

 

[sunvalleylaw]

1) Much more. Has a greater range of gain available, two switchable clipping modes as well as a "diode lift" no-clip setting, and three switchable bass EQ settings. And that doesn't even touch on the integrated booster function the OD2 has. No comparison, IMO.


The OD2 is really two pedals in one. First, a very flexible overdrive that can be built to TS specs or as a MOSFET overdrive, or a hybrid of the two. Then you get a completely independent booster circuit with it's own footswitch in the same enclosure. The same bipolar silicon or MOSFET circuits from the Triboost are your two choices for the boost circuit in the OD2, but it's one or the other, not both.

So two very different pedals, both excellent at what they do. Both are quite unique in the combination of features that you get in a single pedal. If you have a hard time choosing, I'd be happy to build you one of each!

I am confused by the above. I am interested in hearing the TS spec pedal, and knowing how the hybrid works. But basically I am lost in sorting it out at this point. I think a really versatile TS type pedal would be awesome. I like the MOSFET clips, but I am wondering how the TS setup sounds. Not saying you have to build one to show us, but just sayin'. All the sounds are great so far!:AOK:

 

[mrmudcat]

SVL: Vood is doing mine like that !! He can post clips of its sound as I hope to pay him this weekend,so he can start building!:beer:

 

[sunvalleylaw]

SVL: Vood is doing mine like that !! He can post clips of its sound as I hope to pay him this weekend,so he can start building!:beer:

Very cool! Congrats! Is it the TS spec or a hybrid?

 

[duhvoodooman]

I am confused by the above. I am interested in hearing the TS spec pedal, and knowing how the hybrid works. But basically I am lost in sorting it out at this point. I think a really versatile TS type pedal would be awesome. I like the MOSFET clips, but I am wondering how the TS setup sounds. Not saying you have to build one to show us, but just sayin'. All the sounds are great so far!:AOK:

Apparenly I created some confusion with my non-specific language, so let me clear this up.

The BYOC Overdrive 2 is still very much a Tube Screamer TS8080 circuit clone. The basic overdrive circuit is the same one that's in the original BYOC Overdrive, and the one my ZYS pedal is based upon. It also includes a separate booster stage within the same enclosure, fully independent of the overdrive. This booster would behave no differently if it was in a separate pedal enclosure located the next spot down in your pedal chain.

It is still possible to build the overdrive portion of the OD2 as an exact circuit replica of the original BYOC Overdrive, if what you want is the closest thing you can make to a vintage TS808, period. What the OD2 adds is options. Options for how it's built, and options for how you operate it.

One of the options for the build is the MOSFET conversion. All this does is allow you to replace "stock" TS components (mostly bipolar NPN silicon transistors) with a different type of transistor known as a metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor, or MOSFET. There are 5 places these can be used. One of them is in the booster stage, so let's just forget about that one and concentrate on the overdrive portion, where the other 4 are located. These are: the input buffer, the output buffer, the clipping stage, and the operational amplifier (opamp). The first three all use a discrete MOSFET known as a BS170. The opamp, however, uses MOSFET technology built into an IC chip. As I understand it, most opamps used in effects pedals use JFET (junction field-effect transistor) or bipolar transistors, and MOSFET opamps are much less commonly found in these applications. Don't ask me why--I have no idea. In any case, MOSFETs have different properties than other transistor types, which are reflected in somewhat different tonal characteristics. Because MOSFETS also have internal diodes, they can be used as signal clippers. In this role, they're known for having a somewhat warmer, smoother sound than the commonly used silicon diodes such as the 1N4148 or 1N4001.

In any case, you can use the MOSFET components in all, some or none of those four places in the OD2 overdrive circuit. Use none, and you're building to "TS specs". Use them in all four places, and you have a full MOSFET overdrive conversion. Use it in some places and not others and it becomes a hybrid. In point of fact, the tonal impact of their use is most apparent in the clipping section, and quite subtle elsewhere. AAMOF, if you listen to certain audio clips posted here recently (hint, hint), it's a comparison between the 3 different opamps provided with the OD2 kit--one MOSFET and two non-MOSFET--that you're hearing. The differences aren't big, to say the least. The impact of the MOSFETs in the two buffers is more subtle yet. There, the primary effect is to raise the impedance, which helps preserve top-end response. But the impedances are already quite high with the stock transistors, so there's little if any real audible impact there.

There are a couple of other choices you can make as far as the OD2 build options go, but the other options with real tonal impact come from features added to the OD2 to let you change the way you run it. These include:

• Two switchable clipping choices as well as a "diode lift" setting that passes the signal through unclipped.
• Three bass response settings: stock (Normal), more (Full), and more yet (Fat).
• Three internal trimpots to adjust minimum gain, maximum gain, and the output level of the second stage of the opamp ("Louder" trimpot). You have to be a little careful about the max gain setting, because it also affects the bass response. And the Louder pot will affect the sensitivity of the pedal's Tone control.

Bottom line: whether you build to stock, MOSFET or in-between (hybrid) specs, the pedal still has a lot of tonal flexibility from these other features. Not quite as much as my ZYS, where you have the max. gain as an external control and more range on the bass control, as well as 3 different clipper choices, but still much, much more flexibility than a TS808 offers. Or most other overdrive pedals, for that matter.

Hope that helps fill in the blanks....

 

[duhvoodooman]

Here's the graphics design I've put together for the non-MOSFET version of this pedal:

 

[tunghaichuan]

Sweet! :AOK:

You really have a talent for developing graphics for pedals, DVM. :master:

tung

Here's the graphics design I've put together for the non-full MOSFET version of this pedal:

 

[duhvoodooman]

You really have a talent for developing graphics for pedals, DVM.

Thanks for the encouragement, Tung!

Here's the MOSFET conversion counterpart, with a tip of the hat to Tot for a great name idea:

 

[tunghaichuan]

Again, very cool. :AOK:

tung

Thanks for the encouragement, Tung!

Here's the MOSFET conversion counterpart, with a tip of the hat to Tot for a great name idea:

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Those both look very cool DVM!

 

[duhvoodooman]

Just thought I'd add a photo of the finished pedal. Thanks again to tOt for a great pedal name....

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Hey you went with MOS y Mas...cool!


(Can't stop, can't stop the Los Lobos from playing in my head.)

 

[EARNEST]

Are there any major differences between BYOC's version (PCB) and GGG's?
Thanks.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Are there any major differences between BYOC's version (PCB) and GGG's?

Yes, very substantial. While both are based directly upon the vintage TS808 design, the BYOC version incorporates a lot of the most popular TS modifications directly into the kit design. The GGG kit is set up to let you add a second clipping mode, but any other mods have to be added by the builder, though instructions for adding some of the more popular ones are available on the GGG site. The BYOC kit is set up for 3 clipping settings, a 3-position toggle for changing the bass EQ, and trimpots on the board for setting min and max gain for the overdrive, as well as the output level of the second stage of the opamp. You can also spend an extra $8 for a "MOSFET Conversion Kit" that allows you to modify 5 sections of the circuit to use MOSFET-based componentry, very popular among some of the higher-priced "boutique" overdrives. But the biggest addition is the incorporation of an independent boost circuit into the pedal, with its own footswitch and level control. And the boost can be built in either bipolar silicon or MOSFET versions.

Don't get me wrong--the GGG version is a high-quality kit. I've built it, and it's quite well done. It just doesn't have nearly the breadth of features & options that the BYOC OD2 kit offers. But it's considerably cheaper, too--$60 vs. $90 for the OD2.

Hope that helps....

 

[EARNEST]

Yes, very substantial. While both are based directly upon the vintage TS808 design, the BYOC version incorporates a lot of the most popular TS modifications directly into the kit design. The GGG kit is set up to let you add a second clipping mode, but any other mods have to be added by the builder, though instructions for adding some of the more popular ones are available on the GGG site. The BYOC kit is set up for 3 clipping settings, a 3-position toggle for changing the bass EQ, and trimpots on the board for setting min and max gain for the overdrive, as well as the output level of the second stage of the opamp. You can also spend an extra $8 for a "MOSFET Conversion Kit" that allows you to modify 5 sections of the circuit to use MOSFET-based componentry, very popular among some of the higher-priced "boutique" overdrives. But the biggest addition is the incorporation of an independent boost circuit into the pedal, with its own footswitch and level control. And the boost can be built in either bipolar silicon or MOSFET versions.

Don't get me wrong--the GGG version is a high-quality kit. I've built it, and it's quite well done. It just doesn't have nearly the breadth of features & options that the BYOC OD2 kit offers. But it's considerably cheaper, too--$60 vs. $90 for the OD2.

Hope that helps....

Thanks for the reply. Appreciate it.
Also, at this point I do not really concentrate a lot on the price. I want to build 100% hand crafted pedal. I've never ever done anything...pissed off at myself. So I want to build the PCB by myself and so on. Thus, either the BYOC kit or GGG would serve as foundation, the base for my potential build. I want to build a very good pedal for my tube amp (bugera 6262).
I did not understand few things.
1. Would I sacrifice that (in)famous TS tone with MOSFET chips and what's up with that "bass" mode?
2. As I understood, GGG and BYOCS have the same clipper modification and "expensive" ala fat mode.
So...I think that should be enough...am I wrong?
I am completely new to this subject. If it is not a problem. Can you highlight, please, the major options that GGG and BYOC have and the major differences, Something like
GGG and BYOC:
1. The same clipper mode
2. The same "fat" mode
BYOC (unique):
1.MOSFET
GGG(unique):
1. blah-blah.
oke:
thanks

 

[marnold]

Earnest, DVM build a pedal for me based on the OD2. I posted clips in this thread to highlight some of the tonal differences.

 

[EARNEST]

Earnest, DVM build a pedal for me based on the OD2. I posted clips in this thread to highlight some of the tonal differences.

Hm....:thwap: confusing
What do I need to have these things:
1. (main priority) TS to push the tubes to the next level. To boost them ("usual" job of TSers)
2. Nice OD pedal without losing TS tone
Thanks

 

[marnold]

Hm....:thwap: confusing
What do I need to have these things:
1. (main priority) TS to push the tubes to the next level. To boost them ("usual" job of TSers)
2. Nice OD pedal without losing TS tone

It'll do both of those things nicely . . . and a lot more. Matter of fact the boost will do #1 without the mid-range hump. As I understand it, if you build it stock, the OD part IS a TS-808 with all the popular mods switchable or controllable via trim pot.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Hm....:thwap: confusing
What do I need to have these things:
1. (main priority) TS to push the tubes to the next level. To boost them ("usual" job of TSers)
2. Nice OD pedal without losing TS tone
Thanks

Don't make this more complicated than it is. Either the BYOC or GGG kits will give you those things, and more. They both start with a true-to-the-original Tube Screamer circuit and then add some more features/tones. But you still have that TS808 tone available whenever you want it--just dial back in to the stock settings. The BYOC kit will give you more additional features, but at a higher price and a somewhat more complicated build. But as long as you have decent soldering skills and can follow directions, you should be able to build either one successfully.

 

[Monkus]

take the plunge .... I did ...:dude:

 

[EARNEST]

Thanks...I was wondering if it is possible to put, let's say, 2 IC chips and a switch for them in order to achieve different tone variations.

 

[marnold]

Thanks...I was wondering if it is possible to put, let's say, 2 IC chips and a switch for them in order to achieve different tone variations.

Anything's possible, but from looking at the guts of mine, I'm guessing that you'd have to completely redesign the circuit board.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Thanks...I was wondering if it is possible to put, let's say, 2 IC chips and a switch for them in order to achieve different tone variations.

The IC mount is socketed, so you can change the chip whenever you want--takes about a minute.

Different opamps only make a very slight tonal difference. The other switchable features (clipping diodes, bass EQ) make a much more audible impact.

 

[EARNEST]

I might re-draw the PCB layout of OD2...is it better if the lines (bus) are wider?

 

[EARNEST]

I tried to google the layout of OD2, but couldn't find. If anyone has it, can you share it pls? Thanks

 

[duhvoodooman]

Try the BYOC product page:

http://www.buildyourownclone.com/overdrive2.html​

There's a link there to the kit instructions, including photos of the board (front & back) and diagrams of the hardware layout.

 

[EARNEST]

Try the BYOC product page:

http://www.buildyourownclone.com/overdrive2.html​

There's a link there to the kit instructions, including photos of the board (front & back) and diagrams of the hardware layout.

I was thinking about that picture too. Thanks. Since I am newbie, I wasnt sure. So, I will try to edit it in photoshop. The thing is that I am not sure about eyelets: the size and certain eyelets' location. Some of them are square shaped. Some of them are too small. At some point I cannot understand the schematic and layout, so cannot check if certain eyelets have contact with the bus. Maybe some1 can take a closeup picture? Thanks

 

[vroomery]

A square eyelet typically is for certain capacitors. The longer lead on the capacitor is the positive end and it goes into the square eyelet. I'm not sure about the small eyelets though. I'm sure dvm will be able to help.

 

[duhvoodooman]

+1 on the square eyelets--positive terminal of polar caps (electrolytics, tantalums) and diodes.

Those really small eyelets are generally "pass-throughs"--a way of connecting a trace on one side of the PCB to one on the other side. Take a look at that same eyelet on both sides of of the board (the instructions show both) and you'll see what I mean.

 

[EARNEST]

+1 on the square eyelets--positive terminal of polar caps (electrolytics, tantalums) and diodes.

Those really small eyelets are generally "pass-throughs"--a way of connecting a trace on one side of the PCB to one on the other side. Take a look at that same eyelet on both sides of of the board (the instructions show both) and you'll see what I mean.

Oh...****...I was thinking BYOC was trying to confuse ppl...So most likely I won't be able to make the board on my own...?:thwap:

Like on this pic