1st Newsletter (Sent Feb 8th)
Here it is! The first newsletter!
Thank you all for subscribing. I hope I can keep this entertaining and engaging, I know everyone receives plenty of inbox clutter already.
My intention is to keep these brief and get right to the point. I intend to use this as a way to offer exclusive pedal drops, keep you updated on what I’m working on, and maybe share information on other pedals I don’t make that you may find interesting.
If there is anything you would like to see included in this newsletter, please, please, please let me know.
Exclusive Drops
Here is my plan for the exclusive drops: Some of you may have noticed that I have moved away from making clones of pedals that are currently being produced. The reason for this is two-fold. First, there is a plethora of pedals that are no longer being produced that are crazy good, and I feel bringing something to the market that is no longer available is much better serving than trying to make less expensive versions of something already available. Second, I really don’t wish to take potential business from any smaller pedal producers, and I can’t be very cost competitive with larger producers.
So here is what I’ll do, at least for now. Reproductions of anything currently in the market will be offered as limited newsletter exclusive drops. Quantities available will be low, and I hope to have some more obscure offerings than what is typically done. I have the first complete already and two more already planned.
I have yet to figure out how to have live hidden listings on the website, so I still need to work that out.
What I’m Working On Now
I love surprising everyone, so I hate giving anything away, but I also understand that people want to know what’s in the works. So here goes:
Still working on the original, it’s very close, and also have a second original now in development. If you are interested in being in the test group for these, let me know. You will have to sign a non-disclosure.
A counterpart to the Floret Cana Mori Fuzz
A new feature packed version of the Transmit
Restocks on the Sekova Overdrive and Systech Harmonic Energizers
A very special reproduction of the Diaz Texas Square Face, my first Fuzz Face style offering
Two modulation pedal reproduction projects, but these are moving very slow
A Black Keys inspired fuzz
An updated Fender Blender repro
New version of the Elk Fuzz with NPN transistors
I am actively trying to slow down on projects in order to devote more time to the originals, but it’s tough for me. There’s so much I want to do, just not enough time to do it. I blame my day job, but gotta pay the bills.
That’s enough for now. Next newsletter will be very soon, in fact once I figure out the listing thing for the pedal drop. Will also work on which pedals from others I want to talk about.
Developing the Small Drive
When I was writing the description for the Small Drive listing, I realized that I had much more information on it than I should include there, so this post is the expansion on that.
When I was writing the description for the Small Drive listing, I realized that I had much more information on it than I should include there, so this post is the expansion on that.
So the Small Drive is a reproduction of the Smallsound/Bigsound Mini, an amazing drive pedal that has an incredible range. A few years ago, Brian from SSBS graciously shared his schematic for the Mini on FSB. Until I dug into it myself, I didn’t understand why I saw so few clones of it. The answer appears to be that it is a circuit that really needs to be dialed in, in more ways than one.
Before I go further, I wish to thank Mark Sescon for laying the ground work for me on this, and Runoffgroove for sharing their expansive knowledge on the Fetzer valve circuit.
The Mini utilizes JFET transistors in multiple Fetzer valve stages. The Fetzer valve is essentially a tube drive circuit, but the tube is replaced with the transistor.
To make this circuit work as it should, two things must be done: The JFET transistors must be measured and selected based on the desired outcome, and the JFETs must be properly biased.
I initially tried to make these with all 2N5458 JFETs, since I have so many, but they produced almost no distortion due to their low gain. So I then started measuring and experimenting with all of the JFETs I had available.
What I settled on matched what Brian had originally shared on his schematic: A J201 in the first stage, a 2N5457 in the second, and a J201 in the third.
The J201s each produce around 10dB of gain, and the 2N5457 produces 18-20dB. I have no idea what values were intended to be used, but these worked quite well. I suspect the 2N5457s I have are higher gain than most, but this may also contribute to being able to give the external bias control an extended range, since that control is directly tied to the second stage.
With everything properly internally biased using Runoffgroove’s calculator, the circuit works perfectly, allowing for everything from clean boost to crunch to dirt to gated fuzz.
I also plan on using this newly acquired knowledge of Fetzer valve circuits in future designs very soon. An extremely worthwhile project, to say the least.
Always moving forward
I need to add more updates to this section. It’s been quite some time since I made one.
A lot has happened since my last post. We moved and I now have more space to use for pedals. I’ve acquired more knowledge and skills, which I’m utilizing in developing new pedals. Foremost is I now have EagleCAD and am designing my own PCBs, as some of you have surely noticed. This is also exponentially increasing my knowledge of circuits, which is already leading to the development of original designs. Hopefully more on that in future posts.
Another big step for me is moving away from producing clones of currently in production circuits. I do believe this is necessary as part of a pedal builders learning process, but the time has come for me to put that aspect in the past. I have shifted my focus to reproducing out of production pedals and developing new designs. I am no longer taking custom orders, as I have a long list of other projects that consume all of my available time, which is little.
This is just a hobby for me, one that has turned into a second job almost. I work my regular M-F 8-5 and also have a family, which leaves little time for pedals. So please understand if inventory is not available.
At the time of writing this I am working on:
New Lovetone’s (I just listed the Ring Stinger)
Two additional Frantone tributes
Two rare Big Muff variants, one you are already familiar with
Another Systech trace and development
Two special fuzzes, inspired by The Black Keys
I need to add more updates to this section. It’s been quite some time since I made one.
A lot has happened since my last post. We moved and I now have more space to use for pedals. I’ve acquired more knowledge and skills, which I’m utilizing in developing new pedals. Foremost is I now have EagleCAD and am designing my own PCBs, as some of you have surely noticed. This is also exponentially increasing my knowledge of circuits, which is already leading to the development of original designs. Hopefully more on that in future posts.
Another big step for me is moving away from producing clones of currently in production circuits. I do believe this is necessary as part of a pedal builders learning process, but the time has come for me to put that aspect in the past. I have shifted my focus to reproducing out of production pedals and developing new designs. I am no longer taking custom orders, as I have a long list of other projects that consume all of my available time, which is little.
This is just a hobby for me, one that has turned into a second job almost. I work my regular M-F 8-5 and also have a family, which leaves little time for pedals. So please understand if inventory is not available.
At the time of writing this I am working on:
New Lovetone’s (I just listed the Ring Stinger)
Two additional Frantone tributes
Two rare Big Muff variants, one you are already familiar with
Another Systech trace and development
Two special fuzzes, inspired by The Black Keys
What’s in the works?
Five builds of “The Gate” - Fortin Zuul clones using the now extinct THAT4301 processor that I had acquired from Spain. Just these five, then no more ever!
Three Floret Cana Mori Fuzzes - A fan favorite and probably the pedal that put me on the map, or some kind of map….
King of Tone build
Three Rat33’s
Three Fantastic Machine’s - Snake Oil Marvelous Engine builds
Maybe a Fairfield Shallow Water build….
More Lovetone’s
Two more Swedish Chainsaw Massacre’s
Two Block Logo Envelope Filter’s - MXR MX-120 builds with all the mods, similar to Analogman’s
The Blender (Fender Blender)
The Elk Fuzz