The effects of capacitance on tone.

This is the first part of something that I was asked about on the MetalGuitarist forum.

In itself it can be quite awkward to explain but there are a few basic rules that apply and I will go through them in the simplest application there is to a guitarist.

The tone control. The main properies of a capacitor used in this application is to increase or decrease the high frequencies depending on how they are wired.

A common value that is used as a "tone" capacitor is 0.022uF if you increase this to say 0.1uF you will roll off a far larger amount of the high frequencies.

For a quick reference here are a few common capacitor values that are used in guitars

0.10uF - Darker sometimes described as a muddier sound (no good for metal imho)

0.047uF - Less dark, with a pleasant frequency curve through the travel of the pot.

0.022uF - This cap gives a brighter sound and does not roll off as much high end and also has a good frequency curve throughout the travel of the pot

Another point that i have seen come up on various forums is that a higher voltage capacitor will change/alter the sound. This is NOT true a using a 600v  Orange Drop will have the exact same effect as using a 100v Orange Drop as your guitar will never see 600v going through it and if it does there is something seriously wrong!

Also using a really low value capacitor will give the effect of reducing the low end frequencies when wired up with a pot this can be seen in an excellent post on the MetalGuitarist forum.

I shall do more of these in different applications if people request them.

New Amp Plans

Well I was kinda challenged to do this one but it's something I actually have an interest in myself so i'm going to roll with it and see how it turns out.

The challenge was to make a low powered amp thats around 20w or less that can do metal without the bass farting out as it's never really been done before.

Heres the plan so far

• Single Channel
• EL84 power stage
• Cascaded Gain Stages
• Variable Voltage Regulation for Power Scaling
• Built In Boost Circuit
• Adjustable Negative Feedback Control (Depth)
• Stacked Controls For The EQ Section Where The Second Stack Controls The Boost With The MV Control Being Push Pull To Turn The Boost On/Off

I wont be starting this until after christmas but i'm really excited for it.

Shock Treatment (SHO update)

Well I got around to rehousing this today and also labelling it up using a Dymo labeller.

Here's the final version.

Hopefully some more parts should be in tomorrow and I have decided to do the little angel chorus.

SHO style build

First off i'll give credit where its due.

I used the layout from http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com that was made by IvIark
Its an excellent layout.

I built this using a 10k linear pot and wired it in reverse as i didn't have a 5k linear rev pot handy.
This gave great results as I now have a massive range of clean boost for the first half of the pedal before the dirt and crackle kicks in!

Also this is my first ever build using Vero/Stripboard so it isn't the tidiest but i plan on tidying it up later.

Also as my step drill bit still hasn't arrived its built in a "DIY" enclosure that was crafted by my girlfriend Laura.

I enjoyed doing this so much that I have also ordered parts for a chorus build and an OD that I am going to cannibalise a BIYANG OD8 for the chassis as its the perfect layout.

New Headshell Day!

I was originally going to use this for my next amp which would have a similar chassis but black with white lettering but i tried it with my current SLO and it just looks awesome.

The headshell is here!

Well now this amp is well and truly finished.

It's alive!!!!

Well after a good while i've finally got this thing up and running and i must say it sounds bloody amazing!.

I had some issues with channel switching that lasted since saturday when i finished the amp (when it was nice and tidy) to now when i sorted it out.

I misread a few values of resistors which caused this but now its sorted!.

However internally its a right mess now due to all the fault finding time on the bench.

So for now there is just  a pic of it externally and i shall get some gut shots up after i have tidied it up this weekend.

The O'netics are here!!!

Well they are finally here after many issues and delays I can finally get this thing going.

They have a little cosmetic damage and it seems the couriers have dropped the package at some point as one of the fixing plates is bent upwards but hopefully the transformers themselves should still be fine.

Boards almost complete!

I know that i've been useless updating this thing but im going to keep to it more now that the project is moving along.

I am still waiting on a few resistors & caps to finish these boards off and im also going to change the 1uf Orange drops (The MASSIVE orange caps)  to Xicons possibly as they are smaller and fit a lot better. I will have to wait until the build is finished and then A/B them to see if there are any tonal advantages.

 Still waiting for C34 & C35 for the preamp board along with 3 resistors, they should be here sometime this coming week.

Still waiting for 4x 220k 1watt resistors for the power board. These are crucial as they are the bleed resistors that discharge the caps that can potentially kill me.... Definitely need those in there

Badly Painted TS

Well here's the TS it's the very first time I have ever sprayed anything and will be redone as i aren't 100% happy with it.

However it will do for now until I build my other pedals.