Silent Fly

[sfx] started a new initiative: [b][sfx] labs[/b]. You can find more details here: [url="http://sfxsound.co.uk/labs"]sfxsound.co.uk/labs[/url] All the best, Max [sfx]

[quote name='WarPig' post='568676' date='Aug 14 2009, 09:33 AM']Cheers Max. Yes it was one of the tracks. If you could PM me your addess please, id like to take you up on the offer.[/quote] Done. (If you send me the mod kit with the instructions I will complete it for you)

[quote name='WarPig' post='568505' date='Aug 13 2009, 11:06 PM']Can you ressurect PCB's? I lost my patience, i was 3 components away from finishing it.[/quote] I agree with umph. If the PCB is totally destroyed resurrection is almost impossible but if it is just comatose a good doctor should be able to bring it back fully functional If you just ruined some tracks it not the end of the world. It can be fixed. If you send me the unit I can fix it for you and post some picture before, during and after the cure. Other DIYers might find interesting see how it can be done. All the best, Max [sfx]

The Sadowsky preamp is quite clean. If you look for overdrive/saturation I am not sure it would cover your requirements. Personally, I would use an overdrive (I really like the Digitech Bad Monkey) and a separate clean preamp/DI.

[quote name='WarPig' post='564869' date='Aug 10 2009, 12:32 PM']Well, the DS-1 is F**ked. balls to it. Next.[/quote] Please fell free to contact me if you need help/advice about it.

[quote name='WarPig' post='563381' date='Aug 8 2009, 11:20 AM'](...) Also my BYOC MOSFET booster has arrived: (...)[/quote] Are you sure it isn't an [i]AMZ[/i] MOSFET booster? I noticed a 100k trimmer (R2) that it is not present in the [url="http://www.muzique.com/schem/mosfet.htm"]original schematics[/url]. I guess it is to set the bias voltage. Could you tell us how it is set?

[quote name='TGEvans' post='563037' date='Aug 7 2009, 08:28 PM']does anybody know where i could buy a kit from to make a pedal/switch?seen a few things online but am unsure which ones have a good reputation.thanks,t[/quote] I would be surprised if you can find a kit of this pedal. Your best option is probably go to Maplin, buy the parts and build it yourself. While you build it you can add a couple of LEDs that indicate the status of the footswitches.

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='516360' date='Jun 17 2009, 12:59 PM']Anyone have experience of using an MXR Dyna Comp for bass? Does it limit the lower frequencies? Is it moddable to work better for bass?[/quote] I found this [url="http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/dynacomp.shtml"]review[/url]. You may find it interesting. It is part of bigger [url="http://www.ovnilab.com"]Ovnilab Compressor Review[/url] web site.

I think they can be found [url="http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Dave-Hall-Amplifiers-and-Effects__W0QQ_armrsZ1"]here[/url]. Very cool pedals Dave!

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='559541' date='Aug 3 2009, 07:18 PM']Is that your Blue Dragon Booster? Your pedals look gorgeous btw, didn't know you had a range of fx like this. Great stuff![/quote] Thanks for your kind words Al Heeley. Yes, it was the Blue Dragon Booster. The [url="http://www.sfxsound.co.uk/mainpage.asp?page=blue_dragon"]new version of the Blue Dragon[/url] has nothing to do with the old version. Apart from the enclosure size it uses a completely different circuit. With the new version, the output can swing between -12V and +12V without clipping.

[url="http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=254"]MXR Stereo Chorus (M-134)[/url]

[quote name='Potaton' post='559414' date='Aug 3 2009, 05:06 PM']Thanks for the numerous responses guys Plenty to think about there.......I only need it for 2 songs we do,in particular "Stay Clean" by Motorhead.....I'm battling with two volume-greedy guitarists. Anyone heard of the Nobels PRE-1?? Are they any good? I might have the chance to pick one up cheap.[/quote] I never tried the Nobels PRE-1. I would recommend you wait and when you have the money you buy a good quality booster (or you ask Al Heeley to build one for you). In the meantime, you can use the volume of your bass to turn up/down the volume. Boosters are pedals that should last a lifetime. They do just one thing and they should do it well. IMO, distortion, tone loss and lack of headroom are totally unacceptable in a booster. Buying a cheap booster (especially if it is not true bypass) it something that I fear you will regret.

[quote name='ahpook' post='559379' date='Aug 3 2009, 04:31 PM']the LPB has far from a flat frequency response.[...][/quote] I couldn't agree more. The low-cut at -3dB is 50Hz. It is ok for guitar but I wouldn't recommend it for bass.

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='559303' date='Aug 3 2009, 03:42 PM']I put together a linear boost pedal for my guitarist colleague, from jack orman's DIY stompbox site, its a good clean boost with no real distortion, offering up to about 20dB, works well for guitar or bass. Pretty simple circuit, doesn't cost much: [url="http://www.muzique.com/schem/mosfet.htm"]http://www.muzique.com/schem/mosfet.htm[/url] [i]"NOTE: The frequency response of the AMZ Mosfet Booster is flat and extends down low enough for both bass and guitar use. There is no need to mod the design to add more bass; it will not make any audible change."[/i] If you want me to put one together for you, drop me a pm and I can cost it out. Its a good simple effective pedal. It's true-bypass. It;s very transparent. It's very low on battery drain.[/quote] I agree, Jack Orman's Mosfet Booster is an excellent booster. I used to make a booster based on Jack Orman's circuit as well. It is very close to the circuit used by the Catalinbread booster (I can't remember which one). I don't make them anymore but only because I make another product that covers the same requirements and has better specs. I would increase C1 to 10nF. It is not really necessary but it improves the linearly at the lower frequencies.

I am not sure the MXR micro-amp is true-bypass. If true-bypass is an important requirement, it might be worth double-checking. Apart from the true-bypass, the m-133 (aka micro-amp) is a good booster. The only thing I don’t like is that it uses a TL061. It was a good IC twenty+ years ago. In these days the market can offer much better components. Having said that, if super-low distortion and accurate linearity are not important, the m-133 can be a good choice.

If you look for a linear booster I don't think "The Mole" is what you need. AFAIK it boosts the mids more than other frequencies. It depends what you mean by "cheap". Really transparent boost pedals usually are not very cheap... Do you have an idea about how much you would like to spend? The cheapest booster I can think of is [url="http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/PB100.aspx"]this[/url]. I think it is around £20-£25. It is not true-bypass and I am not sure it is transparent...

[quote name='Linus27' post='558684' date='Aug 2 2009, 07:23 PM']To be honest, I don't know what I prefer as I have not gigged the shuttle 6 yet. I was just wondering if there really was a peference to which is considered the better option, DI Box or DI on the head. I guess with all things, there is no easy answer [/quote] I think a lot depends by what you mean by "better option". IMO, unless the XLR output on the amp doesn't sound good, for live applications, I would use the XLR signal from the amp. For recording, unless one is totally in love with the sound coming out from the XLR out of the amp, I would recommend a high-quality DI. There is a third option. Some bass players connect a high quality DI/preamplifier to the return jack socket of the amp. This bypass the preamplifier of the amplifier. The same DI also sends a signal to the PA. It is very minimalist configuration but it sounds fantastic with high quality gear.

[quote name='Linus27' post='558609' date='Aug 2 2009, 05:04 PM']Sorry if a bit of a thread hi-jack but is it best to use the DI on the amp head (Shuttle 6 in this case) or to always use a DI box? If a DI Box is the better method then I to will be looking for a DI Box.[/quote] I think it is better to use the one that sounds better If you are happy with the sound of the XLR out of your amp and you are not looking for new ways to improve your sound there is no reason to use a separate DI box. Technically speaking, if the DI box is inserted just before the amp input, the signal sent to the PA doesn't go through the first stages of the amp so you instrument is likely it sounds cleaner. It depends on the amp but with a good DI (something like an Avalon U5 for example) I would very surprised if you couldn't hear the difference. “Clean” doesn’t necessarily mean better of course. If you like the sound of an old Ampeg working near the saturation point, you may not like the ultra-clean sound of the bass coming out of a good quality DI. Personally, I love the sound of a very linear, zero-distortion preamplification. I have the feeling it is the real sound of my bass (and my fingers) but I understand it is not for everybody.

[quote name='JPS' post='557269' date='Jul 31 2009, 04:53 PM']Thanks for that. I will suggest that, although the singer who sets up and runs the PA may have already tried that. Could it not be a problem with my TE?[/quote] It is possible that the TE dropped one side of the balanced line. The signal would still go thrugh the cable but attenuated. It is difficult to know for sure without testing the XLR output.

[quote name='JPS' post='557244' date='Jul 31 2009, 04:30 PM']It's for bigger gigs where I use my Trace Elliot AH500SMX. I use the XLR connection from the back of the amp into the mixing desk. Compared to my smaller amp - a Hartke Kickback 120 - the signal being sent to the mixing desk seems very weak. Ideally I'm looking for some way of being able to use the TE from time to time, but with a stronger singal being sent to the desk. Hope that makes sense. As you can tell I'm not the most technically minded of blokes. Cheers JPS.[/quote] The difference between Hartke and TE might be due to the fact that the Hartke sends a signal close to line level, the TE is probably closer to microphone level. In theory it shoudn't be a problem. The mixing desk should have a input gain control that can be used to compensate for the low signal level coming from the TE.

[quote name='JPS' post='556920' date='Jul 31 2009, 10:42 AM']Can anyone recommend a decent, not too expensive DI box? I want to use it instead of the DI out on the back of my amp which seems very weak. Cheers JPS.[/quote] Do you need the DI for a connection to the PA? Power amp? Recording interface? I would also be interested to know which amplifier you use. I am trying to understand if it is the signal coming out of the XLR of the amp that is too weak or the device you are connecting to that needs a strong signal. [quote name='GreeneKing' post='556936' date='Jul 31 2009, 10:56 AM']Have a look on Thomann, they have a wide variety at a range of prices. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/index.html"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/index.html[/url][/quote] +1 Thomann is a good starting point. They sell a lot of different [url="http://<a%20href="http://www.thomann.de/gb/cat.html?gf=di_boxes&oa=pra"%20target="_blank">http://www.thomann.de/gb/cat.html?gf=di_boxes&oa=pra</a>"]DI boxes[/url] Unfortunately, they don’t sell [sfx]

[quote name='BassBod' post='557192' date='Jul 31 2009, 03:44 PM']Look at the Orchid electronics site - around £35 and really good.[/quote] [quote name='yorick' post='557197' date='Jul 31 2009, 03:49 PM']I got my ART DI from my local Reverb for £10. Not the best, but very useful.[/quote] I may be wrong but if I understand correctly JPS' requirements none of them is suitable. He needs some boost/preamplification.

[quote name='JPS' post='556920' date='Jul 31 2009, 10:42 AM']Can anyone recommend a decent, not too expensive DI box? I want to use it instead of the DI out on the back of my amp which seems very weak. Cheers JPS.[/quote] If by "weak" you are referring to the signal level I don't think a DI box like the DI-100 would help you. AFAIK, the DI-100 (like many other DI boxes) works at 0dB gain. In a nutshell, the input signal is at the same level of the output signal. There a several DI boxes on the market with a very wide price range. Do you have a rough idea of how much you would like to spend?

[quote name='peter6725' post='556152' date='Jul 30 2009, 01:45 PM']Hey guys, Im new here. Recently I have gotten into effects and I have purchased around 300 euros worth. My band are doing some home recording at the moment and my guitarist keep presuring me to use my effect. Although I love messing around with effects at home I really don't want to use them on a recording just for the sake of it. I looked around the web for a pedal that for all intents and purposes does nothing alas to no avail! So eventually my search led me here. Im looking for a Pedal with a load of knobs and bright LED's so I can plug it in and my guitarist will be happy! If anyone can build me one of these I would be very happy and would pay for it aswell as any shipping charges Thanks guys, Peter[/quote] You may end up winning the contest of the weirdest pedal ever Please send me a message/email. I should be able to do something for you.