Build it and it works... but a bit far from the original, no? Then I checked Pedal Pcb schematic and, or I'm I very wrong or you should check layout from Q3 ahead. The pedal diserves it and I think you can do a perfect one. Cheers!
Now it is perfect. Awesome pedal! Love it! Tag it, mate. Absolutely! Did'n't know much about this Basic Audio stuff, but now I'm becoming fan. Hundred thanks more and keep the great work!
This has been in my build list for a long time and I've never really got round to it due to not know anything about it.... Now you have piqued my interest!
There may be different versions of this, but when I built mine, I followed the values Aelling found on his original: http://guitar-fx-layouts.238.s1.nabble.com/Basic-Audio-Scarab-Deluxe-td44267.html
There was no 8n2 in the tone section, making it just treble cut, not full Muff scoop. The extra film cap was a 2n2 connected Q2 at "B" and "C". You can try those mods on this board without any modification. Unless there are other Scarabs with the other values, there may have been confusion with an earlier design called " Hot Silicon".
I had issues with noise and oscillation around noon with the bias knob as well as some extra noise underneath the main fuzz signal as someone else experienced with the other vero layout for this circuit. I put a 2n2 cap at E and F on column 1 and it fixed it.
Hfe is important in this one. I found that slightly lower gain 2N5088’s sounded best. And climbing in gain from Q1 on. Socketing is a good call. I didn’t have an 8.2 so I used a 6.8 I think. It needs a bit extra treble in some settings so it sounds good to my ears. I don’t know what the 2.2nf would do. Maybe I’ll play with that. Maybe it increases overall mids making the 8.2 redundant? Anyway, it sounds great to me as is but the info is much appreciated. I feel a bender obsession coming on.
Yeah, I like that one too but it doesn’t have the punchy power of this one. It feels more like a rat with extra low end and gain to me. But I like the Katz too.
I got radio frequency with the 2.2nf but reduced the value down to 100pf and it pushed the mids in a tasteful way as well as stabilizing the fuzz. I also had a tiny bit of squeal on a certain setting and it seems to have eliminated it. I love this fuzz, especially slamming into another drive. Into my Barbershop it's a dream.
I just finished this, I added the extra 2n2 cap based on AlexS comment, it calm down things a bit. Also tried without the 8,2nf and I ended using a 4nf cap in there. For Q1-Q2 2n5088 and BC549C for Q3-Q4. Sounds great!
Build it and it works... but a bit far from the original, no?
ReplyDeleteThen I checked Pedal Pcb schematic and, or I'm I very wrong or you should check layout from Q3 ahead. The pedal diserves it and I think you can do a perfect one. Cheers!
Ouch! This old layout is pretty much trash. It definitley desreves better. Will draw anew layout from scratch and upload it tomorrow!
DeleteSince it is a quite small circuit I managed to draw a new layout before bedtime... So here it is, new layout above.
DeleteAh, only noticed now! Great, man! Wait just a second...
ReplyDeleteNow it is perfect. Awesome pedal! Love it! Tag it, mate. Absolutely! Did'n't know much about this Basic Audio stuff, but now I'm becoming fan. Hundred thanks more and keep the great work!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dragao! I'll tag it. Yes, Basic Audiodoes some truly great stuff for sure. Might wanna try Lucky Number next?
DeleteYeah, might take a ride on that one... or the Gnarly, who knows...
DeleteI think I found a new best friend. She's nasty though.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the best fuzz pedals I've tried. And it has nothing special in it. What a great design.
ReplyDeleteThis has been in my build list for a long time and I've never really got round to it due to not know anything about it.... Now you have piqued my interest!
ReplyDeleteThere may be different versions of this, but when I built mine, I followed the values Aelling found on his original: http://guitar-fx-layouts.238.s1.nabble.com/Basic-Audio-Scarab-Deluxe-td44267.html
ReplyDeleteThere was no 8n2 in the tone section, making it just treble cut, not full Muff scoop. The extra film cap was a 2n2 connected Q2 at "B" and "C". You can try those mods on this board without any modification. Unless there are other Scarabs with the other values, there may have been confusion with an earlier design called " Hot Silicon".
Good information. Thank you
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI had issues with noise and oscillation around noon with the bias knob as well as some extra noise underneath the main fuzz signal as someone else experienced with the other vero layout for this circuit. I put a 2n2 cap at E and F on column 1 and it fixed it.
DeleteHfe is important in this one. I found that slightly lower gain 2N5088’s sounded best. And climbing in gain from Q1 on. Socketing is a good call. I didn’t have an 8.2 so I used a 6.8 I think. It needs a bit extra treble in some settings so it sounds good to my ears. I don’t know what the 2.2nf would do. Maybe I’ll play with that. Maybe it increases overall mids making the 8.2 redundant? Anyway, it sounds great to me as is but the info is much appreciated. I feel a bender obsession coming on.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the traced version I was talking about the 2n2 wasn't in the tone section.
DeleteAnother good silicon fuzz inspired by the Tone Bender MKII, but still its own thing is the Catalinbread Katzenkonig.
https://dirtboxlayouts.blogspot.com/2019/06/catalinbread-katzenkonig.html
Tom, have you tried the tone reaper? That's pretty cool!
DeleteYeah, I like that one too but it doesn’t have the punchy power of this one. It feels more like a rat with extra low end and gain to me. But I like the Katz too.
ReplyDeleteI got radio frequency with the 2.2nf but reduced the value down to 100pf and it pushed the mids in a tasteful way as well as stabilizing the fuzz. I also had a tiny bit of squeal on a certain setting and it seems to have eliminated it. I love this fuzz, especially slamming into another drive. Into my Barbershop it's a dream.
ReplyDeleteI don't have the right germ but I may try it anyway. Thanks for the recommendz.
ReplyDeleteI just finished this, I added the extra 2n2 cap based on AlexS comment, it calm down things a bit. Also tried without the 8,2nf and I ended using a 4nf cap in there. For Q1-Q2 2n5088 and BC549C for Q3-Q4. Sounds great!
ReplyDelete