Well....I got the EHX Freedom thing to work but at least in the current incarnation its kind of lack luster. The tone control doesnt do much of anything. That could probably be left off and just given a treble bleed at the output. The bite control is *okay* but could be more effective. I might have to mess with that. Also the overall volume could use a tweak...maybe a little booster at the output. Still messing with it anyway.

For reference i'm attempting just the preamp section from this:

https://www.audioservicemanuals.com/e/e ... tics-1.jpg

Progress!

Also, the deep dive is fantastic, thanks!

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 12:37 pm

tommy wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 11:52 am

VaticanShotglass wrote: Sat Jan 07, 2023 9:04 pm A blue box parallel with a green ringer is something I keep wanting to try.

That sounds like a great idea! 2023 PRF charity build idea!

In not so many words, FM four_oclocker_2.2 suggested something like this awhile ago and I got stalled out on the development. If I ever get a moment i could bring it back.

Just writing down my own thoughts on this...not sure where its going.

FM four_oclocker_2.2's original idea was just a fuzz pedal but that has switchable octave-up and octave-down. Like a Foxx Tone Machine but with an added octave down switch. The problem is that octave down isnt so easy, as evidenced by how "sorta" a Blue Box works. It needs to be fed by a fuzz, but not just any fuzz will do. The octave down is probably best left with its own specific fuzz and not attempted to be paired with or added to a different fuzz. So it's difficult to just add octave-down to a fuzz of one's choice.

Adding octave up to a fuzz is much easier, however, which affords something to mess with. A Green Ringer, Foxx Tone Machine, Fender Blender all use the same general method for upper octave generation, just with different fuzz/distortion combos to highlight the octave.

FM VaticanShotglass' idea was a Blue Box paralleled with a Green Ringer, which would work but the Green Ringer is relatively clean so you'd be blending a clean-ish octave up with a filthy octave down and maybe that would sound good? Not terribly sure. You could also pair the octave-up with a fuzz and then parallel the Up-fuzz with the down-fuzz and that might be a thing...

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Thu Jan 19, 2023 2:22 pm Just writing down my own thoughts on this...not sure where its going.

FM four_oclocker_2.2's original idea was just a fuzz pedal but that has switchable octave-up and octave-down. Like a Foxx Tone Machine but with an added octave down switch. The problem is that octave down isnt so easy, as evidenced by how "sorta" a Blue Box works. It needs to be fed by a fuzz, but not just any fuzz will do. The octave down is probably best left with its own specific fuzz and not attempted to be paired with or added to a different fuzz. So it's difficult to just add octave-down to a fuzz of one's choice.

Adding octave up to a fuzz is much easier, however, which affords something to mess with. A Green Ringer, Foxx Tone Machine, Fender Blender all use the same general method for upper octave generation, just with different fuzz/distortion combos to highlight the octave.

FM VaticanShotglass' idea was a Blue Box paralleled with a Green Ringer, which would work but the Green Ringer is relatively clean so you'd be blending a clean-ish octave up with a filthy octave down and maybe that would sound good? Not terribly sure. You could also pair the octave-up with a fuzz and then parallel the Up-fuzz with the down-fuzz and that might be a thing...

Seems like your 2 octave Blue Box build with an added Green Ringer might sound good. Maybe look into how/where the Green Ringer is inserted into the circuit on a Mu-Tron Octave Divider. Because it sounds great in there with and without the lower octave, which is by no means clean. That upper octave isn't all that clean sounding either. No idea if that would interfere with however the Blue Box works. I remember also liking just the fuzz on the Blue Box with the blend all the way down.

Having said all of that, not sure what an Octave Divider sounded like without the dry guitar signal. You could do the low Octave only (which didn't sound great) but I don't think you could do it with the lower octave and the green ringer only.

Been running the Deep Dive pedal from my Roland D-50. Presets never sounder so good.

Just wanted to say I have a Balls-made Hiwatt 50W clone that is getting a lot of play at practice by Jeff in Deep Tunnel Project.

Getting to hear punk rock guitar through it has been a real treat. Sounds terrific. I played bass through it at a couple practices when my V4 was down--also sounded great.

tommy wrote: Thu Jan 19, 2023 2:39 pm Seems like your 2 octave Blue Box build with an added Green Ringer might sound good. Maybe look into how/where the Green Ringer is inserted into the circuit on a Mu-Tron Octave Divider. Because it sounds great in there with and without the lower octave, which is by no means clean. That upper octave isn't all that clean sounding either. No idea if that would interfere with however the Blue Box works. I remember also liking just the fuzz on the Blue Box with the blend all the way down.

Having said all of that, not sure what an Octave Divider sounded like without the dry guitar signal. You could do the low Octave only (which didn't sound great) but I don't think you could do it with the lower octave and the green ringer only.

Thanks for the input! I might have had a breakthrough with a more simple octave down approach that can be easily added to a fuzz. I got something to sound good, now I've just gotta try the same approach with a green ringer and if that sounds good figure out a blending structure.

eephus wrote: Thu Jan 19, 2023 10:57 pm Just wanted to say I have a Balls-made Hiwatt 50W clone that is getting a lot of play at practice by Jeff in Deep Tunnel Project.

Getting to hear punk rock guitar through it has been a real treat. Sounds terrific. I played bass through it at a couple practices when my V4 was down--also sounded great.

Rad! Forgive me for not knowing usernames but is this Tim Midyett? I originally made that for a FM in Philly, i think?, but if memory serves correct it made its way to Tim's possession. It turns 10 in March!

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Fri Jan 20, 2023 9:29 am

tommy wrote: Thu Jan 19, 2023 2:39 pm Seems like your 2 octave Blue Box build with an added Green Ringer might sound good. Maybe look into how/where the Green Ringer is inserted into the circuit on a Mu-Tron Octave Divider. Because it sounds great in there with and without the lower octave, which is by no means clean. That upper octave isn't all that clean sounding either. No idea if that would interfere with however the Blue Box works. I remember also liking just the fuzz on the Blue Box with the blend all the way down.

Having said all of that, not sure what an Octave Divider sounded like without the dry guitar signal. You could do the low Octave only (which didn't sound great) but I don't think you could do it with the lower octave and the green ringer only.

Thanks for the input! I might have had a breakthrough with a more simple octave down approach that can be easily added to a fuzz. I got something to sound good, now I've just gotta try the same approach with a green ringer and if that sounds good figure out a blending structure.

eephus wrote: Thu Jan 19, 2023 10:57 pm Just wanted to say I have a Balls-made Hiwatt 50W clone that is getting a lot of play at practice by Jeff in Deep Tunnel Project.

Getting to hear punk rock guitar through it has been a real treat. Sounds terrific. I played bass through it at a couple practices when my V4 was down--also sounded great.

Rad! Forgive me for not knowing usernames but is this Tim Midyett? I originally made that for a FM in Philly, i think?, but if memory serves correct it made its way to Tim's possession. It turns 10 in March!

hah! you made it for me. I live in Jersey (not that far from Philly, to be fair). That was the nicest amp I have ever owned. Sadly i did not use it very much and had to pass it along to TM. Glad to hear it is getting used. Maybe I will get to hear it this summer at the BBQ!

I saw Kowloon Walled City last weekend and both Scott and Jon were playing through borrowed 50 watt Hiwatt heads and I'm not sure I've ever heard guitar sound better in a live setting when it wasn't played by Neil Young, Andy Cohen, or John Reis.

Definitely taking some patience on my end to not just sell a bunch of stuff and order one Dr Balls Hiwatt inspired heads!

motorbike guy wrote: Fri Jan 20, 2023 10:02 am hah! you made it for me. I live in Jersey (not that far from Philly, to be fair). That was the nicest amp I have ever owned. Sadly i did not use it very much and had to pass it along to TM. Glad to hear it is getting used. Maybe I will get to hear it this summer at the BBQ!

That's right! I remember Derek Vockins picked it up from me and delivered it to you.

tallchris wrote: Fri Jan 20, 2023 11:02 am Definitely taking some patience on my end to not just sell a bunch of stuff and order one Dr Balls Hiwatt inspired heads!

Ha....I just found suppliers of DR201 transformers the other day....