bobbass4k

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1450621183' post='2934352'] Spencer did not design the PCB. I haven't even seen a claim to that, he just 'upgraded' a couple of components including the switch, schematics were otherwise 100% Darkglass/Doug, as of course was the layout of the pedal. He did create the enclosures (I can't say design, as fundamentally the old Finnish and USA had the same overall look) so don't think there is an issue there (apart from the interesting discrepancy in pre-drilled, when the Vulcan has a different PS location), however bizarre it appears from a business point of view. He has said the Vulcan is inspired by his knowledge of the Darkglass circuit, what he has not admitted to is that it appears to bean adjusted version of the exact same pcb, only with a Pike logo. I think what is so frustrating here is, if he had put these overdrive in his own cool rolled steel enclosures (changing PCB layout as appropriate) and they do sound very different to the DG units, then all these long accusatory conversations would never have taken place and I for one would be looking forward to trying one! However, to use the word again, the way he has done this is just bizarre. [/quote] He says Doug came to him with the schematic of the audio circuit and he did the "physical design", to me, that's the PCB layout. Creating Gerbers for the PCB is an entirely separate (and more time consuming) task to drawing the schematic. He also says he fronted most of the production costs, which more than likely includes the PCB tooling, so as far as the PCB manufacturer/PCBA subby is concerned, he owns the rights to the PCB.

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1450603647' post='2934134'] Circuit board comparisons up on Talkbass. Interested to hear Spencer's 'explanation' as to why the circuit boards are near identical too, bar a few value changes and a small section in the middle which one presumes is this 'second drive circuit'. [url="http://www.talkbass.com/threads/pike-amplification-vulcan-od-3-leaf-audio-new-company.1190555/page-15#post-18135447"]http://www.talkbass....5#post-18135447[/url] [/quote] Design and tooling costs. In that big post Spencer made it pretty clear that the fundamental circuit design is the same as the darkglass, I don't think he's trying to deny that, so doing a new PCB layout would be a massive waste of time and money. He says he designed the PCB, I believe him, as long as he didn't sell the rights to the layout to darkglass then he's perfectly entitled to use it himself.

Cap voltages are the maximum voltage they can handle, so really it depends on where they're going to be in the circuit, but a good general rule is to use more than the supply voltage (unless you're using step up transformers or charge pumps, but that doesn't really apply to most pedals). Most pedals (including the bad monkey) run on a 9v supply. You can always go up in voltage, but as you've discovered, electrolytic caps get physically bigger with higher voltage, so they will work fine, it will just be a ballache to get them on. You could use 10v but I tend to play it safe and go for 16v or 25v min, though a lot of mine are 100v because I stole them from work...

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1440080928' post='2848119'] That's probably a reduction in real terms over what the original production model cost. [/quote] The original, I believe, was made in the USA in the 70's, the new one is being made now, en masse, in China. There's probably $100 worth of parts in it, max, depending on how good the motor is. $450 is the "sale" price too, their website list price is $600. That's half decent second hand bass money. Free market and all, they can charge what they want, but I won't be paying it. $250-$300 I probably would.

It does look very cool, but $450? I'll stick with my cheap eBay cello bow thanks.

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1440072615' post='2848032'] So what sort of cheese is best for metal? [/quote] Provolone.

I've got two days enforced holiday, plus the weekend, so everyone steel yourself for cheesy shred metal. I can't shred, but at the moment i've got three guitars playing the same riff at the root, fifth, and an octave, so I'm definitely delivering on the cheese.

Latest incarnation: [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bobbass4k/media/20150805_222710_zpstmmxngfx.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/bobbass4k/20150805_222710_zpstmmxngfx.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Temporarily bypassed while I make up more patch cables to replace a couple of long serving stalwarts that have finally retired.

Newest build, I started making a Death by Audio robot then kind of redesigned the circuit and decided to add a 7-segment display to indicate the mode which turned out to be surprisingly difficult and made the whole thing needlessly complicated but here it is: [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bobbass4k/media/20150803_001846_zpsfbzgkpvv.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/bobbass4k/20150803_001846_zpsfbzgkpvv.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bobbass4k/media/20150803_001923_zpsjznmoixj.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/bobbass4k/20150803_001923_zpsjznmoixj.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

EHX released the pitch fork a while ago, it's tiny, and has an expression pedal input so you can basicaly turn it into a whammy if you want.

New Tremulus Lune to replace my old Tremulus Lune. All the good Tremolo based pun names have been taken, so I called it the Tremolopun. Meta: [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bobbass4k/media/20150705_170154_zpsaf4b5ctl.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/bobbass4k/20150705_170154_zpsaf4b5ctl.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I usually don't bother with graphics but this has buttloads of controls half of which do very similar things, so painting is the simplest, quickest option, but an artist I ain't. Messy, messy guts. Do all you guys who do amazingly neat innards actually have time to do anything else? Looks exhausting: [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bobbass4k/media/20150705_170122_zpsyerp2qph.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/bobbass4k/20150705_170122_zpsyerp2qph.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I like it, bit like Giraffes? Giraffes! but way more chilled. 8 string bass gives it the lightest slight hint of nuclear rabbit too.

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1432295314' post='2780109'] Enclosure has arrived and is great quality. The standard 'orange skin' texture that you find on all powder coats, but it's even and without any imperfections. Will definitely be using these guys again! Will post the finished pedal when built. Si [/quote] Looks good, but completely sold out of B's and BB'S in every colour. Was it like that when you looked or has there been a run on them?

Don't think there's anything new but it's had a fung shui:

Looking at that picture, it doesn't looks like you've connected your power and jacks grounds to the board ground. All the ground points need to be connected together. Connect a wire from any of the audio jacks to the centre lug of the switch or the ground pad on the board.

How are you switching in the LED? Are all your grounds connected? Check the switch is working with the multimeter. Also what value resistor are you using? I've put a 470k in by accident before...

[quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1430739334' post='2764123'] Does anyone here use Fuzzdog/pedalparts.co.uk for stuff? I'm thinking about buying a trem, possibly reverb kit to build into an amp. [/quote] I've never built a kit but I've heard good things, I'd have no qualms about buying a kit.

JapanAxe beat me to it. The current rating is the maximum current that the Volto can supply, your pedals will only draw the current that they need, so as long as the total draw is less than 2A (2000mA), you're fine. You may however notice that your pedals get noisier the closer you get to the limit. It's worth noting that voltage doesn't operate this way though, providing more voltage than something is rated for will probably blow it up. Not everything may actually explode, but I find assuming it will to be the best defense against doing it.

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1430687030' post='2763777'] Well yes, but neater wiring usually means shorter wires, which often means a quieter pedal. In any case, looks great, sound clips please Si [/quote] Aah, but longer wires means it's less frustrating to wire everything to the board and access the component side, to swap out socketed components on the fly, which means there's more happiness and positivity in the world, I'd say it's a fair trade. Sound clips can happen, probably tommorrow though, I'm still fiddling with the clipping caps.