I wonder what would happen if you put a small resistor in series with the clipping diodes? Would it just increase the clipping voltage or would it change the shape of the clipping too.
And what if you put a capacitor in series with the clipping diode? It seems like it would clip only higher frequencies, which (maybe) could be interesting with the right cap value.
LEDs sound mushy or something to me, but they have some uses. I made my DS-1 into a decent boost. I think I don't like them for much distortion though. The germanium sounds a lot better for distortion IMO.
I have mine with two red LED's. The sound is very much like an mildly overdriven tube amp. The increase in volume that you hear with the LED's comes from the higher voltage of the LED (1.7v) vs. the germanium diode (0.2v)? The low voltage germanium diode siphons off much more sound that the LED's. In my 2 LED setup, most of the distortion comes from the OP-AMP itself and not the LED's. If you replace that other diode with an LED, you will get an increase in volume, but a decrease in distortion.
Thanks for this demo! I was planning on building my own Dist + and using LEDs for the clipping and I was wondering how it would sound. Is your pedal a 2 diode clipping stage?
Thats an awesome mod! I want to do it to mine, but I was wondering what kind of led did you use. What was the voltage, resistance, etc. and where did you get it.
Thats an awesome mod! I want to do it to mine, but I was wondering what kind of led did you use. What was the voltage, resistance, etc. and where did you get it.
@MrMxr4ever This was a Blue Superbright LED, but any LED will do. Different colours have different clipping voltages, so feel free to experiment. You can find them at Radio Shack.
@1234Sebster my god, yes -- that's precisely what Randy used -- however the newer Dunlop products have a subtly different tone... I use both togeather, and I've uploaded a demonstration video on both pedals... my demo on the Distortion + is achieving Randy's Blizzard of Ozz tone. This is one of my favourite boxes... old school, no thrills, distortion pedal ( although it has a decant amount of noise and little clarity ) sometimes it just what you're looking for.
can someone tell me if what im about to do is pointless...I have a vox ac15 and a fulltone OCD. when the two work together it sounds great but i have to put the drive up all the time for a decent lead sound and sometimes it wont cut it. Should i get this pedal and add my ocd on top to get those nice lead tones or am i fine with what i got?
@varone6t9 You may want to try a boost pedal. Something like the EHX LPB is great for boosting and thickening your tone for solos. Honestly though, you have to great pieces of gear there. They should sound fantastic together.
How did you add that to the circuit? Im assuming the standard is a pair of germanium diodes producing symetrical clipping, is it just a single LED for asymetrical clipping, or is there anything else?
You're right. I removed one of the Germanium diodes and placed it on one side of a DPDT switch, The LED is on the other side and the the common lugs go to the spot on the board where the Germanium diode was originally.
I like the gain structure...much better than the originals. I'd like to hear a slight splash of reverb with it, but I use reverb as a bit of a crutch sometimes...I like having it as a texture. Nice use of Diminished and Min9th chords.
Wow nice play dude, and i love this pedal and your mod :)
I particulary liked the jazzy part starting at 1:38
caste0 7 months ago
Comment removed
caste0 7 months ago
I wonder what would happen if you put a small resistor in series with the clipping diodes? Would it just increase the clipping voltage or would it change the shape of the clipping too.
And what if you put a capacitor in series with the clipping diode? It seems like it would clip only higher frequencies, which (maybe) could be interesting with the right cap value.
1Doz 7 months ago
I saw what you did @ 1:43! How dare you play notes outside the pentatonic scale!
1Doz 7 months ago
LEDs sound mushy or something to me, but they have some uses. I made my DS-1 into a decent boost. I think I don't like them for much distortion though. The germanium sounds a lot better for distortion IMO.
coronet67 11 months ago
I have mine with two red LED's. The sound is very much like an mildly overdriven tube amp. The increase in volume that you hear with the LED's comes from the higher voltage of the LED (1.7v) vs. the germanium diode (0.2v)? The low voltage germanium diode siphons off much more sound that the LED's. In my 2 LED setup, most of the distortion comes from the OP-AMP itself and not the LED's. If you replace that other diode with an LED, you will get an increase in volume, but a decrease in distortion.
SimplyLewin 1 year ago
Thanks for this demo! I was planning on building my own Dist + and using LEDs for the clipping and I was wondering how it would sound. Is your pedal a 2 diode clipping stage?
bigfish0886 1 year ago
@bigfish0886 It does have two clipping diodes, but only one was replaced with the LED. I wouldn't mind hearing two LED's for clipping.
rousejeremy 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Thats an awesome mod! I want to do it to mine, but I was wondering what kind of led did you use. What was the voltage, resistance, etc. and where did you get it.
MrMxr4ever 1 year ago
Thats an awesome mod! I want to do it to mine, but I was wondering what kind of led did you use. What was the voltage, resistance, etc. and where did you get it.
MrMxr4ever 1 year ago
@MrMxr4ever This was a Blue Superbright LED, but any LED will do. Different colours have different clipping voltages, so feel free to experiment. You can find them at Radio Shack.
rousejeremy 1 year ago
With the mxr distortion plus combined with a 10 band eq can it get a really good randy rhoads tone ?
1234Sebster 1 year ago
@1234Sebster my god, yes -- that's precisely what Randy used -- however the newer Dunlop products have a subtly different tone... I use both togeather, and I've uploaded a demonstration video on both pedals... my demo on the Distortion + is achieving Randy's Blizzard of Ozz tone. This is one of my favourite boxes... old school, no thrills, distortion pedal ( although it has a decant amount of noise and little clarity ) sometimes it just what you're looking for.
CaldaroneRyan 1 year ago
playing is great.
mod is good.
amp sounds bad. :(
ibzmav 2 years ago
can someone tell me if what im about to do is pointless...I have a vox ac15 and a fulltone OCD. when the two work together it sounds great but i have to put the drive up all the time for a decent lead sound and sometimes it wont cut it. Should i get this pedal and add my ocd on top to get those nice lead tones or am i fine with what i got?
varone6t9 2 years ago
@varone6t9 You may want to try a boost pedal. Something like the EHX LPB is great for boosting and thickening your tone for solos. Honestly though, you have to great pieces of gear there. They should sound fantastic together.
rousejeremy 2 years ago
kick ass mod!
emeraldstudio 2 years ago
How did you add that to the circuit? Im assuming the standard is a pair of germanium diodes producing symetrical clipping, is it just a single LED for asymetrical clipping, or is there anything else?
WillSpengler 2 years ago
You're right. I removed one of the Germanium diodes and placed it on one side of a DPDT switch, The LED is on the other side and the the common lugs go to the spot on the board where the Germanium diode was originally.
rousejeremy 2 years ago
be mice with two foot switches....
100roberthenry 2 years ago
the dynamics of it are incredible! tube like response.
clayton5150 2 years ago
I like the gain structure...much better than the originals. I'd like to hear a slight splash of reverb with it, but I use reverb as a bit of a crutch sometimes...I like having it as a texture. Nice use of Diminished and Min9th chords.
Iraqveteran8888 2 years ago
Thanks. I would love to get a good reverb pedal. Or maybe put a small reverb tank in the Champ.
Funny thing about the LED, it still activates when the pedal is bypassed. It looks pretty cool.
rousejeremy 2 years ago
very nice playing... what guitar did you use?
Zombiekeks 2 years ago
Thanks. I'm playing a '72 Reissue Strat with Texas Special Pickups.
I think this pedal mod would really shine with a Les Paul though.
rousejeremy 2 years ago
Awesome!
Seeing the LED light up with your playing is one of the most enjoyable parts.
D35J4RD1N5 2 years ago
cool mod, was it a kit?
fuzzbaron1 2 years ago
Thanks! This wasn't a kit. I had the day off and a bunch of spare parts, thought I would give it a try.
rousejeremy 2 years ago