Collecting ideas: 19"-rack with classic stomp boxes

hi everyone,

I'm currently collecting schemos for a new project: A 19"-rack with a choice of classic stomp boxes.
There will be I/O's of every FX-unit as 1/4" jacks on the front plate.
This way you can patch your own "vintage" multi-effect or use the modules individually.
For studio use, I'd like to add patchable balanced impedance matching units leading to XLRs on the rear of the rack.

Obviously, this whole rack should be rather "crazy & vintage" than "clean & accurate" sounding.

These are the boxes I have on my list to integrate:

- EH deluxe memory man
- EH electric mistress
- EH pulsar
- MXR blue box
- Orange squeezer

and some rarer birds:
- Ampeg Scrambler
http://www.tonefrenzy.com/2/ampeg_scrambler.htm
- Interfax Sonic Percolator:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/Percolator.gif
http://home-wrecker.com/harmonic.html

Now what I'm looking for is:
=> Recommendations for other crazy and wacky stomp boxes.
=> Design hints
=> Ideas for the studio level / balancing drivers, maybe with xformers?

Any hints are warmly welcome - thanks heaps.


Michael

A univibe..
Whole load of stomp box schematics here...
http://www.harpamps.com/schematics/

yes, the univibe: hendrix galore!

I've do this; I take the electronics out and through away the stompbox.

I also have 0-20dB gain makeup circuits and well regulated 9V PSUS. All that goes into my lunchboxes...

I think the MXR Dynacomp is a killer and the BOSS LM2 (I think that's the one, it's a dbx VCA bass limiter thingy) is soooo bad ass with the knobs on full tilt! Awesome suck :green:

I also tried some Flip/GuyaTone tubestomps and a danish brand that escapes me now.. All cool. Ohh, and that EH reverb.. Holy Grail, I think.

My most craziest (and rarest) stompbox, The Alien Mother Filter!

http://filters.muziq.be/model/clone_masters_alien_mother_filter

=> Recommendations for other crazy and wacky stomp boxes.

Click to expand...

Perhaps not that wacky, but a Superfuzz (Unicord?) won't harm, ehh, DOES harm (use full treble :wink: )
This circuit has hints of ringmodulation as well.

The Boss FZ-2 is quite idential BTW and has bass&treble added.

Regards,

Peter

I never had any luck with any kinda fuzz/distortion stomp. They all sound horrible.. :evil: I prefer overloading a Telefunken U274 or U374, or somthing like that. Maybe using the full 100dB gain on Brüel & Kjær 2603 :green:

There's also some kool tremolos out there. Anyone know a wicked analog delay?

As far as interfacing most stompbox designs like to see at least 100kOhm input impedance and can't drive an ordinary linelevel input.

I've found that an ECC82 SRPP stage, like the one Gyraf is using to be perfect for the job. Put a 220-470kOhm pot in front of it and maybe a 2:1 OEP output trannie.

Sometimes the sensesivity is too high and you need a pad or pot in front of the stompbox circuit too. Most run on 9V single rails and have zero headroom.

I like stompbox designs, there's some cracy comps out there. If someone gave me a GML 8900 I wouldn't know what the fuk to do with it :green:

What kind of mounting do you want to use ?
Exchangable modules or everything hardwired ?

Using a 3HE frame I've racked up a few FX-modules myself.
Don't know the correct name for this frame (DIN41494 ?)
but it uses eurocards.
These are FX built from scratch. By adding a frontpanel
@ 90 degrees to it you have a module that can be
inserted in the 3HE frame.

I've made an Orange Squeezer, MXR Dynacomp & a Superfuzz like
that. But that 3HE rack is a bit bulky, not suited for live use.
(Alternative can be to mount existing pedals on a vertical 19"-tray)

Bye,

Peter

[quote author="sismofyt"]Anyone know a wicked analog delay?[/quote]
Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man (get your black strat out - wear a dodgy hat - forget how to play the guitar - instant U2)

Kool. I don't play geetar, maybe that's why I don't like fuzzboxes..

peter,

I was going to build this rack for studio use only.
This way, I won't even need bypass switches - just the front panel patchbay.

cheers,


michael

I was going to build this rack for studio use only.
This way, I won't even need bypass switches - just the front panel patchbay.

Click to expand...

Hi Michael,

Only for studio, cool, that's convenient, space & portability of less/no concern.

A few simple DPDT's here & there for comparing with the dry sound wouldn't harm though.
But I guess that for the more insane FX that requirement is less; apart from levels there's not really a point in comparing dry & wet for say a ringmodulator. For a compressor & such it would make sense imho.

Bye,

Peter

Univibe from www.geofex.com

or Easyvibe from John Hollis via

http://surf.to/stompbox

Peter

Another great DIY stompbox site is General Guitar Gadgets:

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/v2/

The FOXX Tone Machine would be cool. IMO one of the best ever fuzzboxes along with the Univox Superfuzz.

A friend of mine up in Minneapolis just built the Ampeg Scrambler, the Orange Squeezer, and an Octavia. I played them all last weekend and they all sound amazing! You can pull the opamp out of the Orange Squeezer (bypasses the compression circuit) and it becomes a really nice, gainy fuzz...

I haven't done any of these yet, but there's some ideas there:

http://www.geocities.com/tpe123/folkurban/fuzz/snippets.html

Would love to see some good trem stuff, especially anything versatile. Hell, I'd copy just the trem section of the Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe, as that thing rocks.

Bear