Interesting Japanese overdrive

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 1:21 pm

Can you guys tell anything about this pedal by looking at the circuit board? It's 60 bucks and i'm highly considering pulling the trigger

h8mtv · Post by **h8mtv** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 1:46 pm

It's made on upside down perf. Never seen that before.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 5:45 pm

Who done that cos it's made like shit.

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 6:14 pm

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 6:37 pm

1) It's made on (upside down!?) pad-per-hole board that's been nibbled to size. This stuff is good for prototyping things but shouldn't be used for production pedals.
2) The parts layout is amatuerish - look at the electrolytic cap on its side
3) The foot switch - the lock washer is on the outside of the box, not inside where it should be.
4) The flying leads from the board go over the battery. What the hell?
5) The artwork looks like a decal or sticker - this will scuff or peel off.
6) That LED next to the stomper - you will stomp that back into the enclosure within ten minutes.

Some might say I'm picky, but it's what I do.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 12:30 pm

Not upside down, double-sided/plated through.

sholkham · Post by **sholkham** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 12:48 pm

It's probably just another tubescreamer copy anyway

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 1:06 pm

NickS wrote:Not upside down, double-sided/plated through.

Fairdy dos. I'd never seen double-sided pad-per-hole board.

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 2:40 pm

Apparently the pedal received "extensive modification" and its different from a stock unit. It is based off a Valvedrive Noah unit, which is some boutique Japan only overdrive which I think is loosely based on the Klon Centaur. I ended up buying it for 50 bones. I'm just crossing my fingers now.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 3:08 pm

All standard boutiquer nonsense and mumbo jumbo I'm afraid. Nothing like a Klon with those few parts, Tubescreamer seems most likely.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 3:16 pm

A Klon with a Charge Pump = 2 Dual Op-amps, or 1 Quad, and one Voltage Convertor IC.

A Klon without Charge Pump = 2 Dual Op-amps or 1 Quad.

This has neither. It's a single op-amp, presumably Dual. Doesn't mean it doesn't sound good, but means it's definitely not what he's saying it is.

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 4:07 pm

This is why I should post any possible pedal purchases here before i buy. Although you're breaking my heart, you guys really know your stuff. In other news, there's a man passed out outside my apartment throwing up. It's fucking awful.

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 9:31 am

I just got the pedal today. It sounds like shit. I'm pretty sure it's a lousy ds-1 copy. The last time i EVER buy a homemade pedal.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 11:51 am

That's a bit of a kneejerk reaction.

Plenty of people that build pedals at home don't churn out crap.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 2:14 pm

JJLipton wrote:I just got the pedal today. It sounds like shit. I'm pretty sure it's a lousy ds-1 copy. The last time i EVER buy a homemade pedal.

Send it back for a refund.

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:16 pm

Mike wrote:That's a bit of a kneejerk reaction.

Plenty of people that build pedals at home don't churn out crap.

Yeah that was my bad. I meant to say "Ill never buy another homemade pedal off of yahoo japan auction again"