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Hoffman Amps Forum image Author Topic: Stand alone tube tremolo  (Read 7881 times)

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Offline fuzz

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Stand alone tube tremolo
« on: January 17, 2013, 11:53:27 am »
Hi,

i've made a tube tremolo using a single 12AX7. The idea is a bias tremolo using triodes inspired by the Selmer Mercury 5 :
http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/selmer/schematic/merc.jpeg

I've only added a 470K resistor between the wipper of the depth pot and the ground .

I had to tweak few things to make it work good with triode (big signal coming from the LFO) but now it works as expected .

the only issue is that the speed control doesn't give a great amplitude . I've medium fast to fast only and I'd like to have something slower . I've tried to increase the pot value until 3M with resistors but didn't improve the circuit (and 3M pot are hard to get) , also tried to make cap bigger without success.  

 I know that the phase shift oscillators are limited but maybe some of you have work on similar circuit and could give some advices ?

the ideas was to put a hi/lo switch to set the speed of the tremolo and get a wider range.

here's the LFO schematic I used :


from : http://www.valvewizard.co.uk/trem1.html

thanks

best regards,

EDIT...fixed pic link... sluckey
« Last Edit: January 17, 2013, 12:56:35 pm by sluckey »

Offline kagliostro

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Re: Stand alone tube tremolo
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2013, 12:14:31 pm »
Merlin has build a stand alone vibrato/tremolo unit based on the circuit of the Vox AC30 and called it Vibrotron

if you are interested you can find a bit about that here with Vibrato and Tremolo samples
(look to post # 24)

http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=14935.0



K
« Last Edit: January 17, 2013, 12:19:44 pm by kagliostro »
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Offline sluckey

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Re: Stand alone tube tremolo
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2013, 12:59:05 pm »
Tack solder a 10nF cap across the middle 10nF cap. If you like it put it on a switch. Look at the LFO on this schematic...

http://home.comcast.net/~seluckey/amps/warbler/warbler_rev1.pdf
A schematic, layout, and hi-rez pics are very useful for troubleshooting your amp. Don't wait to be asked. JUST DO IT!

Offline fuzz

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Re: Stand alone tube tremolo
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2013, 07:48:58 am »
hi guys !

thanks for your answers .

Sluckey , actually I just did that, I put a 10n cap with the middle one and works great. I also put a switch to change tail resistor with the speed pot and have two speed. Seems to work very good ! I've still have to work on it  find the right resistor tail on the low side (too low and trem is really subtle ) .

otherwise , I've to tame gain in the stage because it gives distortion really soon when plugged in the input of my tube amp (EF86 in V1) but it's a matter of divider network with the volume pot.

 


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