12 AX7 cascade STOMPBOX schematics needed

[Colas LeGrippa]

Hi, is there any proven-to-be-good tube (12 AX7 ,  200V or so ) stompbox schematics layin around for hard rock ?

I think I'd better work on that 1 week rather than 1 year with a high gain amp...... ;D

Cheers !

Colas

[ampgeek]

Greetings Colas,
I have been "playing" around on and off with topic for a couple of months and will offer the following:

Doug's tube preamp (schematic in the library section)
Matchless Hotbox (at Schematic Heaven IIRC)
Mesa Boogie Bottle Rocket (schematic from jjasilli in threads below)

I have tried various permutations of them all but never a single one with high fidelity to it's schematic.  I guess you could say that it is more experimentative in nature than anything.  Like you, I wanted to build a vacuum tube "something" that wasn't a full-on amplifier.

Here are a couple of threads based on those experiences:

http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5055.0

http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5448.0

At this point, the best configuration for a hard rock tone, to my ear, is the Mesa Bottle Rocket circuit using Doug's power supply plan.  My current configuration most closely emulates that circuit but with a plate coupled TMB tone stack and minus the cap/resistor filtering network at the very end.  It still isn't attaining tonal nirvana but it is pretty decent.

If you check out the above threads you will note that I was trying to provide four modes of operation.  That was less than stellar because some of the plans rely on tone shaping circuits at the various gain stages.  The overall tone degrades (e.g., either too murky or too bright) when those gain stages are switched in and out.

So...if I were to start all over again at this point, I would build the Bottle Rocket plan using Doug's power supply.  The only tweak that I would consider is total bypass switching.

I apologize for not being able to recommend a "proven to be good" option and only hope that this response will open up other interesting and useful discussions that will get you to where you want to be.
 
Good luck,
Dave O.

[Colas LeGrippa]

hey, thanks buddy for good links !

I have already built a very transparent clean boost, a REAL McTUBE  modified that I am tweaking for hard rock application. I base the new mods on the measa rocket, which circuit appears to be what i am looking for . Anyway, as soon as it is done, I'll give you back news on it.

Cheers !

Colas

[ampgeek]

The pleasure is mine my friend!

I look forward to hearing about your experiences on this one.

Have fun!
Dave O.