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MervsMods
Bronze Member
USA
133 Posts |
 Posted - 03/23/2010 : 06:18:36
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Hey guys here's a question. I have an old MXR Distortion + and the output knob needs to pretty much be maxed out in order to be at the same volume level as when the effect is off. 
Anyway I can fix that? Right now to match the levels, it needs to be at about 4:00. (max is 5:00) There are no internal adjustments, and I want to match the levels with the output sitting at about noon with room to spare. I have tried adding another output stage (a simple JFET boost), but it doesn't touch it.
BTW this pedal does not have the AC adapter. (ok it does NOW, but that's not original  ) That should give you an idea on how old it is....
and NO I'm not worried about the collector's value of the pedal. I like the sounds I can make with it, I just want them LOUDER without having to turn up the amp, or keep the output knob cranked. Like VanHalen once said, "guitars are meant to be functional and played, not hang on somebody's wall" I feel that way about my pedals! |
Edited by - MervsMods on 03/23/2010 06:30:09 |
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Scarymonsta
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
90 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2010 : 13:09:47
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Adding more another diode in series with each of the other clipping diodes will give you a bit more volume.
Adding a non-inverting op-amp stage with a lowish gain (2 or 3) may help, but I have not thought this through to deeply. You would have to make sure that you get the bias level correct (half of supply) to the op-amp and get the in / out coupling caps right. You would need to connect it in between the output of the diodes and the top of the volume pot - don't have a cct schem in front of me so I'm kind of guessing a bit from memory at the mo
Chris. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2010 : 20:27:03
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Sorry to take this a bit OT but thats the way i feel about a lot of Boss stuff...they don't have enough volume compared to other brands...my OD-2 in particular springs to mind especially if used with a powerful guitar like my yamaha SG2000... |
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Scarymonsta
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
90 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2010 : 21:08:30
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I know exactly what you mean, I am working on a tiny surface mount clean booster (a little smaller than a postage stamp0 to try and improve this, will post some results when done.
The only one which has some decent-ish volume is the BD-2 - using a SD-1, MT-2, HM-2 or DS-1 next to it makes this pedals sound like toys !! Really badly matched for volume!!
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ranjam
Bronze Member
Canada
82 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 02:46:54
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I have the same 'old Distortion+ with no adaptor jack'. And, I also found the gain was barely unity. But it makes sense. If your Strat puts out maybe 250mVAC and the germanium diodes clip at 300mVDC, well, you don't have much gain. And all the preamp in the world before the Distortion+ will still have a Distortion+ clipping at 300mVDC or so. So what did you gain (pun absolutely intended)? Some soldering experience. Get that, but make it count.
I replaced the diodes with LED's, and got maybe a 6dB boost at least. Now unity is at about 11:00 or noon. Lots of extra gain. To get some more crunch, I changed the 4.7K resistor between the feedback loop and the gain control with a 1K resistor. Even more gain, and more crunch.
It's all taste and preference, but I experiemented, and ended up happy. |
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MervsMods
Bronze Member
USA
133 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 03:09:09
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Thanks ranjam!  (take your pick) I will try that and let you know. either way, it gives me some ideas that I haven't thought of
(about 45 minutes later.....)
Worked great! I even did the 1K mod for the extra gain/crunch. Very pleased.. Thanks!
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Edited by - MervsMods on 03/24/2010 03:54:55 |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 03:36:27
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What you need is a HZD after the Distortion+  |
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MervsMods
Bronze Member
USA
133 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 03:56:51
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Yes Laurie, I know.. I'm saving up my mod money to get one... From all the reviews that I've read from here, it's sounding like a pedal that I most definitely have to make room for on my board. |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 04:20:50
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I've been through dozens of different dirt pedals. Maybe 100.
And of them all... my stock 1979 Distortion+ is my favorite. It is just so "smooth".
I never noticed the volume thing, but that's just me. |
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Pedal Dan
Silver Member
USA
419 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 05:09:09
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| Yo Merv, have you tried running an EQ pedal before your D +? My early script one ("74 Bud Box) has somewhat low output also and I run a Danelectro Fish and Chips that I got for $5 first. It adds boost, and as a bonus can tweek dirt boxes for not much coin. Any other EQ pedal will do the same! |
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MervsMods
Bronze Member
USA
133 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 05:39:17
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Yo PedalDan - I've tried all kinds of things. The mod that ranjam told me about did the trick. I have my GE-7 in the FX loop and use it pretty much for a "boost" for soloing, and wanted the D + to have more volume control that I could actually use, instead of having the thing sit a 4:00,and IF I had to get louder (heh heh heh  ), I didn't have that much wiggle room. |
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ranjam
Bronze Member
Canada
82 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 23:27:24
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| While I did this to my old Distortion+, I also picked up a plethora of old DOD pedals. You know; with all the cheezy names like Metal Master or Thrash Master or American Metal. Well, with those I went down in gain, and eiter did the LED trick or removed the clipping diodes completely. Now they are actually very usable. I also have more overdrives or distortion boxes than some music stores around me, and tweaking the heck out of them keeps me out of trouble. I learn, I get some new tones, and have some fun. It's win-win. Probably the 'smoothest' one I have now is the Classic Tube FX53. |
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Topic |
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OLD MXR Distortion + low output
