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MoonWatcher
Bronze Member
USA
98 Posts |
 Posted - 09/01/2008 : 04:18:34
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After futzing around with the DS-1 for years, I've finally tweaked the thing with 100% success.
I thought I could get away with either the SEM or Ultra (or combination) and just fiddle with the tone stack, but I was wrong. Maybe it's because I've really been craving more of a 70's heavy rock vibe, and a stock DS-1 always kinda had that 80's Surfing With The Alien kinda vibe to it - cool, but too fuzzy, and total harmonic overload for my personal tastes.
So, the following mod has very little in common with the Keeley or similar mods. If you're into metal or 80's distortion, this may not be the mod for you! I was really looking for fat, round tones, muscular midrange, no fizzy distortion, and a well controlled top end. At the risk of putting myself in an asylum, I think I've finally succeeded.
DS-1 Full Moon Mod:
C2 - 1 uF
C3 - .033 uF (thanks to Mr. Wampler for this perfect value)
C4 - .001 uF
C5 - .15 uF
C7 - .001 uF
C8 - .27 uF
C9 - 1 uF
C10 - .068 uF
C11 - .068 uF
C12 - .27 uF
C13 - .15 uF
C14 - metal film, same value (1 uF)
R13 - 3.3K
R14 - 1.5K
R15 - 4.7K
R17 - 2.2K
D4 - IRF510
D5 - IRF510
All replaced capacitors are metal film. No tantalum, electrolytic, ceramic, or silver mica. MF caps seem crucial to this mod, but you may want to experiment with whatever you have laying around.
Sadly, I did succumb to my mosfet addiction, once again. They simply work best, IMO, I'm afraid. I used IRF510s because I had a couple handy, but 2N7000s should work just as well. I had to chop off the heatsinks on the IRFs, and wrap them in tape so that they wouldn't short anything out.
The noise floor is pretty good with regular carbon films (and I think I have a CC for R14).
I had a TL082 rigged up in place of the Mitsubishi chip, but it simply didn't play nice, at all. I suspect that it's due to the high input impedance, but it could be just a guess. Either way, I ended up back with the M5223AL, which sounds perfect with this mod, IMO.
I've got one pic that will hopefully upload. I hope to follow up with a sound clip tomorrow. It will be of the pedal straight into Revalver software, with either a clean ValveKing or Classic 30 amp model, so you can hear EXACTLY what the pedal does, and not so much the amp.
I hope someone other than me gets some usage out of this mod as well.
-MW
Edit: can't seem to get the pic to upload. I guess my brain is toast for the day... |
Edited by - MoonWatcher on 09/01/2008 04:38:46 |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2008 : 04:36:27
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| Looks good to me... I'll be trying this one out on a cheap DS-1... |
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MoonWatcher
Bronze Member
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2008 : 06:37:48
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Here's a (very rough) clip:
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6854653
I start out with a little stuff with the pedal off. I added a little reverb for flair - no eq, compression, etc.
Squier 51 with Dream 180s into the SD-1, into ReValver HP, set for ValveKing clean.
Odd thing - this (virtual) amp makes the pedal sound dark, almost like a 5150 or something. Whole lotta chunka chunka possibilities. Maybe it would be a good mod for metal?
Either way, a clip with the trusty Vibrolux Reverb into a SM57 is in order. This little late night noodle will have to suffice in the meantime! |
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MoonWatcher
Bronze Member
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 23:15:11
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Here's a pic (finally figured out how to do it  ):
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MoonWatcher
Bronze Member
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2008 : 06:02:59
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Update - C4, C7, C8, and C12 may be a bit heavy or dark for some folks liking, so you can cut those values accordingly. If you have a loud clean amp, I would definitely drop C12, but it can help to thicken up smaller amps (if it doesn't overload them with bass).
With the mosfets, C10 almost becomes superfluous. I put the stock .01 uF value back in, but you could just as easily leave it out.
I am diggin' this pedal, folks! |
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DS-1 Full Moon Mod
