AmpTweaker Tight Metal

[Lazybone]

Yes you got what I mean. I didn't know that you can build an effect loop as an external pedal.
Seems like a handy little gadget for big pedal racks.

[Surgeon]

As I said, I'm not much for sound samples but you can at least get a pic of the finished product.

No gate switch, trimpot adjusted for good sustain/noise ratio.

[Lazybone]

Looks hot. I love the different knob sizes and the colour selection.
Is it as heavy as we where promised?

[Surgeon]

Well, I've built a lot of heavy distortions (Tri-Wreck, Dr. Boogie, Okko Dominator, etc...) and it's by far the one with the most gain.

Whether it's the one that behaves the best at high volumes and in band situation remains to be heard but for home use (which is how I use it for the moment), it's definitely the heaviest sounding, and I don't mean that the aforementioned ones are bad in any way...

[Lazybone]

Hey Surgeon, could you show us a picture with the pedal's insides?

[Surgeon]

will do tonight... anything in particular you want a look at or just general?

[Surgeon]

Here are two more... the inside and the back plate (while I'm at it)...

Cheers!

[Lazybone]

Let me get this right. In order to jump the whole Loop part, I linked 1i-1j and 23o-23q. Is that right?
Trying to find my mistakes here cause I got a no sound case.

Edit 1: Also, if I test-wire the board without the trash and gate switches, should I expect no sound at all unless I wire them too? Or would it sound normally (if everything is correct)?

Edit 2: I'm currently checking my circuit and components so I get more questions the more I move on.
Is there a way to test if my ICs are working properly? I believe that's where I lose the output-input connection of my signal.

[Surgeon]

to jump the effects loop, just insert links between send and return (1 and 2 respectively). Look at my gut pic and you'll see the links (they are on the very edge on the side, one spans 3 rows on the lower right, the other 2 on the high-left).

The only ways I know to check ICs are: measure voltages and compare to a working unit or swap for another one (new) and see if the pedal starts working.

About the switches and pot: just put everything in and then test it. It's not worth your trouble not to solder a few lugs... you can try and remove them later when everything works properly...

good luck!

[Lazybone]

I went for a test wiring outside of the box and I had no sound at all. So I am going to do the final wiring with the led and all in the box so that I can eliminate any chance of making a mistake on that. If I still have no sound, It means I screwed somewhere else...

I think that the signal is getting lost when passing the ICs. I checked the joints, replaced the ICs (I know I had the 074 one put on reverse the first time) but I get nothing in return.

[Surgeon]

Signal probing is your best bet at this point...

[Lazybone]

That's the way I'm going after I do the wiring.

About the wiring though, Ground and Tight 2 are on the same rail. No cuts between.
Is that whole rail "the ground"? Or something changes halfway?

Sorry for waking this post repeatedly but newbie's questions need explainage hehe.
Thanks for hepling.

[Alex]

Tight 2 goes to ground.
No cuts there.

[Lazybone]

Can I have the original schematic of this build?

[Alex]

Here you go:

http://freestompboxes.org/download/file.php?id=22030&mode=view

[doomkraft89]

Anyone know the difference in the fat metal version? Since it got the same features I guess it is based on the same schematic.. Sorry for bumping an old thread.

[pakkee66]

Built this onboard gate trimmer version, Tight metal in tight board, really versatile tone tweak and tight gain,everything is fine but the nosie gate is funny,Dead silence when nosie gate is off, then hiss when connect..maybe the problem about breadboard used.. I guess..Trash sw brings in useful different character tweak with the Tight potthis beast I really satisfied, thank you very much for the layout~share my board here..

[pakkee66]

Report to onboard trimmer version layout,
the 4k7 resistor should be 1k5 when compare to the schem,
I had the gate/resonance distortion when hold a Sustain note,
change to 1k5 and it cure.. and noise gate sw is [connect to off],
so I omit the switch to make it always on, that's it..

cheer

[strassercaster]

Thanks alex. I got a thrash metal buddy I have been trying to satisfy. I lent him  several hi gain pedals like the Crunch box, triple wreck, and  shredmaster  but he was used to his metal zone and wanted more Sizzle and scoop . This did the trick.  This pedal kicks ass.Any other amptweaker schematics out there to do on vero? Any other vero   metal pedals I should try? This one surprised me.  

 The noise gate is fantastic. I want to separate this gate for other hi gain pedals. It looks like you just take a 10k and some diodes back to back going to a switch and a 500k pot, Is that all it is?    Any chance this can be drawn up to use with other pedals??

[DrEez]

I think it is better to connect the 18k in column 14 to row B instead of row A. The voltage at the IC pins will allow a higher swing.