Big Jam SE-13 Space Driver

[MAO]

I had owned a Big Jam Compressor in '82. Thought it was great, never realized it was nearly identical to the MXR Dynacomp, other than the soft touch/silent switching and bi-color LED...and the sliders! It was cool though, low profile and probably die cast metal.

But since it is/was just another Dynacomp, I figured I'd build the Space Driver instead.  

Turns out the Space Driver is also basically just a Dynacomp feeding an overdrive circuit that uses germanium clipping diodes.  But at least it's not just another Dynacomp.

I started with the main site's Dynacomp layout and tweaked it to match this schematic.

Although cool, I omitted the cmos switching, bi-color LED and output buffer. I added an optional pull down resistor, otherwise the layout should be per the schematic.

Of course if you have Johnk skills, you should use sliders rather than pots :0)

Found this Youtube Video



If you already have a Dynacomp, Keeley or Ross built, you can try adding this daughterboard of just the overdrive circuit.  

To hook it up, disconnect the Level pot's lug 3 wire from the original board, jumper the 10k that immediately preceded that Level 3 connection on the original board, run a new wire from the board's Level 3 connection to the "In from Comp" on the OD Daughterboard, then reconnect the Level pot's lug 3 pot wire to the new Drive pot's lug 2. Tap into the original board's 9v and Ground and you should now have the Overdrive circuit working.    



And I suppose if the output buffer is also wanted, this Buffer Daughterboard should work.

To hook this one up, connect the Level pot's lug 2 wire to the "In from Level 2" connection point on the Buffer Daughterboard. Connect "Out" to the output jack. Apply the original board's 9v and ground to the Buffer Daughterboard.