DOD FX91 bass overdrive

[johnk]

being a bass player, I was looking for another overdrive to build (as if building 125 of them already wasn't enough! . so, I searched and found the schematic of the FX91 online, drew up my own vero of it and just finished building it. IMO, it sounds pretty darn good, and having a blend control is a plus. fortunately, I managed to make the board small enough to fit in a 1590B so it'll be a bit smaller than the original.

[Dave]

Sounds cool, any idea what it sounds like with guitar? I'm always interested in dirt pedals with blend controls.
Thanks
Dave

[johnk]

I can't say since I haven't tried it with a guitar yet.

[johnk]

done! modded with more low end and a two way clipping selector:

[nicowaddle]

Hello,
How did you mod it to have more low end, please ? I think by changing some capacitors ?

[johnk]

it's been a while since I built it so i'd have to open it up and see what I did.

[nicowaddle]

Thank you, that would be nice !!!
And would it be possible to have a picture of your dpdt ?
(and, by the way, excuse me for my english cause I'm french...).

[rocket88]

I agree. If you can, could you post your layout? Always looking for a good overdrive for bass, as they really are few and far between.

[nicowaddle]

Here's the link for the layout :
http://guitar-fx-layouts.42897.x6.nabble.com/DOD-FX91-Bass-Overdrive-td4771.html

[johnk]

IMO, they aren't so few and far between. the barbershop, the ecstasy and the timmy are all great bass overdrives.

[rocket88]

Really? I didn't realize any of those work well on bass. Are those with or without modification?

[johnk]

rocket88 wrote

 Are those with or without modification?

without.

[rocket88]

Neat. I'll have to try them. I mean if you say they're good then I trust it. In fact, I just went on your site and listened to them, and they do sound incredible, but I think I want to order one of your GBODs, that sounds beyond amazing. Do you have any left?

BTW, so far every suggestion I've read that you make for bass has been spot on. Which is why I'm going to build a TransMORGrifier so I finally have a comp, as I have all the parts.

[johnk]

rocket88 wrote

 I think I want to order one of your GBODs, that sounds beyond amazing. Do you have any left?

yep :
http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/GammaBassOverdrive.html

[rocket88]

Done and Done John. Just ordered it and can't wait to get it.

Since you modify all of the pedals you build to retain the low end, can I ask what are some of the things you do? I ask only because at this point when I modify my pedals I know to look at the input/output caps, and look at high and low pass filters, but the values I use seem to be more of a random guess and see what happens and if I get something I like I keep it, like the old saying every now and again a blind squirrel finds a nut, which can take forever. I figured with all your experience you might be able to give some good pointers, and suggestions for those of us bassist who could use a little guidance.

[johnk]

the first thing that I do is socket the input and output caps. sometimes increasing their value helps retain more low end, sometimes not.
then I experiment with other coupling caps, and the LP filters in the drive circuit.

[nicowaddle]

Hello,
Did you take a look on things you modified ?

[johnk]

I've just been way to busy to dig it out.

[nicowaddle]

Oooops, sorry !