Hey guys. I didn't even realize this forum existed until jzucker turned me onto it this afternoon. Its really cool to see a resource like this available for the great amps Nik makes.
Jack mentioned there has been some forum interest in my Klein-ulator circuit, and I thought I'd give you all a little background on it. So, grab a coffee, beer, water, whatever, and take a gander.
When I was waiting last spring for my Brown Note D'Lite kit to ship, I realized that I wanted a loop buffer but I didn't want to go to the trouble of building a tube Dumble-ator. I started to explore my options, and quickly found there aren't many out there (if any) that did what I wanted. I didn't want it to be bogged down in features, I didn't want to spend a lot of money...etc. I just wanted a unit that would sound good and do its job.
I sat down and started to list everything I wanted, and it looked like a JFET adaptation of the Dumble-ator would offer the best fit. I sketched a few things out, and eventually I came up with something that I was intrigued by enough to build. I was happy, but I knew it could be better. This is the version that I've posted on the Brown Note forum and the Amp Garage forum.
I'm sure some may ask "why not tube?", and that's a viable question. But, I ask in response "what do tubes do best?". For me, they distort, add harmonic complexity, add subtle compression, and smooth out the top end. They have some great performance characteristics too, but I won't get into the technical stuff. Anyways, I didn't want the unit to distort...but harmonics, VERY slight compression, and smoothing all sounded nice to me. I have incorporated each of those characteristics, the best I could, into this last version of the Klein-ulator.
Since then (maybe for the last 8 months or so?) I've been tweaking the circuit. My biggest step forward was when I actually build a tube Dumble-ator this winter (with the gracious help and transformer from Brandon at Bludotone). I finally had a benchmark to compare to. Some 4 months later, I now have a design that I can honestly say sounds 99% identical (to my very humble ears) to my tube unit, with the added benefit of lower noise.
I'm wrestling with how to handle the design, though. I'm a full-time student, and I definitely did not design this with the intention of making some money. However, I've put a lot of time into its design (there is nothing like it anywhere, at least that I'm aware of), and its become more "personal" than I'd anticipated...if that makes any sense.
I would love to make the unit for people in small numbers, but I'd have to make sure that 1) they would realize I couldn't start until the summer, 2) I'm a one-man show and face all the related obstacles
a priori, 3) everything, from making the Printed Circuit Board, to drilling the enclosure would be done by hand.
However, I'm considering making the most current design 100% public domain, particularly in the spirit of gentlemen like those at runoffgroove, Gil Ayan, "Allymney", etc. However, I'd hate to do that and regret it instantly.
So, I'm looking to you guys.... For advice, for input, for what the interest level in the Klein-ulator is. Please reply and let me know what you think. It would be most appreciated.
For what its worth, the version I made for Jack Zucker (thanks again, Jack!) has these features:
- 1W carbon film resistors
- Panasonic ECQ polyester film capacitors
- Nichicon Muse electrolytic capacitors
- Cliff jacks
- Mountain switches
- Alpha potentiometers
- Teflon-coated, shielded wire in the signal path for lowest possible noise
- Adjustable Send (signal to effect), Return (signal from effect), and Recovery (signal to power amp) levels
- Bright I and Bright II switches (power is switchable, not "always on", too)
- Serial signal routing (input, send, return, output jacks)
- Supplied by a standard "Boss style" 9V adapter
Here's pics of the one that's en route to jzucker.
to keep the forums alive.
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