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  • June 17, 2009 at 1:25 am #78427
    tbone314
    Member

    Hello,

    I’ve got a black Russian Big Muff Pi, and have found that it is way too boomy/bassy, particularly when playing things on the Low E string on the neck pickup on a Fender Stratocaster. In addition, the sound kind of cuts out when playing notes above the 7th fret (ish) on the Low E. Turning the tone brighter does not ameliorate the situation.

    Speaking of the tone knob, when I roll it back, there is a dramatic increase in volume; I’m unsure if this is normal or not.

    Any suggestions/modifications to fix these problems?

    Thanks.

    – T Bone

    June 19, 2009 at 6:41 pm #98156
    devnulljp
    Participant

    Try modding it to green Russian specs to fix the boominess:

    SOVTEKBMP.jpg

    Here’s kind of a hybrid Green/NYC I got off the DIY forum (use box caps not electro’s for the 1uF)

    GREENRUSSIAN-NYCBIGMUFFMODS.png

    Here’s good list of resistor values for different Muff versions from the BYOC cloners http://www.bmfeffects.com/byoc_large_beaver_mods.htm

    June 19, 2009 at 8:30 pm #98164
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    Modding it to green russian wont remove the boomyness and wont actually do much of anything, for that you need to swap two caps out.

    Ya see on the above diagram the two .047uF caps? (marked in white) well, take them out and put in 1uF box caps, not electrolytics.

    This will remove ALL boomyness.

    June 19, 2009 at 8:47 pm #98168
    devnulljp
    Participant

    Good info – thanks
    These two? 0.047 uF -> 1 uF (not 0.01 uF?)

    GREENRUSSIAN-NYCBIGMUFFMODS-1.png

    June 19, 2009 at 9:00 pm #98170
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    Exactly! :)

    June 20, 2009 at 3:37 am #98181
    tbone314
    Member

    Thanks for the info!

    Do box capacitors go under a different name? I can’t find much information about them; I’ve only ever heard of electrolytic or ceramic. What material are they made of? Sorry for my electronic incompetence.

    Also, will removing the boominess increase the clarity and articulation of the notes?

    Thanks again,

    -Tbone

    June 20, 2009 at 4:04 am #98182
    devnulljp
    Participant

    They’re non-polar non-electrolytic caps. A pair of conducting (usually Al) plates separated by a paper, ceramic or mica insulator.
    Lots of info here: http://www.diystompboxes.com/wiki/index.php?title=DIY_FAQ#CAPACITORS
    Lots more (too much?) here: http://www.mikroe.com/en/books/keu/02.htm

    These are block caps
    2-1.jpg

    These are electrolytics, which are polarised
    180px-Capacitors_electrolytic.jpg

    June 20, 2009 at 11:21 pm #98204
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    You can get the two you need here: http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=168

    July 1, 2009 at 4:53 am #98685
    tbone314
    Member

    Oh, so they’re basically just any capacitor that isn’t polarized or electrolytic? For instance, a ceramic or mylar film capacitor would be considered a block capacitor, right?

    Thanks,

    -Tbone.

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