Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
As requested. A long time ago. Size of the board tells you why it wasn’t drawn up earlier…. From ROG: More than a year ago we set out to revise and improve the Professor Tweed. Several approaches were pursued, but we were unsatisfied with the results. One of the downfalls was the high level of … Read more
A request. Info from ROG: One of the often overlooked Fender amps is the tweed-era Princeton. They are excellent guitar amps, especially for blues playing. The major drawback was the 4.5 watt output wasn’t enough to keep up with a band. Again, using the technique pioneered by Doug Hammond, we decided to try to capture … Read more
From ROG: This project has returned from beyond the grave for a tune-up. Compressed, harsh, and ’80s sounding are fitting descriptions of its sonic character. Yes, it is a niche sound which is quite the opposite of some JFET-based distortions developed by the ‘groove, however we feel it is a great time capsule of an … Read more
As. Requested. Info from ROG: There has always been much talk about the mystical hand-built amps that a particular man sells for around $10,000 each. Some claim these are the greatest amplifiers known to man, while others maintain it’s all hype. The runoffgroove.com team doesn’t know for sure, because neither of us can plunk down 10 … Read more
Big Daddy and Grace circuits have this at the end of their document page: The two circuits are very similar and it may be possible to use a switching system to alternate between the buffer and the gain stage versions. (ROG) Now did i really have a choice? 🙂 Instead of using some monstrous 4PDT switch, … Read more
Continuing Grace Overdrive article at ROG: During the testing of this circuit design (meaning the Grace Overdrive), the thought occurred to try a Jfet gain stage before the 386, instead of the buffer. The impedance would still be high and the 386 would see more signal and clip harder. The result is a pleasing grind and … Read more
From ROG: A few months ago, Aron Nelson released the Smash Drive. The circuit ingeniously used an LM386 audio power amp chip to produce great distortion sounds. Aron based his work on that of Tim Escobedo. Tim’s Stupidity Box was another great sounding unit and beautifully simplistic. The Smokey Amp by Bruce Zinky was another design … Read more
If i recall correctly, someone requested this a while ago. I think that’s enough for today 🙂 Runoffgroove’s current take on emulating the classic Marshall 100W Super Lead. Read the complete description and history of the circuit from ROG.
Simplified Tube Screamer workalike. ROG soundclips and info about the circuit: The first incarnation of the Tube Reamer was developed as a stripped-down, yet edgier version of the classic Ibanez Tube Screamer. We removed the input and output buffers as well as the tone control stage, plus implemented a different gain control. Many builders enjoyed … Read more
Continuing with the amazing Runoffgroove library, this time with Omega treble booster. The description below points out that this may be the last treble booster you’ll need to build. ROG sound clip is here. From ROG website: This project began as a search for a FET treble booster similar to the well-known Dallas Rangemaster. We … Read more