http://skreddypedals.com/news-071215.htm
December 15, 2007
Transistor Troubles Lead to Design Improvements, Product Retirements
My supply of transistors that I use for Mayos, Pink Fleshes, and ? Ladys has unexpectedly dried up. The latest batch did not meet my gain requirements, and it doesn't look like there's any more reliable stream of these parts forthcoming.
In anticipation of this eventuality, I'd already found another transistor I really like for the purposes of the Pink Flesh pedal. I made the necessary adjustments to the circuit to accommodate the clearer tone of the new transistor, which has a very full-spectrum response, without harshness or fizziness. The result is a more "transparent" tone than the previous transistors allowed me to achieve; and, to be honest, I like it a lot better for this application. The noise level is much lower, and it's a bit more versatile and more consistent.
However, I'm going to discontinue the Mayo and ? Lady pedals for the time being unless and until I find something else suitable to build them.
I am about 80% decided to discontinue the Top Fuel at this point, too; simply because the new version of the Pink Flesh almost makes it obsolete. They're not the same thing, but the overlap is quite a bit broader now. The new Pink Flesh can cover some of the applications of the Top Fuel, but with higher gain and a more open tone. I can still make more Top Fuels, and they are distinct and have their own sound of course. So I haven't removed the shopping cart from the Top Fuel page.
Pink Flesh Pedal Continues
Since I like the tone of the new transistors better than the old ones for the Pink Flesh pedal, I've decided to continue making this line uninterrupted rather than retire it. I feel it's an improvement in every way and am confident that everyone who hears it will agree. The sonic characteristics of the old transistor, with its looser, browner sound, kind of got in the way of what I was trying to achieve with the Pink Flesh. Basically, it's a tighter and more transparent tone than before, but still the very same eq voicing and gain structure, and in the end, very little audible difference other than more clarity and detail.
Marc Ahlfs, aka Skreddy
December 15, 2007
Transistor Troubles Lead to Design Improvements, Product Retirements
My supply of transistors that I use for Mayos, Pink Fleshes, and ? Ladys has unexpectedly dried up. The latest batch did not meet my gain requirements, and it doesn't look like there's any more reliable stream of these parts forthcoming.
In anticipation of this eventuality, I'd already found another transistor I really like for the purposes of the Pink Flesh pedal. I made the necessary adjustments to the circuit to accommodate the clearer tone of the new transistor, which has a very full-spectrum response, without harshness or fizziness. The result is a more "transparent" tone than the previous transistors allowed me to achieve; and, to be honest, I like it a lot better for this application. The noise level is much lower, and it's a bit more versatile and more consistent.
However, I'm going to discontinue the Mayo and ? Lady pedals for the time being unless and until I find something else suitable to build them.
I am about 80% decided to discontinue the Top Fuel at this point, too; simply because the new version of the Pink Flesh almost makes it obsolete. They're not the same thing, but the overlap is quite a bit broader now. The new Pink Flesh can cover some of the applications of the Top Fuel, but with higher gain and a more open tone. I can still make more Top Fuels, and they are distinct and have their own sound of course. So I haven't removed the shopping cart from the Top Fuel page.
Pink Flesh Pedal Continues
Since I like the tone of the new transistors better than the old ones for the Pink Flesh pedal, I've decided to continue making this line uninterrupted rather than retire it. I feel it's an improvement in every way and am confident that everyone who hears it will agree. The sonic characteristics of the old transistor, with its looser, browner sound, kind of got in the way of what I was trying to achieve with the Pink Flesh. Basically, it's a tighter and more transparent tone than before, but still the very same eq voicing and gain structure, and in the end, very little audible difference other than more clarity and detail.
Marc Ahlfs, aka Skreddy
