Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

[Lewguitar]

I asked John to make my other two pedals sound as good or better than the Fulltone Clyde.

Had a chance to put them through thier paces this morning and there's no doubt about it that both pedals John modded are improved. :dance:

I'll post more after I've had a chance to really check them out, but so far, I'd say I still prefer my Fulltone.

It seems to have more mids and a smoother pluckier chewier tone...so far.

I may get in there and adjust the gear on the pot a bit on both the Crybaby and the Vox to dial in the area of the sweep that I like best. A little less treble when fully depressed would be my goal.

The Fulltone I like just like it is. I still think, at least at this point, that it's the best wah I've ever owned.

Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

What I'm hearing from the Fulltone Clyde is a slightly more pronounced "OW" or "MEOW" than from the other two. More "OW" as in vowel. It seems to have a longer travel when I sweep through the range too, and that allows me to find the sweet spot more easily.

John installed a Fulltone style volume control on my Vox pedal that allows a little bit of a gain boost. I REALLY, REALLY like that.

It allows for a little more growl when I want it and a thicker tone that I think most players would appreciate.

I believe he added true bypass to both pedals because both modded pedals seem clearer and brighter than they were and don't seem to load down the signal and diminish it when the pedals are in the off position like they did. I need to play them alot more.

So far I'm very pleased with the improvements John made in these pedals and feel my money was well spent.

I'll post more over the next few days as I get re-aquainted with my old pedals.

Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

What I'm hearing from the Fulltone Clyde is a slightly more pronounced "OW" or "MEOW" than from the other two. More "OW" as in vowel. It seems to have a longer travel when I sweep through the range too, and that allows me to find the sweet spot more easily.

John installed a Fulltone style volume control on my Vox pedal that allows a little bit of a gain boost. I REALLY, REALLY like that.

It allows for a little more growl when I want it and a thicker tone that I think most players would appreciate.

I believe he added true bypass to both pedals because both modded pedals seem clearer and brighter than they were and don't seem to load down the signal and diminish it when the pedals are in the off position like they did. I need to play them alot more.

So far I'm very pleased with the improvements John made in these pedals and feel my money was well spent.

I'll post more over the next few days as I get re-aquainted with my old pedals.

Lew

Cool post lew....I stated earlier on that the mods were close,but I also agreed that the Fulltone edged them both out....The older Crybaby you sent me was the least favorite of your 3...I'll still very much accept your reviews as a compliment coming from you lew.....Also...

Fulltone makes his own wah cases so he can get more overall range out of his pots..

I don't remember where your gears are adjusted,but sounds like you just need to move it one more tooth towards the bass side?

Lew....All 3 of your wahs in fact have true bypass...If I didn't do any other mods to a wah,that would be the one mod I would always do....

Lew...For what you payed for that Fulltone,it damn sure better edge out the other 2 pedals! LOL. :smack: ....I'm looking for a fulltone standard Clyde for my collection,but I won't give away a kid for one! I don't feel that the Clyde Deluxe is worth over a $100 more than either of my 2 847s or my 848 that I Modded,unless you use those other 2 settings on the Deluxe...

Ok....Quote From Mike Fuller...
"I don't like the original Vox-type housings that everyone uses, and I had to design and produce one that made more sense. The traditional housings don't give enough travel and potentiometer range, limiting your tonal sweep, and they have little compensation for tension or feel. The Fulltone "Clyde" uses our own custom-made 14 ga. welded steel pedal with nylon pivot points and much more travel than the conventional Vox-style ones that everyone uses. It has nylok nuts so you can adjust the tension of the treadle, and it stays that way until you change it. As with all Fulltone pedals, the "Clyde" has true bypass switching so that when it's "off" it's not coloring your sound or ruining the performance of other pedals in your signal chain".



John

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Hi John,

That post was definately a compliment to you John. I knew the Fulltone Clyde would be a hard act to follow.

Yes, I figured I'd just move the gear over one tooth towards the bass side and see if I like it better. I'm not a fan of that really sharp treble I get when most wahs are pressed all the way down.

That might be one reason I like the longer travel of the Fulltone...I can sweep through the range I like and stop just short of it getting to bright for me.

Also, you must have changed the off/on switches in my two pedals because they seem to click on and off more easily and with less of an audible "pop".

I only had a short time to check them out this morning. I'll give them a better work out over the next few days.

Can't wait to plug my Fulltone '69 Pedal into them. I wish I'd sent that to you check out too. It's 1/2 of my Fulltone Clyde's best tone to me.

Very realistic Hendrix tone when both are used together.

Thanks my friend...great job!

Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Lew.....Also...I Looked at the copy of the modded board in your 847...I voice the mod a bit differently from absolute stock values,as I do everything I Mod...

If you were to change a 2.2k resistor back to the stock 1.5k value you might like that better? That resistor is right below the inductor and just to the left of it..To the left of that 2.2k resistor is a 470k and to the right of it is the wires that run up to your volume pot...

Also...You can tweak the 2 .01 caps...These will change the frequency of the sweep and also effects the lows and low mids...It's all in the voicings,as you know....Thanks again for posting your reviews...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Lew.....Also...I Looked at the copy of the modded board in your 847...I voice the mod a bit differently from absolute stock values,as I do everything I Mod...

If you were to change a 2.2k resistor back to the stock 1.5k value you might like that better? That resistor is right below the inductor and just to the left of it..To the left of that 2.2k resistor is a 470k and to the right of it is the wires that run up to your volume pot...

Also...You can tweak the 2 .01 caps...These will change the frequency of the sweep and also effects the lows and low mids...It's all in the voicings,as you know....Thanks again for posting your reviews...

What would make the mids a little more pronounced and make it "MEOW" a little more and perhaps make it sound a little less sharp? What would I change the .01 caps to? .02? or .005 or what?

I don't really understand how a wah wah works! Never took the time to finger it out. :smack: I don't like working with transistors!

Actually, I'm thinking it doesn't need anything except to move the gear over one tooth. I like the way you hear and tweak things and I don't want them all to sound the same anyway.

Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Hi John,

That post was definately a compliment to you John. I knew the Fulltone Clyde would be a hard act to follow.

Yes, I figured I'd just move the gear over one tooth towards the bass side and see if I like it better. I'm not a fan of that really sharp treble I get when most wahs are pressed all the way down.

That might be one reason I like the longer travel of the Fulltone...I can sweep through the range I like and stop just short of it getting to bright for me.

Also, you must have changed the off/on switches in my two pedals because they seem to click on and off more easily and with less of an audible "pop".

I only had a short time to check them out this morning. I'll give them a better work out over the next few days.

Can't wait to plug my Fulltone '69 Pedal into them. I wish I'd sent that to you check out too. It's 1/2 of my Fulltone Clyde's best tone to me.

Very realistic Hendrix tone when both are used together.

Thanks my friend...great job!

Lew

Thanks Lew....It's not that the Fulltone was a hard act to follow,as much as it is a combination of the differences in components...I actually used some nice upgraded caps in the mods..Mike uses the cheapo Xicon green caps in your wah,but they do sound great...I changed some values in your modded wahs...The Crybaby can't compete and has a different tone..it's smoother,but not as vocal...But: Your 847 wasn't supposed to sound just like your Fulltone and I honestly didn't set out to do that...Your Clyde has all the exact original Clyde values in both caps and resistors,but your 847 and CB don't...Your ears are so good that you actually hear the differences...Remember I mentioned to either you or Curly...Why have 3 wahs that all sound the same? "Boring? LOL :wink: All 3 of your wahs sound great,but all 3 are also different....Different is good....I agree with you again in saying ,The Fulltone I Like the best of the 3 you own....I'm still tweaking on my own wahs and each day I come up with something a little bit better...I have to make sure my stuff is the best first......LOL

I'm currently tweaking on a board that is a nice combination between the Teese RMC1 and a stock Clyde wah tone with the flick of a switch....It cops the vibe of the RMC1,but I'll never nail it exactly because I don't have access to Teese's inductor and pot...I do have a Teese inductor on the board I'm tweaking though....

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Hi John, I agree. It'd be kind of silly to have all three sound identical. I like the difference between the two TS-9's you did for me. I can hear the diff quite clearly but as for which I prefer I go back and forth. Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Lew...Here's the latest wah board I've been dialing in..It's voiced like the Teese RMC1 in that it's designed purely for the strat and Tele players..This gives the wah a nice boost,more lows,more low mids,and still is very vocal...I am building this same board for Curly...I also have a switch on the board that removes the boost circuit and puts the wah back to thinner and brighter like the early Clydes from what my ears hear..

On this board is also the Teese inductor,upgraded caps, BC109 transistors,and wiring for the volume/gain pot your 847 has that is copied from your Clyde Deluxe wah..Actually Mike Fuller turned me on to the add on..I Like that alot and I'll add that to my Clyde Standard if and when I find one.....No other boards that I will ever make will have the Teese inductor since I can't get them for myself even anymore...The Fulltone inductor is great and a favorite of mine..

Check out the board and the whole inside of one of my own Vox 847s...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Cool! So you like the volume control too? I sure do!

Guys, if you're feeling like messing with the sweep of your wah wah pedal look at the second picture John posted and locate the pot and gear and the little white nylon piece that presses the gear and whatever that piece of plastic with the teeth on it is called together. (is that a treadle???) Anyways, loosen that white nylon piece that presses the gear and "treadle" together so can move the gear back one tooth or up one tooth and see if you like the sweep better. Just an experiment...there's no wrong way to do unless you set it to maximum travel: then you won't be able to click your pedal on and off. So don't do that! Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

What would make the mids a little more pronounced and make it "MEOW" a little more and perhaps make it sound a little less sharp? What would I change the .01 caps to? .02? or .005 or what?

I don't really understand how a wah wah works! Never took the time to finger it out. :smack: I don't like working with transistors!

Actually, I'm thinking it doesn't need anything except to move the gear over one tooth. I like the way you hear and tweak things and I don't want them all to sound the same anyway.

Lew

Lew....IM me on this....
Let me just say this....1 of the .01 caps is an input cap...If you increase this cap you increase your lows and low mids,but you also lose some of the vocal range of the wah....Fine line as always in every change..The pros and cons...

The second .01 cap controls the "frequency" of the wah sweep...The smaller the value,the more highend and presence in the sweep...If you go larger,you actually raise the "frequency" eq up higher or you gain more lows and lose the high frequencies...Again..raise this cap up too high and you lose cut and vocal range...

There are also resistor tweaks that effect the "Q".....It's bascially alot of trial and error and what your ears want to hear based on your gear...I voice my wahs with the same setup I use for my pedals...Strat with single coil Antiquities into my 50 watt old non-master Marshall and into a 4x12 Vintage 30 cabinet...I'm thinking your 847 was voiced for stronger lows and vocal range and not as a copy of the Fulltone..I Loved the Fulltone and I'll get one of my own,but not the Deluxe model....LOL... :burnout:

There are things I can have you try,but it's still your ears that have to be happy and not always my own ideas...That's the hard part with changing anything I guess?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Might be easier just to call you. What would be a good time? Thanks, Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Might be easier just to call you. What would be a good time? Thanks, Lew

Now if you like....I'll get my son off the phone....LOL

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

PM me your number. Thanks!

Might be better if I called you from home though so I could be looking at my wahs when we speak.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

PM me your number. Thanks!

Might be better if I called you from home though so I could be looking at my wahs when we speak.

Call me tonight my time after 9 pm....My folks will be here between 7 and 8:30 and we'll figure out some ideas...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Interesting comment about the price/performance difference between the standard Fulltone Clyde and the Clyde Deluxe. I've been thinking of selling my Budda Bud Wah
and picking up a Fulltone, but wasn't sure which one to get. So you're saying the extra features on the Deluxe may be features I wouldn't use? I guess the only way to know is to play both, but I'd much rather save the money if I don't really need the $270 Clyde Deluxe.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Interesting comment about the price/performance difference between the standard Fulltone Clyde and the Clyde Deluxe. I've been thinking of selling my Budda Bud Wah
and picking up a Fulltone, but wasn't sure which one to get. So you're saying the extra features on the Deluxe may be features I wouldn't use? I guess the only way to know is to play both, but I'd much rather save the money if I don't really need the $270 Clyde Deluxe.

If all you need is a great old Vox Clyde wah tone,buy the standard Fulltone Clyde model and install the outside mounted volume pot...If you have an 847 vox laying around,send it to me and I'll mod that for you...The Standard Fulltone Clyde is still around $215 to $235 as there was a recent increase on it..If you are a strat player and want lows,boosted tones,and alot of balls,get the Teese RMC1,but don't expect to use the RMC1 with humbuckers or a dark guitar...I've played many wahs lately and the best for a great old Clyde copy,is the Fulltone Clyde...My 847 and 848 are right on the heels of the Fulltone also now..You need a wah with a great pot and inductor as a start.The Vox 848 is a great wah,but it still needs some tweaks to really bring it around..It's pretty thin and shrill stock,but it is vocal and around $150..

John

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Gearjoneser, when I bought my Clyde Deluxe I didn't know what to expect so I just bought the "best" one. But I never use the "wacked" or "shaft" settings...only the "Jimi" setting.

The "shaft" settng sounds like a crybaby to me and I never loved the Vox Crybaby, though I've owned several of them. As for the "wacked" setting, that's just not the classic tone that I'm after.

But, as mentioned, I do love the volume boost on the Clyde Deluxe. I don't dime it...I just turn it up about 3/4 or so, but it boosts the signal a tad and, IMO, improves the tone and makes it a little ballsier.

If you don't have a Fulltone '69 Pedal yet you really should try one. It's the smoothest, bestest Fuzzface type device I've ever heard. I never really liked Fuzzfaces until I got the '69 pedal.

Plug those Antiquity Surfers of yours into the Fulltone '69 and then into the Fulltone Clyde and you'll think you're channeling Jimi Hendrix from the beyond. Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Gearjoneser, when I bought my Clyde Deluxe I didn't know what to expect so I just bought the "best" one. But I never use the "wacked" or "shaft" settings...only the "Jimi" setting.

The "shaft" settng sounds like a crybaby to me and I never loved the Vox Crybaby, though I've owned several of them. As for the "wacked" setting, that's just not the classic tone that I'm after.

But, as mentioned, I do love the volume boost on the Clyde Deluxe. I don't dime it...I just turn it up about 3/4 or so, but it boosts the signal a tad and, IMO, improves the tone and makes it a little ballsier.

If you don't have a Fulltone '69 Pedal yet you really should try one. It's the smoothest, bestest Fuzzface type device I've ever heard. I never really liked Fuzzfaces until I got the '69 pedal.

Plug those Antiquity Surfers of yours into the Fulltone '69 and then into the Fulltone Clyde and you'll think you're channeling Jimi Hendrix from the beyond. Lew

Lew.....I see one these 69 pedals in my future also...I Like the clips on Mike's site,plus I already have the Deja Vibe...I'm right there in Jimi/Trower territory..... :dance:

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Got my old Crybaby, new Vox and Fulltone Clyde back from John...

Gearjoneser, when I bought my Clyde Deluxe I didn't know what to expect so I just bought the "best" one. But I never use the "wacked" or "shaft" settings...only the "Jimi" setting.

The "shaft" settng sounds like a crybaby to me and I never loved the Vox Crybaby, though I've owned several of them. As for the "wacked" setting, that's just not the classic tone that I'm after.

But, as mentioned, I do love the volume boost on the Clyde Deluxe. I don't dime it...I just turn it up about 3/4 or so, but it boosts the signal a tad and, IMO, improves the tone and makes it a little ballsier.

If you don't have a Fulltone '69 Pedal yet you really should try one. It's the smoothest, bestest Fuzzface type device I've ever heard. I never really liked Fuzzfaces until I got the '69 pedal.

Plug those Antiquity Surfers of yours into the Fulltone '69 and then into the Fulltone Clyde and you'll think you're channeling Jimi Hendrix from the beyond. Lew

That volume pot does this....The stock input resistor on most wahs like an amp,is 68k...Replace the 68k with a 100k pot and you now can vary your volume and wah pedal gain from about 2 ohms all the way up to 100K or more....It's an easy mod with great results..You can get unity gain,less gain for humbuckers,or more gain and volume for single coil pickups....It's a great mod to a wah pedal...