NPD - Way Huge Conspiracy Theory overdrive

[strat dude]

I have the MXR mini Timmy, but never actually played a real Timmy. How does the mini stack up?

 

[jeremy]

its similar, i do notice a difference, but ive been using a timmy since shortly after they came out

 

[marcello252]

what

its similar, i do notice a difference, but ive been using a timmy since shortly after they came out

what kind of difference do you hear? let me guess, you hear a different 'rumble' on the bass ?

 

[jeremy]

lower frequencies sound different and the highs on the mxr seem a bit more strident? nothing drastic though

 

[marcello252]

I think it's a difference based on components tolerance only, but I might be wrong

 

[justFred]

I think it's a difference based on components tolerance only, but I might be wrong

MXR Timmy uses LF353 op amp. It is a higher output/gain op amp. Typically that results in some trade offs which might explain the minor differences.

Also, early units had some mods on the fly done which is always an iffy way to go. Gut shot shows resistor added in a unique fashion:
it also appears some additional components were added, there is a U3 at top left, an extra filter cap and some xstrs Q2 and Q5 at the bottom?

 

[Chistopher]

Also, early units had some mods on the fly done which is always an iffy way to go.

A lot more guitar related companies do that then you think.

 

[marcello252]

MXR Timmy uses LF353 op amp. It is a higher output/gain op amp. Typically that results in some trade offs which might explain the minor differences.

Also, early units had some mods on the fly done which is always an iffy way to go. Gut shot shows resistor added in a unique fashion:View attachment 6326640View attachment 6326641
it also appears some additional components were added, there is a U3 at top left, an extra filter cap and some xstrs Q2 and Q5 at the bottom?

That 1KR soldered this way is one of the worst thing I've ever seen on a smd circuit, is it possible it is a DIY modified unit?

 

[justFred]

Finished the electrical build of the Axion fix Timmy yesterday. Have spent a few hours with it and it’s a good transparent overdrive but don’t like it as much as my old Paul C. Original. It’s a more aggressive boost, not as smooth and clean as I remember. Will keep on tweeking Axion vs original…

 

[Sam SG]

but wouldn’t mind if my old Timmy turned up.

What Lassie???? Timmy fell in the well??

 

[marcello252]

Finished the electrical build of the Axion fix Timmy yesterday. Have spent a few hours with it and it’s a good transparent overdrive but don’t like it as much as my old Paul C. Original. It’s a more aggressive boost, not as smooth and clean as I remember. Will keep on tweeking Axion vs original…

Very strange, Timmy is not a complex circuit, it's very consistent in sound, you already doubled checked components placement, right?
To make it aggressive I think you cut less trebles and basses, do you still hear it aggressive cutting both more?
Have you tried changing the opamp? Maybe it's a faulty one with limited output swing

 

[marcello252]

by the way, this (I guess) 39nF cap doesn't look healthy, now that I'm on PC I see better

 

[justFred]

by the way, this (I guess) 39nF cap doesn't look healthy, now that I'm on PC I see better

View attachment 6326685

Thank you, I saw that too an it reads 39nf on multimeter but will swap it out just in case. BTW, did take your advise and swap out opamp for 4559 and that did help. Axion calls it Timmy V2 / Vemuram Jan Ray, not sure what the Jan Ray changes are and what affect they may have on the sound.

 

[justFred]

Axion Timmy V2 / Vemuram Jan Ray is on the bench, will retrofit it to just Timmy specs. In the interim slapped together the strip board protype I built. Paint that got on the components looks better than the enclosure but it works and sounds good enough for now.

Have found The Way Huge Conspiracy Theory very useful so don't regret buying it.