Successor to the FTL Drive and Raptor

[St_Genesius]

Re: Successor to the FTL Drive and Raptor

I like the idea of being able to choose the order because, to my thinking, the OD should be in front of the distortion: set your basic tone with the distortion and then kick in the OD to hit the front end of the distortion circuit harder ( a "more" button). If it's after the distortion, then I'm using the distortion to hit the OD hard, and that doesn't make nearly as much sense to me. To my ears, whichever dirtbox comes LAST in a chain seems to have the most effect on the sound, with the character of those feeding it getting *mostly* subsumed. Now a boost after the distortion makes perfect sense...

But then, I *would* say that, since, as I mentioned, I'm running an FTL (usually in green mode, clip setting 4 or 5) into a Box of Rock (into a Big Muff Pi...and much later in the board, a Rat and a Tweak Fuzz)

EDIT: Obviously, my comments above don't account for the usefulness of each effect on its own -- and there is plenty that can be done with *jsut* and OD, or *just* a distortion (imo the Distortron circuit of the BoR borders on "amp sim" as a better descriptor), or *just* a boost, but by themselves, the order doesn't really matter.

 

[Rich_T]

Re: Successor to the FTL Drive and Raptor

If I didn't already mix a Rat with a FullDrive for my sound, I would be all over this. Sounds great Matt.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Successor to the FTL Drive and Raptor

Sounding better and better...

 

[pinto79]

Re: Successor to the FTL Drive and Raptor

I'm in for one. I'll keep the drill press warmed up for ya too...

I like the idea of selecting the order, as mentioned by St G, it makes sense to push the Distortion with the OD...

I'm going to need a bigger pedalboard...

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Successor to the FTL Drive and Raptor

Okay, I will make sure to add some way to reverse the order. That shouldn't be a problem.

There are pros and cons to both orders. If you wanted to use the OD side as a clean boost, you'd want it to be second, for example.

I've been studying schematics and getting familiar with DipTrace (schematic and PCB design software) again. I hope to have a first draft schematic done later this week.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Successor to the FTL Drive and Raptor

very cool. cant wait to put my name on the list

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Successor to the FTL Drive and Raptor

Thanks for the breakdown.. Ive always wanted a rat but never put down as Ive always been nervous in hearing that the new ones arent as good as the old, etc.

Im def down for this...

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Successor to the FTL Drive and Raptor

Thanks for the breakdown.. Ive always wanted a rat but never put down as Ive always been nervous in hearing that the new ones arent as good as the old, etc.

Im def down for this...

Well, here's the thing about the Rat:

The original Rat had an LM308N single op amp chip, a part which is now obsolete (but can still be found if you know where to look). A lot of people feel that this op amp is responsible for the character that is so loved in the originals. I don't disagree, and I will make sure I have an LM308N on hand for prototyping.

Keep in mind, however, that I'm not trying to clone a Rat. If I were, I certainly wouldn't be grafting a Marshall tone stack onto it. I'm going to approach this with the same idea that I had with the FTL Drive: take an existing circuit (in that case it was the Tube Screamer) and attempt to improve upon it, or at least change it into something distinctive.

What this means is that if you're looking for a Rat clone, you probably won't want this pedal. However, if you're looking for a great distortion and a great overdrive in one box, I think you'll be pleased.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Successor to the FTL Drive and Raptor

Well, here's the thing about the Rat:

The original Rat had an LM308N single op amp chip, a part which is now obsolete (but can still be found if you know where to look). A lot of people feel that this op amp is responsible for the character that is so loved in the originals. I don't disagree, and I will make sure I have an LM308N on hand for prototyping.

Keep in mind, however, that I'm not trying to clone a Rat. If I were, I certainly wouldn't be grafting a Marshall tone stack onto it. I'm going to approach this with the same idea that I had with the FTL Drive: take an existing circuit (in that case it was the Tube Screamer) and attempt to improve upon it, or at least change it into something distinctive.

What this means is that if you're looking for a Rat clone, you probably won't want this pedal. However, if you're looking for a great distortion and a great overdrive in one box, I think you'll be pleased.

Had trouble finding this thread again.. Thanks for the DETAILED breakdown!! Really appreciate it! Im not looking for a rat clone per se. I love what you did with the other pedals by taking the TS and "improving" it. So, I trust this would give me the "Rat" proximity I'd need.

Any idea when this might commence?? Im gonna have to start saving...

 

[phil_104]

Re: Successor to the FTL Drive and Raptor

Any idea when this might commence?? Im gonna have to start saving...

I'd also like to be kept in the loop. I missed out on the last run (we'd talked via PM when that happened), and I'm not gonna miss another one.