klon

[MattB]

Either of these should be fine:

470nF:

www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tdk-corporation/FG28X7R1H474KRT00/7326589

1uF:

www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tdk-corporation/FK24X7R1H105KR000/2815447

Aug 2, 2022 21:02:00 GMT -5 unreg said:

And, 470nF == 0.47uF right?

Right. Digikey don't use nF, but they did make a handy conversion tool:

www.digikey.co.uk/en/resources/conversion-calculators/conversion-calculator-capacitance

[unreg]

Thank you thetragichero and thank you so much MattB! 😀


I found solder tags. This one has a 9.7 mm diameter hole:

radiall-files.s3.amazonaws.com/tds/coaxialconnectors/R280490020%20A.pdf

I wanted to remove the DC jack’s internal securing nut to measure its diameter, but while turning the nut the DC jack also turns. Is there a great method of removing this nut? I’ve thought about trying to hold the DC jack on the outside with a second pair of pliers; wanted to see if this is a good solution before possibly destroying my DC jack.

[unreg]

Aug 3, 2022 16:01:29 GMT -5 unreg said:

I’ve thought about trying to hold the DC jack on the outside with a second pair of pliers; wanted to see if this is a good solution before possibly destroying my DC jack.

That didn’t work bc I was using needle-nose pliers… will need to try something else.

Do nuts loosen counter-clockwise? I know “righty tighty, lefty loosey” but it’s kind of rough for me to apply that here.


EDIT: nm, silly me, that is obvious now.

[Yogi B]

Aug 3, 2022 17:11:16 GMT -5 unreg said:

Aug 3, 2022 16:01:29 GMT -5 unreg said:

I’ve thought about trying to hold the DC jack on the outside with a second pair of pliers; wanted to see if this is a good solution before possibly destroying my DC jack.

That didn’t work bc I was using needle-nose pliers… will need to try something else.

Usually the threaded part of the DC jack will have flattened sides meaning you can grip them there.

Do nuts loosen counter-clockwise? I know “righty tighty, lefty loosey” but it’s kind of rough for me to apply that here.

Yep, though with something like this whereby you could be looking at it from either direction: turning something clockwise moves it away from you; counter clockwise moves it towards you.

Or if you're looking at it side on: "top-right, bottom-left" — i.e. if you're turning the top towards you the nut/screw/whatever moves right; turning it so the bottom is coming towards you moves it left.

---

I take it you don't have a pair of callipers to hand in order to measure it in situ, though the flatted sides do potentially make that inaccurate. And I suppose that you will need to take it off at some point in order to attach the solder lug washer (and desolder it, due to the fact it fixes from the inside — something I really dislike about this style of DC jack).

But I can probably eliminate the need to do it yet, by saying that the thread for DC jacks is usually 12mm, maybe 12.7mm (1/2 inch) if it's imperial.

Also, b4nj0 may disagree, but since all the jacks are so close together I'd be tempted to just use the sleeve lug of the output jack rather than a solder lug washer.

[unreg]

I love top-right bottom-left! Thank you so much Yogi B! And, that would be excellent if I could just use the sleeve lug of my output jack… the desoldering part of using a solder tag makes me uneasy (even though I’ve got the tools needed for desoldering).

Going to memorize your excellent loosening&tightening wisdom help! Thank you!

[MattB]

Aug 3, 2022 19:10:06 GMT -5 unreg said:

And, that would be excellent if I could just use the sleeve lug of my output jack

Both the caps I linked have short leads. If you're connecting it to the output jack, an axial cap would probably save you from having to extend them.

www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/kemet/C420C105K5R5TA/12701167

[unreg]

An Axial Capacitor would have been perfect! Already placed my order though for both of your previous caps, MattB. Ordered “both” bc I’ll try one and then try the other one if the 470nF isn’t big/strong enough.

The output jack is right beside the power jack… so the short leads may work… and if they are too short, I’ll simply solder a wire to a lead to extend it (obviously using heat shrink tubing to protect the solder spots).

[b4nj0]

@yogi B, no I don't disagree, I'm guilty of thinking of everything in RF terms and especially VHF and up which clearly is nonsense for this application. That said, Neutrik (at least) have redesigned their bulkhead mounted XLR sockets to provide a solution to the "PIN 1" problem, so short is a good maxim in general terms.

でつ e&oe ...

[unreg]

Ok b4nj0, I’ve got the 1uf 50V capacitor, from MattB’s first two links he provided, installed touching my DC jack’s terminal, the one that has also been connected to the + space on my PCB, and touching my output jack’s sleeve terminal.

Each of those two, new, connections has returned a 0.0 continuity reading and a 0.0 ohms resistance reading.

So, the pin1 problem is gone?


Now, my GhostDrive pedal set at Gain @ 4:30, Treble @ 1, and Output @ 10 (each measured like a clock’s hour hand), returns a 48.9 avg. decibel reading (at 1023hz, while the air conditioning is off). My decibel app says “Quiet Whisper” in the upper left of its screen.


So, maybe it just seems noisy to me bc the Gain is set so high? Maybe it’s just the amp’s increased volume level that makes the 48.9 avg. db reading?


I haven’t played my guitar yet since the pedal has been free of pin1; will definitely play tomorrow.

Oh, and I just used my 1uf capacitor bc MattB linked me another 1uf capacitor, but the 1uf shouldn’t affect tone, like you said. Should a stronger capacitor be used to silence my pedal, or does that not matter? Idk.



[EDIT]For relevance: Each of my pedal’s knobs is at 0 when @ 7:00[/EDIT]

[unreg]

(This post is bc I thought of something while waiting to fall asleep; but, my previous post, above, is my main current question.)

Jul 8, 2022 22:01:22 GMT -5 unreg said:

Jul 8, 2022 18:33:13 GMT -5 thetragichero said:

i learned the hard way (by wiring my old house for led lights including my studio) that led lights and monitors can cause noise with gain, even with something that's usually dead quiet like active pickups

So, do you use regular lights now?

thetragichero, I just remembered our electrician talking about removing each of the ancient ballasts, inside each of our ancient 3 foot light fixtures in our kitchen’s ceiling, in order to make the sockets accept 3 foot led bulbs. In that case, we can no longer use regular bulbs in our kitchen ceiling.

My question was talking about how regular and led light bulbs work in regular lamps. But, you said you wired your old house for led lights… is that kind of like what our electrician was talking about. If so, then I understand you definitely couldn’t use regular light bulbs.

[thetragichero]

yeah with these th'ain't no bulbs to change: www.homedepot.com/p/Halo-HLB-6-in-Selectable-CCT-New-Construction-or-Remodel-Canless-Recessed-Integrated-LED-Kit-HLB6099FS1EMWR/306051064

[newey]

Aug 13, 2022 2:54:11 GMT -5 unreg said:

talking about removing each of the ancient ballasts,

Way before LED lighting came around, fluorescent lamp ballasts were a major source of noise for guitarists. I've got to believe switching to LEDs would be quieter than fluorescents.

[b4nj0]

unreg; your description of what you have done to "decouple" the incoming insulated DC connector battery positive terminal (read literally ...) seems perfect to me. I still think that the case should be connected to the DC ground tag at the point of entry into the enclosure which would have been a given if a more sensible (in my opinion) centre positive supply was used. Just be certain that none of the various rail voltages appear on the case by way of the PCB mounting system. I am reasonably sure that this will be fine, but I hate offering my take on things without the project in front of me, and any self-appointed advisor has to be cognisant of how advice would sound to anyone else. This is why I am a useless teacher!

As I wrote previously, your noise issue appeared to have been largely addressed. The so-called "Pin 1 problem" refers to the issue of ground loops in balanced audio distribution systems, but ground loops can and do rear their ugly heads juat as regularly in unbalanced systems such as this too. If as you say the noise goes away when you touch the strings that is a very familiar experience to me and many others, and I would say that your totally reasonable search for audio nirvana should now follow the holy grail search that the rest of us are all on, because I reckon your Klon clone is by now delivering the best you can expect.

What does it sound like though? Is it worth the effort? I'm interested for myself, even though I tend to give distorted sounds the swerve in old(er!) age.



でつ e&oe ...

[unreg]

Aug 13, 2022 6:52:23 GMT -5 b4nj0 said:

What does it sound like though? Is it worth the effort? I'm interested for myself, even though I tend to give distorted sounds the swerve in old(er!) age.



でつ e&oe ...

fervid.org/matthewMusic/streetghost_unreg.mp3

^That’s what it sounds like… at least if it’s coded correctly.

thetragichero, b4nj0, Yogi B, MattB, and newey: Thank you all so much, especially tth, b4nj0, yogib, and MattB! Love my pedal now!

tth, your diagram has been proven to work excellently, with b4nj0’s solving of the pin 1 problem.




[EDIT]Well, sry, the bass do makes this phone’s speakers crackle. Doesn’t sound with crackling when coming from my amp.[/EDIT]


[FINAL-EDIT]That’s recorded with knobs at Gain @ 1, Treble @ 11, Output @ 2:45 with DBX noise reduction ON on my 4 track recorder.

It’s very short; partly bc I spent so much time playing with the GhostDrive trying to make it sound great, to me at least.[/FINAL-EDIT]

[unreg]

If anyone cares, that’s supposed to be two short parts, that happen to be repeated a bunch by a band named Radiohead, in their song called Street Spirit.

[b4nj0]

Well it crackles through my 'phone 'speakers too unreg, but like buzzing when you're not touching that's far from uncommon. That said, it appears to be good enough to warrant having a go myself. I have a colleague on another forum who us about to embark on the same trail. I think I'll shoulder my pack and join him after hearing that clip because I have no overdrives or distortions that sound similar. Cheers for the soundfile, I wish I was as good providing the same upon request!

でつ e&oe ...

[unreg]

Thank you! That soundfile required me to spend time learning my 4 track recorder again… haven’t used it much so far.

And, that mp3 probably won’t make really excellent speakers crackle; I just didn’t reduce it enough I guess; have never recorded sound so strong.


God bless your and your friend’s colleague’s efforts too b4nj0!

Oooh, it was soldered together using my silver solder. sumgai, that soundfile was recorded with a guitar mostly assembled with silver solder and a silver soldered pedal.

[unreg]

Aug 14, 2022 2:41:23 GMT -5 b4nj0 said:

Well it crackles through my 'phone 'speakers too unreg,

Well, I tried to remove the crackling tonight, but it didn’t vanish even when completely lowering high, mid, and low eq.

So, the crackling is in the recording.


Do SM57 mics perish after a while? Or does it have something to do with needing to move the mic away from my amp since the volume has increased? My amp doesn’t crackle. 👍

[newey]

Aug 17, 2022 0:42:51 GMT -5 unreg said:

Do SM57 mics perish after a while? Or does it have something to do with needing to move the mic away from my amp since the volume has increased? My amp doesn’t crackle. 👍

A dodgy cord on the mic might make it crackle. Make sure you're not pegging the meter when you're recording, too, adjust your levels down a bit.

[b4nj0]

I have an AKG WMS40 wireless system. It had a crackly cable, so after buying an aftermarket cable from a large south American river which was wired incorrectly(!) and returned, I made my own from Klotz cable and Neutrik connectors. Fixed.

でつ e&oe ...

[unreg]

Aug 17, 2022 5:39:23 GMT -5 newey said:

Aug 17, 2022 0:42:51 GMT -5 unreg said:

Do SM57 mics perish after a while? Or does it have something to do with needing to move the mic away from my amp since the volume has increased? My amp doesn’t crackle. 👍

A dodgy cord on the mic might make it crackle. Make sure you're not pegging the meter when you're recording, too, adjust your levels down a bit.

Wow, I’ll return my new microphone cable. It’s a really great cable maker, but it’s surely great to learn that the problem is the mic cable. Thank you so much newey and b4nj0!


newey, I purposely recorded my guitar at a volume level that averaged 0 on my 4 track recorder’s screen. Was being highly careful to follow the Tascam instructions.


b4nj0, that’s really cool you made your own mic cable! I just love this cable maker and so I’ll see if they send me a new one.

[thetragichero]

Aug 17, 2022 0:42:51 GMT -5 unreg said:

Do SM57 mics perish after a while? Or does it have something to do with needing to move the mic away from my amp since the volume has increased

a properly working sm57 (legit ones. i've heard there have been counterfeit ones out there. always buy new) has a max spl of like 180dB (calculated, as actually achieving that volume is quite difficult). i've had an sm57 (although i prefer a sennheiser e609, especially since you can just drape it over the cab) and hang it there without using a stand) in front of cranked marshall 100w half stacks before without any issue

if i were to suspect anything it would be the input gain on whatever you're recording to causing whatever gross distortion you're experiencing

[b4nj0]

I was not pointing a finger at the cable and I don't think newey was either, I was just highlighting an instance where it turned out to be a cable issue for me, and I didn't think AKG as microphone manufacturers would actually ship product with such an issue. With it plugged in and switched on, run your fingers along the cable to see whether that generates any noise. I would hate for you to rock up to a respected manufacturer and claim cable noise purely because some commentators on a forum suggested it! It's just something to exclude while trying to track down the culprit.

でつ e&oe ...

[unreg]

Aug 17, 2022 9:47:01 GMT -5 thetragichero said:

a properly working sm57 (legit ones. i've heard there have been counterfeit ones out there. always buy new) has a max spl of like 180dB (calculated, as actually achieving that volume is quite difficult).

Thank you thetragichero! My sm57 was bought a long time ago used from eBay. It looks like it’s been used; my previous recordings are crackle free.

Aug 17, 2022 9:47:01 GMT -5 thetragichero said:

i've had an sm57 (although i prefer a sennheiser e609, especially since you can just drape it over the cab) and hang it there without using a stand) in front of cranked marshall 100w half stacks before without any issue

if i were to suspect anything it would be the input gain on whatever you're recording to causing whatever gross distortion you're experiencing

The input gain… is the trim on my recorder? That has been adjusted correctly, I thought at least… will try adjusting it tonight.

Aug 17, 2022 9:54:27 GMT -5 b4nj0 said:

With it plugged in and switched on, run your fingers along the cable to see whether that generates any noise. I would hate for you to rock up to a respected manufacturer and claim cable noise purely because some commentators on a forum suggested it! It's just something to exclude while trying to track down the culprit.

でつ e&oe ...

Thank you b4nj0! I’ll try that tonight too! And thank you for helping me to understand that y’all are giving good advice… not absolutes.

I do remember reading comments on Sweetwater’s site that said someone had experienced issues with their mic cable. So, either it’s not hard to make mistakes creating mic cables OR like you’ve said, it could be someone misunderstanding their problem.

[newey]

unreg-

b4nj0 is correct, I said it "might" be the problem, not that it was the issue. A bad cable will usually make noise when manipulated. as b$nj0 said, so check it, but as noted, there could be other issues. Before blaming the cable, I would want to swap it out with another (preferably one known to be good), and see if the swap made a difference.

And, if you're soldering skills are good enough to rewire your guitar, you can certainly repair a cable if needed.

[unreg]

thetragichero, b4nj0, newey, I currently can’t try to play my guitar now bc 2 days ago I was stung by 4 ground hornets; one got my thumb. The swelling is still going down; hope it vanishes tomorrow.

But, I listened to the silence… and it was weird… when I moved the sm57 toward either edge of my amp, the silence became empty. Is that bc the sound comes out the middle of the speaker? But why does the silence become empty (as if the head phones aren’t connected anymore)? I can pull the sm57 father away from the center of the front of my amp and the silence is unaffected; but, moving it to either side, while far away too, empties the silence.


So, is that a mic cable problem? Like the cable may be bending the same way farther away from my amp.

Guess I’ll attempt to find my old mic cable.


Or maybe I should just wait till my thumb heals and record something.

Turning down the trim, during silence created with my sm57 in the center of the front of my amp, just obviously turns down the silence.

[newey]

Aug 17, 2022 23:27:28 GMT -5 unreg said:

But why does the silence become empty

I have no idea what this means . . .

[b4nj0]

Existentialism ...

"What's the sound of one hand clapping?"

でつ e&oe ...

[unreg]

Aug 18, 2022 5:45:34 GMT -5 newey said:

Aug 17, 2022 23:27:28 GMT -5 unreg said:

But why does the silence become empty

I have no idea what this means . . .

Aug 17, 2022 23:27:28 GMT -5 unreg said:

But why does the silence become empty (as if the head phones aren’t connected anymore)?

And by “silence” I’m describing the almost-quiet murmur made by listening to NO a quiet audio signal, during a loud volume level, traveling through low quality cables. Though, the low quality cables would be hum buzz free in what I’m trying to describe.


[EDIT]Ooh, and I was listening to the “silence”, just described that^, with quality headphones connected to my 4 track recorder’s headphone jack.[/EDIT]

[unreg]

newey, tonight, I tried my older mic cable and it sounded great. Great, like no crackling, and I tried my newer mic cable and it sounded great as well. No crackling sound from each even while running my fingers down the cable.

So, I’ll try cleaning my 4 track recorder’s multitrack cassette recorder tomorrow. Maybe the crackling is from a dirty cassette slot?