I am not interested
in the typical "sounds the same but better"
type modifications. I can do tonal tweaks, but my main
interest is conversions to a substantially different
effect. I am also most interested in modifying pedals
which are common but not particularly liked in their
original configuration ....
OVERDRIVE-FUZZ
...
"Zombified" Modification for DOD Supra
Distortion FX55C The Supra uses two stages
of distortion and the first is modified for a
good overdrive style circuit with improved bass
and wider gain range. In overdrive circuit style,
there is a clean signal component at all times
mixing inphase with the distortion. This becomes
the primary distortion signal, and the added Mix
control adds in the second stage of distortion,
reversed in polarity (antiphase), subtracting
from the lower level of distortion, so that the
differences between the distortions can be
emphasized and the common signal can be
eliminated.
As an overdrive, the gain
goes down enough to use as a dirty boost. The Mix
control can be used to make the overdrive
grittier and gated. At higher gains and Mix
settings there are metal sounds and turbulent,
dynamically responsive synth-like tones. The
original tone control circuit comes into its own
with this mod.
This mod also
increases input impedance, producing a good
quality buffered bypass. DOD's FX-55C distortion
features a clear but bright sound and a greatly
improved enclusure compared to their older style.
They also switched to JRC4560D op-amps and added
more circuitry. This modification can not be
applied to the "55" or "55B"
versions.
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The actual red is much more vivid.
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SOUND SAMPLES
NEW: BASIC
SAMPLES (loud tube amp, humbuckers, sorry dead
strings):
gating out the noise -- by adding a gated fuzz sound to
overdrive, the overdrive gets gated too! Starts with clean reference for
this set and how MIX is tuned for gating (level boosted
greatly).
overdrive only -- a non-mid-hump overdrive sound
(MIX =0).
metallish -- a slightly fuzzed distortion.
zombie meanders -- synth-fuzz noodling.
MORE:
Forest_Babies_sample by Eric Morris ... this is
on top of full-out metal distortion. BC Rich NJ Beast, Guitar Research
mini-stack (371 KB, 128 kbps stereo, 0:23).
suprazomb_edit1.mp3 (by Bill) -- starts
with sweep through Zombie Mix control, etc. Ibanez RG-550 guitar w/bridge
humbucker, prototype Spencer 15 tube amp, Cele V30s
(2x12), EV N/DYM 257A, boost pedal as preamp (flat),
soundcard (886 KB, 1:53) .
MIX YOUR OWN
DISTORTION
For all their controls, most distortion units provide no
substantial control over their actual distortion
response. There is pre-distortion control (gain,
sometimes EQ) and post-distortion control (volume, EQ)
but this should not be confused with changing the sound
of the distortion section itself -- the nonlinear
transfer function. There are exceptions, but so far
these tend to be limited ... Mostly, players get
different distortion responses by using different devices
such as fuzz and overdrive.
| Suprazombie's
method of distortion variation is to use mixing,
including antiphase mixing. Imagine being able to
control how distorted or fuzzy the sound is seperate
of gain and sustain. Some of the results
sound "blended" while other mixes
produce a new sound with little hint of its
constituent parts. The example to the right shows
graphically how this works. "A" is the
positive portion of a distorted wave.
"B" is more distorted (more gain) and
inverted (upside down). "C" shows how
these add together, forming a harsher, more
complex waveform. This still only hints at the
sonic possibilities. See also Intellectual Property
Statement.
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Availability/Mods
Premodified FX55C to Suprazombie $60, shipping US
Priority $6.
Stock: NO. But can be built
fairly quickly to order after acquiring a pedal to mod.
(updated 7/11/07).
Modify your FX55C to Zombie $35.
Other mods, inquire.
Ordering Information
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