Soldano GTO Clone

[Haze13]

I wanted to do this for a very long time... In the process I blew a transformer, then bought another. After that I found out that I can get same voltages from 12VDC with a help of DC step up circuit. This circuit is smaller than a Transformer, which means that I can use a smaller enclosure. Hate tubes that sticking out of an enclosure, so that leaves me only one option. Point To Point. No turret boards, or some thing of the sort.
http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/Vadim ... TO%20clone

[Haze13]

On it's own, the GTO is a harsh sounding 4-gain stage overdrive when gain knob is dimed, but for boosting a signal of an amp like JCM800 is just perfect! Leaves behind all Tube Screamers and the clones.
Level on the maximum and the Gain on "0" and the tone in the middle position this thing works like a clean boost. Very Good clean boost.
The funny thing is that to build this pedal is not expensive at all! 2 x 12ax7, enclosure (1590BB 1.4" tall), 12VDC 1A power supply (mine is SMPS from old PC scanner), and the caps on your taste... All the rest is very cheap!
Since I bought all the parts thinking that I will use it with a Transformer and much bigger enclosure some of the parts can be smaller.
Smaller caps and smaller pots can make this build to look better and easier to build.

7 gain stages total =

[Roe]

the original I tried was noisy. I'm happy with my koko boost

[Haze13]

I heard about noise problem, but mine is dead quite May be because of the dc for the heaters an shielded cabels. I set the gain on the 2204 about 3 o'clock and on the pedal level at 1 o'clock and gain on 9 o'clock and no noise gate. MV on the amp is at 9 o'clock with PPIMV on 2 o'clock.

[Haze13]

Since I this circuit uses DC for the heaters, a larger number of different tubes can be used here. I just tried it with a ECC85/6AQ8 in the first position.
The gain of this tube is 55. When using amp on clean setting the pedals sounds not that harsh as with 12ax7, and some thing like Blues Driver but tube version.
When using as a Booster with dirty amp... Well 12ax7 on that position turns an amp in to the VERY HIGH Gain monster even with the gain control all the way down. The only way to control it is using the OUT/level control. With ECC85 in that position gives much more options and is much more clearer sounding overdrive with the gain control turned all the way down. More gain on pedal - more gain in total.
ECC85 needs 0.435A/6.3V, so it's shines so much more than a 0.3A/6.3V tubes!
http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y47 ... 185c0f.jpg

[Haze13]

ECC85 needs 6.3 volts in parallel only... But mine survived the 12.2 volts across it... Don't want to damage the tube more than it can handle.