4 ms·

I'm a noob builder (constructed my first pedal a week ago, woo) but I can kinda understand this. Most effects tend to overdrive their components. This by defini

by earlz 10y ago

I'm a noob builder (constructed my first pedal a week ago, woo) but I can kinda understand this. Most effects tend to overdrive their components. This by definition means that they operate beyond what a datasheet and the manufacturer specifies. Tiny differences that aren't noticeable when going by the specs can become much more obvious when hearing it overdriven. Yes, the community is really based in "older is always better" kind of mentality, but there is a reason some old components are so valued, and why respected pedal manufacturers commonly hand-pick parts that meet their designed specs best (especially fuzz and overdrive effects), and this includes everything from picking transistors with ideal leakage etc, to hand picking resistors (though the resistor bit I'm not sure on why they don't just buy high precision ones for a few cents more)

PeanutNore 10y ago
There's a difference between overloading components and overdriving them. If you overdrive an amplifier (the circuit element, not the finished product) all you are doing is presenting it with an input signal with a greater amplitude than it can faithfully reproduce at the output, causing it to distort. It can still be operating perfectly happy within the manufacturer's specs as stated on the datasheet. I think you're thinking of overload, which isn't something you would typically find or hear outside of a power amp stage, typically a valve one.
guitarbill 10y ago
> (though the resistor bit I'm not sure on why they don't just buy high precision ones for a few cents more) high precision resistors can get expensive, aren't always readily available (depending on your volume), or simply might not be available in the power rating you need. especially if you don't need absolute precision you might consider it wasteful. so it's good to know how to match resistors when you're designing/prototyping the circuit. because of that, it's probably become hearsay and superstition, and is consequently overused.

by earlz 10y ago

PeanutNore 10y ago

There's a difference between overloading components and overdriving them. If you overdrive an amplifier (the circuit element, not the finished product) all you are doing is presenting it with an input signal with a greater amplitude than it can faithfully reproduce at the output, causing it to distort. It can still be operating perfectly happy within the manufacturer's specs as stated on the datasheet. I think you're thinking of overload, which isn't something you would typically find or hear outside of a power amp stage, typically a valve one.

guitarbill 10y ago

> (though the resistor bit I'm not sure on why they don't just buy high precision ones for a few cents more) high precision resistors can get expensive, aren't always readily available (depending on your volume), or simply might not be available in the power rating you need. especially if you don't need absolute precision you might consider it wasteful. so it's good to know how to match resistors when you're designing/prototyping the circuit. because of that, it's probably become hearsay and superstition, and is consequently overused.