Sorta a backwards request....

L

Lupin Forius

New Member

• Mar 15, 2006

• #1

Ok, this'll seem weird... But does anyone know of a cheap opamp that's got a ton of distortion? You know, sort of a "you get what you pay for" kinda thing.

I'm buildin' a custom fuzz box, and can't exactly afford to test a bunch of über-cheap amps... (yeh, I'm that strapped...)

 

Nigel Goodwin

Super Moderator

Most Helpful Member

• Mar 15, 2006

• #2

You don't get the distortion from the opamp, you get it from overdriving it and clipping against the supply rails, or by clipping with diodes. So any opamp will do (assuming you want to use an opamp?), just pick a cheap one as there's no need to spend more than you need!.

 

L

Lupin Forius

New Member

• Mar 15, 2006

• #3

Heh... guess that'll work. Although, I do know that there're opamps that're sold with "low distortion" as the sales-pitch. And I mean from major companies who would otherwise have no trouble selling their products, without using false claims...

I do thank you for yer tip, though

 

Nigel Goodwin

Super Moderator

Most Helpful Member

• Mar 15, 2006

• #4

Lupin Forius said:

Heh... guess that'll work. Although, I do know that there're opamps that're sold with "low distortion" as the sales-pitch. And I mean from major companies who would otherwise have no trouble selling their products, without using false claims...

Click to expand...

Yes, but you're talking VERY low distortion, even the 'poor' ones are very good anyway (if used correctly), none are high distortion.

 

hotwaterwizard

Active Member

• Mar 15, 2006

• #5

Why not use transistors you can get them out of any broken piece of electronics.


http://www.triodeel.com/studio.htm

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http://www.triodeel.com/studio.htm

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http://www.redcircuits.com/Page91.htm

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http://www.geocities.com/tpe123/folkurban/fuzz/fuzz.html

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http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/fuzzface/fftech.htm

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http://www.muzique.com/schem/fwf.htm

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http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/schematics.html
Too many circuits to picture

http://www.geocities.com/teleman28056/schematics.html

http://www.geocities.com/teleman28056/pictures/Maestro_FZ-1A-1B-1S_fuzzes.pdf

 

L

Lupin Forius

New Member

• Mar 16, 2006

• #6

Transistors.... Now there's an idea. And luckily, I have a bunch of "junk" lying around collecting dust, just full of transistors, some more than 20 years old. I know how to test the things... Hmm... *thinks*

Thanks.

 

P

pwillard

New Member

• Mar 31, 2006

• #7

Truth, ANY opamp will do.

I had great results building an Distortion option on a Guitar Tone Control I built. (Fit inside the body)

I used a DUAL AMP, LF353. It had an Input buffer, 2 part Tone Controls followed by an output amp after the controls. By adjusting the feedback loop on the INPUT amp (IE: Variable resistor between op amp out and the Inverting input pin) I could easily overdrive the signal so it had superb distortion.

Pete

 

mstechca

New Member

• Apr 1, 2006

• #8

Lupin, if companies made distortion-only amplifiers, you would be their only customer :lol:

why? because most people want to avoid distortion.