>>> Bone Bender Research Project <<<

[zhivago]

A fantastic review Zhivago!! I really love the sounds you pulled.. yes.. I'm a softie for 'dazed confusions'

Hmm.. mine is the AC127 so it will be really interesting to compare notes once I get some clips up!

One thing really cool to point out.. you, BJ and yours truly also have Les Pauls with a P90 / HB combo.. sometimes the planets do align

Melodichaotic.. you are too kind!! Just sharing the love

Hehehe! great minds think alike!

I just adore P90s on Les Paul...it is such an expressive sound!

Good to hear you have the AC127 version...can't wait to hear more about it

[melodichaotic]

Ha, P90's are my favorite pick up, 2nd only to the Ric Lap
Steel horseshoe magnet single coil....but the P90's are lighter
and much easier to put in a guitar...my wonderful LP has sadly
Been sitting way too long because I'm so particular about the
neck p/u...I have thought about putting in a p-90 because there
is so much harmonic information at that point of the strings, and
hum buckers never sound quite completely articulate enough…

Anyway, even though I don't have yet one, on the BB, maybe Bjorn
can chime in on the differences between the two types of trannies,
And why he chose to use them for what properties… I certainly
agree with and understand his ideology regarding the silliness of mojo
parts and all, so curious what parameters these transistors fulfill,
in regards to what response and sonic functions were sought out.

[zhivago]

Ha, P90's are my favorite pick up, 2nd only to the Ric Lap
Steel horseshoe magnet single coil....but the P90's are lighter
and much easier to put in a guitar...my wonderful LP has sadly
Been sitting way too long because I'm so particular about the
neck p/u...I have thought about putting in a p-90 because there
is so much harmonic information at that point of the strings, and
hum buckers never sound quite completely articulate enough…

Anyway, even though I don't have yet one, on the BB, maybe Bjorn
can chime in on the differences between the two types of trannies,
And why he chose to use them for what properties… I certainly
agree with and understand his ideology regarding the silliness of mojo
parts and all, so curious what parameters these transistors fulfill,
in regards to what response and sonic functions were sought out.

A P90 at the bridge would be great...you could also look at a "Staple" pickup, but it would mean routing the guitar for a deeper cavity.

http://customshop.seymourduncan.com/p90-staple-soapbar/

My old Les Paul has one in the neck position as standard and it is such an amazing sound

[BJF]

About NTE103A versus AC127:



For the Bone Bender I had first intended NTE103A as I had some in my drawers and so the first units were made with NTE103A.
I’d really wanted to make an NPN version and with parts that not only would be good but that can still be had a reasonable prices.
NPN germanium transistors have always been rare and have mostly been made for Audio complementary power amps or for computer logic.
NTE103 is a replacement part and is a direct replacement of AC127 and thus NTE103A meets all the key data of AC127.
I was actually when doing the first Bone Bender that "the chef can use what parts the chef can use”…and it also struck me with a bit of humor that
the NTE 103A was initially made for repair of older electronic equipment.

It so happened that I swiftly ran out of NTE103A’s and ordering more would have minimum quantity of 50 units and a delivery of 6 weeks…which could be fine although I felt I needed some swifter
and so I saw another supplier that had some AC127’s in stock so I bought those… not sure when more will be available, but they are possible to order from a distributor in France.

However I ran out of the AC127’s too and got some more NTE103A’s...

Sonically I’d say there are smaller difference between the AC127 and NTE103A than there are within the respective groups meaning that yes they are all germanium NPN transistors and they are
all over the place in terms of leakage and gain and for these reasons the Bone Benders have various stabilization networks and also trimming points to get best possible performance.
I really wanted to make the Bone Benders as they could have been made in the mid- 60’s but in a way that would be possible today, meaning that yes could easily use old style transistors to get the sounds but
today it would be good if the fuzz can have DC-input standard polarity, be somewhat controlled in terms of drift with temperature and further have a pilot LED and a typical stomp box size for ease of use in
pedalboards and further have impedance levels that would work well with industrial standards of today.

I’d summarize and say I was equally pleased with the AC127 version as I was with NTE103A version.

I have included below some data sheets and also maybe particular useful to those not digesting data sheets for breakfast but I found some excellent links with explanations of parameters.

I further used NTE103 for the Bone Bender Mark II and for this pre grouped them for some that I could use as pre driver and that would bias where I wanted them directly in the circuit and the remaining ones were
used in the following circuit that hasa bias trimmer to allow setting up performance.

I have included also the BC107,108,109 series just because in the below data sheets


http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/24435 ... 1423051135


http://www.semicon-data.com/pdf/SH/AC/AC127.pdf


http://www.semicon-data.com/js/geoms/Va/AC/AC128.jpg


http://easydatasheets.blogspot.se/2014/ ... sheet.html

http://easydatasheets.blogspot.se/2014/ ... sheet.html


Have fun
BJ

[BJF]

Hi There,

Yes I am along time fan of P-90's and used for a long time a TV Special, that and a fuzzpedal and a tape echo and a tube amp and ready to go... and then had to find something to get the same sounds in a start that I switched too.

Today I have several black LP's while a favourite that I have used on many gigs and in studio is one that has a P-90 in neck and a hum bucker at bridge.

I also have black top with two P-90's that are BJF/ Lundgren P-90's.

Great guitar you got there zhivago!

have fun
BJ

[zhivago]

Hi There,

Yes I am along time fan of P-90's and used for a long time a TV Special, that and a fuzzpedal and a tape echo and a tube amp and ready to go... and then had to find something to get the same sounds in a start that I switched too.

Today I have several black LP's while a favourite that I have used on many gigs and in studio is one that has a P-90 in neck and a hum bucker at bridge.

I also have black top with two P-90's that are BJF/ Lundgren P-90's.

Great guitar you got there zhivago!

have fun
BJ

Many thanks Bjorn!

This old 1956 Les Paul was a dream guitar for me...I lusted after one for over 10 years years and a while back, the universe/fate/god/what-have-you, made it possible that this one literally fell onto my lap. For a price, of course

It has had a well-repaired headstock break, which made it affordable and this is a guitar that I will keep forever. Considering that I just turned 39, I hope to keep it out of circulation for a few more decades.

Your Les Pauls sound awesome Bjorn, maybe some time if you have a moment, take some photos. I have often wondered what your rig looked like

[BJF]

Hi There,

Yes I am along time fan of P-90's and used for a long time a TV Special, that and a fuzzpedal and a tape echo and a tube amp and ready to go... and then had to find something to get the same sounds in a start that I switched too.

Today I have several black LP's while a favourite that I have used on many gigs and in studio is one that has a P-90 in neck and a hum bucker at bridge.

I also have black top with two P-90's that are BJF/ Lundgren P-90's.

Great guitar you got there zhivago!

have fun
BJ

Many thanks Bjorn!

This old 1956 Les Paul was a dream guitar for me...I lusted after one for over 10 years years and a while back, the universe/fate/god/what-have-you, made it possible that this one literally fell onto my lap. For a price, of course

It has had a well-repaired headstock break, which made it affordable and this is a guitar that I will keep forever. Considering that I just turned 39, I hope to keep it out of circulation for a few more decades.

Your Les Pauls sound awesome Bjorn, maybe some time if you have a moment, take some photos. I have often wondered what your rig looked like

Hi There,

I totally know the feeling of hunting down a guitar of dreams.

I can say this having worked in an instrument repair and retail shop. A good neck repair makes the instrument as good as it was before-while value back in the day there was a tarriff for what would be knocked of retail if neck had been repaired..but for the musician it'd be just as great guitar as ever- funny how that works.

And congratulations on turning 39!

Ah thank you I'll try to take some photos eventually.

At the age of 51 I have had several set ups that were all great and many stories to tell that have some fun angles.

I still have the first really good guitar that I learnt many things on swiftly once I got it.

So allright some photos and stories coming up

Have fun
BJ

[zhivago]

thank you so much Bjorn!

I look forward to pics and stories!

[thesjkexperience]

That bone bender sounds amazing! I've been a long time FF lover, but extensive use of the Bearfoot CAF #5 has me appreciating MKI tone benders. I picked up a British Pedals MKI over a year ago (vintage version that doesn't fit on any board lol) and what's great about it is it has the same transistors as the very rare original. I suspect moving away from my Swart amps to Tungsten is the reason.

Love those staple pickups! Wish I could get one for the guitar in my avatar, but Lollards is the only one I know making them (or was it Duncan?) though they are very expensive! It might need a deeper than p-90 route as well and that guitar is close to perfection so I won't do that. I could cut down a Jazzmaster bobbin to fit and wind my own...

[BJF]

That bone bender sounds amazing! I've been a long time FF lover, but extensive use of the Bearfoot CAF #5 has me appreciating MKI tone benders. I picked up a British Pedals MKI over a year ago (vintage version that doesn't fit on any board lol) and what's great about it is it has the same transistors as the very rare original. I suspect moving away from my Swart amps to Tungsten is the reason.

Love those staple pickups! Wish I could get one for the guitar in my avatar, but Lollards is the only one I know making them (or was it Duncan?) though they are very expensive! It might need a deeper than p-90 route as well and that guitar is close to perfection so I won't do that. I could cut down a Jazzmaster bobbin to fit and wind my own...

Hi there,


There you go make your own staple pick up

Yes I always liked the look of those too and have several stories to tell about Black Beauties too.

Have fun
BJ