Cool Dumbleator alert (Klein-ulator)

[jzucker]

(Posted this on the brownnote forum too)

Just wanted to mention that Mike Klein built a kleinulator for me. It's a FET based version of the dumbleator with some tweaks for lower noise. The production circuit is different than the public domain version he published. Anyway, it sounds great in the passive loop and really sweetens things up a great deal.

[img:800:576]http://www.sheetsofsound.net/images/kleinulator.jpg[/img]

You can reach Mike at mikeklein311@yahoo.com

I'm not an endorser, nor do I have an financial interest in what he's doing. I'm just a happy customer and want to let folks know about it.

Jaz

[Fischerman]

Looks pretty cool. What is the 'Recovery' knob for? Or maybe my question should be; What's the difference between 'Return' and 'Recovery'?

And do you know if this box inverts the signal like the tube D'lator?

Have you compared it to a D'lator? Is the 'sweetening' the same?

[kleinm]

For anyone that's interested, this version is significantly different than the versions posted in the public domain. The only similarity is the frequency knee of the bright switches. Oh, and the use of J201s. Otherwise, its a different ball game. 8 months of constant tweaking took it somewhere much different.

Yes, I admit...I've been hoarding it.

I compared it to my PTP tube Dumble-ator, and I actually prefer this. *dodges beer bottles* It sounds VERY similar to my ears, and is lower noise. Granted, I don't have the dogears of some around here.

The same sweetening, added harmonic complexity, and controllable gain are all there. It inverts the signal, like the Dumble-ator. I'm not trying to say this negates the need for a tube unit. I'd NEVER even imply something that pompous. For my tastes and needs, though, this is where I'm happiest.

As far as controls, the Return control is just a voltage divider controlling the amount of signal sent to the Recovery stage. I got this idea from Brandon's killer Dumble-ator clones, even though I think it sounds best maxed (unless the FX signal is stupid hot). The Recovery control actually controls the post-Recovery volume.

[tele_player]

Do you intend to sell more of them?

[dogears]

Hey Mike,

Did you simulate the internal capacitance of the tube Dlator? If not, you may actually prefer yours in amps that don't have a bright cap. You have less high end loss. If you use your unit in an amp with the bright cap installed (I am talking much bigger than the 15pf in the OTS), then you may find the Dlator a better match. Certainly nothing that can't be tweaked though.

[kleinm]

Hey Mike,

Did you simulate the internal capacitance of the tube Dlator? If not, you may actually prefer yours in amps that don't have a bright cap. You have less high end loss. If you use your unit in an amp with the bright cap installed (I am talking much bigger than the 15pf in the OTS), then you may find the Dlator a better match. Certainly nothing that can't be tweaked though.

Hey man. Good to hear from you.

Yep, I simulated the Miller Capacitance of the recovery stage in the Dumble-ator. I ran the calculations using Aiken's formulas.

I hadn't thought about that with using it with an amp with a larger MV cap. I've voiced my amp without it. Interesting though. Thanks man!