Protone Pedals - Jason Becker Distortion  [traced]

General documentation, gut shot, schematic links, ongoing circuit tracing, deep thoughts ... all about boutique stompboxes.
User avatar
DeanM
Resistor Ronker
Information
Posts: 441
Joined: 05 Jan 2010, 20:42
my favorite amplifier: Marshall VM 2466
Location: Ireland
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 5 times

Post by DeanM »

Never heard of this before!! Even tho Im a MASSIVE jason becker fan!! anybody have one have a schematic for it? or a layout? it sounds pretty good!! i was considering buying it for jason's sake but its waaaaay too expensive so i cant afford it!

EDIT: ok cant embed vids! so heres the links!




Regards,
Dean

User avatar
Steven_M
Resistor Ronker
Information
Posts: 386
Joined: 06 Jul 2009, 19:50
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 35 times

Post by Steven_M »

Apparently it's Jfet based and a really cheap pcb. Somebody repaired one over at the other forum.

I'm willing to bet it's a Jfet emulation of whatever amp he is famous for using.

User avatar
euronymous0001
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 86
Joined: 26 Jun 2010, 03:11
Has thanked: 19 times
Been thanked: 28 times

Post by euronymous0001 »

traced the pics from paul marossy's website. http://www.diyguitarist.com/phpbb/viewt ... 3d718b418f. i think that the last fet has the opposite pinout of j201.
this is the only schem that i saw which has the drain grounded and the source connected to V+ via a resistor.
Attachments
pcb-1.png
Jason Becker Distortion schematic
Jason Becker Distortion schematic

User avatar
euronymous0001
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 86
Joined: 26 Jun 2010, 03:11
Has thanked: 19 times
Been thanked: 28 times

Post by euronymous0001 »


User avatar
RnFR
Old Solderhand
Information
Posts: 4879
Joined: 09 Jan 2008, 06:02
my favorite amplifier: Traynor YBA-III, Fender Super Six
Completed builds: custom fuzz.
Location: Inner Earth
Has thanked: 139 times
Been thanked: 133 times
Contact:

Post by RnFR »

thanks for the trace! you should be able to view the original pics by right clicking and hitting view picture. but really, the best way to go about it is to attach the files. this also reduces the amount of possible broken links we might have at the forum. thanks!
"You've converted me to Cubic thinking. Where do I sign up for the newsletter? I need to learn more about how I can break free from ONEism Death Math." - Soulsonic

Blog-APOCALYPSE AUDIO

User avatar
armkon
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 94
Joined: 13 Apr 2009, 20:08
Been thanked: 5 times

Post by armkon »

Anyone can help with making a copy of this pedal? It's using 7 of J201, i don't have the board at home i have just find the pictures over the internet and share them ;)

Image
Image
Image
Image

User avatar
Lucifer
Cap Cooler
Information
Posts: 671
Joined: 06 Apr 2011, 12:59
my favorite amplifier: Vyse BBQ Blue
Location: Dorset, UK
Has thanked: 89 times
Been thanked: 72 times

Post by Lucifer »

I am NOT impressed with the build quality of this thing.

Assembled by monkeys if you ask me.

I hope it sounds better than it looks.
”Sex is great - but you can’t beat the real thing !” - The Wanker’s Handbook

User avatar
Dirk_Hendrik
Old Solderhand
Information
Posts: 4193
Joined: 03 Jul 2007, 08:44
Location: Old Amsterdam
Has thanked: 232 times
Been thanked: 887 times
Contact:

Post by Dirk_Hendrik »

Fck. That's serious DIY crapwork.

Is this pedal traced already? In that case the schem can help to determine where traces go to where it's not clear dus to using flashlight while takking the photo's.

Then,
Rework the photo to a black and white layout. Make a board. Determine the values of the resistors, electrolit, pots and trimmers and start soldering.

in essence,
These photo's contain too little information for a clone.
Sorry. Plain out of planes.

http://www.dirk-hendrik.com

User avatar
armkon
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 94
Joined: 13 Apr 2009, 20:08
Been thanked: 5 times

Post by armkon »

That are pictures of orginal device... so it works, i don't have it at home, i have just find some photos of the board, and i think about clone of that device...

User avatar
Ice-9
Degoop Doctor
Information
Posts: 1094
Joined: 31 Mar 2009, 15:29
my favorite amplifier: Marshall
Completed builds: Far to many to afford the enclosures for them all. :)
Has thanked: 134 times
Been thanked: 359 times
Contact:

Post by Ice-9 »

armkon wrote:That are pictures of orginal device... so it works, i don't have it at home, i have just find some photos of the board, and i think about clone of that device...
Who is the manufacture of this pedal, just so I know and can avoid buying anything from them in the future. Real poor build quality.
It's fairly straight forward, if you want to start it , press start. You can work out the rest of the controls for yourself !

No silicon heaven ? preposterous ! Where would all the calculators go ?

User avatar
Dirk_Hendrik
Old Solderhand
Information
Posts: 4193
Joined: 03 Jul 2007, 08:44
Location: Old Amsterdam
Has thanked: 232 times
Been thanked: 887 times
Contact:

Post by Dirk_Hendrik »

Sorry. Plain out of planes.

http://www.dirk-hendrik.com

User avatar
okgb
Diode Debunker
Information
Posts: 768
Joined: 16 Mar 2010, 03:58
Has thanked: 226 times
Been thanked: 38 times

Post by okgb »

Well they figured out how to do graphics anyway , Hope Becker is getting something out of this [ if anything ,
depending on the sales maybe they're letting him down ! ]

User avatar
jymaze
Resistor Ronker
Information
Posts: 374
Joined: 06 Mar 2011, 22:19
Has thanked: 86 times
Been thanked: 171 times

Post by jymaze »

I will attempt a tracing, it is good enough to probably trace 90% of it since the structure (cascaded jfet) is straightforward

User avatar
jymaze
Resistor Ronker
Information
Posts: 374
Joined: 06 Mar 2011, 22:19
Has thanked: 86 times
Been thanked: 171 times

Post by jymaze »


User avatar
Biochemist
Information
Posts: 29
Joined: 31 Jan 2012, 14:46
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 2 times

Post by Biochemist »

Just so I know: what makes all of you say the construction is SO bad???
Crooked pots: that could also be from the guy who removed 'em to take the pic no?
Wires not super-neat: while I agree they could look better, that (to me) doesn't mean they're not soldered solidly or too long or something else that could be negative on the overall function of the pedal...

What am I missing that makes you guys state it's that bad? Educate me folks!

User avatar
Biochemist
Information
Posts: 29
Joined: 31 Jan 2012, 14:46
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 2 times

Post by Biochemist »

Or is it the tiny traces?

User avatar
okgb
Diode Debunker
Information
Posts: 768
Joined: 16 Mar 2010, 03:58
Has thanked: 226 times
Been thanked: 38 times

Post by okgb »

Quality of the solder joints is always a prime factor
crooked pots look done in order to solder directly to other components , not a bad idea
unless you have to take it apart , For any pedal , you'd expect it to get thrown around a little as you gig
and you don't want it to fail on a gig because it wasn't made well enough to last .

User avatar
Lucifer
Cap Cooler
Information
Posts: 671
Joined: 06 Apr 2011, 12:59
my favorite amplifier: Vyse BBQ Blue
Location: Dorset, UK
Has thanked: 89 times
Been thanked: 72 times

Post by Lucifer »

Bare tinned copper links on the switches could easily be bent inwards, causing shorts. These links could have been made straight, and sleeved, which would have looked more professional.

The unit looks to have been assembled in a hurry, and as cheaply as possible. It doesn't inspire confidence, and it doesn't make me want to invest any of my hard-earned cash in any of their (Protone) products.
”Sex is great - but you can’t beat the real thing !” - The Wanker’s Handbook

User avatar
Biochemist
Information
Posts: 29
Joined: 31 Jan 2012, 14:46
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 2 times

Post by Biochemist »

Thanks for the information and pointers guys! It'll help me make mine better (I only build for myself but still).

User avatar
Lucifer
Cap Cooler
Information
Posts: 671
Joined: 06 Apr 2011, 12:59
my favorite amplifier: Vyse BBQ Blue
Location: Dorset, UK
Has thanked: 89 times
Been thanked: 72 times

Post by Lucifer »

Having just seen the Blackeye Effects Buffer thread, the Becker pedal looks like Rolls-Royce in comparison. :twisted:
”Sex is great - but you can’t beat the real thing !” - The Wanker’s Handbook

Post Reply