Listen What I Say

July 13th, 2011

The Guess What

The Herzog clone is moving right along.

I shouldn’t call it a clone. It’s based on the Herzog schematics that are available on the web, but those schematics are pretty pathetic. I’ve had to fill in gaps, and there are things I want to do differently.

Here are the schematics, in case anyone out there wants to build a Herzog. Good luck.

HERZOG SCHEMATIC AT BUILDTHEMUSIC.COM

As you can see, there are two different projects. Here is what I’m told. The one on top is the first Herzog, and the one below is an improved version. The top one has a manual switch, and the bottom one is rigged for a footswitch.

There are many holes in these schematics, and there are things I just don’t like. I want to be able to use this machine as an amp, so I want a tube rectifier. That blows out all the diode nonsense in the bottom part of the screen. I want a footswitch, but I also want a manual bypass so I don’t need the footswitch when I’m using the Herzog as an amp.

Here’s how it looks at the moment. The board is in, the tubes are in, and the pots and jacks are ready. The components are not soldered yet, and there is no wiring. The tubes may be oriented incorrectly. I stuck them in there for mockup purposes, so it doesn’t matter if the pins are where they should be.

I have to run to Radio Shack to see if they have 5V relays, and then I have to go out in the garage and start tinkering again.

One nice thing about using bad schematics is that you have to learn about the circuits you’re building. If everything were going smoothly, it would be monkey-see, monkey-do. Now it’s more like monkey-figure-it-out.

I have some nice aviation wire on order. Hoping it will be here tomorrow. That would allow me to finish the amp without worrying about replacing wires later on. I want good wire in the heaters and any areas that are sensitive to noise. I have some RG174, but it’s small for heater wire (26 gauge).

I have to come up with a base for this thing. I may put perforated metal inserts in the ends (matte black) and mount it on some nice walnut or mahogany.

And finally:

Posted in Music, Tools | 4 Comments »

4 Responses to “Listen What I Say”

  1. Charlie Bravo Says:
    July 13th, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    Design suggestion: ebonized wood base would look great with the aluminum. If it were kind of golden or old brass will look amazing with chestnut or mahogany, kind of steam punkish. Black chicken head knobs, black base and black end inserts, that would look really sleek.

  2. Scott P Says:
    July 15th, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    I used to play that solo using a Big Muff pedal for the overdrive. The sustain and fuzziness was there, but the tone was always rattier than the Herzog. Good times, good times.

  3. Ed Bonderenka Says:
    July 15th, 2011 at 10:19 PM

    I like the tube riser.

  4. Jim Says:
    July 21st, 2011 at 1:39 AM

    Your choice of music, I presume, has little to do with any particular apprecation of The Who?

    Jim
    Sunk New Dawn
    Galveston, TX