SurfGuitar101.com | Forums: Magnatone vibrato

bjoish

Joined: Jul 06, 2010
Posts: 597
Stockholm
Sweden

Posted on May 27 2016 10:03 AM

Here is a very interesting document explaining all the technical details of the Magnatone Vibrato and even a way to replace the varistors with zeners.
(Hopefully, there are others here that find this interesting )

http://dalmura.com.au/projects/Magnatone%20vibrato%20design.pdf

Top

Emilien03

Joined: Jul 16, 2008
Posts: 1377
Coyoacán, Distrito Federal
Mexico

Posted on May 27 2016 10:26 AM

I do, been studying this circuit and want to replicate it. Dinko from The Bambi Molesters did with incredible results ... A Night In Zagreb is the proof!

—

When you have to shoot ... shoot! Don't talk.

"Los Grainders" > https://losgrainders.bandcamp.com
"The Strings Aflame" > https://thestringsaflame.bandcamp.com
"Planeta Reverb" > www.instagram.com/planetareverb

Top

bjoish

Joined: Jul 06, 2010
Posts: 597
Stockholm
Sweden

Posted on May 27 2016 12:54 PM

Nice to not be the only nerd here
I have been struggling with a FET version some time now.
I learned two things; its important with a very clean sinewave LFO and that zeners are no good for a low voltage circuit.
Eventually I will get time finish the build.

Top

sonni

Joined: Nov 08, 2006
Posts: 80
Vienna, Austria
4 Map Pins

Posted on May 29 2016 04:59 AM

Oh yes, hopefully! That the device is already on my shopping list!

Top

bjoish

Joined: Jul 06, 2010
Posts: 597
Stockholm
Sweden

Posted on May 08 2018 05:12 PM

After 2 years work and lots of prototypes we have finally found a way to build a pedal version of the Magnatone pitch shifting vibrato! By replacing the tubes with jFETs and the varistors with a special diode array this fine circuit can be powered with a 9V battery.
More info will come soon.
Keep an eye on our website surfyindustries.com and our Facebook/Instagram pages!

Top

derekirving

Joined: Nov 03, 2011
Posts: 660

Posted on May 08 2018 05:54 PM

I'm looking forward to hearing it. I've tried the "Maggie" (real good but had some low-frequency clipping that I couldn't dial out, but great vibrato) and the "Magnavibe" (no low-frequency clipping but the effect was a bit disconnected)

I'm looking forward to hearing yours @bjoish

Top

JObeast

Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
Turkmenistan

Posted on May 08 2018 06:44 PM

I’ve been rocking a Maggie pedal for a few years and dig the vibe heartily. It’s a very powerful effect whether set for subtle stereo washes between two amps or more obvious faster heavy pitch warble. Also does a Rotovibe thing when in stereo setting L&R outputs plug into a single channel of an overdriven tube amp. Like some kind of pre-psychedelic studio effect.

—

Squink Out!

Top

stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on May 09 2018 05:16 AM

Looking forward to hearing more Bjorn!

—

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Top

Surfadelphia

Joined: Sep 04, 2017
Posts: 435

Posted on May 09 2018 10:18 AM

Me too.....I'm pretty done with buying pedals (talk about going down the rabbit hole) but a really great pitch shifting Magnatone Vibrato pedal would be something I'd want to add to my pedalboard especially one with the Surfy Bear pedigree. Just an aside. If anyone is looking for a really nice (albeit low wattage) hand wired tube amp at a really decent price that features real on board tube driven pitch shifting Magnatone type vibrato, check out the DeLisle "Victorvibe" amp (www.delisleguitar.com). I have a DeLisle Nickle Box amp which is amazing and the Victorvibe is basically a Nicklebox with pitch shifting Vibrato.

Top

Emilien03

Joined: Jul 16, 2008
Posts: 1377
Coyoacán, Distrito Federal
Mexico

Posted on May 09 2018 10:50 AM

Congrats! Can't wait to try it!

—

When you have to shoot ... shoot! Don't talk.

"Los Grainders" > https://losgrainders.bandcamp.com
"The Strings Aflame" > https://thestringsaflame.bandcamp.com
"Planeta Reverb" > www.instagram.com/planetareverb

Top

LinkJr

Joined: Mar 13, 2015
Posts: 30
United Kingdom

Posted on May 09 2018 12:11 PM

Fantastic Bjorn! Would be up for one of these, hopefully will be available in kit form like the Surfy Trem

Top

Gilette

Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
Montserrat

Posted on May 10 2018 11:13 AM

Will you take a prototype to Livorno, Björn? I'm curious.

Top

bjoish

Joined: Jul 06, 2010
Posts: 597
Stockholm
Sweden

Posted on May 10 2018 01:29 PM

Absolutely!
The plan is to havc this pedal for sale there!

Top

Surfadelphia

Joined: Sep 04, 2017
Posts: 435

Posted on May 11 2018 01:10 PM

I would definitely need a Bjorn made turn-key pedal. I'm fairly handy with a basic guitar set-up but electronics and soldering I am basically clueless.
I did rewire a lamp once....but a chimp could do that.

Top

bjoish

Joined: Jul 06, 2010
Posts: 597
Stockholm
Sweden

Posted on Jun 01 2018 03:34 PM

Here are some technical details about the SurfyVibe pedal.
Here is a gut shot of the pedal. As you can see all parts are soldered to the board, no wires except for the battery connector. This makes the pedal very reliable.
There are no integrated circuits, the surface mount jFETs replace the tubes in the original schematic. You can also see the 4 special diode arrays that replace the 'legendary' varistors. The board is populated with >80 components.

Top

JObeast

Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
Turkmenistan

Posted on Jun 01 2018 04:37 PM

STEREO?

—

Squink Out!

Top

bjoish

Joined: Jul 06, 2010
Posts: 597
Stockholm
Sweden

Posted on Jun 01 2018 04:57 PM

As you can see, there was no space for a stereo circuit.
80 components just for mono!

Top

tubeswell

Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
Antarctica

Posted on Jun 02 2018 06:56 PM

Tom is a regular over at the Music Electronics Forum. In that article, he briefly mentions the Hammond AO41 saturable inductor. A few years ago I obtained a couple of those and used one to build a stand-alone tube pitch-shifting vibrato unit. It can get into some very funky space warble territory. I'm going to build the other one into a guitar amp when I get a round tuit.

—

He who dies with the most tubes... wins

Surf Daddies

Top

bjoish

Joined: Jul 06, 2010
Posts: 597
Stockholm
Sweden

Posted on Jun 13 2018 10:45 AM

Interesting!
I have never seen this type of vibrato circuit.

Top

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Magnatone vibrato - technical details

bjoish Joined: Jul 06, 2010 Posts: 597 Stockholm	Posted on May 27 2016 10:03 AM Here is a very interesting document explaining all the technical details of the Magnatone Vibrato and even a way to replace the varistors with zeners. (Hopefully, there are others here that find this interesting ) http://dalmura.com.au/projects/Magnatone%20vibrato%20design.pdf Top
Emilien03 Joined: Jul 16, 2008 Posts: 1377 Coyoacán, Distrito Federal	Posted on May 27 2016 10:26 AM I do, been studying this circuit and want to replicate it. Dinko from The Bambi Molesters did with incredible results ... A Night In Zagreb is the proof! — When you have to shoot ... shoot! Don't talk. "Los Grainders" > https://losgrainders.bandcamp.com "The Strings Aflame" > https://thestringsaflame.bandcamp.com "Planeta Reverb" > www.instagram.com/planetareverb Top
bjoish Joined: Jul 06, 2010 Posts: 597 Stockholm	Posted on May 27 2016 12:54 PM Nice to not be the only nerd here I have been struggling with a FET version some time now. I learned two things; its important with a very clean sinewave LFO and that zeners are no good for a low voltage circuit. Eventually I will get time finish the build. Top
sonni Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 80 Vienna, Austria	Posted on May 29 2016 04:59 AM Oh yes, hopefully! That the device is already on my shopping list! Top
bjoish Joined: Jul 06, 2010 Posts: 597 Stockholm	Posted on May 08 2018 05:12 PM After 2 years work and lots of prototypes we have finally found a way to build a pedal version of the Magnatone pitch shifting vibrato! By replacing the tubes with jFETs and the varistors with a special diode array this fine circuit can be powered with a 9V battery. More info will come soon. Keep an eye on our website surfyindustries.com and our Facebook/Instagram pages! Top
derekirving Joined: Nov 03, 2011 Posts: 660	Posted on May 08 2018 05:54 PM I'm looking forward to hearing it. I've tried the "Maggie" (real good but had some low-frequency clipping that I couldn't dial out, but great vibrato) and the "Magnavibe" (no low-frequency clipping but the effect was a bit disconnected) I'm looking forward to hearing yours @bjoish Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on May 08 2018 06:44 PM I’ve been rocking a Maggie pedal for a few years and dig the vibe heartily. It’s a very powerful effect whether set for subtle stereo washes between two amps or more obvious faster heavy pitch warble. Also does a Rotovibe thing when in stereo setting L&R outputs plug into a single channel of an overdriven tube amp. Like some kind of pre-psychedelic studio effect. — Squink Out! Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on May 09 2018 05:16 AM Looking forward to hearing more Bjorn! — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
Surfadelphia Joined: Sep 04, 2017 Posts: 435	Posted on May 09 2018 10:18 AM Me too.....I'm pretty done with buying pedals (talk about going down the rabbit hole) but a really great pitch shifting Magnatone Vibrato pedal would be something I'd want to add to my pedalboard especially one with the Surfy Bear pedigree. Just an aside. If anyone is looking for a really nice (albeit low wattage) hand wired tube amp at a really decent price that features real on board tube driven pitch shifting Magnatone type vibrato, check out the DeLisle "Victorvibe" amp (www.delisleguitar.com). I have a DeLisle Nickle Box amp which is amazing and the Victorvibe is basically a Nicklebox with pitch shifting Vibrato. Top
Emilien03 Joined: Jul 16, 2008 Posts: 1377 Coyoacán, Distrito Federal	Posted on May 09 2018 10:50 AM Congrats! Can't wait to try it! — When you have to shoot ... shoot! Don't talk. "Los Grainders" > https://losgrainders.bandcamp.com "The Strings Aflame" > https://thestringsaflame.bandcamp.com "Planeta Reverb" > www.instagram.com/planetareverb Top
LinkJr Joined: Mar 13, 2015 Posts: 30	Posted on May 09 2018 12:11 PM Fantastic Bjorn! Would be up for one of these, hopefully will be available in kit form like the Surfy Trem Top
Gilette Joined: May 04, 2014 Posts: 734	Posted on May 10 2018 11:13 AM Will you take a prototype to Livorno, Björn? I'm curious. Top
bjoish Joined: Jul 06, 2010 Posts: 597 Stockholm	Posted on May 10 2018 01:29 PM Absolutely! The plan is to havc this pedal for sale there! Top
Surfadelphia Joined: Sep 04, 2017 Posts: 435	Posted on May 11 2018 01:10 PM I would definitely need a Bjorn made turn-key pedal. I'm fairly handy with a basic guitar set-up but electronics and soldering I am basically clueless. I did rewire a lamp once....but a chimp could do that. Top
bjoish Joined: Jul 06, 2010 Posts: 597 Stockholm	Posted on Jun 01 2018 03:34 PM Here are some technical details about the SurfyVibe pedal. Here is a gut shot of the pedal. As you can see all parts are soldered to the board, no wires except for the battery connector. This makes the pedal very reliable. There are no integrated circuits, the surface mount jFETs replace the tubes in the original schematic. You can also see the 4 special diode arrays that replace the 'legendary' varistors. The board is populated with >80 components. Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on Jun 01 2018 04:37 PM STEREO? — Squink Out! Top
bjoish Joined: Jul 06, 2010 Posts: 597 Stockholm	Posted on Jun 01 2018 04:57 PM As you can see, there was no space for a stereo circuit. 80 components just for mono! Top
tubeswell Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ	Posted on Jun 02 2018 06:56 PM Tom is a regular over at the Music Electronics Forum. In that article, he briefly mentions the Hammond AO41 saturable inductor. A few years ago I obtained a couple of those and used one to build a stand-alone tube pitch-shifting vibrato unit. It can get into some very funky space warble territory. I'm going to build the other one into a guitar amp when I get a round tuit. — He who dies with the most tubes... wins Surf Daddies Top
bjoish Joined: Jul 06, 2010 Posts: 597 Stockholm	Posted on Jun 13 2018 10:45 AM Interesting! I have never seen this type of vibrato circuit. Top