Snufkino wrote:

I'm trying to convince myself to get a Surfybear unit (despite still having the original DIY kit in a cupboard somewhere), so after all the time people have had to try out the various iterations of it, are there any real tonal differences between the Compact, Metal and Standard units?

Have you ever watched the videos at our FAQ section on the web site? All your questions are answered there extensively.

Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini
(www.surfmusic.net)

Snufkino wrote:

What do you think of the difference between the Compact and Metal? I'm assuming the Compact will sound more like the Carl Martin Headroom, or does it get that bigger, surfy sound just as well as the Metal/original Surfybear?

Between the Metal and Compact, I preferred the Compact. The Metal is bigger sounding sure, but it also pronounced more of what I didn't care about the Metal. (now this is just me) I should mention I haven't tried a Surfybear Classic, which was to be a closer match to the 6G15.

Do the Surfy Bears come with an 'RA' pan or the 'regular'?

RA-4AB3C1B:
https://www.tubeampdoctor.com/media/image/9b/f9/67/RA-4AB3C1B-Accutronics-Hallspirale-4AB3C1B-1.jpg

4AB3C1B:
https://darrenriley.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/4AB3C1B.jpg

Last edited: Jul 18, 2021 18:25:39

So I got mine) Looks pretty!

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Galibier_Numero_Un wrote:

Hi all,
Long time lurker, 1st time poster and all that. My Surfybear kit has been gathering dust for years, and the urge has finally struck to build it.

Is there any reason that the power jack cannot be wired center negative? Since the jack body is insulated, I think we're fine, but I'm not sure I'm missing something.

I'll be powering my SB off of a pair of 400mA taps on my Cioks supply with a current doubling cable (for 800mA).

My preference is to not have any "reverse" polarity plugs - in case I make a bonehead error when moving pedals around and re-plugging.

Thanks!
Thom

That was how I wired mine since I had a 12v supply already handy. Been working just fine.

Hey all,

Back on (page 102 of this thread), Björn mentioned that the gain control (trim pot) isn't the same as the volume control. He took a version with volume control to the Surfer Joe festival in 2015.

Am I correct that there isn't a simple way to add a volume control to version SI-SUBEKI01?

I'm planning on wiring up my kit with the true bypass mod referenced earlier, and I've read that there's a volume discrepancy when you toggle off.

If this is the case, I may just stick with buffered bypass, and install a dual mixer, using one setting as always on, low-level reverb - the way I do in my Blackface amp.

Thanks!
... Thom

Last edited: Oct 13, 2021 16:58:44

Down the rabbit hole with this modest project. My thinking was to build my Surfy into a medium size effects box and to stash the tank under my effects board.

The box assembly went well, although as I performed modifications, things got a bit crowded

The noise floor is very good after I sanded away some powder coating so the input jack ground is electrically continuous with the chassis' top and bottom sections.

I implemented a second switch to toggle between two mixer settings, and implemented true bypass as highlighted in page 95 of this thread.

Of course, no project is complete without having to perform some chassis surgery after all of the components are installed.

In this case (and in addition to creating electrical continuity between the input jack ground and the chassis top and bottom), I realized that I don't have an indicator LED for the on/off function.

This mandated changing from a 3PDT to a 4PDT, and using a ring LED assembly (tubesandmore.com) that surrounds the foot switch.

This, in turn, required a bit of hole shaping - both enlarging the diameter as well as filing a small "keystone" extension to allow the wires to pass through the chassis. These LED assemblies are designed for 9VDC, and a 500 ohm series resistor dropped 3 volts from the 12 volt input.

I'm liking the results, although I'm getting buzz when the tank is placed within about 8" of my Cioks, Big John power supply (switching) supply. I need to debug this.

I'm currently running it off of a 12V, 400mA tap and am not hearing any problems, although I'll pick up a current doubling cable to see if 800mA sounds even better (hard to believe it will sound better).

I don't play surf guitar (yet), and all of the demos were obviously set to a pretty extreme level of reverb. It was a bit of a concern, but I'm finding I can get a nice, barely on setting, and with the dual mix selector, I can quickly access a more extreme setting as well.

With the tone knob at about 10 o'clock, it matches the byapssed tone.

Oh yes ... I started off with a Mod tank.

... Thom

Last edited: Nov 16, 2021 20:55:21

Mischa wrote:

Hey Thom,

the reason why you get the hum when the tank is too close is that it’s very possible that the Cioks is transformer based and not switching. See: https://stinkfoot.se/power-supplies

I had the same issue with a PP2 and replacing it with a Truetone CS6 got rid of the hum.

I Thanks for that, Mischa! Who woulda thunk that the Cioks employed transformers? I obviously wasn't paying attention I checked that link and sure enough, they do.

I was looking for an excuse to get another supply, so I guess I have one, and you saved me a lot of head scratching, as well as no doubt, attempting to shield the tank, to little or no positive effect.

I started checking the usual suspects (Voodo, Stryomon, Truetone) for multiple 12VDC outlets, to allow for the possible necessity of pairing two up for current doubling. I see that many of them can only deliver 375 or less at 12VDC.

The only thing I know about the Surfy is that the claimed 400mA output of my Cioks seems fine, but not whether it's overkill or alternatively if more current delivery will be even better (I know - they specify 1A supplies).

I see that the CS6 is spec'd at "only" 200mA for its 12VDC outlets. I take it that this is sufficient (at least for this supply)?

... Thom

Last edited: Nov 17, 2021 00:52:32

Mischa wrote:

I’m glad I could save you some time and effort.

The good thing about the True Tone is that the current consumption on the outputs is not restricted. They mention this on their website too. As long as the total consumption of all your pedals is lower than 1900 mA or so you are good to go. Not even a current doubler cable needed. I think the SB take up around 400 mA indeed.

Thanks! I didn't catch that reference about total consumption. I don't know how One Spot flew under my radar all these years. It's very likely due to my associating them with their daisy chain, single output supplies.

The flexibility as far as assigning current is a winner. Now, to decide between the 6 and the 7.

[edit]CS6 ordered. Now ... to begin reconfiguring my home brew board to accommodate the tank underneath.

... Thom

Last edited: Nov 17, 2021 14:23:41

Galibier_Numero_Un wrote:

Update ... the Truetone CS6 arrived, and all is well. No power supply noise when the tank is near. Problem solved!

Thanks again, Mishca.

... Thom

Glad to help Thom. Rock on!