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modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Sat May 11, 2019 3:47 pm
by i love sharin foo
I've had most of the parts for this lying around for a couple years now. I decided to finally get off my ass, round up the remaining parts, and put it together. The PCB is from General Guitar Gadgets. I knew I wanted a brighter tone, and I also liked the 'attack' control that Analog Mike and others offer on their builds. I found some really good info that Mark Hammer posted regarding some modifications which helped me out a lot. I went for more volume, switchable input cap omission, extra brightness, and three setting 'attack' control. The knobs I used were salvaged from an old two way radio that was my late grandfathers. The paint is red glitter and the LED is pink. It sounds great. It is definitely much brighter than a stock Ross from what I can tell from video clips. The attack control is awesome. It makes it possible to preserve most of your attack if you like but still compress the sustain and decay. I feel like I can get the benefit of a compressor while still retaining dynamics where I like them. It has enough volume to use as a booster if you wanted to. It is by no means my cleanest build and I HATE working with PCBs, but it fired up first try and sounds excellent, so I won't complain. I still need to epoxy in the battery holder.

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Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Sat May 11, 2019 4:01 pm
by andy
Looks great. That is a very clean build.

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 5:21 am
by Shadoweclipse13
Very lovely!

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 6:58 am
by s_mcsleazy
i've been curious to make my own ross comp pedal yet most ross style comps seemed a little muddy for me (i'm usually on my neck pickup) and i'd be curious to try some of these mods if it would clean it up a bit.

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 7:49 am
by i love sharin foo
Thanks guys!

I’ve not had a standard Ross circuit, but based on what I have heard in videos and read about, mine seems to be considerably brighter. The input cap makes a difference, (mine goes from standard to no cap) but I think it is the addition of a small cap across the last 10k resistor, just before the output pot, that makes the biggest difference. The switchable attack control is really really nice also. I think it makes it much more useful. You need a 3 way spdt toggle with a center OFF to do it though.

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 9:34 am
by s_mcsleazy
i love sharin foo wrote:
Mon May 13, 2019 7:49 am
Thanks guys!

I’ve not had a standard Ross circuit, but based on what I have heard in videos and read about, mine seems to be considerably brighter. The input cap makes a difference, (mine goes from standard to no cap) but I think it is the addition of a small cap across the last 10k resistor, just before the output pot, that makes the biggest difference. The switchable attack control is really really nice also. I think it makes it much more useful. You need a 3 way spdt toggle with a center OFF to do it though.
do you have any schematics laying around for this mod?

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 8:23 am
by fuzzjunkie
i love sharin foo wrote:
Mon May 13, 2019 7:49 am
Thanks guys!

I’ve not had a standard Ross circuit, but based on what I have heard in videos and read about, mine seems to be considerably brighter. The input cap makes a difference, (mine goes from standard to no cap) but I think it is the addition of a small cap across the last 10k resistor, just before the output pot, that makes the biggest difference. The switchable attack control is really really nice also. I think it makes it much more useful. You need a 3 way spdt toggle with a center OFF to do it though.
So...how does it sound with a Rickenbacker 12string?

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 9:41 am
by i love sharin foo
fuzzjunkie wrote:
Tue May 14, 2019 8:23 am

So...how does it sound with a Rickenbacker 12string?
Like Roger McGuinn hehe.

Seriously though, the attack mod really brings a whole lot more usefulness to the table. You can preserve your initial attach but still compress the decay. The octave strings really come to life with it on. It sounds much better than the reissue Dyna Comp that I used to own. It costs less in parts to build this than it would’ve to buy another MXR. I’m glad I finally put it together.

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 9:43 am
by i love sharin foo
s_mcsleazy wrote:
Mon May 13, 2019 9:34 am


do you have any schematics laying around for this mod?

No. I just read about the mods, then a schematic and applied it to my particular pcb. I think tonepad has a file showing the attack mod though.

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 12:51 pm
by fuzzjunkie
And just like that, this shows up in my inbox, but don’t worry, nobody’s listening.

Ross effects make a comeback with reissues of their legendary Compressor and Distortion pedals.

https://reverb.com/news/ross-effects-pe ... ndary-line

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 1:02 pm
by Ursa Minor
Oh man - i just saw that too. I love Ross. Very cool they're doing a RI with the same enclosure style. My favorite chorus is the Ross CE-2-ish pedal. I had a phase distortion that sounded excellent too at one point. I've always liked my MXR and would pay for vintage prices.

This looks like a fun build. I like the flexibility of the attack settings. Well done!

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 6:30 pm
by i love sharin foo
Thanks!

I am pretty surprised at how easily it integrates into my playing. I always felt like the RI Dyna Comp was an "effect", one that you only used for this or that. While using the Ross how I've built it really makes almost everything sound better. You get more of the advantages with less of the down sides. For $50, I am very pleased!

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 6:55 pm
by Ursa Minor
I was using my early 80s MXR Dyna Comp almost always for quite a few years. I was using it after my overdrive or fuzz face to tame the volume and smooth things out. Works extremely well in that regard - especially if you can keep the dynamics under control. So in essence I used mine as a volume attenuator since the FF has be run full out to be any good. I kinda gave up using it since I don't play with fuzz much anymore but this thread might get me to pull it out again.

I had a few others I liked and used more traditionally - Boss CS-2 mostly first in line. vs after any drive. Comps are great if used sparingly and not as effects. Although as effects they can be good for that sound too.

I've always been intrigued by optical comps also. I hear they're more natural but never owned one. The newly RI'd DOD grey and orange comp is optical. I've had my eye on that one a while.

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 6:51 pm
by i love sharin foo
kosmonautmayhem wrote:
Tue May 14, 2019 6:55 pm
I've always been intrigued by optical comps also. I hear they're more natural but never owned one. The newly RI'd DOD grey and orange comp is optical. I've had my eye on that one a while.
I've always wondered how the optical compressors compared also. The Orange Squeezer is a really, really simple circuit. I think I will build one of them one day to find out first hand. I have a whole bunch of enclosures and footswitches on hand which makes it pretty cost effective to throw something together. I always hate wasting so much time ordering small parts from Mouser though. I generally build most of my stuff with carbon comps for two reasons: They look awesome and I can find the ones I need faster and easier on Mouser's site :D That may sound fucked, but it's the truth :fp:

Re: modified Ross compressor build

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 4:06 am
by Ursa Minor
I can get with that logic. I went through a period where I built pedals pretty regularly. I probably have most of what I need to make a a few more, save a few crucial parts. Carbon comps are great - but Mouser is tough to buy from. Though the prices are a lot better than any guitar specific site.