ROG Peppermill Questions

Just built a Peppermill Overdrive per ROG specs. Aside from it really not having much headroom I do like the tone and touch sensitivity to this pedal. I have a couple questions about the circuit for those "in the know" about this pedal :P

A. The V readings for the J201 didn't match the levels that ROG had on their site. There was really only a small usable range for the trim pot off the drain to even make the pedal sound decent so it was curious why they didn't just use a static R value.

B. My primary question...how does the cap to ground in parallel with the 1K R off the J201's source affect the tone/circuit?

Also, any relatively easy way to get more headroom out of the pedal? I beefed up the first gain stage (390 ohm R of source of BS170) but wondered if there's get more clean headroom out of the pedal. I have it running at max volume and it's just slightly above unity gain in my rig.

I really like mine, but it performs just like yours. Very low vol/gain, but works well for Keefish tones.

Keith is the real expert on these, so I'm sure he'll have some good advice.

bump...any Peppermill enthusiasts out there?

The cap/resistor to ground affect the tone by acting as a filter. You could try lowering the resistance (the 4K7) to up the juice going to the BS170.
I think a more flexible and interesting route would be to add a SHO after the circuit. It would easily fit in the enclosure and give you a ton more umph.

11 Gauge should be along any minute now....

If you like what it does, just not loud enough, tack on a simple clean boost stage at the output. Simple FET or op-amp circuit will do. Adding a SHO to the output might upset or enhance what you already like about it. It'll probably produce more hiss though.

11 Gauge unfortunately has been banned from this site. I found out from this thread http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stomp-box/277652-compressor-pedals-dynamics.html, down close to the end.

11 Gauge unfortunately has been banned from this site. I found out from this thread http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stomp-box/277652-compressor-pedals-dynamics.html, down close to the end.

dang, he was quite a resource.

Fenderlover, any particular FET you'd recommend? I'm scheming an arrangement with a peppermill/SHO in one box with some clipping as well (haven't wandered down the clipping path and am itching to do so.)

Sorry to hear about 11 too... hopefully things will chage where he can make amends so we can have him back.

I just posted a phantom powered amp in the Burned Fingers forum. The J201 was VERY transparent at 6dB boost. I adjusted the 4.7K resistor on that schematic up to ~12K for around 15dB gain, but also became a bit gritty, but in a good way. Give it a shot.