Voodoo Labs Pedal Power, Boss and battery "sag"

Primo Don · June 27th, 2003, 01:38 PM

For those familiar with the Pedal Power, or not, the "sag" simluates a battery wearing out by dropping the voltage supplied to as low as 4v. Will this benefit my TS-9RI and Blues Driver? The manual for the PP states that this is "mostly useful for transistor-based fuzz and distortion circuits." "...modern opamp designs are minimally affected," it goes on to say.

So... are these pedals transistor based? I'm pretty sure not, but I just wanna be sure before I talk myself into hearing a difference. :? Thanks, Adam

jordanl · June 27th, 2003, 02:11 PM

both of those pedals are IC based, the famous jrc4558 or something similar. You may hear a difference, I'm not really sure. Where you'll really notice is a difference is with fuzzes that are based on vintage style circuits: fuzz faces, tone benders, and such.

TheGoodTexan · June 27th, 2003, 02:23 PM

Here's what will happen...as you turn the sag control down, you may notice a slight difference about 1/2 way through the travel of the control. Not necessarily better...just like turning the gain control up slightly. Then, the pedal will shut down altogether. It's not damaged, just not enough current to power it up.

It does make a noticable difference with most of my fuzz pedals.

11 Gauge · June 27th, 2003, 03:32 PM

...the whole thread on different voltages. it goes pretty deeply into the whole issue of different voltages, what pedals seem to be affected the most, which the least, and how.

just MHO- I've had some really weak batteries in all the TSs I've ever owned and never heard an audible difference. Either there's enough juice there to make the opamp in it work or not. Opamps are fairly linear critters until they are pushed. They were originally put into a pedal just to see if it would work, and weren't originally intended or created for the purpose of overdriving/distorting a guitar signal.

Same thing for the BluesDriver. I've got a nearly dead battery in one now, and it sounds exactly like it did with a fresh one. The LED almost doesn't light up at all.

Anyway, the thread below goes into much more detail.

-.011

CC · June 27th, 2003, 04:02 PM

I sold my old Pedal Power and got the new one with the sag trimmers. I thought lowering the voltage would provide the same tone I was getting using carbon batteries. I discovered my fuzz and wah pedals still sound clinical using the Pedal Power II. Lowering the voltage, just gives me a weaker clinical sound.

Fulltone used to make a "blackbox" power supply. I heard one years ago and I remember liking it. I can't be sure; but I suspect it might do a better job at imitating carbon batteries. It would be interesting to hear one again to see if there's a difference.

Tim Bowen · July 1st, 2003, 12:59 AM

I tried the "sag" function on the PPII with a McFuzz hybrid germanium/silicon fuzz. All kidding aside, I thought it did a better job of emulating tonesuck than dying battery magic... As I turned the sag dial CCW, what I noticed was less output, bass, & sustain - generally things I like to keep intact. I've read that the ADL Juice Box power supply does a better job with voltage sag emulation than the Voodoo, but can't confirm it. My rule for fuzzes is this: Live gets a reverse polarity cable to the power supply. Recorded tracks get a carbon zinc battery. I don't think IC based units would benefit much from this sort of thing, personally. With stuff like OD's, it seems to be desirable to run them at higher voltage if anything(provided they can handle the juice, such as Fulldrive II at 18V), which can make the unit sound more open & less compressed.

June 27th, 2003, 01:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Primo Don Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Age: 30 Posts: 381	Voodoo Labs Pedal Power, Boss and battery "sag" For those familiar with the Pedal Power, or not, the "sag" simluates a battery wearing out by dropping the voltage supplied to as low as 4v. Will this benefit my TS-9RI and Blues Driver? The manual for the PP states that this is "mostly useful for transistor-based fuzz and distortion circuits." "...modern opamp designs are minimally affected," it goes on to say. So... are these pedals transistor based? I'm pretty sure not, but I just wanna be sure before I talk myself into hearing a difference. :? Thanks, Adam

June 27th, 2003, 02:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
TheGoodTexan Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Age: 35 Posts: 4,898 15 Photos	You won't hear much of a difference at all... Here's what will happen...as you turn the sag control down, you may notice a slight difference about 1/2 way through the travel of the control. Not necessarily better...just like turning the gain control up slightly. Then, the pedal will shut down altogether. It's not damaged, just not enough current to power it up. It does make a noticable difference with most of my fuzz pedals.

June 27th, 2003, 03:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
11 Gauge Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The East Coast Posts: 2,828 10 Photos	see below... ...the whole thread on different voltages. it goes pretty deeply into the whole issue of different voltages, what pedals seem to be affected the most, which the least, and how. just MHO- I've had some really weak batteries in all the TSs I've ever owned and never heard an audible difference. Either there's enough juice there to make the opamp in it work or not. Opamps are fairly linear critters until they are pushed. They were originally put into a pedal just to see if it would work, and weren't originally intended or created for the purpose of overdriving/distorting a guitar signal. Same thing for the BluesDriver. I've got a nearly dead battery in one now, and it sounds exactly like it did with a fresh one. The LED almost doesn't light up at all. Anyway, the thread below goes into much more detail. -.011

July 1st, 2003, 12:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 47 Posts: 3,136	I tried the "sag" function on the PPII with a McFuzz hybrid germanium/silicon fuzz. All kidding aside, I thought it did a better job of emulating tonesuck than dying battery magic... As I turned the sag dial CCW, what I noticed was less output, bass, & sustain - generally things I like to keep intact. I've read that the ADL Juice Box power supply does a better job with voltage sag emulation than the Voodoo, but can't confirm it. My rule for fuzzes is this: Live gets a reverse polarity cable to the power supply. Recorded tracks get a carbon zinc battery. I don't think IC based units would benefit much from this sort of thing, personally. With stuff like OD's, it seems to be desirable to run them at higher voltage if anything(provided they can handle the juice, such as Fulldrive II at 18V), which can make the unit sound more open & less compressed. __________________ Can't say, 'cause I don't know. - Bullwinkle

June 27th, 2003, 02:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
jordanl Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Farmingdale, NY Posts: 554	both of those pedals are IC based, the famous jrc4558 or something similar. You may hear a difference, I'm not really sure. Where you'll really notice is a difference is with fuzzes that are based on vintage style circuits: fuzz faces, tone benders, and such.

June 27th, 2003, 04:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
CC Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfland USA, Hawaii Posts: 160	I sold my old Pedal Power and got the new one with the sag trimmers. I thought lowering the voltage would provide the same tone I was getting using carbon batteries. I discovered my fuzz and wah pedals still sound clinical using the Pedal Power II. Lowering the voltage, just gives me a weaker clinical sound. Fulltone used to make a "blackbox" power supply. I heard one years ago and I remember liking it. I can't be sure; but I suspect it might do a better job at imitating carbon batteries. It would be interesting to hear one again to see if there's a difference.