Anybody ever build/try Sluckey's Trem-o-Nator?

[King Fan]

While researching a simple, useful Merlin-style LED trem-speed indicator (details in this thread) I came across a novel trem circuit by the inimitable Steve Luckey. Apparently this is something you could build into many amp designs, and he gives examples. I'll admit, though, some of the details go by me. In particular, I don't know the first thing about optocouplers or how this circuit varies from the standard 'roach' version...

https://sluckeyamps.com/trem/trem.htm

FWIW, Sluckey says, "This is a typical tremolo oscillator as found in many Fender amps, but the cathode resistor and bypass cap have been replaced with the LED portion of the optocoupler. This circuit produces a very strong tremolo effect without any annoying ticking, breathing, thumping, or pumping sounds. The circuit simply taps into the signal path and operates by smoothly shunting the signal to ground at the tremolo speed. The speed range is greater than the typical Fender circuit."

Here're two versions, and he discusses various implementations and tweaks in different amps.

Anyone ever build one, or try one? Any impressions or information?

 

[joulupukki]

I saw this when I was about to build my latest amp. I guess this would free up one half of a preamp tube. In the demo files on that page you linked it sure does sound good – a LOT better than the normal opto coupler way of doing things (no thumping). After hearing these demos again it makes me want to possibly use one of these in my next build instead because I think it’d result in a deeper effect than the bias tremolo I did in mine.

 

[King Fan]

I haven't read through the examples and other builds Sluckey links on his page, but thought I could hunt up *other* review or example threads over on el34world. Mostly though I found 'help' threads where somebody didn't have their LFO working or didn't know how to build a schematic into a layout -- that kind of thing. If someone needs that kind of info, or wanted to hunt further through the threads there, try a google with this search term: "trem-o-nator site:el34world.com"

 

[Ten Over]

Anyone ever build one, or try one? Any impressions or information?

What do you want to know? I have a pile of data on that thing.

sluckey originally called it the "Tremor-Lator" but he changed it to "Trem-O-Nator" after I pointed out a fatal flaw in his design. I offered up five ways to make it work correctly and he liked the one with a 10k resistor on the cathode. Attached are my suggestions.

 

[Ten Over]

There is a huge range of performance for those VTL5C1's. Some of them just won't work with the 50k Intensity pot setup, as various people have found out. This neat little feature doesn't seem to get mentioned very often around the forums.

 

[Bitsleftover]

I built the Sluckey LND trem into my Plexi Micro and it works really well.
I had to increase the size of the intensity pot to reduce attenuating the dry signal. And that effected the taper to make 0-4 Not much going on, 4 and above comes in thick and fast. But I really like it.

 

[Ten Over]

I built the Sluckey LND trem into my Plexi Micro...

LND trem? Which one is that?

 

[mk_716]

I added the 'regular ' one to my deluxe nr (home build). I modified it to the Supro version last week. Both are better than stock, I like the Supro version better.

I did change to all .047 caps in the oscillator though. Totally reccomend it.
m.

 

[Paul-T]

LND trem? Which one is that?

This is one of the main threads on the LND version, originally mapped out by 2deaf I think.

Sluckey Inspired MOSFET Tremolo

Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amp Forum, Sluckey Inspired MOSFET Tremolo

el34world.com

 

[King Fan]

What do you want to know

Mostly curious about the sound. Is it more bug-like or tube-like? and wanted to point it out to folks looking looking to add trem to an amp design.

 

[mk_716]

more tube-y, less roach. Very warm, smooth controls - no thumping - love it slow with a bit of chop - very, very good. IMHO.
m.

 

[joulupukki]

I added the 'regular ' one to my deluxe nr (home build). I modified it to the Supro version last week. Both are better than stock, I like the Supro version better.

I did change to all .047 caps in the oscillator though. Totally reccomend it.
m.

Do you have a schematic for that and/or an audio recording showing its range (depth and speed)?

 

[mk_716]

hey @joulupukki ,
I used the both schematics @King Fan posted, I had the original in there since I built the amp, recently moved to the schem on the right (the "Supro" one), and I like it better.

I don't have a sound sample, I could make one but don't have any place to host it. (if you know a way to share it, lmk)

There are some links (several different inplementation schematics) and samples here:
http://sluckeyamps.com/trem/trem.htm

m.

 

[Ten Over]

This is one of the main threads on the LND version, originally mapped out by 2deaf I think.

Sluckey Inspired MOSFET Tremolo

Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amp Forum, Sluckey Inspired MOSFET Tremolo

el34world.com

Pretty cool, eh?



Here's another LND150/LDR that works:

 

[Bitsleftover]

Apologies if I credited the wrong guy.
I’ll dig out the schematic I followed tomorrow and try and upload a video clip.

 

[Ten Over]

Mostly curious about the sound. Is it more bug-like or tube-like? and wanted to point it out to folks looking looking to add trem to an amp design.

It's completely different than the Fender roach sound. The Fender roach has a harsh sawtooth pattern that I don't like. The Trem-O-Nator has a much smoother pattern that is similar to a bias wiggle tremolo. Perfect for Crimson and Clover. Over and over.

 

[joulupukki]

This is very cool. I think I’m going to use some flavor of the LND for my next single channel AB763 build. that should help me get a bit more space in my 20” wide cab and one less tube.

 

[Ten Over]

Apologies if I credited the wrong guy.

sluckey's the man. He didn't design the LND150 version, but his idea of putting an LDR on the cathode is what led to it.

Some guys before sluckey were using LDRs on some other forum, but they were using them in the plate circuit. Their work and, of course sluckey, is what led to the MOSFET version #1 in post 14.

 

[King Fan]

Do you have a schematic for that and/or an audio recording showing its range (depth and speed)?

Hey, neighbor, someone may have linked this already, but el34world savant 'tubenit' shared a bunch of other links, schemes, and layouts here... with a sound sample at the end:

https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=26328.0

The layouts may all be on a Hoffman-Sluckey style board, but he does include at least one with the LND.

Also, here's the video demo he shared there; it doesn't explore range and speed, but I'm (just) guessing you can tune those with components:

https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=26246.msg286619#msg286619

 

[joulupukki]

Howdy KF! Yeah, I realized my blunder … you had already posted the Supro schematic. Haha. Those sound samples convince me it’s a good trem option.

Right now my 1-channel AB763 has a bias tremolo as per Hoffman’s 1-channel design but … I don’t think it gets as deep as it could and I like the idea of not really having the bias change. This idea of just taking the signal to ground attached to the trem … but without the annoying thumping that the DRRI has with the optocoupler … well, it sounds dreamy.

Maybe what I could do is experiment with the build I’ve already got and just convert it to this style of trem instead. It’s become the experimental amp anyway.