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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer

The Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer compressor has become a staple among the DIY community. Original units plugged straight into the guitar, with no external controls except for an on/off switch. This layout has the level control offboard, but the bias is a 10k trimpot, but could easily be wired offboard as well. And you should be able to squeeze it into a 1590A. (See what I did there? :D)

Edit:

Here are a few mods if you want to use it on bass. Some say stock is best, others say to uses these substitutions. As always, YMMV.

• Swap the output cap from 4.7µ to 1µ (between the 390k and 1.5k resistors, below the IC)
• Swap bleeder cap from 4.7µ to 10µ (cap connected to the 1N34 diode)
• Reduce the feedback resistor from 220k to 200k (between Q2 and the IC)
at

27 comments:

  1. fredDecember 22, 2015 at 2:38 AM

    external bias pot A or B?

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    Replies
    1. Effects LayoutsDecember 22, 2015 at 11:53 AM

      A B10k is what I used I think.

      Delete
    2. fredDecember 22, 2015 at 3:22 PM

      thanks.

      Delete
    3. RossiMarch 1, 2016 at 2:09 PM

      What is the difference between a-pots, b-pots and c-pots. Can't find that info. (or didn't look properly)

      Delete
    4. Effects LayoutsMarch 1, 2016 at 2:59 PM

      They represent the pot taper. A=logarithmic/audio, B=linear, C=reverse log.

      Delete
    5. RossiMarch 1, 2016 at 3:03 PM

      Thanks for the quick reply. Maybe you could add this to the General Layout Notes in the pot wiring section. That's where I was looking for this info first.
      Anyway - great site with lots of interesting stuff. Looking forward to buuilding something based on your designs.

      Delete
  2. BerkicauFebruary 3, 2016 at 12:34 AM

    is it possible to replace 1n34a with 5458 or something else?

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    Replies
    1. Effects LayoutsFebruary 3, 2016 at 9:30 AM

      You can try it, but I would stick with a germanium diode there.

      Delete
  3. FlyJune 14, 2016 at 7:10 PM

    Out is from level pot (pin 2) ?

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    Replies
    1. Effects LayoutsJune 14, 2016 at 10:05 PM

      Yup

      Delete
    2. FlyJune 15, 2016 at 10:03 AM

      Thank you, now I have absolutely all the information needed for this project.

      Delete
    3. maurocoolJuly 4, 2016 at 11:59 PM

      I was going to ask this :-)

      maybe you could add this info to the pic

      Delete
  4. KeelagrammApril 6, 2017 at 3:07 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. KeelagrammApril 6, 2017 at 3:11 AM

    Verified by me! =) Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  6. edmanbobAugust 29, 2017 at 4:38 AM

    would j201 transistors work for this layout

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownOctober 2, 2017 at 11:44 PM

    mine didnt work and i have no clue why =/
    if the admin let me, i can post a link to pictures of the board for some help
    its the 4th that i build and dint work =(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Effects LayoutsOctober 3, 2017 at 10:26 AM

      Feel free to post pics. Does it not pass signal at all? Have you gone through it with an audio probe? Did you match the JFETs?

      Delete
  8. SergeyKFebruary 13, 2018 at 11:39 AM

    Mine isn't working properly. Opamp part is ok - clean sound, but compression works strange. When I hit a big chord attack works acceptable but release pumps up and down for 3-4 times until the level gets normal. Is there a reciept? Please help.

    ReplyDelete
  9. SergeyKFebruary 13, 2018 at 11:42 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Лучше чем ничего...November 10, 2018 at 4:00 AM


    There is a problem with the pedal's power when I turned on the unstabilized unit, The pedal began to fade strongly, but if I connect a 9 volt battery it works fine. I added a stabilizer straight to the power supply. Is there any way to change the circuit so as not to redo the power supply? thank

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Лучше чем ничего...November 10, 2018 at 4:02 AM


      I'm sorry I wrote using the Internet translator, I hope I clearly explained the problem

      Delete
  11. FireproofJune 24, 2019 at 3:11 PM

    Hello, I would like to do one of these for an acoustic guitar, what do you think would be a better idea? 1-do it as to use it with bass, or 2-have a splitter prior to the compressor and be able to mix the dry signal with the compressed one? Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  12. unknownSeptember 22, 2020 at 3:31 PM

    Hello everyone. Finished this and sounds great but when I turn the trimmer to clockwise it begins ticking. Why?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 16, 2022 at 4:03 AM

      If you mean the trimmer itself, that's normal for a multi-turn trimpot when it reaches either end of its value. You can keep rotating but the value won't change because it's maxed (or min'ed) out.

      Delete
  13. Percy HornickelJune 20, 2021 at 11:42 AM

    I want to try this one but I don´t know if 2N5458 could work instead 2N5457 / same datasheet /

    5457 Vgs off = 2.5V

    5458 Vgs off = 3.5V

    Maybe satting the bias / B5k and B10K pots.

    Does it could work this way?

    thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Percy HornickelJune 21, 2021 at 12:49 PM

      Done... ...2N5458 / 10k TRIM / NO NEED TO SET Q2 BIAS - JUST Q1. SAME as GGG DOC:

      Q1s = 4.0 V
      Q2s = 2.6 V

      GREAT SOUND

      Delete