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Hi Makinrose
That circuit can just as easily use the Silonex LDRs, or any discreet assembly of a LED and light-dependent-resistor cell in heat shrink. It might be worthwhile to add a resistor in series with the diode to provide a current limit.
The author suggests the trem frequency range is wider but I always found the Fender range to go far too fast. Greater depth is nice to have.
As far as your proposal to link the LDR into a preamp stage via the cathode bypass cap of that stage, certainly that will work. The depth of effect might not be high if the basic gain of the stage is on the high side. You might also be able to replace the expensive LDR with a less expensive p-jfet. This might work better with the entire trem oscillator elevated by a volt or so to extend the gate drive range into the jfet.
Note that in the trem author's bandmaster circuit, the "improved" bias circuit is not much of an improvement. Were the link on the bias pot removed and a safety resistor added,things would be better. Also,a clamp for the bias filter caps would protect them. And as always, parallel bias pots for push and pull control allows hum-balancing of the output stage.
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Kevin,
Thank you for the thoughtful reply. I think you might have missed something here though. That circuit is not a bias vary trem. It for the Bandmaster with the signal vary tremolo. . As cool as those output stage bias vary trems sound I've experienced first hand why you discourage their use. It really tough on an amps....
I agree that this circuit does not have a wider range. The main advantage is the lack of ticking and noise issues compared to the Fender LDR ciruit. Also the footswitch is little more convenient since it does not require negative voltage from the bias supply. It is rather fast like the Fender circuit so I increased the value of the timing caps to slow it down.
You have an excellent point about the gain level of the stage I'd apply it too. That's definitely in need of consideration. The J-Fet solution really would be ideal....I'll try it out. Thanks!
Thanks!
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Hi Makinrose
I did not think it was bias-modulated - you could not use it that way due to the limitations of the resistive cell.
My comments about the bias supply are with respect to the linked article's further link to the amp the trem was installed into.
Reduced noise and ticking are big pluses. In traditional amps, those noises are the result of poor grounding and are easily abated.
Have fun
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Oh I got you.....sorry about that! Yeah wouldn't hold the rest of info on the amp up as prime example of good design.
At this stage I always design layouts for my amps from scratch using the TUT projects as a guide and spacing to fit the components I like. Adding proper bias circuits, decoupling, and grounding is just a given now. Buy has it made my life easier. It seems the vast majority of amp layouts and "improvements" fail to make common sense improvements.
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In case someone want to use this design, I wanted to note on this thread that the Vactrol VTL5C1 LDRs are no longer being produced. The replacement sold by CE Distribution by Xvive and the Chinese made ones on AliExpress say they are same on the data sheets but do not have the specs that are listed. They won't work properly. The best solution appears to make your own or to buy NOS versions.