Modding my Akai Drive3 Overdrive Pedal (Some large pictures included)

Distortion_101

Hey guys

I'm looking to do some mods to my Akai Drive3 Overdrive pedal.

I'm looking to tame the mids a little and boost the bass. Also make the tone knob more responsive as right now, it's at 9 o'clock and that's where the pedal doesn't sound too trebly. Anything above 1 o'clock is unusable and ear piercing. I know I bought a TS clone and it's expected, but I'm looking to mod it. Im looking for a mid neutral tone with a bit more low end.

So mods I want to do:

1. Reduce noise when engaged. My Laney Cub makes quite a bit of noise on full volume. Hit the pedal and I've got lots of noise. I want to cut that down. I understand the pedal amplifies the signal and thats what the resulting noise is from but if something can be done, id like to do it.

2. I want to increase bass, and make mids neutral in the circuit and make the tone knob more responsive (when knob is at 12, that's a balance of treble and bass, not at 9.

I'm looking to extend the gain range. When gain is on 0 I want it to be more clean than what it is right now. Im using this pedal mainly as a booster, but that doesn't mean i dont want some good drive out of it too

It's basically the same mods Keeley does to a TS808

I asked the manufacturer for a schematic but no can do. The pedal is a copy of the Biyang X Drive or GFS Greenie.

Here are some pics of the internals

Hope you guys can help me. Thanks for your time!

Thanks
D101

mtmattan

Hey man,

Will reply in detail when I get a chance.

Mod 1 to reduce isn't likely hey - noise is more than a couple of component value changes but rather the circuit design as a whole.

Mod 2 is possible to increase the bass. Even without a schematic you can increase the input capacitor to allow more bass in. But without q schematic after the input cap, you really are flying blind.

Also, and I really don't mean to sound unenthusiastic, but is modding and Akai pedal not like putting mags on a Toyota Corolla? Ie is this the pedal you love and really want to invest some time into? Or regardless of the mods would a TS808 still be King in your mind?

Keep up the good work,
Matt.

Distortion_101

thanks for the reply!

to be honest, it really does sound great, and versatile. got 3 subtly but different tones just from the switch. The screamer mode actually sounds VERY much like a TS9. There are even youtube videos that you can hardly tell the price difference.

Im happy with the tone, im just looking to expand its tone if you know what i mean.

petercornell

There are 2 popular mods to change the tone of this pedal, one of which seems to be what Keeley has done.

To get more bass out of it, changing a cap and resistor will fatten the sound and get a bit more boost.

Using a lower noise opamp will help reduce the noise, but will also change the tone! So you will need to experiment with the replacement.

Where are you located? I can help you in Jozi area.

Peter

Distortion_101

I'm in JHB. East rand. I have 5 op amps. NE5523, JRC4558DD, JRC4558D, JRC4559, TL072. I'm lucky that the pedal has an accessible cover to the OP amps so that they can e changed really quick with no issues.

All the same so doesn't seem to be the op amps. I think it's the circuit itself.

MikeM

Yea, Op Amp differences are overrated IMO. I've never heard much of a change swapping them around.

Are you playing buckers or single coils?

My recommendation would be just to buy a pedal you like. Otherwise do a whole lot of research and practice soldering some basic pcb kits from an electronics store before touching your pedal.

petercornell

Did the 5532 make any difference to the noise level?

It is a really quiet opamp, when used in the correct circuit. I have not tried it in a Toobscreamer before.

Distortion_101

No difference. Same noise. Where the difference is (and it's very slight) is the type of gain. The 5532 is slightly fuzzier, while the JRCs are slightly more smooth.

To be honest though its not the be all or end all of a pedal. The actual pedals circuit makes the biggest difference, and what they use to clip. The Akai has LED for the warm and another type of diode for screamer. Boost combines both.

My SZ has humbuckers. Pretty hot bridge and a fat warm neck.

petercornell

I can do the mods for you in such a way that they are reversible, so if you hate em they can be reset.

Peter