PT80 COMPLETE KIT
This is the best DIY digital delay stompbox kit on the internet. Warm, quiet, beautiful echo, patterned after the Ibanez AD80 analog delay unit.
This project emulates the old-time analog delay unit, in this case the Ibanez AD-80 vintage stompbox, with a modern digital delay IC. The results are excellent and you won't know it's not 100% analog. The general design of this circuit is almost the same as the AD-80 except the bucket brigade ICs are replaced with a Princeton Technologies PT2399 delay/echo IC and the electronic switching is replaced by a 3PDT stomp switch. The compander IC gives it excellent noise specs and also contributes to the great analog-like sound of it. A charge pump is on board so that it has plenty of headroom from a single nine volt battery. The charge pump was not part of the original AD-80, but is a modern bonus in this project to save on batteries and be able to use a typical stompbox wallwart power. Click here for more general information about the kits.
Click here for complete instructions for this kit.
Hear the Sound Files (Sound Samples From Scott Swartz)
Sound File 1 - The Rockabilly Slapback
This is a short passage that starts with a few notes without the delay. I switch it in the delay, and play another single note passage, then conclude with a little Travis picking riff.
Control Settings are: Delay Time = 30%, Repeats = 25%, Delay Level = 50%.
Sound File 2 - The 175 Millisecond Atmospheric Delay
This is a sample of how I typically use delay, set for about 175 ms, 3-4 repeats, and the delay level set to give some atmosphere behind the notes. I play a thirds and sixths riff all the way though, then kick in the delay and play the passage again.
Control Settings are: Delay Time = 40%, Repeats = 30%, Delay Level = 40%.
Sound File 3 - The Maximum Delay Playing Notes For You Sound
This is a passage to demonstrate the sound quality of the repeats when set to max delay (using a 50K pot). The delay level is turned up to match the volume of the dry signal, and then I play a few descending sixths in time with the repeats to create a big wash of sound. At the end, I play a couple of single notes to isolate the repeats sound. The higher note does have some distortion, this isn't present at shorter delay settings.
Control Settings are: Delay Time = 100%, Repeats = 30%, Delay Level = 60%.
Here are the specification data sheets for the enclosure options for this kit.