SS+

Outrageously expensive British drive pedal made affordable

 

 

The SS+ distortion rack effect module compares to the Pete Cornish SS-2™.  The circuit is similar in many ways to the MXR Distortion +, but has additional tone shaping and volume recovery added to the end.  Mr Cornish took a bit of the distortion off the circuit, leaving it as more of an overdrive than a distortion.  The GT module sounds pretty good, and costs much less than a Cornish pedal, just sayin'...

 

Description

Pete Cornish has built great pedals for many years, for the few that can afford them.  The SS-2™ is one of them.  The first half of the circuit is nearly the same as an MXR Distortion +.  After the hard clipping, there is a simple Tone control followed by some more tone shaping and an additional op amp stage to recover the lost volume of the standard Distortion +.  Of course, it comes with the standard Cornish buffer. It's more of an overdrive than a distortion.

 

Configurations

  • SS+ - Compares to Pete Cornish SS-2™ and Top Tone Light Drive (a clone of the SS-2™)

 

 

 

Options

  • Always On Buffer - There is a buffer at the front of the circuit which is always used when the circuit is used.  This option adds a second buffer that is always on, whether the effect is switched on or not.  Like having an extra buffer module.
  • Switched Buffer - This adds a second buffer that is switched separately from the effect by a toggle switch on the front panel.  This gives you the option to have it on or off when the effect is off or when the effect is on.  The buffer at the beginning of the effect circuit is still there and is still switched with the effect.  Like having an extra buffer module.
  • Custom Op Amp - The default op amp is the same as the original circuit, LM741.  You can choose another pin-compatible op amp if you like, but we recommend keeping this op amp if you want tone like the original circuit.
  • Hard Clipping - The SS+ configuration uses (2) germanium 1N270 hard clipping diodes.  You can change those to some other diode configuration.  We recommend you keep the (2) 1N270 diodes, or at least have them as an option, as they are important to the tone of the circuit.
  • Hard Clipping Switch - Add a second hard clipping configuration you can select with a switch.  Optionally also include a third switch setting to turn hard clipping off, perhaps so you can use soft clipping.
  • Carbon Comp Resistors - For those that like them.
  • Components - We use metal film resistors and a selection of capacitors that provide good tone and low noise.

 

Front Panel

  • On/Off indicator LED
  • Volume
  • Tone
  • Drive
  • (optional) Buffer switch
  • (optional) Hard Clipping switch

 

Rear Panel

  • Audio In
  • Audio Out
  • On/Off Footswitch
  • On/Off Override
  • DC Power
  • DC Power LED

 

Module Width

  • 1.5" standard
  • 2" left wing available for standard 3-4 control configuration, without switched buffer
  • 1.5" right wing available for standard 3-4 control configuration, without switched buffer

 

Power Consumption (aprox)

10 - 15mA

 

Base Configurations

Part # Description List Price
MOD-SS+ SS+ module $214

 

Options

Part # Description List Price
MOPT-SS-AOBUF Always On Buffer $39
MOPT-SS-SWBUF Switched Buffer $55
MOPT-SS-OPA Custom Op Amp $0-TBD
MOPT-SS-HCLIP Hard Clipping $0-TBD 
MOPT-SS-HCLIPSW Hard Clipping Switch  $19-TBD
MOPT-SS-CCRES Carbon Comp Resistors $5 
MOPT-SS-CC Component Changes $0 - TBD