Harmonic Percolators in the UK from Fredric Effects

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timhulio
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Harmonic Percolators in the UK from Fredric Effects

Post by timhulio »

Edit: go to page 3 for the new, pro-finished Percolators!

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Just testing the waters really in case anyone is interested. In fact I'm not even sure I'm allowed to post here rather than the main classifieds... if so feel free to move this :oldsmile:

I've been making effects for a year or so under the Fredric Effects name:
http://www.fredric.co.uk/effects

I currently make two varieties based on the old Interfax Harmonic Percolator circuit:

1) Harmonic Percolator- this is a direct clone using vintage-correct parts (2N404, 2N3565 transistors, 1N695 diodes)

Image

2) Utility Perkolator- using NOS Russian MP16B germanium and ST3904 silicon transistors, obscure Russian silicon signal diodes
I sometimes sell these on ebay, as they're not actually called a 'harmonic percolator' :dance:

Image

*note pedals look the same, but I'm using squared-off enclosures now.
Last edited by timhulio on Wed Jul 07, 2010 2:46 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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timhulio
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Re: Harmonic Percolators in the UK from Fredric Effects

Post by timhulio »

Ah, Utility Perk gutshot:

Image

New HP gutshot is per the image on the website, but with fibreglass, not resin PCB.
Bram
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Re: Harmonic Percolators in the UK from Fredric Effects

Post by Bram »

Interesting stuff. What is the utility model like?
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Kregg
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Re: Harmonic Percolators in the UK from Fredric Effects

Post by Kregg »

Fantastic circuit. Great price point Tim.
I picked up one made by Chuck Collins and I absolutely love the damned thing.
Any chance of a side by side audio comparison between the Harmonic and the Utility?
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timhulio
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Re: Harmonic Percolators in the UK from Fredric Effects

Post by timhulio »

Kregg wrote:Fantastic circuit. Great price point Tim.
I picked up one made by Chuck Collins and I absolutely love the damned thing.
Any chance of a side by side audio comparison between the Harmonic and the Utility?
Thanks Kregg, yes I shall be doing an A/B demo for these two effects as soon as I can grab a borrow of a video camera with better sound quality. It didn't seem worth it before, as they sounded very similar when both effects used germanium clipping diodes.

Re. the price point- glad you approve :oldsmile: I think this is reasonable, as there's only a few NOS parts that cost much in the circuit, the boards are fibreglass but quite small, and the alpha pots aren't expensive. I've also found affordable sources for good quality switches and jacks.
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timhulio
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Re: Harmonic Percolators in the UK from Fredric Effects

Post by timhulio »

Bram wrote:Interesting stuff. What is the utility model like?
Without the clipping diodes- slightly fuzzier as an overdrive/distortion. With silicon clipping, it's more of a Dist+ flavoured distortion pedal- longer sustain, more raucous (80s haha) tone than the HP.
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timhulio
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Re: Harmonic Percolators in the UK from Fredric Effects

Post by timhulio »

I'm having a "lets put new brake pads on my car for fun" sale on Harmonic Percolators this week.
Last edited by timhulio on Wed Jul 07, 2010 1:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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1bottlerocket
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Re: Harmonic Percolators in the UK from Fredric Effects

Post by 1bottlerocket »

These look nice, I am going to have to do some research into the Percolators.
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Bram
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Re: Harmonic Percolators in the UK from Fredric Effects

Post by Bram »

Do they come with raptor legs?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nahPA-RKEfQ

I'll take one!
Bram
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Re: Harmonic Percolators in the UK from Fredric Effects

Post by Bram »

I got the HP and the FY-2 in the mail yesterday. I'm impressed that you could even build those pedals for that cost. They sound exciting and will be called in for special duties. :tu:
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