The Rockbox Boiling Point Thread

[Slowy]

Sam Vilo, I think, does a good demo of one, I don’t know how to put the clip here, it’s 19 minutes long of just playing so you really have to be keen to listen, but he shows how touch sensitive the pedal is, uses lots of different gain stages, and is the clip that really makes me want Slowy’s one!

I’m also a one pedal sort of person, well, one drive pedal anyway, so when I borrowed it, I didn’t notice any issues, and didn’t have the volume problem, or rather, I don’t remember it, selective maybe?

In isolation, you just set it up so it works. It's only when you try to make it play nice with other things that you discover the difficulties.
Truth is though, you actually don't need anything else. (Except a Klone).

[Slowy]

Like most things, it's a modified Tube Screamer.

It is, but that's like saying Grange Hermitage is modified grape juice.

Quite right, Slowy. Just like the Jan Ray is a modified Timmy.

But it doesn't have the 3 way switch so it's missed the point.

[Slowy]

The problem with this type of high headroom pedal is that they're quite hard to integrate into a pedalboard because they operate at their best with a massive volume increase. Who needs a 20 decibel boost when adding some dirt?!

Other similar pedals that spring to mind are the Thorpy Heavy Water and every Josh Smith signature pedal ever made (multiple builders).

Thank you. I'm not going mad after all.

[Slowy]

I always feared that the Boiling Point into a cranked amp would cause detonation..literally.

I think into a cranked amp, it will just cause further tube compression. Into a cleanish amp will be a problem.

I've always feared for my speakers too much to try. But it might be a beautiful thing. Anybody got an amp they're happy to melt?

[Slowy]

There are schematics floating around the internet which do seem to point to a modified TS but I think the real benefit to a lot of these type of pedals is the ears of the person tuning them.
By changing a handful of parts or altering the tone control or even changing the clipping diodes to LEDs and calling it Plexi mode can yield excellent results. If the builder has good ears that you trust, I’d say it’s worth the higher price to gain another 15% sonically?
I guess a Telecaster copy is a clone in a way, can be built with the same parts as the original but can be heaps cheaper or way dearer depending on the builder and their reputation.
Reminds me, I’ve had a boiling point schematic sitting on my bench for the last year, this thread might be the motivation I need to finally build it.

Seriously, it is a spectacular thing. With mine, every tweak delivers a new tone and there isn't a bad tone to be heard. Soaring legato, Vox punch, Marshall roar, Fender cleans; it's all there at a knob twist. In many ways, the thing is completely implausible.

[Slowy]

I can assure you all that a Marshall is just a modified Fender

I'm one of the multiple owners of the best Marshall in the Country. A JTM 45 which was pure Fender with attitude.
And Toany, to this day, I think of that phone call when you slipped it from my grasp in a weak moment and I wonder what TF happened!

And you didn't even like it! Next thing I got was a call from Grant demanding to know why I'd disfigured the cab by writing my name in it.

Because it was my amp and I was never going to sell it.
This place... sometimes...

[Slowy]

Speaking of Jan Ray/Timmy clones, I built the Coda Effects Golden Hour and it has WAY too much volume; unity is with the knob at 9am. I don't remember my original Timmy being like that. Any reason this would be the case? I feel like I need to send it to someone to diagnose for me.

My Jan Ray clone is like that too, so much volume on tap!

So is my Klone

Klone shouldn't be. Ive had 5 variants, no excess volume issues

[Slowy]

Timmys have a crapload of output if you’re using the original diode config (original no-switch version)

Ah, good to know. Yeah, my Timmy had the 3-way switch, so a later model.

That's the 'real' Timmy. (Yes, yes, beware of rabbitholes)

[TmcB]

I can assure you all that a Marshall is just a modified Fender

I'm one of the multiple owners of the best Marshall in the Country. A JTM 45 which was pure Fender with attitude.
And Toany, to this day, I think of that phone call when you slipped it from my grasp in a weak moment and I wonder what TF happened!

And you didn't even like it! Next thing I got was a call from Grant demanding to know why I'd disfigured the cab by writing my name in it.

Because it was my amp and I was never going to sell it.
This place... sometimes...

Oh, I LOVED that JTM45! Seriously, number 1 amp I’ve ever owned.

It was just the loudest thing in the entire world and I was in baby land so no gold- bearing thing was safe.

[Slowy]

I can assure you all that a Marshall is just a modified Fender

I'm one of the multiple owners of the best Marshall in the Country. A JTM 45 which was pure Fender with attitude.
And Toany, to this day, I think of that phone call when you slipped it from my grasp in a weak moment and I wonder what TF happened!

And you didn't even like it! Next thing I got was a call from Grant demanding to know why I'd disfigured the cab by writing my name in it.

Because it was my amp and I was never going to sell it.
This place... sometimes...

Oh, I LOVED that JTM45! Seriously, number 1 amp I’ve ever owned.

It was just the loudest thing in the entire world and I was in baby land so no gold- bearing thing was safe.

I never fully understood it until I played a Rugby World Cup gig to about 500 people. Suddenly, the amp became telepathic; it reproduced whatever sound was in my head. It was a sublime thing but not, as you observe, at all suitable for domestic purposes.
The only thing that stops me missing it is the knowlege I will never play a big enough gig again.

There was a brief time when this was my rig.. until I got spoken to by my bandmates.

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Ah, the soft plopping of birds falling from the sky.. Wondrous times

[Slowy]

Oh, I LOVED that JTM45! Seriously, number 1 amp I’ve ever owned.

It was just the loudest thing in the entire world and I was in baby land so no gold- bearing thing was safe.

Captain Black also loved it but moved it on because it was a bit quiet. Serious man, The Captain. Not wise to mess with him.

[MattAnt]

The Boiling Point is a phenomenal drive. Have one of the original hand painted ones and will never sell it. Definitely sounds nothing like any TS I have ever heard.

As discussed it has a huge amount of gain and volume on tap, which changes across the three clipping modes. I never had a problem just running the gain low on the dial (still plenty) and finding unity volume. It is a set with your ears and not your eyes kind of thing.

I find it can easily take the place of a transparent Timmy / BB type drive, a mid drive (TS but no mid hump), rat, distortion, whatever

[FuzzMonkey]

Having looked at a schematic, not sure what version, it has a very similar topology to a Tube Screamer but it has been tuned for a different frequency response.

[Slowy]

Having looked at a schematic, not sure what version, it has a very similar topology to a Tube Screamer but it has been tuned for a different frequency response.

I think there's 2 versions; the original hand painted ones and the later production line models. Naturally the interwebz claims they're different but it would....

Never played a production run version.

[Slowy]

Here's the factory setting guide. Every one is different, every one is good.

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