Earthquaker Devices Special Cranker Teardown! See what's inside!

[@void_snw]

As someone who hasn't opened up all that many pedals (but every single one I own) and just DIY'd a couple, there's some really nice things in there that I'm definitely gonna adopt. Ground spring for example, and the clip on power dings they have for the battery will be my new favorite way of connecting power because enclosure mounted power jacks are so fiddly and annoying if you have to take it out for troubleshooting or modding.

[@gph2193]

I heard Greer made the original speaker cranker for EQD. He designed it to be placed after low gain overdrive pedals. He went on to design the LightSpeed.

[@xdoctorblindx]

Would be interesting to see a circuit comparison with the Speaker Cranker.

[@BlueBarrier782]

I'm pretty sure that Jamie Stillman said its the same circuit with just a tone and gain control and of course the switching between diodes, but I could be wrong.

[@Marker1808]

​@@BlueBarrier782 almost, Speaker Cranker is Electra pedal with pot on emitter and Special Cranker is two Electra pedals with diode switching in between them and tone control with volume control on output

[@Margilio5150]

I know absolutely nothing of electronics but I love these videos 😅

[@graybenchelec]

Thank you!

[@jturquoise]

One tip To remember Through hole is sonically superior. Surface mount is inferior 😉

[@paulillingworth90]

Dude I’m loving your vids. This stuff is great and I appreciate you giving me/everyone else who’s found you all the information you have so freely. Thanks for taking the time. I’d absolutely love if you could do the Wizard of Doom distortion pedals by Soundslice Fx. It’s my favorite Distortion pedal and has a ton of tweak-ability and it’s one of the most open distortions I’ve ever heard. 3 band eq knobs plus range and presence knobs,Vol knob,gain knob ,hard/soft clipping switch.

[@graybenchelec]

Thank you, noted!

[@KetchupLettuce]

I bought this pedal the day it was released and I love it. Was super pleased to see this video before I even opened mine up! Thanks for the great content.

[@graybenchelec]

Thank you!

[@aaronfrazier524]

Great series! PLEASE keep them coming

[@graybenchelec]

Thank you!

[@camknorre3382]

Awesome breakdown

[@graybenchelec]

Thank you!

[@WayneMemphisMojo]

After completing 3 of your videos I've decided it is well worth it to subscribe, thanks for all the fantastic information

[@graybenchelec]

Thank you!

[@CharlesWillisBonsai]

Pretty interesting that they stuck a second transistor in there. Makes me wonder it the tone control is something like a BMP and they needed a volume recovery BJT stage afterwards. I assumed it was a simple low pass filter until I watched this. Nice to see you using a drill too now :)

[@graybenchelec]

I think that is a reasonable assumption.

[@thos1618]

Probably because a logarithmic volume pot will cut the output voltage to 1/10th when straight at noon. If you were to add a volume pot to the stock circuit it would always have to be near cranked to not have a volume drop when engaged. Good observation out a the Muff Tone stack being lossy though.

[@CharlesWillisBonsai]

@@thos1618 I used a linear 100k pot for volume on all the big muff clones I built. Well, except the first one where I used a logarithmic pot and realized it was a bad choice lol

[@jamiestillman2292]

It’s a simple low pass filter. Second transistor is part of the “make up” gain circuit.

[@JimBoom92]

Just found this awesome channel, really interesting content, keep it coming. Thanks man. I would love to see something about the legendary Boss DS1 vs DS2 and maybe MD2 or DS1X or maybe silicon vs germanium DS1. BR from Austria

[@graybenchelec]

Thank you!

[@xdoctorblindx]

Which transistor is the discreet amplifying component for the circuit?

[@graybenchelec]

Not sure, didn't trace the pedal. It's definitely one of 'em :)

[@Angry_beak]

My special cranker rev 2F looks different,

[@FullMetalDMZ]

Would it be hard to change 3 of the diodes and swap them for LEDs to get a different clipping option?

[@leehenderson8132]

Scokty diodes are fantastic,check out the palisades on the 4 and 5 bandwidth with the voice on 2 or 1 .you'll like it.and also check out this pedal company POISON NOISES. "THE CROOK "MY NUMBER 1.

[@patrickkoenigsfeld1253]

Excellent video! I bought two of these special crankers. The consistency between is near 100%. Love to run one at 7 o clock on the more into a fender quad reverb and use the other at 2 or sometimes 3 o clock to push my hoof fuzz into a vox and the fender. All going through that beautiful univibe stereo. Made to rock with a p 90 or single coil set up. I need a humbucker guitar. I think Gibson makes that haunting violin sound. But unless I win the Lottery, I'm not paying 6-10k for my dream guitar. Only for me. No gigs. Any suggestions? Just want a techs 2 cents. Thanks in advance.

[@graybenchelec]

A little bit of compression goes a long way.

[@Ihsan_neff]

Is this like the DOD 250?

[@Half_Plus_Seven]

I know this is a sub-novice question... but regarding power adapter, the specs noted 15mA draw centerpolenegative. . The common adapter that I see is 9v 500mA. This is my 1st quality pedal and I want to be sure I don't mess it up! (And you know I took off the back looking for the battery leads! 🤣)

[@graybenchelec]

As long as your DC adapter is also center negative, you're good. It probably is. The adapter can supply up to 500mA. The pedal only draws 15mA.

[@ghostsquare884]

How do you identify the ICs? The text you read off doesn't seem to relate to the datasheets you pull up.

[@MIBIron]

Great idea of this channel, I always wanted something like that... Please do video about Taiwan made BOSS BD-2 vs new Malaysia made BOSS BD-2. Are the new ones (w/ smaller components) same quality as old ones or the the old ones were better? THANK YOU for making this channel!

[@graybenchelec]

Thank you, noted!

[@chives81]

Great video! Thought I’d ask around to get an opinion on this. I like all the demos I see from this pedal but I’m curious how well it will work with my (mostly) solid state amp setup. I’ve worked with a EHX soul food but seeing how this is more of a boost I’m curious how it will work with my amps. Any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated!

[@graybenchelec]

The special cranker is definitely more distortion than boost. The clipping diodes make sure of that :)

[@chives81]

@@graybenchelec awesome, thanks!

[@92ilyas]

The pots are Vimex

[@graybenchelec]

Thank you!

[@1redgate8]

Could you do the fox pedals kingdom combo please. Ive opened it up to have a look, but looks too complex to sus out what is what.

[@snow15243]

FYI, the 1n60P is Schottky, but the 1n60 (without the "p") is germanium. and it looks like the Schottky 1n60p is what is being used in this pedal.

[@graybenchelec]

Agreed!

[@angelolorenzo6403]

I think the pots may be Cusack, I know they're doing stuff with fiberglass tops. I have some on order and will report back.

[@graybenchelec]

Thank you!

[@angelolorenzo6403]

@@graybenchelec Received the pots, they definitely look like Cusack in that EQD. The particular batch I have is laser etched "stomp" for stompboxparts.

[@jamiestillman2292]

We had them made for us about 7 years ago. We were having problems with standard alpha pots breaking so we wanted something stronger. I believe the manufacturer is now selling them to other people.

[@gregmize01]

Cool channel👍

[@graybenchelec]

Thanks!

[@Digosaurus]

Yo legend, would love to see a tare down of The Protein by Browne Amplification 🕉️😊🤙 Great videos! keep em coming

[@graybenchelec]

Keeping an eye out for one, thanks!

[@LithiumGrim]

Where did you buy the green handy socket wrenches?

[@graybenchelec]

Here you go: lovemyswitches.com/rocket-sockets-pedal-building-socket-set/

[@aaronduboise5277]

Would be cool to see a tear down of an analogman pedal

[@graybenchelec]

Noted!

[@markanthonyelo]

Where do you get the pot/jack wrench, I’ve been searching for weeks and weeks? Appreciate your help.

[@graybenchelec]

Here you go: lovemyswitches.com/rocket-sockets-pedal-building-socket-set/

[@benperry490]

where do you get the plastic nut removers?

[@graybenchelec]

Here you go: lovemyswitches.com/rocket-sockets-pedal-building-socket-set/

[@johnduffy8532]

In the lower left it looks like there is an empty transistor socket. What is it?

[@graybenchelec]

I assume you mean the spot marked REG2? That is a spot for a 5V regulator in a 3 lead package like so: www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm78l.pdf?ts=1699261785241&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252F. The designer of the PCB was likely accounting for component availability, and so made space on the PCB for different options of regulators.

[@AgorizTribe]

Hello can you do the FORTIN 33? id would we great

[@graybenchelec]

noted!

[@BlueBarrier782]

So is it based on the Electra Overdrive or the Electra Distortion?

[@graybenchelec]

I'm not aware of the difference. Special cranker could be described as an electra distortion with a second gain stage tacked on the end.

[@BlueBarrier782]

@@graybenchelec The Electra Overdrive is a single knob pedal that I assumed the Speaker Cranker was based on, and so then the Special Cranker was as well. The Electra Distortion is a 3 knob pedal. Anyhow, love the channel! Great stuff.

[@graybenchelec]

@@BlueBarrier782 I've never seen a schematic for the three knob variant. Seems like people use electra distortion and overdrive interchangeably. The special cranker is the one-knob design, with a second gain stage tacked on the end to recover some output volume.

[@BlueBarrier782]

@@graybenchelec Sounds like it is based on the single knob/pot overdrive design then. Awesome, thanks! Here's the D500 distortion: images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--W4wXyj-Q--/a_exif,c_limit,e_unsharp_mask:80,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_south,h_620,q_90,w_620/v1485907213/a4mavcfuzzoeghowpgxe.jpg

[@djc5897]

That pcb circuit board looks massed produced from a factory in China? How does that look handmade?

[@jamiestillman2292]

We do it in house.

[@8Junio76]

You need to improve the zoom. It still looks too small for the screen,

[@graybenchelec]

Noted, thank you!

[@John-e4p1x]

Take aaprt a JACKSON AUDIO GOLDEN BOY....................................................

[@toxicgraphix]

I have 1n60s from Radio Shack, I bought in the 1970's, that look just like that and are marked on the packaging as being germanium. Could be old stock, maybe they bought a shit ton when Radio Shack went down, Just sayin' for what it's worth.

[@graybenchelec]

Could be! What is the forward voltage on yours?

[@toxicgraphix]

@@graybenchelec Sorry for taking so long to get back. I was searching my stash and could not find the Radio Shack ones, maybe my memory is going. I was able to find some old ones I got from DigiKey that are slightly different, they look similar but have two black bands instead of just one in an almost identical glass case. My multimeter gives the Vf of those at 290mv, and my cheap Chinese component checker says its 408mv. I don't know what frequency they are checking at. I might have been confusing the 1N60s with the 1N34s I have. I was able to find the Radio Shack ones still in the sleeve and they do look almost Identical the ones in the Special Cranker. The Vf of those 290mv with my multimeter and 419mv measured with the cheap Chinese tester. The Radio Shack package for the 1N34s gives the Vf as 5ma whatever that means. Earthquaker is in Akron right around the corner from me in Cleveland, there's a Electronic Surplus parts Warehouse just a few miles away with literally a huge warehouse of NOS parts half the size of a football field. They have tons of everything, so I think Earthquaker would have no trouble finding real 1N60s there.

[@graybenchelec]

@@toxicgraphix 290mV is bog standard for a multimeter reading on germ diodes. We used to have a nice surplus store here in Pottstown, PA, but they had to close up during covid. I still am in contact with them and try to give them business when I can.