TRITON PREAMP DRIVE MK. III
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
Project Overview
7
Drill Template
2
Introduction & Usage
8
Enclosure Layout
3-4
Parts List
9
Wiring Diagram
5
Build Notes
10
Licensing
6
Schematic
10
Document Revisions
INTRODUCTION
The Triton Preamp Drive Mk. III is an adaptation of the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Mk. III, their
“amp in a box” voiced with a Marshall amplifier in mind. This third version was released in early 2013.
The Formula 5F6, released a few months later in the summer of 2013, is the same circuit with several
tweaks in part values to make it more like Fender’s tweed Bassman amplifier from the late 1950s (which
was Jim Marshall’s source for the first Marshall amps). With the Triton PCB, you can build either the
DLS or 5F6, as well as the hotter “Red” special edition of the DLS from 2019.
The production version of the DLS includes an internal slide switch to go between “Super Lead” and
“Super Bass” modes. This slide switch has four poles, with two poles controlling the gain and two poles
controlling the tone stack. The Triton splits this into two discrete toggle switches so you can switch the
gain and tone stacks independently, e.g. the gain of the Super Bass but the tonestack of the Super Lead.
Like several other Catalinbread pedals, this circuit blurs the line between a preamp and an overdrive.
Like a true preamplifier, it’s very reactive to what comes before it, so it’s best placed after other drive
pedals but before modulation. However, it also generates more than enough drive on its own and can be
used as a standalone overdrive pedal just like any other.
The original DLS Mk. III used MPF4393 JFETs, which are no longer produced. Aion FX sells the
in sets of 5. The PCB also has an extra pad so that surface-mount JFETs can be used (part
number MMBF4393), which are still in production and perform identically to those used in Catalinbread
pedals. See build notes for more details.
The Triton Mk. III is compatible with the
18V Voltage Doubler / Bypass module
if you want to run the
circuit at 18V without an external adapter. The higher voltage provides increased volume and clarity.
USAGE
The Triton Mk. III has the following controls:
•
Preamp
controls the amount of gain in the first amplifier stage.
•
Bass
,
Middle
and
Treble
form a 3-band Fender/Marshall-style tone stack.
•
Master
is the overall output level.
•
Presence
(internal trimmer) is a treble-cut control at the end of the circuit.
•
Gain
(toggle switch) selects between Super Lead and Super Bass gain stages.
•
Tone
(toggle switch) selects between Super Lead and Super Bass tone stack capacitor values.
