MATRIXSYNTH: Tube Gristleizer


Friday, April 20, 2007

Tube Gristleizer

Update: video here.
Update: check out the update below.

via this auction

Details:

"ONE OF A KIND handmade and modified TUBEGRISTLEIZER. The gristleizer was an effect made famous by throbbing gristle which was played by everyone in TG and can be heard on many throbbing gristle recordings, live performances and is still on their solo recordings. The circuit itself is a fairly loud tremelo(VCA)/squelchy filter(VCF) under control of an lfo. The VCA gives you that dark brooding pulsing sound from a slow steady blast to helicopter fast chopping action. with guitar it can sound bassy or razor sharp and rather piercing, with synths it gives movement and can alter harmonic content. the VCF can scream when in self oscillation mode and turns any boring synth or feedback loop tone into a nice sounding near modular beast!

The LFO on the original gristleizer was slightly different, using a switch to change waveshape, the LFO on this circuit uses a pot to alter wave shape from ultra chopy to sloped triangle.saw shapes. This is the signature sound of industrial music! HEAVY pulsing and throbbing beats or lighting fast chop chop!

In addition to the gristle circuit, the effect also has a HI VOLTAGE (200v+) tube preamp/distortion for completely destroying the sound. the circuit was lo fi at first but now its plain garbage! By turning up the gain for the preamp the sound ranges from light harmonic clipping to a blown speaker blasting away. I take no responsibility for damage to amplifiers or recording equipment.

SPECS:
* tremelo/filter switch
* self oscillation switch
* tube power switch
* LFO shape Control
* LFO speed Control
* LFO Depth
* Oscillation Frequency Knob
* Tube Gain
* Tube Input Level
* 1/4" Mono Input and output
* powered by dual 9v and 120vac

No sound samples at this time but there will be videos on youtube by tomorrow night, showing off self oscillation (not on original gristleizer), with guitar or with a simple squarewave bass tone... just search it."

Update via BugBrand in the comments:
"I'm just about to meet up with Roy Gwinn (literally in a couple of hours time) who wrote the original article back in the 70s for Practical Electronics magazine (he was 16 when he published it!) from which the Gristilizer came.

If you're interested, Clone Analog Gear have a pdf of the article::

http://rubidium.dyndns.org/cag/

http://rubidium.dyndns.org/cag/pdf/gep.pdf

It was published as the Guitar Effects Pedal."

Update via Chris Carter in the comments:
"My original Gristleizers were based around the PE kit (PCB & components) produced by Phonosonics in the UK in 1977. I've never made any secret of this, and in fact for a while had the PE schematic on my site. However, I added some mods of my own and designed a completely new case and made units for myself, the band and friends, probably about 10 in total. Cosey's still works to this day but mine was unfortunately 'lost' shortly after appearing in a exhibition in London a couple of years ago. I'm going to upload some photos of an original Gristleizer to my site soon and I'm currently in the process of building myself a replacement.

original Gristelizer photos and additional info now available here: www.throbbing-gristle.com/gristleizer and/or here: myspace.com/chemistrylessons"

Also see this post including comments.

9 comments:

  1. there is a video available on youtube for this here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=medlW_qB3-M

    and it's actually a really good sounding unit. really cool and *not* just the sum of its parts :]

    ReplyDelete
  2. Does anyone know if Chris Carter made this one? Or is it a clone?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hhhhhhaaaammmmbbbuuurrrrrggggerrrr LLLaaddddyyyy

    ReplyDelete
  4. No I did not make this one, it's a clone.
    CC

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm just about to meet up with Roy Gwinn (literally in a couple of hours time) who wrote the original article back in the 70s for Practical Electronics magazine (he was 16 when he published it!) from which the Gristilizer came.

    If you're interested, Clone Analog Gear have a pdf of the article::

    http://rubidium.dyndns.org/cag/

    http://rubidium.dyndns.org/cag/pdf/gep.pdf

    It was published as the Guitar Effects Pedal.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My original Gristleizers were based around the PE kit (PCB & components) produced by Phonosonics in the UK in 1977. I've never made any secret of this, and in fact for a while had the PE schematic on my site. However, I added some mods of my own and designed a completely new case and made units for myself, the band and friends, probably about 10 in total. Cosey's still works to this day but mine was unfortunately 'lost' shortly after appearing in a exhibition in London a couple of years ago. I'm going to upload some photos of an original Gristleizer to my site soon and I'm currently in the process of building myself a replacement. See here: http://www.myspace.com/ChemistryLessons

    ReplyDelete
  8. OK original Gristelizer photos and additional info now available here: www.throbbing-gristle.com/gristleizer and/or here: myspace.com/chemistrylessons

    ReplyDelete
  9. hello world
    I'm interested in building this gristleizer
    Where can I buy the pcb?

    Francesco
    www.noisecollective.net

    ReplyDelete

To reduce spam, comments for posts older than one week are not displayed until approved, usually same day. Do not insult people. For items for sale, do not ask if it is still available. Check the auction link and search for the item. Auctions are from various sellers and expire over time. Posts remain for the pics and historical purposes. This site is meant to be a daily snapshot of some of what was out there in the world of synths.

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