[sdiy] Help to build a TB 303

[Seb Francis]

Hi,

It's pretty easy to get the schematics for a TB303 - just ask someone like Kenton Electronics, or your local synth-repair shop.  Most people are generally happy to photocopy you the service manual for a small charge.  You might even find a scan of it on the internet for free.

Leaving asside the sequencer part (if you just want to build a CV/Gate controlled 303), the circuit is pretty simple, but you will have lots of trouble trying to find compatible modern parts for some of the semiconductors.  I would be suprised if you could find exact enough replacements of everything to avoid changing at least some of the passive component values.  At the end of the day it probably won't sound *exactly* like a 303, but then real 303s all sound different to each other anyway!

You would probably find it a lot less hassle to build a modern 303-clone - there are quite a few designs about.  Here's one:
http://www.oakleysound.com/tb3031.htm (PCB is available for £27)
(not really a very faithful clone - it has much too many extra features!)

I haven't heard the TB3031 myself, so I couldn't tell you how it actually sounds, but there are probably a few people on this list who can (including the designer himself, but then he might be a bit biased ;-)

Seb



bo ca wrote:

>  Hi everyone, I have never made a synth or something
> like that, but I have great knowledge in Electronics,
> and as my final project I want to build one. I can
> read schematics, understand the working of the
> components, and so, I though to build the Roland TB
> 303 or a clone. I want to know your experiences,
> opinions, webs of information, difficult level,
> schematics, advices..., whatever will be useful for
> me. Thank you.
>
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