![]() Interestingly enough it is the combination of these two factors - environmental temperature and “Saggy” power, that creates the Fuzzy Bliss that we’re looking for. In sonic terms, the lower voltage is what we hear and/or feel as “ Sag." Pair that with a 9-volt battery that’s 8 months old and not crankin’ out the power it once did. This thermal instability affects the gain structure of the circuit. Here’s an example: “Batteries sound better in my fuzz pedal than my ‘Wall Wart’ DC power supply.” I think this is due to the fact that Fuzz pedals often have germanium transistors that are sensitive to changes in temperature. It is my opinion that there is some legitimacy to this belief. I was a late bloomer to the Power Supply movement, often pontificating about the tone being better with batteries. Eliminate the frustration of dead batteries and the piled up mountain of those we’ve laid waste to. Plug this thing into a 120 volt wall outlet and power all the stuff you want. These, among other issues, have led us to the External Power Supply. That’s not to mention the shift in the gear industry to have huge pedalboards acting as our sonic palettes, allowing us the ability to tap into myriad of sounds at the click of a toe. As a culture, we have become more conscious of our footprint and consumption of resources. Batteries have limitations, though, both in terms of reliability and environmental sustainability. ![]() Batteries are great and serve up the Direct Current (DC) that most electronics need to perform their sonic wizardry. In the days of yore, one simply bought a battery for your gizmo, and that would suffice as portable power. We are also featuring Mike Tolan, our assistant production manager, in this month's “Rigs of EarthQuaker Devices.” My aim this month is to share what I know about Power Supplies. Last month we overindulged ourselves on overtones and harmonics. Welcome fellow Quakelings to yet another entry to the Tube Town Blog. ![]()
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