Vtech alphabet apple

the_zombiest · June 12, 2006, 02:32:13 PM

I got one of these a few days ago and it seems to be pretty good on the glitchfactor and bad on the crashfactor. I've been looking for a loop for the past 2 hours to no avail... is my quest in vain?

I hope not cos it's a beast when hooked up to some delay/overdrive.

boneless · May 16, 2008, 04:43:52 PM

Also just got one of these secondhand for four quid.

I haven't been bending that long but we'll see what happens...!

kick52 · May 16, 2008, 06:54:04 PM

Quote from: boneless on May 16, 2008, 04:43:52 PM
Also just got one of these secondhand for four quid.

I haven't been bending that long but we'll see what happens...!

Ouch..
A bit expensive IMHO if there's only one bend.

boneless · May 20, 2008, 01:49:12 PM

heh heh s'pose so - not sure what they go for new - about a tenner I think - just shows how crap I am at Car Boot Haggling!

Scouring youtube it looks like there's a pitch bend and a glitch to be found

if I don't fry it coz they sound volatile.

If anyone has any advice b4 I start it would be appreciated!

kick52 · May 20, 2008, 04:22:05 PM

Quote from: boneless on May 20, 2008, 01:49:12 PM
heh heh s'pose so - not sure what they go for new - about a tenner I think - just shows how crap I am at Car Boot Haggling!

Scouring youtube it looks like there's a pitch bend and a glitch to be found

if I don't fry it coz they sound volatile.

If anyone has any advice b4 I start it would be appreciated!

You can pitch it by making a 555 timer circuit which controls the CPU clock (you'd have to remove the default one. Google "sailormouth")
You can glitch it by shorting the clock. This is very unstable, and that's the ONLY bend.

boneless · May 20, 2008, 05:51:24 PM

oh dear.

sounds like a bit of a dud buy then for me.

I just saw a few on youtube so i figured it wouldn't be too tricky...

googled sailormouth and got this wierd danger message up - followed the link anyway and there was just a page saying error - and nothing hidden in source code either.

Got 555 circuit stuff but wouldn't know where to start otherwise...

Tyler1144 · December 29, 2008, 07:54:01 PM

i cant find anything but pitch!! someone help me i need a schematic

Tyler1144 · December 29, 2008, 07:56:38 PM

I got one off amazon, all i can find is pitch up, pitch down and crash!! Does anyone have a schematic? I see crazy effects on youtube but mine doesnt seem to have any. Does anyone know where they are?

epicentre · November 23, 2009, 05:12:03 PM

Anyone had any experience with knock-offs? I've just ordered one, looks almost exatly like Vtech, but a new one costs about £1,5

epicentre · November 25, 2009, 01:05:12 PM

Ok, my knockoff arrived today, I was quite surprised that it's made with pretty good plastic and feels quite solid, I was much less surprised to find out it doesn't work at all

I've opened it up to look for some disconnected cables, but couldn't find anything, maybe you guys can see any problems?

There's also very little to work with even if I manage to fix it, how does it compare to the original?

epicentre · November 25, 2009, 01:36:22 PM

Wait a second... I've just noticed the battery in the middle (there's 3 AA) isn't connected to anything at all

If i only new how to connect it now...

Gordonjcp · November 25, 2009, 10:57:19 PM

Check that the battery contacts aren't connected inside the battery compartment - they usually are. If you're getting the right voltage across the two battery wires, it's fine.

tinsolder · November 25, 2009, 11:25:25 PM

oh dear is this a alphabet apple fake?
cool piece.looks like a 5-mega-easy-pitch-upanddowner.
and it looks very different to the "real" one.
what's about the small blue switch next to the battery? does it work when you short it? hope the best.

epicentre · November 27, 2009, 02:50:54 PM

Quoteoh dear is this a alphabet apple fake?

Yes, a very cheap knockoff. I only wish I could get it to work somehow :/

Quotewhat's about the small blue switch next to the battery? does it work when you short it?

Yeah, I tried, didn't help. I didn't have time to fiddle around with it more, but I don't have any other ideas anyway.

SamVsSound · February 12, 2017, 03:08:28 AM

Hey guys, I know this post is about 10 years old but I stumbled upon it a few months ago when I picked up an Apple from my local thrift store and was looking for information. Since then I've found a few good bends on it and wanted to drop a quick link to my build in case anyone else happened upon it.

http://samvssound.com/2017/02/11/vtech-apple-demo/

Cheers!