Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
This was one of my all time favourite pedals – the *harder to find than hen’s teeth* Super Tube Screamer ST-9. I had it stolen many years ago and I’ve been looking out for a replacement ever since! But, no need now – the schematic is available thanks to the wonderous Dirk Hendrik 😀 So … Read more
Request. Sounds like something from Deliverance. After the recent Screaming Bird and Hogs Foot posts I mentioned having them both switchable in the same circuit and someone has asked me to post details so this is what I meant. You can get a 4PDT switch cheaply on eBay, and if you were considering building both … Read more
Request. This is your standard Rangemaster, but with a 5K trimmer instead of the 3K9 to help bias the transistor, and 6 switchable input caps to go from treble boost to more of a full range boost. It would be easy to add a 3PDT toggle to switch between a germanium or silicon transistor, but … Read more
The Maxon OD-820 has been touted around the boutique world for many years as a “Klon Killer” supposedly able to do that pristine clean boost with a heap of overdrive in reserve. Not many people have seen the schematic and, while it’s not a Klon, it does feature many of the same ideas. Firstly here’s … Read more
The Bearfoot FX Pale Green compressor – twin brother of the BJFe Pale Green compressor and close cousin of the Mad Professor Forest Green Compressor (Which is one of my favourite compression pedals!). Here’s the description from the Bearfoot FX website: “The BearFoot Pale Green Compressor is an exact replica of the BJFe Pale Green … Read more
Live at LEEEEEEEEEDs! The Who – Live at Leeds is one of the best live albums ever recorded and one of the main reasons for this is Pete Townshends MASSIVE guitar tone created by his walls of super dynamic Hiwatt amps combined with a Univox SuperFuzz. Well – the Catalinbread “WIIO” pedal aims to give … Read more
Manufacturer’s description: Each component is hand tested and selected in this hand- built discrete circuitry beauty. Has more crunch than the original Fuzz Nutz due to an extra gain stage and a tone control. A sustain and crunch monster! Very British sounding. The Textone control rolls off the high end for a singing woman tone, … Read more
Blackstar Amps have quickly established themselves as one of the forerunners of the “new to the scene” amp manufacturers. Some great amps twinned with some really interesting tech have really helped push Blackstar to the front of a pretty saturated market. One of their most interesting innovations is their patented “ISF Control” (“ISF stands for … Read more
Humbuckers Dissected – image from StewMac.com [1] So, we’ve all played guitars with humbucking pickups right? The warm, chunky yet still cutting tone humbuckers can produce has lead to some of the greatest guitar tones in Rock ‘n Roll. Just imagine; where would the world be with out Angus Young’s signature humbucker equipped Gibson SG along with his … Read more
Klon killer? Some people think so, but whatever it’s certainly a great sounding overdrive. Info about the original from Maxon: While many consider the OD808 to be the greatest overdrive ever created, Maxon is not a company to rest on its laurels. Instead of basking in the glowing praise, Maxon has focused on the user’s … Read more