Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
If you feel like getting into a bit of programing with your pedal building, this is probably a good place to start. The legwork was done and graciously shared by Coda Effects. It uses a PIC micro-controller to trigger a relay and LED indicator. To learn how to program the PIC12F675 read the original blog … Read more
Basically the Tentacle is Dan Armstrong Green Ringer with a few value changes. Now for those of you that liked the idea of building a Hoof Reaper, which I mentioned when I posted the layout for the Tone Reaper, the Tentacle should go in between the Hoof and Tone Reaper for the Octave effect. So … Read more
Here’s the MXR Distortion III. It’s pretty similar to the MXR ZW-44, which itself is a Boss SD-2 clone. The main difference is hard clipping in the Distortion III instead of soft clipping in the ZW-44/SD-2. Originals use an MC33178P dual opamp, but try a JRC4558 or TL072.
Here’s something I’ve been looking for for awhile now for a project I’ve got in the works, and figured some of you guys may be looking for the same thing. They’re based off of the schematic published by the one and only R.G. Keen, found here. Layout 1: +9V to +17V Layout 2: +9V to … Read more
Direct from the source: Ahoy! Welcome to your new Depths Optical Vibe Machine! The Depths is our take on the classic optical vibe circuit. Now you can swab the decks with the same lush, pulsating, three-dimensional swirling sound you know and love, with some modern accouterments for all you land-lubbers out there. The Depths is … Read more
Found this on TGP from the man himself when he was first releasing it: Basically, it’s an FY-6 with some extra bells and whistles in a “pedal board friendly” enclosure. The official name is the EFY-6, with “E” meaning “Enhanced”. The “Expander” knob has been renamed “Fuzz”, and the “Balance” knob has been renamed “Gain”, … Read more
For Fuzz Friday, here’s another one from CultureJam. The Stein Fuzz is a lightly modified version of the Roger Mayer Stone Fuzz* pedal (which is itself a lightly modified Fuzz Face). The main difference is more standardized part values (the pots mainly). It’s meant to be a positive ground circuit (center positive, so not daisy … Read more
Here’s a great sounding tremolo circuit from Demeter–the Tremulator. It’s an optical trem, using a VTL5C1. That part can be replaced with an LED and a LDR (600Ω on/50M off) combo. Also, the diodes used in the originals are 1N5229 4.3v zenners, though you can use other zenners up to 5.1v. Here’s the schematic for … Read more
This is a pretty handy expansion of the zVex SHO booster. It stacks two SHOs together and adds a master volume control. This is laid out so the board is vertical in a 1590B oriented like the original.
Here is a layout for the rare Schumann Lion distortion. Original brief description: “The LION is a distortion device and a clean booster with two complete circuits that can be mixed independently. Has a bypass footswitch and boost footswitch that gives extra distortion. Great for bass — distortion that doesn’t cut out the low end. … Read more