Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
Here’s the Boss OD-1–the first of the tube screamer-type overdrives (yes, the first TS wasn’t an Ibanez). It features asymmetrical clipping diodes (where a stock TS has symmetrical clipping) which gives it a thicker, more edgy sound. Initial versions of the circuit used a quad opamp, using 2 of the opamps as in the input/output … Read more
Not much info on this one, but basically it was a compressor made by Univox in the 70’s as part of their “foot” series. Seems to be loved by many and was recently requested. In addition to the schematic posted in the request section I found another schematic posted over at FSB, so I made … Read more
I’ve gotten a few requests for the Mk. III and found several good stock layouts on FSB, so I thought I’d go with a slightly modified version of the DLS Mk. III. This has an added presence control, as well as an onboard charge pump. It’s designed for use in a 125B with top mounted … Read more
“The Hi Volt is a mid- to high-gain dirt box, with a fully saturated effect that is internally charge-pumped to 16VDC, and brandishes a high headroom, custom-tuned 3-band active EQ. This high-voltage configuration allows for very flexible and potent sonic possibilities, ranging from blues to metal and everything in between. With its generous low-end wallop, … Read more
For Fuzz Friday here’s DeadAstronaut’s take on the good ol’ Big Muff. It features a toggle switch (Fat/Thin) that changes the output capacitor from the first stage, and a rotary switch (mode) that changes the sound type. In the designer’s own words: It’s basically a classic big muff with fat/thin switching, plus 3 other modes … Read more
Basically this was Sunn Amplifiers take on the Maestro FZ-1A, but with Silicon transistors instead of Germanium. Best description I found of the tone was this. Depending on the setting of the effect control, it can go from classic “fuzz face” sounds and beyond – achieving the sustain of a big muff. It’s a three … Read more
Well as promised I’ve taken the and made layouts for 7 of some of the most desirable vintage wahs. You’ll notice that they all look damn near identical, and that’s because they’re all based on the same circuit with some component differences. So instead of doing my usual description for each, I figured I’ll let … Read more
This is probably the biggest Marshall-in-a-box pedal out there (footprint-wise anyway). Originals use a +/- 12v supply with a transformer internally. I modified the power section with a +/-18v charge pump and will run off a normal +9v power supply. This saves room so you can use a smaller enclosure and gives more headroom to the effect. It … Read more
Gotten a lot of requests for this one. I’ve put it off because the schematic that’s out there isn’t exactly straight forward, not to mention it’s 7 pots, 2 switches, 3 ICs… You get the idea. Anyway, I wanted to keep this 1590BB friendly, so all the pots are board mounted… except one (Blend). Six … Read more
For those that are just never satisfied by whats out there in the land of wahs I took the standard Dunlop GBC-95 Crybaby and added some features based on common mod points. So how’s this supposed to work? Voice Pot: Changes the voice of the the wah by changing the sharpness and making it more … Read more