Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
This is my version of the Zonk Machine, based on one of the early vero layouts. I added a switch for the input cap, which is possibly the most unoriginal mod known, and increased one of the input caps from 1n to 2n2. I used an OC76 for Q1 and Q3 and an OC44 for Q2. I found … Read more
Nice bit of MKII history on fuzzboxes.org The MKII might be the most popular of the Tone Benders, although personally I’m split between the MKI & MKIII. There’s also this interesting timeline on the D*AM forum. Not sure who made it, but it’s a handy reference (thanks ClassicFuzz). TONE BENDER MKII SCHEMATIC & VALUES TONE … Read more
It s time for a guest appearance! Chris Stelloh of Capitalist Death Cult requested a layout for this one a while ago but I couldn’t do it at the time so he went off and did his own. The layout is verified and good to go. It is basically a EHX Bassbals with quite a … Read more
A nice easy one – and I’m not sure if anyone has done more versions of an Electra Distortion than Lovepedal has. But hey if it’s working for them and people like it, who am I to judge? A JTM45 it is not. LOVEPEDAL JTM45 – VERO LAYOUT
A small break from the break… And a short demo by Orion Tonehunt.
A classic Japanese guitar effect – the Shin-Ei Companion Fuzz – it has its roots in the Fuzzrite, with a notch filter at the output. SHIN-EI COMPANION FUZZ FY-2 – VERO LAYOUT FY-2 SCHEMATIC Usual notch filter response. It’s a fairly broken-looking wave – not the infamous volume drop compared to the input level, which is normally … Read more
Onto the Frognose – weird name right? It’s based on the LM386 IC, which is an audio amplifier capable of driving a small 8-ohm speaker. In the configuration below, it’s capable of 20x gain, so it’s a pretty decent booster. If you aren’t familiar with the LM386, two of them are used in the Earthquaker Devices Acapulco Gold, and one … Read more
Continuing with the Electra guitar effects – the MPC2 Dynamic Fuzz. What’s unusual about this one is that the pot acts as a clean blend – one side from the input buffer, the other from the fuzz. Given that this is a cartridge that is inserted into the back of a guitar, the pot is permanently … Read more
The Slow Gear emulates a guitarist riding the volume pot or a volume pedal, creating a swell effect. This will fit comfortably in a 1590B or 125B, though with the 1590B you’ll probably want to wire the pots off board or use long-leg right angle pots mounted on the component side. Here’s the schematic for reference.
