ELECTRA: Modular Powered Circuits – Tube Sound MPC8, AKA the Electra Distortion

Electra Power Overdrive schem 864c7570e06e

Recently the Electra Distortion grabbed my attention again, so as I often do, I went digging for more information on the Electra MPC series guitar effects (modular powered circuits).   One problem; Electra doesn’t appear to have ever made a Distortion module.  Interesting…    Then I read what we know as the Electra Distortion is really … Read more

RIFT AMPLIFICATION: EL34

RIFT AMPLIFICATION EL34 vero layout v1 cb797e1006a7

It’s a single transistor boost, not unlike an Electra.  This pedal is somewhat infamous in the DIY community for exaggerated claims about what it sounds like – although no one in their right mind would question the quality of the point-to-point work in the enclosure that Rift did.     The Boost switch is normally a foot switch.  … Read more

MOSRITE: Fuzzrite, Silicon Version

MOSRITE FUZZRITE silicon schematic ea8ac86fd1b6

After spending some time on the germanium Fuzzrite, time for a bit of silicon action.  It’s a bit less interesting, as there seems to be less variance to the circuit – or none?   Some differences in construction methods occurred, but that’s about it as far as I can tell.   Although I need to do a bit more … Read more

MOSRITE: Fuzzrite, Germanium Version

MOSRITE GE schematic 1de8551b080f

There are more than a few versions of the germanium Mosrite Fuzzrite out there – seems like they went through a few different construction technics and capacitor combinations along the way.  The details mostly seem to be lost to time (and rust). Here’s a bit of info that I’ve pulled together from various sources while … Read more