Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
The Ross Distortion is very similar to two other famous distortion boxes of the late 70s (MXR Distortion +, DOD 250). However, it uses one side of a 4558 dual opamp instead of the single opamp (741) found in the the other two, and a few other tweaks in component values. There are two versions … Read more
Here’s an interesting LM386-based compressor designed by Brett Robinson (DIYSB member Toney). I found the schematic for this while searching for something else. Apparently there are various incarnations (and names too) of this circuit, but this seems to be the most popular version. Should fit easily in a 1590A, though, I’m not sure about board-mounting … Read more
Here’s another Dan Armstrong effect. It’s part ring modulator (when playing chords) and part octave (when playing on the neck pickup, high on the fretboard with the guitar tone control down). For the clearest octave effect, match the diodes as closely as possible for forward voltage. It might also be worth matching the 47nF caps … Read more
Here’s a quicky for your Saturday. The Blue Clipper was one of the small effects units by Dan Armstrong that plugged straight into your guitar output jack. It uses one side of a JRC4558 to produce a basic distortion effect.
Jen was an Italian manufacturer in the 60s and 70s that produced their own line of effects in addition to OEM stuff for other brands like Gretsch and Vox. This fuzz effect is essentially a Fuzz Face with an emitter follower up front and clipping diodes on the output. It produces a treble-heavy fuzz with … Read more
Here’s another Seppuku FX fuzz box. The sound is kind of in the vein of Devi Ever or Death by Audio. The texture control pans between thick overdrive and over the top fuzz. This one should fit in a 1590a. I included a daughter board for the pots to cut down on some off board … Read more
Here’s one of Lovepedal’s many Electra Distortion variants. It’s a pretty good booster and is the boost section on the Amp Eleven.
Here’s quick on for your Friday. The Luxury Drive is a simple JFET boost circuit and is the same as the boost section of T Jauernig’s Gristle King. J201s should also work just fine.
I realized after posting the Meathead Deluxe I hadn’t made a layout for the one-knob Meathead. Anyway, the Meathead is one of most well known 1-knob silicon Fuzz Face variants, thanks to the like of Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, among other guitarist. Q2 is a BC182L, which has an ECB pinout … Read more
The Micro Amp is a classic clean boost circuit first introduced by MXR in the late 70s. It’s a great option if you need to stomp on something for solos. Pretty simple op-amp design that should fit nicely in a 1590a.