Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
Here’s another MOD effect. It’s a simple reverb using the Belton Digi-Log Mini Reverb Module (the BTDR-2H-L), which you can mount directly to the board. The DPDT switch referenced in the layout is the on/off stomp switch if anyone is confused by that. Here’s the schematic and a sound sample for reference.
Last post of 2014. Happy New Year, everybody! Here’s the early 80s DOD FX55 Distortion, without the original switching circuit so you can wire it for true bypass. The original used a TL062 dual op-amp, but the 2nd half of it wasn’t in the signal path all, so I went with the single TL061. The … Read more
The Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer compressor has become a staple among the DIY community. Original units plugged straight into the guitar, with no external controls except for an on/off switch. This layout has the level control offboard, but the bias is a 10k trimpot, but could easily be wired offboard as well. And you should … Read more
Here another classic fuzz, the Mosrite Fuzzrite. This is the silicon version. The original transistors were marked “TZ82” so be sure to use sockets and try a few different ones out. The original pots were 350k and 33k, which are going to be difficult values to track down. You can either use 500k and 50k, … Read more
Here’s the grey spec DOD Overdrive 250 that fits in a 1590a enclosure. You could also build a yellow spec 250 or the MXR Distortion + with this layout. Just compare the schematics and value swaps.
Here’s a nice transparent drive from Runoffgroove.com. Not a ton of headroom apparently, but has a nice bluesy tone. In the layout, Q1 is oriented for a 2N7000, so if you use a BS170 be sure to rotate it 180º.
The Red Llama by Way Huge is a great tube-like overdrive with plenty of output. I’ve drawn 3 layouts–one for every typical Hammond box! The 1590A layout uses 9mm pots which you should be able to board-mount. The other 2 use typical 16mm pots. Make sure to use the unbuffered CD4049 or else the circuit … Read more
Who doesn’t love a Klon, right? Here’s the buffer stage of the Centaur. The original Klon uses one side of a TL072 for the buffer and the other for gain stage. If you’re building the just the buffer, you can get away with a TL071. I’ve laid out a perf and PCB for each.
