Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
It’s supposed to do Dumble, Marshall and the original Zendrive tones – I’ll tell you now; it’s a straight Zendrive clone with a clipping diode switch and using the 4558 opamp instead of the AD712 op amp in the original Zendrive. More info on tanabe.tv: http://www.tanabe.tv/top/kudou/index-e.html Here’s a cheeky Mag review: Here’s a demo of the … Read more
Here’s a Wah Wah I’ve built. It’s based around the old Vox Wah (How can you tell!?) but it’s got a few cool extras: 1) Input and output buffers so you can use it with all your stompboxes without it playing tricks on you. 2) Adjustable “Blend” control which allows you to blend in some … Read more
If you’re into fuzz then here’s a gem for you – a super consistent silicon fuzz monster. Here’s the schematic and vero layout. For more info here’s the freestompboxes.org forum topic (*complete with attached bitching over circuit credits and origin*): http://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7767 Here’s mictester’s advice on tweaking: “Adjustment: set the 1k “Abuse” pot halfway. Play though it, … Read more
Graham from the D*A*M forums is a huge collector of vintage Fuzz effects and he picked up this gem: Here’s how he describes the unit over on the D*A*M forums: http://stompboxes.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1083 “A TRULY OUTSTANDING FUZZ EFFECT WHY IT APPEARS TO HAVE NEVER BEEN “PROPERLY COMMERCIALLY” DEVELOPED IS TOTALLY BEYOND ME!! Maybe there were patent infringements … Read more
Nightraven has taken his apart and offers some description of the tone of this strange unit: “it’s basically an overdrive pedal that borders on fuzztone with the controls dimed and having a dirty amp to start with. very underrated IMHO – i think it’s loads better than Tubescreamers and the various copies.” For a better idea … Read more
Early Pre-WEM and GermaniumWEM Pep Box Later Silicon Transistor WEM Pep Box The Pep Box is one of those old vintage effects that lives in a strange world of popular mystery – not as widely known as the Fuzz Face, Univibe or Tonebender yet still used by some of the most well known artists of … Read more
Here’s some yummy new Fuzz enclosures that are on my bench – folded/welded steel makes them as tough as nails. Now, what to put in them?
The Fulltone Plimsoul, a new(ish) distortion overdrive from the man who brought you the much appraised OCD. The Plimsoul piqued my interest when it was claimed that part of the circuitry was due to be patented. First here’s the description of the Plimsoul from the Fulltone website: “For many, many years you’ve basically had 2 … Read more
Here’s a DIY Classic, tweak the diodes, tweak the input and output caps, tweak everything. It’s a super simple build and it creates some great tones. Here’s another version from Homewrecker.com: with an interesting diode comparison chart: diode(s) measured voltage notes 1N34A .220v decent, but output is too low 1N914 .570v stock version, great fuzz 1N34A, 1N914 … Read more
So, I finished building the prototype “Vintage Boosters” I designed – The “Face” (Fender inspired), “E11even” (Marshall inspired) and the “’64 Vintage” (Vox inspired). I designed them as three separate units that could be used individually to create tones which have a definite character of the amp they take inspiration from but I also paid a huge amount of … Read more