Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
While I’m in the process of modding / rebuilding some Vox amps, I thought I might try the original Vox AC-4 from 1962, or at least a simplified version of it. Here’s a link to the full vintage Vox AC-4 schematic and amp details. Apart from the simplicity, I want to try something with an EF86 … Read more
Request for Phil – one tag board layout for the Park 2 knob fuzz sound. I generally prefer to keep the links below the board, as it looks neater. I don’t mind linking two adjacent lugs on top, as you hardly notice it. One suggestion for this. The D*A*M Colosround Fuzz Sound has a few … Read more
While I was working on another fuzz face layout (the Sonus Jimi Mod 1968), I thought I might do a quick adaptation for the Vox Tone Bender, as there was room for the additional resistor. Quite fond of the Vox, so I’ll probably build this once I’ve finished my current project. Usually I like to … Read more
A request from Mikko, who had very kindly done all of the tracing work – very nice job by the way, and photos below. It’s a Fuzz Face from Sonus using NKT MT57 germanium transistors, with an external bias pot and a couple of different component values (Jimi mods) – 2k fuzz pot and … Read more
The Sounds of Today is Ian Sherwood from Ghost Effects adaptation of the MKI Tone Bender. It’s all explained by Ian here, with photos. There are also plenty of photos of these in various stages of construction Instagram too, so you can see a few variations along the way. Short story: The attack has been replaced with a fixed resistor. The resistor … Read more
I think you can see where I was going with this Fuzzrite layout – visually satisfying on top, quite the mess underneath, but who’s going to see it once it’s in a box? It is a good looking board when finished. MOSRITE FUZZRITE – TAG BOARD LAYOUT
This is a nice easy one for tag board off-cuts. The Christian Holmberg (AKA Hemmo) Bazz Fuss. A simple one transistor monster of a fuzz. Kind of surprised that I had not done a layout or actually built one of these… how did this not happen earlier? I was prompted to do this after … Read more
It’s a Tone Machine / Arbiter Doubler – let’s get that out of the way up front. Here’s the thread on the D*A*M forum for the Grand Magnus Orbiter Rainy day project for me, as I already have a Tone Machine that I’m happy with. Not sure I’d ever be up for a two-layer tagboard … Read more
While on the JHS thing, I noticed this booster and thought it looked interesting. The output switches between filters to allow for treble and bass boost, unlike most other boosters where it all happens at the input. Very few seem to be around, as I could only find one photo of the internals and one video … Read more
The Analog Man Beano Boost takes the classic Rangemaster treble booster and adds a very useful function — a switched input capacitor that widens the tonal range beyond the original’s treble boost. Because it’s a single-transistor germanium circuit, the choice of transistor does shape the tone and clipping character, especially at higher gain settings. That … Read more