Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
The Colorsound Overdriver / Power Boost family went through a few different versions over the years. This layout is for the classic 1971 9V Overdriver version – essentially the 9V successor to the earlier 18V Power Boost, with the same basic three–transistor topology but set up for a standard single-supply pedalboard. It makes a huge, … Read more
Just a Fuzz Face layout that I used recently and want to make note of – it’s based on the one knob fuzz line, which is a handy little layout, but didn’t quite suit my needs. With some minor adjustments, it can be used for most fuzz face variants – component table here. FUZZ … Read more
I’ve had a couple of questions about these recently, and out of curiosity I decided to take a closer look. In 2024, Sola Sound released a few versions of a hybrid MKI, built by Dave Main of D*A*M. So what is it? It’s essentially a standard MKI circuit, but with the first two germanium transistors … Read more
Since I’m doing boosters at the moment – the D*A*M Supa Rooster. I’d suggest placing a 1m resistor on the input and output if you get switch pop – a lot of people do this all the time for their rangemaster type circuits. If you want it to look true to the original, use … Read more
Nothing groundbreaking today—just a variable-gain germanium booster I through together this afternoon, heavily inspired by the D*A*M Red Rooster. I built mine on a slightly different layout, but if I do another one I’ll use this version; it’s cleaner and a bit easier to wire. And if you like the idea of incorporating a trim … Read more
Sorry it took so long… apparently this can be tricky to make, so hope it goes well. Maybe breadboard it first. SELMER BUZZTONE 0.15″ VERO LAYOUT
Macari’s often release pedals that are minor variations on the same circuit – in this case the “Sakata” Colorsound hybrid one knob fuzz has quite a few value changes compared to the previous hybrid they released, which was closer to a stock fuzz box. Macari’s describe the Sakata as being tuned closer to a MK1.5 I … Read more
This the D*A*M Dragonfly DF-06, which is somewhat confusingly not the same circuit as the D*A*M Drag n Fly. They’re both in the Fuzz Face family, but they each approach the tone control differently. The Drag n Fly does the tone shaping up front, while the Dragonfly does it at the end of the circuit, … Read more
The Colorsound Fuzz Box has to be one of my favourite fuzz circuits, due to its simplicity and reliable results. It’s very much a one trick pony, but if you just want a nice thick fuzz, this will to that trick quite well. The original silicon circuit is said to be a Dick Denny design, … Read more
I did a layout for the Hudson Sidecar a couple of years ago, and I retraced my steps recently and found a few things that needed to be updated. The Sidecar is a progression of the 999 Overdrive, which is Hudson’s version of a ‘green box’ overdrive, made for people like me that don’t like … Read more