Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
Quick Zonk Machine layout to suit an enclosure that I just picked up from MW Pedal Parts – pretty much one row difference in terms of where the mounting holes are drilled compared to old layout that I have been using, and I decided to move a couple of components around while I was at … Read more
I thought a post was required for the silicon Zonk II, as looking at some schematics online, some appeared to be a little different. Being a pedal from the sixties, variations and tweaks were not uncommon. At the moment, this is probably best known as being the inspiration for the Reeves Zo. This is fun … Read more
I saw this on the Gray Bench Electronics youtube channel, and given the cost and apparent popularity of Reeves pedals, I thought I’d post a layout. The schematic is also on screen for a lengthy period of time. In depth explanation provided at Gray Bench, but in short, it’s a silicon two-transistor Zonk II with … Read more
Not a huge amount of variation on Zonks in terms of component values, and at one stage this was all on the MKI table, but I decided to split the two. ZONK MACHINE SCHEMATIC ZONK MACHINE COMPONENT VALUES Link to table BUILD NOTES In my experience, the Zonk can be a little easier to make … Read more
Similar to the previous Zonk Machine, this has a MKI switch for a larger input cap. Have had this on the breadboard recently, and decided to jump to a vintage-style veroboard. There are of course more differences between a MKI Tone Bender and a Zonk than just an input cap, but for convenience’s sake, … Read more
This is my version of the Zonk Machine, based on one of the early vero layouts. I added a switch for the input cap, which is possibly the most unoriginal mod known, and increased one of the input caps from 1n to 2n2. I used an OC76 for Q1 and Q3 and an OC44 for Q2. I found … Read more
I started copying the original layout for veroboard and gave up toward the end as it’s a cramped mess – this is a similar but more practical version. The germanium John Hornby Skewes Zonk II is similar to a Fuzz Face but without the 100k feedback resistor, and note that the output cap is taken … Read more
This is the original layout for the Hornby Skewes Hybrid Zonk Machine (Silicon / Germanium). Unfortunately, the trimmer needed to be a different size for the layout, so I had to make a strange triangular marker. HORNBY SKEWES HYBRID ZONK MACHINE – 0.15″ VERO LAYOUT (ORIGINAL)
As far as I know, only a handful of D*A*M FZ-678 were ever made, maybe 5 in total – it’s a variation on a Zonk Machine. It’s the same structure as a Zonk / MKI, but with a filter attached to the input. I haven’t made a layout for it, as it’s all there to … Read more
Another D*A*M layout that I traced from photos is the Zoot Unit ZU-65, which is a Zonk Machine…. I did see a couple of photos with what appeared to be a slightly larger input cap, but I’m not entirely sure about this. There are also variations on bias resistors, depending on Q2, with some … Read more