Here's a collection of vero (stripboard) and tagboard guitar and bass effect layouts that we have put together covering many classic and popular effects in growing numbers. Many of these have been posted on freestompboxes.org, so check that site out for great discussions on building your own effect pedals. Enjoy the builds and please also visit us on Facebook and Twitter
Tested my build today, and it's good. Tried a couple of different transistors, but 2N2222A/2N3906 from Aaron Nelson's schematic seem to work and sound the best. +m
he usually shows the bare vero board depicting the cuts and links without the components, along with the one posted. does this one just have the two cuts and two links?
Hi tried Mirosol's suggestion for transistors..but just had a clean ish tone...then noticed the pin out was reversed on the layout...trial and error ed..by swapping and trying out..I had a overdriven tone of sorts..but it quickly decayed..( like a worn battery )..however..when i remove the 3906 and just run the single 22's..I get a good distortion tone..put the 3906 back..rubbish.....any ideas please
Yes there are a lot of people who have built this layout successfully so it's definitely good. Just make sure you've used the correct orientations to match the pinouts for whatever transistors you ended up using. If you're using a 2N3904/3906 or 2N5088/5087 combo then Q1 should be rotated 180 degrees, Q2 would be correct.
Remember on the layouts where I haven't specified any transistor type, I won't have paid any attention at all to orientation.
Hi Yeah tried a few others..but i have almost no response from that socket ( Q2 )..I may be asking a dumb ass question here but be gentle lol..but aint 2N3906 NPN ?...will def have a check for mistakes or messy soldering..but its so few components I feel daft getting this one wrong
Thanks Mirosol..Im still very new to this and find it a bit confusing.....I was thinking PNP was like the germanium types and NPN was silicone ...guess it couldnt be that easy huh ??
If you're interested, here's a nice article about bipolar junction transistors: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_4/1.html And here's 2 minute video that helped me understand these things a bit better :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaBLiciesOU +m
Ok cracked it..I had mis-read the layout with regards to the jumpers..I didnt run the jumper between the pair of 22nf caps correctly as I thought it was just the solid black line spanning the 3 strips..then noticed the tiny black mark at the bottom indicating the jumper ran the whole way..it sounds like a fuzz tone now..not a distortion. Thanks for the help and suggestions
Hi Guys..yep me again...are the volume and attack supposed to be interactive ??..my volume dont really wanna play unless I give it some attack...also on the very first smidge of the attack im getting a nasty feedback kinda noise until i move the control on a bit...I say feedback noise but i can only aliken it to the sound waterpipes sometimes make if you know what I mean ?? Im in the process of doing a video of it so if that would help il be happy to post the link when its on the tube
The Attack pot is essentially a pre-gain level control, the Volume is post gain level control. So both dump the signal to ground in the far counter clockwise position. As such, altering the Attack control will change the amount of signal hitting the gain stage and the volume control will attenuate the resulting amplified signal to the required level. When the attack is down low it means the signal is also very low and I'm sure you could get some strange noises and glitching with effects like this.
Thanks Mark,,it is at the very beginning of the attack sweep and disappears as soon as you move it a fraction but i always doubt my building skills with things like this..but it is a steep learning curve as im sure you remember. Thanks for all the layouts mate
If you don't want it act like that, you can place something like 4K7 resistor in series with attack lug 1. That way the minimum setting will start from 4K7 to the ground and not everything to the ground.. +m
Did box this as my first build some time ago. Ended up using 2N2222A/2N3906 transistors and added a 4K7 in series to attack pot lug 1. Also added tone control after the volume pot just to tame some of the harshness of the bosstone :) did not change the sound too much though.
Just build another one of these. For the PNP transistor, I used a germanium Russian MP16B (2N404) with 72hfe. NPN is 2N2222A. Also added the 4k7 in series w/attack pot lug 1. Sounds GREAT.
Any one built this yet? Built one from another schem but just doesn't sound right
ReplyDeleteMelx has built this one a number of times (you can find a link to his blog in my links), and I think timmy on here has built one too.
DeleteTested my build today, and it's good. Tried a couple of different transistors, but 2N2222A/2N3906 from Aaron Nelson's schematic seem to work and sound the best.
ReplyDelete+m
http://mirosol.kapsi.fi/varasto/boxes/bozz.jpeg
ReplyDeleteHand drawn. Sounds just amazing.
+m
he usually shows the bare vero board depicting the cuts and links without the components, along with the one posted. does this one just have the two cuts and two links?
ReplyDeleteYes, just 2 cuts and 2 links so I didn't think it was worth the bare board layout.
DeleteHi
ReplyDeletetried Mirosol's suggestion for transistors..but just had a clean ish tone...then noticed the pin out was reversed on the layout...trial and error ed..by swapping and trying out..I had a overdriven tone of sorts..but it quickly decayed..( like a worn battery )..however..when i remove the 3906 and just run the single 22's..I get a good distortion tone..put the 3906 back..rubbish.....any ideas please
Bad 2N3906? You could try on any PNP transistor instead to see what works the best. Just note the pinout.
DeleteAnd be sure to check for bridges and cold joints, as it works great for me with both transistors.
+m
Yes there are a lot of people who have built this layout successfully so it's definitely good. Just make sure you've used the correct orientations to match the pinouts for whatever transistors you ended up using. If you're using a 2N3904/3906 or 2N5088/5087 combo then Q1 should be rotated 180 degrees, Q2 would be correct.
DeleteRemember on the layouts where I haven't specified any transistor type, I won't have paid any attention at all to orientation.
Hi
DeleteYeah tried a few others..but i have almost no response from that socket ( Q2 )..I may be asking a dumb ass question here but be gentle lol..but aint 2N3906 NPN ?...will def have a check for mistakes or messy soldering..but its so few components I feel daft getting this one wrong
2N3906 is PNP. Complete datasheet: http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datasheet/vishay/85129.pdf
DeleteIt's basically PNP equilevant of 2N3904, which is NPN.
Good substitute could be 2N2907. Devi uses a lot of those for PNPs.. :)
+m
Thanks Mirosol..Im still very new to this and find it a bit confusing.....I was thinking PNP was like the germanium types and NPN was silicone ...guess it couldnt be that easy huh ??
DeleteIf you're interested, here's a nice article about bipolar junction transistors: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_4/1.html
DeleteAnd here's 2 minute video that helped me understand these things a bit better :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaBLiciesOU
+m
Ok cracked it..I had mis-read the layout with regards to the jumpers..I didnt run the jumper between the pair of 22nf caps correctly as I thought it was just the solid black line spanning the 3 strips..then noticed the tiny black mark at the bottom indicating the jumper ran the whole way..it sounds like a fuzz tone now..not a distortion. Thanks for the help and suggestions
ReplyDeleteThink its time to invest in the DCA55 anayliser Mark was talking about a while ago
ReplyDeleteHi Guys..yep me again...are the volume and attack supposed to be interactive ??..my volume dont really wanna play unless I give it some attack...also on the very first smidge of the attack im getting a nasty feedback kinda noise until i move the control on a bit...I say feedback noise but i can only aliken it to the sound waterpipes sometimes make if you know what I mean ?? Im in the process of doing a video of it so if that would help il be happy to post the link when its on the tube
ReplyDeleteThe Attack pot is essentially a pre-gain level control, the Volume is post gain level control. So both dump the signal to ground in the far counter clockwise position. As such, altering the Attack control will change the amount of signal hitting the gain stage and the volume control will attenuate the resulting amplified signal to the required level. When the attack is down low it means the signal is also very low and I'm sure you could get some strange noises and glitching with effects like this.
DeleteThanks Mark,,it is at the very beginning of the attack sweep and disappears as soon as you move it a fraction but i always doubt my building skills with things like this..but it is a steep learning curve as im sure you remember. Thanks for all the layouts mate
DeleteIf you don't want it act like that, you can place something like 4K7 resistor in series with attack lug 1. That way the minimum setting will start from 4K7 to the ground and not everything to the ground..
Delete+m
when u say in series with attack lug 1...can u explain it like yer talking to a 6 yr old please lol
DeleteSimply put, just snip the wire (going from ground.....
ReplyDeleteNo. I don't feel like trying to explain. Take a look here:
http://mirosol.kapsi.fi/varasto/boxes_other/JBT_attack_fix.png
:)
+m
Brill..il give it a go...thanks
ReplyDeleteJust breadboarded using 2N2222A/2N3906. Sounds great. Looking forward to soldering this one up!
ReplyDeleteBuilt, verified, sounds great.
DeleteDid box this as my first build some time ago. Ended up using 2N2222A/2N3906 transistors and added a 4K7 in series to attack pot lug 1. Also added tone control after the volume pot just to tame some of the harshness of the bosstone :) did not change the sound too much though.
ReplyDeleteJust build another one of these. For the PNP transistor, I used a germanium Russian MP16B (2N404) with 72hfe. NPN is 2N2222A. Also added the 4k7 in series w/attack pot lug 1. Sounds GREAT.
ReplyDelete