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
hey IvIark, do all 3 legs of the trimpot go to something? i just built this on turretboard, it does work.. well sorta. i used an ac128 transistor, the trimmer doesnt do anything to it! also, it is quieter than unity. should i go to a diff tranny?
Hi Brian. The trimmer is just being used as a simple variable resistor and so only the two connections shown need to be made. If you say the trimmer doesn't do anything then something must be wrong because moving that will alter the bias of the transistor and so should definitely affect the sound.
Are you sure the wiper and one of the legs are connected, and not both legs? Because if the wiper isn't connected to one of the connections shown, then it won't do anything.
pretty sure, wiper is on top and the 2 legs are on the bottom. i can say that with a fet booster in front of it, it fuzzes up nicely. i might try out a diff germ tranny and see if it does anything.
Hi Ivlark, I was just wondering how this circuit differs to the original Rangemaster circuit. This is because your circuit uses resistors of different values to the original and also has a trimpot. Does this affect its tone at all?
The only differences are that I have used the common 4n7 value instead of 5n, and have included a pulldown resistor at the input and output to counter pops and clicks. The trimmer should help fine tune the effect and would be set to 3K9 if you want to mimic the original values.
You can use anything, in fact I would encourage you to try anything you can get hold of so you can see how much of a difference the different types, makes, gains etc make to your ears.
I think around 100hfe seems to be a commonly quoted number but again try a few and see what gain react best for you with your guitar and amp. Remember this is all about getting the best response for you personally and no one can tell you what will sound best with your gear.
Socket and experiment with a few different types, you don't have to spend a lot of money, particularly if you look at some of the Russian germaniums, but it's well worth doing.
Incidentally, this is a highly recommended read about the Rangemaster. RG has answered most questions here so it's really good if you want a broad understanding of what is going on under the hood.
Hi there guys, I built this the other night. Well, I sort of built this. I didn't have the right transistor for it. So I decided to make a silicon version and see what works. I put in a few different ones. 1 type was weaker than a wilted flower, a few were not too shabby at all. Though I plonked in a bc183, and it was an overdrive pedal suddenly.
I did change the input on output caps, I don't have the values with me, but I shall post them when I do.
I'll let you guys know how it sounds next week. I have the shitest amp to use in the house so I can't tell what the tone's like, till I get to my good amp.
If you have a NPN AC128 germanium... more than switching wires you should keep it and sen it to a museum :P
If you want to use a germanium or silicon NPN, then you have to turn around the electrolithic caps. Then +VE will be the +9v wire and the -9v will become th ground.
This circuit is easy to build and really difficult to adjust.
First, the trannie has to be really gainy and with very low leakage (in my experience < 0,1)
And second, the collector has to bet set over 7volts (if the tranni is leaky, you'll never get similar values).
Once checked this issues, you have to remember that the effect is very noisy, the knob crackles and you'll only perceive a use of this knob in the last quarte CW.
This will be my first attempt at building on tagboard (have a good history with vero) and just wanted to confirm about the trimmer. From what I can read it replaces a 3.9K resistor from the emitter. I can just remove the trimmer and use a 3.9K resistor right? Also are there any good pages I can look up how to work with tagboard? I'm guessing I simply solder each part to the corresponding tag in the pic and it should fire up OK?.
I built this correctly as shown and it sound nice!
When i play the guitar straight to the amp it plays at about 10/10 (volume). When i plug it throught the pedal the volume drops at about 9/10 while getting the effect of the pedal. Why? Whats wrong? Isnt this supposed to boost my guitar? Is it 1/2 watt resistors ? could anyone help? Thanks!
You mean, even with the pedal's boost control maxed out you still don't even reach unity volume? I'd risk saying you should try more transistors until you find one that gives you more volume. Don't forget you'll probably have to adjust the trimpot every time.
I´ve build a NPN versión with an AC127 transistor and switchable input caps, works great. I`ve tried to install 1M ohm pull down resistor mod but it change the tone a little. Don´t know why, pull down resistors are supposed to increase impedance and discharge the input/output caps and not affect the tone. Does somebody knows whay this is happening? Thank you
Thanks for posting this - have built this and sounds cool! Used an AC188 transistor, added a switchable input cap, and put the bias control externally.
On the latter, I’m having bias issues. When biased to 7v I get some noise that comes through. Not initially, but it builds after the pedal has been on for a few minutes. Sounds like static/scratchy sound get from a dirty pot. It goes away if I reduce the bias down to nearer 4v and then is happy / can use without reappearing.
The pedal sounds largely the same with either bias setting so not a major issue - only notable change when value gets really low and lose a lot of output.
But...Wondering if any ideas what might be causing it? Leaky transistor? Grounding issue? Dry solder joint somewhere?!
Again - thanks for posting these. Really cool. Also built a tagboard fuzz face (again with AC188s) and is really really cool!
Thank you very much for posting this,been wanting to do one for a while:))
ReplyDeletehey IvIark, do all 3 legs of the trimpot go to something?
ReplyDeletei just built this on turretboard, it does work.. well sorta.
i used an ac128 transistor, the trimmer doesnt do anything to it! also, it is quieter than unity. should i go to a diff tranny?
Hi Brian. The trimmer is just being used as a simple variable resistor and so only the two connections shown need to be made. If you say the trimmer doesn't do anything then something must be wrong because moving that will alter the bias of the transistor and so should definitely affect the sound.
DeleteAre you sure the wiper and one of the legs are connected, and not both legs? Because if the wiper isn't connected to one of the connections shown, then it won't do anything.
pretty sure, wiper is on top and the 2 legs are on the bottom. i can say that with a fet booster in front of it, it fuzzes up nicely. i might try out a diff germ tranny and see if it does anything.
Deletebad transistor.
DeleteHi Ivlark,
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering how this circuit differs to the original Rangemaster circuit. This is because your circuit uses resistors of different values to the original and also has a trimpot. Does this affect its tone at all?
The only differences are that I have used the common 4n7 value instead of 5n, and have included a pulldown resistor at the input and output to counter pops and clicks. The trimmer should help fine tune the effect and would be set to 3K9 if you want to mimic the original values.
Deletemay I use AC125 or AC128 and if yes what about the Hfe ?
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Michael
You can use anything, in fact I would encourage you to try anything you can get hold of so you can see how much of a difference the different types, makes, gains etc make to your ears.
DeleteI think around 100hfe seems to be a commonly quoted number but again try a few and see what gain react best for you with your guitar and amp. Remember this is all about getting the best response for you personally and no one can tell you what will sound best with your gear.
Socket and experiment with a few different types, you don't have to spend a lot of money, particularly if you look at some of the Russian germaniums, but it's well worth doing.
Incidentally, this is a highly recommended read about the Rangemaster. RG has answered most questions here so it's really good if you want a broad understanding of what is going on under the hood.
Deletehttp://www.geofex.com/article_folders/rangemaster/atboost.pdf
Thank you very much indeed Ivlark
DeleteHi there guys, I built this the other night.
ReplyDeleteWell, I sort of built this. I didn't have the right transistor for it.
So I decided to make a silicon version and see what works.
I put in a few different ones. 1 type was weaker than a wilted flower, a few were not too shabby at all.
Though I plonked in a bc183, and it was an overdrive pedal suddenly.
I did change the input on output caps, I don't have the values with me, but I shall post them when I do.
I'll let you guys know how it sounds next week. I have the shitest amp to use in the house so I can't tell what the tone's like, till I get to my good amp.
What wires would I switch in order to use an AC128 Germanium NPN Transistor?
ReplyDeleteIf you have a NPN AC128 germanium... more than switching wires you should keep it and sen it to a museum :P
DeleteIf you want to use a germanium or silicon NPN, then you have to turn around the electrolithic caps. Then +VE will be the +9v wire and the -9v will become th ground.
BR
I think Javi tried to point out that AC128 is PNP transistor. AC176 is NPN.
Delete+m
I'm sorry copy and paste error... I meant GT-AC187 Germanium NPN Transistor
ReplyDeleteNo problem, it was just a joke :)
DeleteAs previously told, you just have to turn around the electrolithics and use +VE as +9v and -9v as ground, that's all :)
BR
Awesome, thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhich cap should I make switchable to get an option like the Cream/Spike switch on the MJM Dallas Boost?
ReplyDelete4n7 at the input.
Delete+m
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis circuit is easy to build and really difficult to adjust.
DeleteFirst, the trannie has to be really gainy and with very low leakage (in my experience < 0,1)
And second, the collector has to bet set over 7volts (if the tranni is leaky, you'll never get similar values).
Once checked this issues, you have to remember that the effect is very noisy, the knob crackles and you'll only perceive a use of this knob in the last quarte CW.
J.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis will be my first attempt at building on tagboard (have a good history with vero) and just wanted to confirm about the trimmer. From what I can read it replaces a 3.9K resistor from the emitter. I can just remove the trimmer and use a 3.9K resistor right? Also are there any good pages I can look up how to work with tagboard? I'm guessing I simply solder each part to the corresponding tag in the pic and it should fire up OK?.
ReplyDelete:)
hello and thx.
ReplyDeleteI built this correctly as shown and it sound nice!
When i play the guitar straight to the amp it plays at about 10/10 (volume). When i plug it throught the pedal the volume drops at about 9/10 while getting the effect of the pedal. Why?
Whats wrong? Isnt this supposed to boost my guitar?
Is it 1/2 watt resistors ? could anyone help? Thanks!
You mean, even with the pedal's boost control maxed out you still don't even reach unity volume? I'd risk saying you should try more transistors until you find one that gives you more volume. Don't forget you'll probably have to adjust the trimpot every time.
DeleteI´ve build a NPN versión with an AC127 transistor and switchable input caps, works great. I`ve tried to install 1M ohm pull down resistor mod but it change the tone a little. Don´t know why, pull down resistors are supposed to increase impedance and discharge the input/output caps and not affect the tone. Does somebody knows whay this is happening? Thank you
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this - have built this and sounds cool! Used an AC188 transistor, added a switchable input cap, and put the bias control externally.
ReplyDeleteOn the latter, I’m having bias issues. When biased to 7v I get some noise that comes through. Not initially, but it builds after the pedal has been on for a few minutes. Sounds like static/scratchy sound get from a dirty pot. It goes away if I reduce the bias down to nearer 4v and then is happy / can use without reappearing.
The pedal sounds largely the same with either bias setting so not a major issue - only notable change when value gets really low and lose a lot of output.
But...Wondering if any ideas what might be causing it? Leaky transistor? Grounding issue? Dry solder joint somewhere?!
Again - thanks for posting these. Really cool. Also built a tagboard fuzz face (again with AC188s) and is really really cool!