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
Since we're having a streak of big boards... :) Guess i'm getting old too since it's been over 15 years since this appeared on the marked.. This layout is without the input, output and switching buffers. Should still go nicely in B box. The transistors were 2SC1815GR on the original, but i've tweaked the layout to accept more commonly used pinouts. If you want to use the original ones, just mind the pinout. There's room to get the BCE transistors in neatly. But you should be golden with any NPN, like 2N5088, 2N3904, BC549 or BC550.
Fab distortion from the Tube Pioneers. Danelectro pioneered tube amps in 1947. This hot little box delivers the definitive vintage distortion. Its tonality covers a range far superior to most popular distortion units. 2 tone controls offer infinite variation.
*Edit! There were two wrong cap values on the layout - now fixed! (2016/07/16)
I bought the Fab Tone back in the mid-90's and then returned it in favor of the Daddy-O OD... the Fab Tone just had this weird midrange peak what bothered me, for some reason. Still, might be worth taking a shot making my own...
LOL, I can just see you looking at the schematic, thinking; "You know what? This just isn't worth having nightmares over." And you'd be right. There's PCBs available for that build, that'll be the way to go for the OD5.
I think that's a challenge i might tackle at some point. It is massive thing, but i think it may be doable in approx. Klon size...
I always look at it and start - there's a input buffer, there's a two transistor preamp stage feeding the opamp gain stage with dual gang pot and another buffer.
At this point i'm always like "hmm this ain't so bad..."
After that there's the tubescreamer and one more buffer.. At that point i close the lid of my laptop... :) +m
I got it 75% working order. If I turn the bass, trebel or volume all the way up at the same time I get a high pitch feedback. I haven't recently had the time to try to debug this, but tonight maybe the night!! I will let you know my findings.
Built this one with the same results as Warren G, after checking the schematics it should be cut in between 8,2nF cap and 22K resistor (4th column x 3th row from upper left corner). Basicly, High 2 lug shold be connected to ground through 2K resistor and 8.2nF cap. I also changed IC1 for MC1458P (TL072 was also fine) and the feedback at higher gains has gone. The pedal now works and sounds fine, its a kind of fuzz distortion. Hope this helps.
The reason I ask is I just picked one up, and it doesn't sound like a metal zone to me, more like a shredmaster on steroids! Is it really a metal zone?
I used to have a few of these Fab Tones but I only have one left. I think I was confusing the Metal Zone thing with my Dano Black Licorice (but I'm not sure on that one either)
Knowing Danelectro, it's a clone of something, but I don't think it's a Shredmaster either
I checked the layout against my real pedal (values match) and found two wrong values on the layout. C19 - 330uf should be 330nf, and 22uf should be 1uf. It's labeled C22, on the schematic, so that may have cause the error.
This layout starts at C9 on the Fabtone schematic, and C29 on the Metal Zone schem. You can follow along from there. The schematics for the Fabtone and Metal Zone are very close, other than the midrange .
Just had to open mine up as it has conked out. I can confirm that C22 is 1uF rather than 22uF. C19 is 1uF in mine, and it looks like it was changed after initial build-up.
No problem! Now, my build is a bit less distorted than it should be. Since I notice a gyrator section before the input buffer on the schematic (that was trimmed away for this layout), could it in fact be offering a boost, instead of just being unity?
Maybe it's like the Boss DS-1 layout that needed that 1st buffer stage? Thanks for your work!
This is great. First pedal I've ever bought, not in great nick these days. Will have to give this one a go!
ReplyDeleteMy whole band used this on our records in 1998. Big thanks for this one.
ReplyDeleteI bought the Fab Tone back in the mid-90's and then returned it in favor of the Daddy-O OD... the Fab Tone just had this weird midrange peak what bothered me, for some reason. Still, might be worth taking a shot making my own...
ReplyDeleteAnother big board. Maybe... just maybe Miro will conquer his fear of the OD5 soon. ;)
ReplyDeleteBelieve me Olav, that's going to be a lot bigger... :)
Delete+m
LOL, I can just see you looking at the schematic, thinking; "You know what? This just isn't worth having nightmares over."
DeleteAnd you'd be right. There's PCBs available for that build, that'll be the way to go for the OD5.
I think that's a challenge i might tackle at some point. It is massive thing, but i think it may be doable in approx. Klon size...
DeleteI always look at it and start - there's a input buffer, there's a two transistor preamp stage feeding the opamp gain stage with dual gang pot and another buffer.
At this point i'm always like "hmm this ain't so bad..."
After that there's the tubescreamer and one more buffer.. At that point i close the lid of my laptop... :)
+m
Olav: Check the front page....
Delete+m
I got it 75% working order. If I turn the bass, trebel or volume all the way up at the same time I get a high pitch feedback. I haven't recently had the time to try to debug this, but tonight maybe the night!! I will let you know my findings.
ReplyDeleteAnyone get this working?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Delete4x3=cut Verified
ReplyDeleteHmm.. Could you possibly rephrase that. I'm not sure if i get it...
Delete+m
Built this one with the same results as Warren G, after checking the schematics it should be cut in between 8,2nF cap and 22K resistor (4th column x 3th row from upper left corner). Basicly, High 2 lug shold be connected to ground through 2K resistor and 8.2nF cap. I also changed IC1 for MC1458P (TL072 was also fine) and the feedback at higher gains has gone. The pedal now works and sounds fine, its a kind of fuzz distortion. Hope this helps.
DeleteNow it makes sense. Updated and tagged. Cheers Strikester!
Delete+m
Anyone know what this one is based on or similar too? Marshall Shredmaster?
DeleteI believe this one is a BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone clone
ReplyDeleteHmmm...
Deletehttp://www.freestompboxes.org/members/soulsonic/schematic/danelectro%20fabtone.gif
http://www.hobby-hour.com/electronics/s/schematics/boss-mt2-metal-zone-schematic.gif
No....
+m
Here comes some suggested mods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF7cIp9qvSs
ReplyDeleteThe reason I ask is I just picked one up, and it doesn't sound like a metal zone to me, more like a shredmaster on steroids! Is it really a metal zone?
ReplyDeleteApparently not lol
ReplyDeleteI used to have a few of these Fab Tones but I only have one left. I think I was confusing the Metal Zone thing with my Dano Black Licorice (but I'm not sure on that one either)
Knowing Danelectro, it's a clone of something, but I don't think it's a Shredmaster either
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI checked the layout against my real pedal (values match) and found two wrong values on the layout. C19 - 330uf should be 330nf, and 22uf should be 1uf. It's labeled C22, on the schematic, so that may have cause the error.
ReplyDeleteThis layout starts at C9 on the Fabtone schematic, and C29 on the Metal Zone schem. You can follow along from there. The schematics for the Fabtone and Metal Zone are very close, other than the midrange .
I meant I checked the schematic against my real pedal.
DeleteJust had to open mine up as it has conked out.
DeleteI can confirm that C22 is 1uF rather than 22uF. C19 is 1uF in mine, and it looks like it was changed after initial build-up.
I'll try to find some time to tweak the layout accordingly...
Delete+m
...and true. You were correct about those two values. Both were clearly my mistakes. Layout updated with a note.
DeleteCheers Beaker and Alex!
+m
No problem! Now, my build is a bit less distorted than it should be. Since I notice a gyrator section before the input buffer on the schematic (that was trimmed away for this layout), could it in fact be offering a boost, instead of just being unity?
DeleteMaybe it's like the Boss DS-1 layout that needed that 1st buffer stage? Thanks for your work!
So:
ReplyDelete1) Did anyone figure out how to successfully clone the DD-1? (are the bugs worked out?)
2) Is anyone making one in a nice small enclosure with a good bypass or true bypass?
3) Is anyone making one with a clean boost after it (maybe with a treble control)?
4) Is anyone making one for me at a decent price?