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
It seemed a lot worse than it was. Not proud of having pot wires on opposite sides, but it was the only way to keep the size sane. I'm just hoping it works - and that i perceived the balance pot correctly.. :) +m
I think some people will find sourcing 30K dual gang pot a challenge... So i would suggest a 50K dual gang with 82K resistor soldered from pin 1 to 3 for both gangs. That equals 31K, but will slightly mess up your taper... +m
Hi maties, I'm checking this layout with the schematic here (trying to minimise problems due to it being unverified),: http://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1842&start=0 My question is there's a 1M resistor between the 5.6nF and 68k components (between Q4 collector and Q5/Q6) that's not on the schematic. I assume there's a reason for it on the layout and just wondering if you could point me in the right direction. It also has a 10nF cap instead of the 100nF cap in the layout between ground and sustain 2. I'm guessing this is a different filter? Would it be possible if you could hint on where the schematic you used came from. More curious than anything. Cheers for any help :)
Here's the schematic i used: http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/diagrams/maestro_fz1s_sc.gif
Took me a while to get it, you're correct. 100n is a copy-paste error on my behalf, should be 10n. And for the 1M resistor.. I've swapped a lot of components around when compacting the layout - that 1M is supposed to be pulldown resistor at the input. So the cut is in the wrong place.
Thanks for heads up. Saved someone a lot of trouble.. but basically, if you want to build it - just use 10n from sustain 2 and omit the 1M (or move the cut 4 spaces right).
I'll put this one on hold and fix it once i'm back home - in about 36 hours or so. +m
Just taking a stab at this but I'm guessing the 2n 5088 should have around 500ish or a little more hfe and the 2n5133 should have around 650 hfe or am I waaaay off? I can't seem to find a decent data sheet for the 5133's. I know in the pink flesh I made I used 2n5088 instead of the 2n5133's that was listed and it sounded great. Pretty please :)
You can tag this one as verified maties. She sound pretty damn close to the demo minus the voice over. The balance control is a strange one as turned ccw you only get almost the bypass tone plus a pinch of fuzz and cw it all systems go. The only thing I'm iffy about is the sustain. It's fairy short almost des integrating itself to pieces. I'm sure it's a transistor tweak away from awesomeness. I used bc550c for Q1,2 & 3 with hfe of 500, Q4 (fuzz) got a mpsa18 at 680 hfe and the clippers, Q5 & 6 scored a set of bc 548 at 250 hfe. Thanks for the layout miro and dare I say it again...... This site ROCKS!!!! Cheers.
i've seen builds of these with trim pots... the brighter fuzz tone on my build seems to be too trebly and choking out... wondering if it's a bias issue. any thoughts out there??
I made this and the mellow fuzz tone is not quite as loud as my bypass signal and the treble fuzz tone is really loud. Is this the way this pedal is supposed to be? Please help.
Have just finished tu build and test this circuit, and OMFG, THIS is a fuzz, holy shit, awesome sound and piercing tone!
Doron, have you tried it? In my opinion, rapes the FZ-1 and the FZ-1A, nothing compares, what a great sound, I'me falling in love at any note I play....
By the way: No sustain issues, not a MKII, but a nce 3-4 seconds sustain and a natural decay after. That's true that the balance behaviour is not very usual from clean to mayhem. Maybe I was expecting something like a toine pot, and no way similar :P
Switch Fuzz works fine too, even thought I think I won't use the ultra - compressed position, too trebbly, it reminds me of a Zonk Machine at extreme settings.
Pity that this otherwise great circuit lacks some volume, slightly over unity at Max, but it seems endemic on Maestro fuzzes.
Used BC109C q1-4 and Me4003 as clipping Q5-6. Only difference with the schematic is that I used a 1.8m resistor instead of a 1.5m.
Well Javi you just pushed this near the top of my "to build" list.
Although I may look into omitting the blend control. Even if it was a better designed blend I'm not really into the clean blend on fuzz. Plus the dual pot will be difficult for me to find
Great Travis, you won't regret building this unit!
By ther way, I've used a 50K dual gang from Tayda. Was doing a little research, and there's no problem using s 50 instead of a 30k, even the GGG unit, uses a dual 50K, so no need to worry with parallel resistors, and so on.
Just few comments if you finally build this effect: - Tayda's 50k dual works fine in the build. - The blend knob rocks. Is a relly useful control, allover with the Fuzz 2 mode one. You can get even a double guitar effect: one clear and other distorted at the same time. - The volume drop in Fuzz 1 mode, gets solved swapping the 470k resistor with a 180k one, volume in both modes gets nearly the same and it doesn't affect the tone.
I don't know what the thinking was behind it but as long as SW2 is connected to lug 3 of the second Balance track then you've made the required connection. I have done similar things myself on occasion when I have used free holes on the vero as a central connection point rather than having to solder multiple wires to a single lug (like with ground connections for instance). There is only a single wire between SW2 and Balance 2-3 though so although the connection to the board isn't required, it will obviously still work fine with this connection in place.
Awww, flexidiscs in magazines...
ReplyDeleteSuper funny how the narrator says: "Sure there's a lot of fuzz tones on the market, so who needs another one?!" :D And that's back in '72 :D
Delete+m
Cool layout mate
ReplyDeleteComing from you, that means a lot.
DeleteIt seemed a lot worse than it was. Not proud of having pot wires on opposite sides, but it was the only way to keep the size sane. I'm just hoping it works - and that i perceived the balance pot correctly.. :)
+m
Isn't this what Carlos Santana used?
ReplyDeleteThat demo makes me feel like far out man. I love it. I've gotta have a crack at this one just because......
ReplyDeleteCheers maties!
I think some people will find sourcing 30K dual gang pot a challenge... So i would suggest a 50K dual gang with 82K resistor soldered from pin 1 to 3 for both gangs. That equals 31K, but will slightly mess up your taper...
ReplyDelete+m
Or I am thinking about adding two resistors about 37,5K by this calculator http://www.diystompboxes.com/analogalchemy/emh/emh.html Is it OK?
Deletethanks duder....
ReplyDeleteHi maties, I'm checking this layout with the schematic here (trying to minimise problems due to it being unverified),: http://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1842&start=0
ReplyDeleteMy question is there's a 1M resistor between the 5.6nF and 68k components (between Q4 collector and Q5/Q6) that's not on the schematic. I assume there's a reason for it on the layout and just wondering if you could point me in the right direction. It also has a 10nF cap instead of the 100nF cap in the layout between ground and sustain 2. I'm guessing this is a different filter?
Would it be possible if you could hint on where the schematic you used came from. More curious than anything.
Cheers for any help :)
Here's the schematic i used: http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/diagrams/maestro_fz1s_sc.gif
ReplyDeleteTook me a while to get it, you're correct. 100n is a copy-paste error on my behalf, should be 10n. And for the 1M resistor.. I've swapped a lot of components around when compacting the layout - that 1M is supposed to be pulldown resistor at the input. So the cut is in the wrong place.
Thanks for heads up. Saved someone a lot of trouble.. but basically, if you want to build it - just use 10n from sustain 2 and omit the 1M (or move the cut 4 spaces right).
I'll put this one on hold and fix it once i'm back home - in about 36 hours or so.
+m
Cool mate, cheers for that.
ReplyDeleteAnd fixed. Looks ok to me.
Delete+m
Thanks Miro, I'll see if I can get it on the slab this weekend. Have a good one!
ReplyDeleteJust taking a stab at this but I'm guessing the 2n 5088 should have around 500ish or a little more hfe and the 2n5133 should have around 650 hfe or am I waaaay off? I can't seem to find a decent data sheet for the 5133's. I know in the pink flesh I made I used 2n5088 instead of the 2n5133's that was listed and it sounded great. Pretty please :)
ReplyDeleteHere's some info from alltransistors:
Deletehttp://alltransistors.com/transistor.php?transistor=4544
2N5088 will be just fine. Other good candidates would be BC108C, BC109C, BC549C, BC550C, 2N5089 MPSA18 and so on. Just mind the pinouts :)
+m
By the way, Q5 and Q6 are used as diodes, so hfe or model has not importance at all.
DeleteJ.
Thank you very much miro, much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteYou can tag this one as verified maties. She sound pretty damn close to the demo minus the voice over. The balance control is a strange one as turned ccw you only get almost the bypass tone plus a pinch of fuzz and cw it all systems go. The only thing I'm iffy about is the sustain. It's fairy short almost des integrating itself to pieces. I'm sure it's a transistor tweak away from awesomeness.
ReplyDeleteI used bc550c for Q1,2 & 3 with hfe of 500, Q4 (fuzz) got a mpsa18 at 680 hfe and the clippers, Q5 & 6 scored a set of bc 548 at 250 hfe.
Thanks for the layout miro and dare I say it again...... This site ROCKS!!!!
Cheers.
Cool! Thanks Jeff!
Delete+m
i've seen builds of these with trim pots... the brighter fuzz tone on my build seems to be too trebly and choking out... wondering if it's a bias issue. any thoughts out there??
ReplyDeleteDo you know what hfe is recommended for Q5-6 (2n5133)? I found on ebay these with hfe >225 http://www.ebay.com/itm/330861975396
ReplyDeleteI made this and the mellow fuzz tone is not quite as loud as my bypass signal and the treble fuzz tone is really loud. Is this the way this pedal is supposed to be? Please help.
ReplyDeleteI read that a guy had a 72 Maestro Superfuzz and it acted this way, so I guess the pedal is supposed to be this way.
DeleteHi mates,
ReplyDeleteHave just finished tu build and test this circuit, and OMFG, THIS is a fuzz, holy shit, awesome sound and piercing tone!
Doron, have you tried it? In my opinion, rapes the FZ-1 and the FZ-1A, nothing compares, what a great sound, I'me falling in love at any note I play....
By the way: No sustain issues, not a MKII, but a nce 3-4 seconds sustain and a natural decay after. That's true that the balance behaviour is not very usual from clean to mayhem. Maybe I was expecting something like a toine pot, and no way similar :P
Switch Fuzz works fine too, even thought I think I won't use the ultra - compressed position, too trebbly, it reminds me of a Zonk Machine at extreme settings.
Pity that this otherwise great circuit lacks some volume, slightly over unity at Max, but it seems endemic on Maestro fuzzes.
Used BC109C q1-4 and Me4003 as clipping Q5-6. Only difference with the schematic is that I used a 1.8m resistor instead of a 1.5m.
Great sounding and great layout, thanks Miro!
J.
Well Javi you just pushed this near the top of my "to build" list.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I may look into omitting the blend control. Even if it was a better designed blend I'm not really into the clean blend on fuzz. Plus the dual pot will be difficult for me to find
Great Travis, you won't regret building this unit!
DeleteBy ther way, I've used a 50K dual gang from Tayda. Was doing a little research, and there's no problem using s 50 instead of a 30k, even the GGG unit, uses a dual 50K, so no need to worry with parallel resistors, and so on.
I bet you'll love it!
Just few comments if you finally build this effect:
Delete- Tayda's 50k dual works fine in the build.
- The blend knob rocks. Is a relly useful control, allover with the Fuzz 2 mode one. You can get even a double guitar effect: one clear and other distorted at the same time.
- The volume drop in Fuzz 1 mode, gets solved swapping the 470k resistor with a 180k one, volume in both modes gets nearly the same and it doesn't affect the tone.
J.
Hi JaviCAP. Wich 470k resistor should be replaced for the volume drop?
ReplyDeleteHi JaviCAP. I would also like to know the answer to the above question. thanks
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhy do balance 2-3/switch2 lead to a trace cut?
ReplyDeleteI don't know what the thinking was behind it but as long as SW2 is connected to lug 3 of the second Balance track then you've made the required connection. I have done similar things myself on occasion when I have used free holes on the vero as a central connection point rather than having to solder multiple wires to a single lug (like with ground connections for instance). There is only a single wire between SW2 and Balance 2-3 though so although the connection to the board isn't required, it will obviously still work fine with this connection in place.
Delete