Sunday, 28 October 2012

Barber Dirty Bomb

This is a great sounding effect by Dave Barber, modified to put the Sub Bass pot external.  Dave sells effects at great prices and their build quality is second to none, so this is one of those builders that everyone should support where possible.  So if you get an opportunity to buy any of his other effects at any time then do it, you won't be disappointed.

Info about the original:

Extremely versatile, high gain distortion, provides wider range of stellar tones.
From ultra chunky, to scooped and back to thick again.

Toggle switch selects mid range character for
three distinct modes.
Sweet and powerful Vintage two band E.Q.

Internal adjustable
Bass Boost for powerful sub frequencies.
True bypass footswitch delivers clarity when bypassed.

All hand wired in the USA, traditional award winning Barber layout and wiring. Cascading FET circuit, with MOSFET distortion for incredibly realistic tube quality sounds. 








BOM:
Group Name
Quantity
Resistors 91R
1
Resistors 1K
2
Resistors 2K2
1
Resistors 3K
1
Resistors 10K
6
Resistors 13K3
1
Resistors 91K
1
Resistors 100K
3
Resistors 220K
1
Resistors 470K
1
Resistors 820K
1
Resistors 1M
2
Resistors 2M2
1
Capacitors 100p
1
Capacitors 120p
1
Capacitors 1n
3
Capacitors 3n3
1
Capacitors 3n9
2
Capacitors 10n
2
Capacitors 56n
2
Capacitors 100n
1
Capacitors 220n
1
Capacitors 330n
1
Capacitors 2u2
1
Capacitors 47u
1
Capacitors 100u
3
Diodes 1N4148
2
Transistors 2N7000
2
IC TL072
2

Friday, 26 October 2012

Emma ReezaFRATzitz RF1

Requested by a few people.  Horrible to do a layout for because of multiple cascading stages with close connections from a 14 pin IC which means you can quickly run out of space, but managed to work my way through it eventually.  At 22 columns wide it will just fit in a 1590B if you file the sides down (or use a bench grinder like me), but would be more comfortable and with more room for wiring with a 125B.  Turn it 90 degrees though and it would probably fit more comfortably in the 1590B, even with 22 columns to accomodate vertically,   This has a built in buffered bypass and so only needs a SPDT stomp, or DPDT if you want to include LED indication. If you would prefer to use a 3PDT stomp and conventional true bypass switching, then the Stomp 4 connection becomes the output, you can omit the Stomp 6 connection completely, and also ignore the 2.5mm pitch 150n and 470K at the top right hand side.

Info about the Emma original:

A unique type of  OD/dist. pedal that was designed to emulate as faithfully as possible the distortion characteristics of a real tube amp.

With the inclusion of a bias control the user is allowed to adjust the inner workings of the amplifier from class B ( far left) to class A ( far right) and anywhere in between, altering the harmonic structure of the signal and providing a much wider  variety of tonal options than your standard OD/ dist. pedal.

Additional controls for Level, Gain,and a Hi Cut/ Hi Boost tone circuit allow the user to fine tune the Reezafratzitz to taste.







BOM:

Resistors 120R
1
Resistors 10K
4
Resistors 22K
4
Resistors 27K
1
Resistors 100K
6
Resistors 150K
2
Resistors 470K
6
Resistors 1M
4
Capacitors 47p
5
Capacitors 100p
2
Capacitors 1n
2
Capacitors 6n8
4
Capacitors 47n
2
Capacitors 150n
4
Capacitors 100u
3
IC CD4069
1
Transistors BC549
1



Modified version with additional Bass and Mids controls





BOM:

Capacitors 47p 5
Capacitors 100p 2
Capacitors 1n 2
Capacitors 2n2 1
Capacitors 6n8 4
Capacitors 47n 2
Capacitors 150n 4
Capacitors 100u 3
Resistors 100K 4
Resistors 10K 6
Resistors 120R 1
Resistors 150K 2
Resistors 1M 4
Resistors 22K 4
Resistors 27K 1
Resistors 470K 6
Resistors 47K 2
IC CD4069 1
Transistors Q1 1

Wednesday, 24 October 2012

MXR M-173 Classic 108 Fuzz

Only ever heard good things about this one, so it had to be added to the collection.  Not very good timing though as Vince has just bought one! :o)  I have done the main fuzz and buffer circuit separately so those who just want to build the fuzz can do so.  If you do want to include the buffer put it in a true bypass loop with a toggle before the fuzz circuit so you can bypass the buffer if you want to.

Guitarists of all styles will dig the familiar late-Sixties/ early-Seventies crunch delivered by the new MXR Classic 108 Fuzz. We've taken the guts of our BC-108 loaded Fuzz Face, placed them in a more pedal-board friendly shape, and added the modern conveniences of a battery door, optional AC operation, and true bypass with LED. The Buffer switch eliminates the audible oscillation caused when some wah-wahs are placed in front of a Fuzz Face. The Classic 108 Fuzz comes in a heavy-duty Phase 100-sized box with a sweet hammertone turquoise finish.







And here is the buffer for people who want to build the whole thing.



Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Death By Audio - Soundwave Breakdown

One for the Fuzzynoise-ophiles.  Description of the original:

The Soundwave Breakdown takes the idea of a screaming fuzz pedal and turns it inside out. It uses specially matched transistors turned backwards to get it's bombastic sound. The one knob controls extreme biasing of one of the transistors and the other controls intense filtering. Although this sounds simple the results are perplexing. The combination of allow a vast universe of fuzz | distortion | overdive | buzz | grind | bleeps | synth sounds | harmonies | and soundwave manipulation. The exact positions of the knobs yield completely different sounds for endless great insane fuzz tones.

Video of the 2 knob version, this layout for the 3 knob version with additional volume control.





Sunday, 21 October 2012

Rocktron Austin Gold

On hold until we can get the schematic checked out.

Considered by some as "The Poor Mans Klon" (almost certainly because of the colour and form, they were obviously expecting a rip off), this is another effect which may not be the most fashionable, but sounds great to me.  And you never know, if someone puts the effort in it may be a good base to start from for the next "big thing" if people can ignore Tubescreamer or Big Muff clones for a while! :o)

Buffer into gain stage into buffer means that at least circuit-wise it's nothing like a Klon, but definitely worth a build.

Info about the original:

It dishes out a superb blend of light overdrives that enhance, without changing, the sound of your amp. A unique "Pre-Bass control eliminates problems with too much fuzzy bass, or the opposite problem of being a weak, thin-sounding overdrive. Drive and level controls offer further shaping options. It's like having an entire arsenal of overdrive pedals in just one box. Add an entirely new dimension to your amp with a maximum 30dB of gain without overprocessing.

Features

    Light overdrives that enhance, without changing, the sound of your amp
    Unique "Pre-Bass control eliminates fuzzy bass and weak, thin-sounding overdrive
    Drive and level controls
    30dB of gain without overprocessing