ZVex Woolly Mammoth - Cut Down Version

Vince on here asked me if I could adapt my layout to make a 2 Knob Woolly Mammoth with just Pinch and Volume controls.  He wanted me to remove the Wool pot simulating it being set fully clockwise, and  remove the the EQ pot and simulate it being set dead centre.

The Wool pot was easy enough, it just takes the 100u cap from the emitter of Q3 to ground in the clockwise position, so I could connect that directly to ground.  The EQ pot was 10K and so I used two 4K99 resistors from where lugs 1 and 3 of the EQ pot would have connected, and taking the other side of both resistors to the same row simulated the centre setting.  If you want to alter this slightly just socket them and change the ratio between the two resistors, maybe try a 6K8 and 3K3 for instance if you want slightly more treble or swapped round for more bass.

I think it sounds great so I had to post it here just in case anyone else fancies making one too.  Vince's excellent demo:

Emma TransMORGrifier

Info about the original pedal:

A compressor pedal incorporating the best attributes of classic pedals while simultaneously eliminating the shortcomings common to such vintage designs.

Included are controls for the adjustment of Attack, Release, and Ratio that allow the user precise and continuous variation to their sound. These controls offer the ability to custom tailor the effect to match the job at hand. No matter what style or instrument, the perfect amount of compression is easily dialed in with minimal coloration to the original signal.

Note:
The CA3080 is a discontinued IC, and although it is still available from a number of sources it will get more difficult to obtain as time goes by.   After the discussions below, the circuit was tested by G5120fx with an LM13700 replacing the discontinued IC and it worked fine.  Unfortunately this IC is 16 pin instead of 8 because it is 2 channel and includes buffers, but if you find that you can get the LM13700 cheaper or more readily then you can use the following daughterboard to allow you to use that IC.   Just solder the wires to where the CA3080 pins would be on the main board.

This daughterboard can be used with any of the effects in this blog which use the CA3080, including the MXR DynaComp, Ross Compressor and Keeley Compressor.

ZVex Fuzz Factory - compact layout

A more compact layout for the Fuzz Factory using radial caps, so I thought I'd add a new post rather than add it to the old layout, to avoid confusion as this one obviously isn't verified yet.

Info about the original:

This is a five-knob fuzz using two new old-stock sixties germanium transistors. The circuit is not modeled after any classic fuzz design, but should have been around when Leary was still lucid.
Although the five knobs are named for the parameters over which they seem to have the most control, please don't hold me to it. They are controls for various operating levels and biases, and basically shape you a personalized fuzz. 

Catalinbread Galileo

Info from ProGuitarShop about Catalinbread's original:

In January of 2012 I began speaking with Nicholas from Catalinbread about making us a dual overdrive pedal. I didn't have anything specific in mind. I wanted to begin the discussion of putting two of his drive pedals in one box. After a couple of meetings and many cocktails we agreed that it would make a great deal of sense to put the CB30 and Naga Viper together in one box and go after a cranked AC30 with a treble booster sound. A sound made famous by many Vox users of the 60's.  We then began to think a bit more of a specific sound that we were looking for and the Galileo was born. Scaramouche! Scaramouche! Will you do the Fandango?!

Magnifico! Plug into the new Catalinbread Galileo and your brain may see stars. Catalinbread has created a hotter upgrade to their already phenomenal CB30, added a dedicated, fine tuned treble boost, courtesy of their Naga Viper circuitry, and housed it all in a single majestic gold pedal decorated with the well-earned insignia of rock and roll royalty. The Galileo delivers the regal, operatic sound you would expect from a wall of AC30s with all of the controls you need to rule your own creative realm. In addition to controls for Volume, Bass and Treble, the Gain control gives you a broad sweep of that singularly expressive overdrive while the Top Boost control lets you dial in all of the high end definition that will take your breath away. Two footswitches give you the flexibility to operate without the high-end augmentation, or opt for true bypass of the whole pedal.

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Update: Oscar Jr below let me know the circuits are independently switched which makes the description bizarre.  They are both apparently independent and the Naga is first in the chain from the input socket. 

Update 2: It has been suggested that the 100K resistor at the bottom right near Q3 should be replaced by a 51K which inproves the sound.  It may be worth experimenting here to see which you prefer.

Passive Bill of Materials:

Group          Name    Qty
Capacitors     100n     1
Capacitors     100n     1
Capacitors     100p     1
Capacitors     10n      1
Capacitors     10n      1
Capacitors     1n       1
Capacitors     1n       1
Capacitors     220n     1
Capacitors     22n      1
Capacitors     22n      1
Capacitors     22n      1
Capacitors     22u      1
Capacitors     2u2      1
Capacitors     2u2      1
Capacitors     330p     1
Capacitors     470p     1
Capacitors     470p     1
Capacitors     47p      1
Capacitors     47p      1
Capacitors     47u      1
Capacitors     47u      1
Capacitors     4n7      1
Resistors      100K     1
Resistors      100K     1
Resistors      100K     1
Resistors      12K      1
Resistors      1M       1
Resistors      1M       1
Resistors      1M       1
Resistors      1M       1
Resistors      1M       1
Resistors      220K     1
Resistors      2M2      1
Resistors      2M2      1
Resistors      390R     1
Resistors      390R     1
Resistors      470K     1
Resistors      470K     1
Resistors      470R     1
Resistors      47K      1
Resistors      4K7      1
Resistors      4K7      1
Resistors      4K7      1
Resistors      4K7      1
Resistors      56K      1
Resistors      68K      1
Resistors      8K2      1

Effect Component Kits

I get asked frequently about where to buy components from, and I know a lot of people, like me, have got together a huge stash of parts so they always have the right resistors and caps at hand.   But others still seem to be buying the exact components as and when they need them, sometimes from multiple suppliers and so I thought it would be a good idea for these people if we could put some sort of kit together for the effects so that you can buy everything you need from one place.  So I had a word with Bob at Bitsbox who sells electronic components at great prices and I know a number of people already purchase from him from all over the world, and he has agreed to put together kits for these layouts which will include all resistors, capacitors, transistors or opamps, diodes, pots, DC adapter, stomp switch and even an appropriately size stripboard. 

I know some people have their own favoured parts when it comes to boxes (size or colour of your choice), indication LED (colour of your choice), input and output sockets (quality and type of your choice) and knobs (design of your choice).  With that in mind, these parts haven't been included in the kits so you can still stamp your own mark on the build, but everything else you need is there.

I'll just add a link to the layouts that have kits available as and when they are available, but if there is anything you want to see then let myself or Bitsbox know and we'll try to get some order of priority in putting the kits together.  I'll update this post as and when new kits are added so that there is a master list to refer to if you're wondering what kits are available.

All Bitsbox kits can be found HERE.


Update 24th April 2014
Kits now available for sale in the US.  Check out:
http://mklec.com/project-kits/guitar-effects-kits
And contact David about what you would like to see next