Skreddy - Screwdriver

astatine · Post by **astatine** » 04 May 2011, 13:51

Just built this using the vero layout on page 7.

Couldn't get a reasonably priced AC-127 so I used an AC-176 with hfe ~100. Sounds really good even with this slightly higher gain transistor. Some fizziness is apparent at the odd setting, but overall it sounds great, particularly for low gain stuff.

Cheers to all for figuring it out, and to Skreddy for a great design.

JakeFuzz · Post by **JakeFuzz** » 04 May 2011, 14:53

astatine wrote:Just built this using the vero layout on page 7.

Couldn't get a reasonably priced AC-127 so I used an AC-176 with hfe ~100. Sounds really good even with this slightly higher gain transistor. Some fizziness is apparent at the odd setting, but overall it sounds great, particularly for low gain stuff.

Cheers to all for figuring it out, and to Skreddy for a great design.

Where did you pick up your ac176, maybe I will try one out. Does the fizzy decay go away for you at most settings? I am replacing the two bias resistors with trim pots to see if I cant dial it out.

astatine · Post by **astatine** » 05 May 2011, 08:15

JakeFuzz wrote:
astatine wrote:Just built this using the vero layout on page 7.

Couldn't get a reasonably priced AC-127 so I used an AC-176 with hfe ~100. Sounds really good even with this slightly higher gain transistor. Some fizziness is apparent at the odd setting, but overall it sounds great, particularly for low gain stuff.

Cheers to all for figuring it out, and to Skreddy for a great design.
Where did you pick up your ac176, maybe I will try one out. Does the fizzy decay go away for you at most settings? I am replacing the two bias resistors with trim pots to see if I cant dial it out.

I got the ac176 locally from an old surplus shop, just went in and asked for whatever germanium NPN they could give me. Fizziness goes away at almost all settings - I think the ac176 isn't a far off match for the ac127. Hopefully some trim adjustment will sort your build out, good luck.

dukie · Post by **dukie** » 27 May 2011, 21:09

Hi guys..first post here..

anyway i've been building the screwdriver using cow4prez layout (rev.1.2) lately, but since no perfboard layout available i've created one using DIYLC v3. But there are problem after i build it using my own layout, the output volume is very low with clean but chimey sound(i plug it in to computer direclty), and i had to maximize my computer volume to hear it. is this normal, or do I need to plug it in to a guitar amplifier? or maybe there is a mistake in my layout?

Here's my perfboard layout..

Btw,I'm using BC109B because I can't find any BC109C, and according to the datasheet the 109B had lower gain. I thought that was the problem, so i swapped it with BC549C with 400-800hfe but the problem persist.

So can anybody help me here? any help will be greatly appreciated!

Cheers from Jakarta,Indonesia!

dukie · Post by **dukie** » 28 May 2011, 16:52

oh my oh my finaly found the problem (there was a unsoldered lug of the BS170,DooH!

) and now this perfboard layout is verified by me!

Cheers!

oh7hhi · Post by **oh7hhi** » 30 Nov 2011, 07:15

Does Soulsonic's PCB fit into a regular 1590B enclosure? Did he use 1590BB or what?
I tried to contact him via e-mail and PM but no response..where is he

?

sprayfe · Post by **sprayfe** » 30 Nov 2011, 09:17

Soul sonics layout fit nicely in a 1590bb.

oh7hhi · Post by **oh7hhi** » 30 Nov 2011, 09:31

sprayfe wrote:Soul sonics layout fit nicely in a 1590bb.

Thanks!

SpencerPedals · Post by **SpencerPedals** » 16 Dec 2011, 03:29

I've finally had the solder flowing the last few nights, and this is one I've had a board populated for since last year. I used Soulsonic's PCB with very-mojo recycled components, to go along with the vibe of this pedal. This thing is killer. I just tossed in a BC109 and AC127 and it took off. I'm finishing up the enclosure, also recycled, and after that I'll try a few other BC10X's and my other AC127 to see what I like best. I've been listening to (and playing) a lot of Lucero lately, and this thing nails those sorts of tones. Pics to come.

oh7hhi · Post by **oh7hhi** » 23 Dec 2011, 19:45

I just noticed while building this using Soulsonic's layout, that in the layout 33k resistor and 4,7nF cap are connected to volume pot's lugs 1 and 3. In schematic they should be connected to lugs 2 and 1.
Does it make any difference?

Skreddy · Post by **Skreddy** » 24 Dec 2011, 01:50

oh7hhi wrote:I just noticed while building this using Soulsonic's layout, that in the layout 33k resistor and 4,7nF cap are connected to volume pot's lugs 1 and 3. In schematic they should be connected to lugs 2 and 1.
Does it make any difference?

They should go from lug 2 to ground (whichever lug happens to be grounded in this particular layout). The 3.3nf, which is the "Brilliance" pot's filter cap, goes to ground from the signal between the brilliance pot and the volume pot. If the 4.7nf were at the same place, it would also be controlled by the brilliance filter pot; but it's supposed to be always sitting at the output signal in parallel with the 33k resistor.

oh7hhi · Post by **oh7hhi** » 24 Dec 2011, 12:36

Thanks Skreddy, that's what I thought too...

oh7hhi · Post by **oh7hhi** » 07 Jan 2012, 09:35

Finished this a couple weeks ago...

I just wanted to thank Skreddy for such a great design (and of course everyone who traced it and draw layouts and such

)!
It sounds so "open" and natural and I can see myself using this in small venues as a substitute for an overdriven amp.
I think this is the last OD I'll ever build...

If someone asks my opinion on this pedal, I will also tell him/her to "BUY IT!"

gilmour_pugliese · Post by **gilmour_pugliese** » 17 Jan 2012, 11:28

Hi guys, just a question: for a better gain response, it's better a rev log fuzz pot than a linear? I've used a 2k linear on my clone, but the pedal is fairly clean until 60% of rotation, giving a sort of boost effect with really low gain. So, I'm thinking that a rev log is perfect for this circuit... I'm wrong?

If I remember right, Skreddy uses a rev log on his Lunar Module...

BTW, here's my pedal...

absolutelyfibulous · Post by **absolutelyfibulous** » 30 Jul 2013, 04:37

Just built this up for the hell of it. I have an input cap modified rangemaster in my guitar and flicked it on while the brilliant pot was all the way off and got a very decent octave tone out of it. I'm not sure if this just happens with the circuit, or if some of my part choices changed something in it. No use questioning it, I'm sure find a use for it. Just thought I'd share that.

ch1naski · Post by **ch1naski** » 04 Aug 2013, 04:27

Hmm. Octave, you say? I may have to run a RM into it and see what happens.

This really is one of the best sounding dirt pedals out there. Woody and organic.
Skreddy did an incredible job on this.