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Original effects with schematics, layouts and instructions, freely contributed by members or found in publications. Cannot be used for commercial purposes without the consent of the owners of the copyright.

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Stompboxes circuits published in magazines, books or on DIY electronics websites.
Topics: 808

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Last post Re: Shure - Level Loc Compres…
cjonesplay
28 sep 2023, 19:51
Original Tracer Layouts
A collection of original layouts for vintage guitar effects. If you want to build real replica's of vintage pedals, this is the forum you want to look at.
Topics: 20

20 Topics

111 Posts

Last post Re: MXR Dyna Comp - original …
mozz
09 nov 2023, 19:55

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Projects Index by type of effect

Last post by modman « 21 Jan 2008, 05:37

by modman » 21 Jan 2008, 05:37

Rating: 0.2%

About the projects index

This page tries to keep the available projects indexed.
If you want to share files to build a effect that's not yet (widely) available, it would be a pleasure for us to host it here.
The projects should be verified , though, and at least contain a schematic , some layout file (transfer, vero, perf) and a component layout file .
Incomplete or unverified projects will be moved to the Projects in Progress folder: if you fall upon such a project, please report the...

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View the latest post Projects Index by type of ef …
Last post modman
21 Jan 2008, 05:37

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THE ENGINEER'S THUMB... At last, a better compressor! [documentation]

Last post by jhergonz « 20 May 2018, 18:09
Replies: 101
by merlinb » 21 Apr 2012, 14:23
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For a long time I've felt guilty that my pedal board didn't include a compressor. Finally, after about a year of breadboarding, I have produced a circuit that can take on a Dynacomp and win , boasting:

Up to five times more headroom than a Dynacomp
Less noise than a Dynacomp
Same available sustain as a Dynacomp
Fewer parts than a Dynacomp
Cheaper than a Dynacomp
Feedforward side chain
Possibility for all five controls
Fits in 1590B
Millennium bypass

Despite its final simplicity, I went though...
101 Replies

53946 Views

View the latest post Re: THE ENGINEER'S THUMB... …
Last post jhergonz
20 May 2018, 18:09
Ammo Can Reactive Load

Last post by Vitallka « Yesterday, 05:02
Replies: 20
by soulsonic » 10 Apr 2023, 03:36
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Rating: 6.9%

I finally got around to designing my DIY version of the Suhr Reactive Load. I was able to simplify the circuit with off-the-shelf parts and retain nearly identical frequency characteristics. I haven't formally measured the AC impedance yet, but spice said it should be nearly the same.
AmmoCanLoad01.JPG
Sine wave sweep of the circuit produced a frequency response almost identical to the Suhr, with the major peaks and dips at the same frequencies. One thing I noted was my design had a steeper...
20 Replies

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View the latest post Re: Ammo Can Reactive Load
Last post Vitallka
Yesterday, 05:02
Tetrafuzz

Last post by Vitallka « 02 Dec 2023, 16:42
Replies: 5
by Vitallka » 29 Nov 2023, 21:42

Rating: 1.9%

Hi to all.
Maybe you, like me, have a lot of germanium pnp transistors that have a small beta (20-30)? And you don't know where to apply them? I have the same problems :)
And I thought that it is possible to apply them somewhere and found some solution. The essence of this solution is as follows: the first stage should be a silicon npn transistor to significantly amplify the signal and solve ground problems, then two stages on germanium pnp transistors, and then a silicon npn transistor...

5 Replies

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Last post Vitallka
02 Dec 2023, 16:42
Fred Briggs - Super OCD

Last post by Beedoola « 26 Nov 2023, 06:21
Replies: 65
by briggs » 28 Feb 2012, 16:39
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Rating: 8.2%

From my blog:

The Fulltone OCD has been an overdrive favourite for many years now. It's got a really nice tone when your amp is set right (I prefer it with Marshalls I must say). Well, I've always thought about modifiying the basic circuit (which itself is based around the old Voodoo Labs Overdrive) to give it a little more variety and use over a wider spectrum of tones.

As you can see the Super OCD has a few extra controls:

- Firstly the Bass control - it's nicked from Paul C's Timmy pedal...
65 Replies

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Last post Beedoola
26 Nov 2023, 06:21
Germanium and Silicon diodes comparison [documentation]

Last post by thomasbe86 « 25 Nov 2023, 11:24
Replies: 35
by thomasbe861 » 13 Oct 2023, 10:01
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Rating: 7.6%

Long story short, I ended up testing and measuring a good part of all odd diodes I have had accumulated over the decades of tinkering.
Some are modern, widely available, some are more rare and not produced anymore, germanium, silicon, including Schottky, silicon carbide, Zener, LEDs, IR, etc.
Here are the graphs, showing the forward voltage drop for a given current (I-V curve) for different types of diodes. Hope this is helpful to anyone. All were measured using a Peak Atlas DCA75 Pro.

The...
35 Replies

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View the latest post Re: Germanium and Silicon di …
Last post thomasbe86
25 Nov 2023, 11:24
Clear Solid State Blackface Preamp

Last post by taxfree « 23 Nov 2023, 17:38
Replies: 2
by taxfree » 22 Nov 2023, 17:17

Rating: 0.6%

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post. In an attempt to make a sptripboard of the Clean Solid State Blackface Preamp circuit, I wanted to make sure it is correct or if it is possible to create a smaller stripboard.

Referenca:

2 Replies

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View the latest post Re: Clear Solid State Blackf …
Last post taxfree
23 Nov 2023, 17:38
Advice/Criticism needed: The Keelhauler, an (un)clean preamp.

Last post by thomasbe86 « 23 Nov 2023, 08:08
Replies: 13
by blackboarcult » 24 Sep 2023, 14:33

Rating: 2.8%

Hi good folks,

I have the present circuit on my breadboard, and I would like to submit it to more experienced minds to see if there is any major flaw. My knowledge in electronics is purely DIY, on-the-go acquired, so even though my reasoning appears, ahem, reasonable, I'm always afraid to miss something crucial. So far it sounds nice to me, will probably mess with the tonestack and a few other values, but before going any further I hereby submit it here for criticism and observations.

I was...

13 Replies

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View the latest post Re: Advice/Criticism needed: …
Last post thomasbe86
23 Nov 2023, 08:08
What diy compressor?

Last post by mauman « 20 Nov 2023, 14:04
Replies: 4
by Sparkio » 19 Nov 2023, 16:17

I am interested in building a pedal and wonder if a compressor would be a good idea.

I’m a relative newbie to this so appreciate any advice on what type to get that’s not too difficult to make. Ideally a compressor with a mix knob

4 Replies

430 Views

View the latest post Re: What diy compressor?
Last post mauman
20 Nov 2023, 14:04
Fuzzrocious Ram the Manparts changed to overdrive [schematics]

Last post by Lukasen « 19 Nov 2023, 16:46

by Lukasen » 19 Nov 2023, 16:46

Quite a simple thing.

I went back to the Fuzzrocious Ram The Manpart project that I didn't finish after the mods. I threw away (after modification with 10k pot//4k7 for better control) the starving circuit and wanted to get more overdrive-sound from it.

However, I did not know how to connect a suitable gain control. At the input, I didn't want to reduce the already low input impedance of the LM386, and at the same time I wanted to keep the minimalist form of the entire circuit. Finally, I...

0 Replies

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View the latest post Fuzzrocious Ram the Manparts …
Last post Lukasen
19 Nov 2023, 16:46
Baja low noise low current drain bass guitar preamp 121218 [documentation]

Last post by lars-musik « 18 Nov 2023, 09:48
Replies: 45
by bajaman » 12 Dec 2018, 07:21
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Rating: 10.6%

Hi folks
Merry Christmas to all :hug:
Here is a very simple but extremely nice sounding discrete bass guitar preamp for you all to build. Current draw is around 80uA :!:
I recently wound a Music Man style alnico bass pickup - (low inductance but series connected - 3500 turns of 41 awg polynylon per coil :wink: ) and i needed a preamp for it. Everyone seems to be going crazy for the Aguilar / Sadowsky two band bass preamps and i have seen a schematic for the Sadowsky on the web, but thought i...
45 Replies

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View the latest post Re: Baja low noise low curre …
Last post lars-musik
18 Nov 2023, 09:48
Another Optical Compressor

Last post by subbass « 15 Nov 2023, 01:28
Replies: 52
by samhay » 18 Feb 2013, 14:36
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Rating: 5%

I posted this over at DIYSB a little while ago and thought I should also share it with you good folks.

Like similar designs - DOD 280, Hollis' Flatline, Mictester's Really Cheap Compressor, etc. - it is a one-knob (+ level) dual op-amp optical compressor. What does this do differently? The LED driver is a little different (increasing the resistance into the second op-amp (-) input decreases the current in the LEDs) and it is somewhat self compensating - when you crank up the compression (and...
52 Replies

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View the latest post Re: Another Optical Compress …
Last post subbass
15 Nov 2023, 01:28
How to bring an idea to life

Last post by stolen « 13 Nov 2023, 21:13
Replies: 2
by iPerson » 13 Nov 2023, 19:11

Rating: 0.2%

Hopefully I'm posting this in the right place, if not just re-direct me to the proper place for this sorta post.
So I have a friend making me a pedal as a favor. He’s not on here, so I’m asking for him (I just wanna help however I can).
My idea is basically harsh noise pedal, an ‘Instant Tinnitus’ pedal, w/ a focus on painful noisy highs all around the fretboard + a consistent sound that I can control easily enough, that isn’t quite as monochromatic as a lot of other noise effects (hopefully...

2 Replies

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View the latest post Re: How to bring an idea to …
Last post stolen
13 Nov 2023, 21:13
The Chykka-Wakka: All-transistor Envelope filter

Last post by stolen « 11 Nov 2023, 17:33
Replies: 6
by lykwydchykyn » 03 Nov 2023, 04:56

Rating: 2.2%

My problems (well, not an extensive list, but still):

I like building point-to-point circuits, albeit badly.
I don't like putting op-amps in point-to-point circuits.
I have, due to various bulk purchases and trades, rather more boring garden-variety BJTs than I really need.
I've got a pile of fuzz builds nobody wants.
People want envelope filters. Envelope filters are where it's at.
All the good envelope filter circuits I know use op-amps, and sometimes vactrols or JFETS or even OTAs....

6 Replies

969 Views

View the latest post Re: The Chykka-Wakka: All-tr …
Last post stolen
11 Nov 2023, 17:33
Diode Compressor design, and the issues with it

Last post by george giblet « 07 Nov 2023, 22:25
Replies: 2
by TWSpedals » 07 Nov 2023, 15:11

So I've been trying to design my own compressor for guitar purposes.

I took the Moritz Klein eurorack compressor as a jumping off point. It uses diodes as a the control element and all in all is pretty clever. I've attached a schematic.
Screenshot_20231107_143556_Drive.jpg

I was drawn to it as it doesn't use any hard to find/expensive parts or anything not passed by RoHS

Firstly I shifted it to the typical 9V unipolar power supply.

Then following that I noticed the envelope detector would...

2 Replies

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View the latest post Re: Diode Compressor design, …
Last post george giblet
07 Nov 2023, 22:25
BAJA Small Clone

Last post by micmac « 07 Nov 2023, 19:30
Replies: 84
by bajaman » 07 Oct 2007, 10:38
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Hi folks
I have heard a lot of positive comments regarding the Electro Harmonix Small Clone, so I thought I would build one to evaluate it.
I found a layout and schematic etc., at Francisco Pena's Tonepad site, but I wanted to fit it into a Hammond 1590B case with a DC input socket and battery, and the Tonepad board was too long to fit, so I set to work reducing it's size.
I wanted to mount the potentiometers using 30 amp fuse wire to the rear (tracks) of the circuit board. I used stick on 3mm...
84 Replies

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View the latest post Re: BAJA Small Clone
Last post micmac
07 Nov 2023, 19:30
Baja Presence and Resonance 091118 [documentation]

Last post by bajaman « 04 Nov 2023, 20:56
Replies: 41
by bajaman » 09 Nov 2018, 08:23
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Rating: 13.6%

Here is a little circuit I just designed to emulate the presence and resonance controls in a typical tube amplifier driving a speaker cabinet.
A typical tube amplifier reacts with the loudspeaker load quite differently to a solid state amplifier - it puts extra power into the speaker at resonance and due to rising voice coil inductance at higher frequencies it puts out a progressively louder response as the frequency rises, solid state amplifiers do not do this and consequently lack the bottom...
41 Replies

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View the latest post Re: Baja Presence and Resona …
Last post bajaman
04 Nov 2023, 20:56
Another view of the Fetzer Valve (moded) [schematics]

Last post by Lukasen « 04 Nov 2023, 13:37

by Lukasen » 04 Nov 2023, 13:37

Rating: 0.6%

At one time I was quite involved into J-FETs. I was originally drawn to them by (dare I say) the legendary A Discrete FET Guitar Preamp schematic by J. Donald Tillman. After a brief acquaintance with the functionality, I left the J-FETs and went my own way of buffers with bipolar transistors. Later I was looking for a schematic that would emulate valves and not be complicated, so I found the Fetzer Valve and I was back again.

I really liked the strict approach of the authors of runoffgroove to...

0 Replies

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View the latest post Another view of the Fetzer V …
Last post Lukasen
04 Nov 2023, 13:37
Stupidly Awesome Buffer [documentation]

Last post by Ichabod_Crane « 04 Nov 2023, 08:19
Replies: 62
by soulsonic » 25 Apr 2015, 18:02
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Rating: 14.7%

I just noticed there are alot of poor buffer designs floating around out there... well, I know this is a topic that's pretty much been done to death already, since it's one of the simplest things to build, but I figured I'd share this just for the sake of having a good one out there.
Consider this a Reference buffer. :roll:
You can run it on any power supply from 9v to 18v. I wouldn't bother with less than 9v, and it would be fine to run it on a voltage higher than 18v, as long as the...
62 Replies

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View the latest post Re: Stupidly Awesome Buffer
Last post Ichabod_Crane
04 Nov 2023, 08:19
TDA2050 BRIDGE Single Channel Dual Supply - TDA20x0

Last post by Gebrey « 02 Nov 2023, 15:06
Replies: 7
by Gebrey » 19 Oct 2023, 19:31

Rating: 0.9%

Hi everyone,
I've follower this schematic (reference from datasheet TDA2050) to build a single channel dual IC bridge power amplifier, dual supply.

tda2030-bridge-amplifier.jpg

For everyone that struggle to understand why they wont achieve max output power, voltage limit must be reach and I think some resistor value weaks also would help.

Short story: Ive blown (I think) the ICs when i switched from low voltage dual supply from voltage divider, low current (TEST) to FULL RECTIFIER 18-0-18...

7 Replies

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View the latest post Re: TDA2050 BRIDGE Single Ch …
Last post Gebrey
02 Nov 2023, 15:06
5 Band EQ Project

Last post by Mcfox777 « 01 Nov 2023, 11:01
Replies: 34
by darthoverdrive » 19 Apr 2012, 00:12
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Rating: 1.5%

This 5 Band EQ uses the Rohm BA3812L 5 point graphic equalizer chip. It's a project I started last year but due the chips irregular pin spacing I was never able to breadboard and experiment with it. I had a rough layout drawn out so I decided to give it a try using Eagle. This was my first attempt with a PCB.

This project is from the BA3812L datasheet. With the exception of the cap values used for the different frequencies it is taken part for part. It has worked well after a booster or...
34 Replies

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Last post Mcfox777
01 Nov 2023, 11:01
Looper - One Tap Stop

Last post by rogs « 30 Oct 2023, 19:06

by rogs » 30 Oct 2023, 19:06

Rating: 0.4%

I have a guitarist friend who uses a TC Ditto+ looper pedal to store and replay his backing tracks..... But he hates having to tap twice to stop the looper.
So I built him a simple interface, to allow him to tap once to start -- and once to stop.

(I made some project notes here: www.loop.jp137.com )

It's a simple project using CMOS logic (no microcontrollers involved!) Might be of interest to other looper users who don't like the 'double tap' stop requirement?

0 Replies

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View the latest post Looper - One Tap Stop
Last post rogs
30 Oct 2023, 19:06
Facts only, no witchery: odd germanium and silicon diodes measurements and comparisons

Last post by thomasbe861 « 29 Oct 2023, 15:12
Replies: 6
by thomasbe861 » 27 Sep 2023, 08:03

Rating: 2.6%

I went on to try to find a matching pair of diodes for one of my built.
Long story short, I ended up measuring and testing a good part of all odd diodes I have had accumulated over the decades of tinkering.

Some are germanium, some are silicon, including Schottky, etc. I won’t talk about whether any of these sound “smoother”, “warmer”, “rounder”, “fuller”, etc. I don’t believe in tone wood either; nor that a measured 33nF cap will sound different than any other. Disclaimer being out of the...

6 Replies

1153 Views

View the latest post Re: Facts only, no witchery: …
Last post thomasbe861
29 Oct 2023, 15:12
Rochambeau Dirty Boost

Last post by Lukasen « 28 Oct 2023, 20:56
Replies: 2
by Ripthorn » 06 Feb 2021, 22:43

Rating: 1.1%

I don't usually design boosts or dirt box, but I thought I would have some fun with the Fuzzrocious Ram the Manparts circuit. I've made a significant number of changes, but thought I would pay homage to the name of the original with Rochambeau (or at least that's what my Southpark watching friends tell me). It's a simple affair, with huge amounts of boost on tap. As a standalone dirt pedal it's squarely medium gain is all, but it's quick, dirty, easy, and effective. If you want to build one,...

2 Replies

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Last post Lukasen
28 Oct 2023, 20:56
BIGGER MUFF [documentation]

Last post by Lukasen « 28 Oct 2023, 19:59
Replies: 29
by dylan159 » 08 Apr 2021, 19:20
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Rating: 5.8%

A few months ago, I got the idea of reworking the Big Muff in a modern fashion, using op amps, while remaining true to the logic behind the original. The op amp muff is a cool circuit but deviates substantially from the original (I don't think anyone would say they are the same) and for one thing, the tone and volume control attached passively at then end don't thrill me. The logic behind the original muff is simple: an amplifier, two clipping stages, a tone control and a recovery stage. How...
29 Replies

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Last post Lukasen
28 Oct 2023, 19:59
Shin-ei/Univox Uni-Vibe [Replica Files]

Last post by FuzzMonkey « 22 Oct 2023, 00:26
Replies: 502
by sinner » 09 Sep 2012, 12:20
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Rating: 54.6%

Here's something special foe Vibe lovers

Still PCB transfer file to do, and should be done over next few days (or hours if I speed up), so keep your balls open

Here's the link

cheers
502 Replies

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View the latest post Re: Shin-ei/Univox Uni-Vibe …
Last post FuzzMonkey
22 Oct 2023, 00:26

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