The Gruntbox

Got a request for this one and I'm always up for a bass effect. So this week's Fuzz Friday is Mark Hammer's Gruntbox. It's a pretty unique design and a lot of flexibility. More info here. Schematic and demo files can be downloaded here.

Valve Wizard Jenny Greenteeth

Here's a weird chorus from Valve Wizard based around a PT2399. In Merlin's own words...

Chorus is created by passing the signal through a very short delay line, somewhere between about 8ms and 25ms. The delay time is modulated and the delayed signal is mixed back with the original un-delayed signal. Some feedback ('repeats') is often applied too, to thicken the effect. The PT2399 has a minimum delay time of about 25ms, which is just short enough to do a thick chorus effect. The more subtle chorus effects that a 'proper' chorus pedal would do are not available as they require shorter delay times ( but I'm one of those people who only ever wants his chorus thick!). However, as well as getting chorus I soon found that various other unexpected effects could also be had for free, including pitch bend and a kind of ring modulation. That's why I've called it 'weird chorus'.

It will fit in a 125B with top mounted jacks easily, but it's narrow enough that it will fit in a 1590B, but probably without the pots board mounted. Here's the original build doc with the schematic and Merlin's original layout.

JHS Angry Charlie V3

Here's the newer version of the Angry Charlie with the 3-band EQ. Pretty much the Crunch Box with a 3-band Baxandall tone stack (similar to this) tacked onto the end. Pots are board mounted and it should squeeze nicely into a 1590B.

Nine Volt Nirvana Tape Measure

Found a bunch of Nine Volt Nirvana/Joe Gagan schematics on Fredd Brigg's blog. I'll probably do a few more of them, but first is the Tape Measure boost. Super simple and should easily fit in a 1590A. Original unit used a trimmer instead of an external volume control, but I figure most people will want the external control.

Feisty Little One Thermal Detonator

It's Fuzz Friday! This one got traced on FSB a while ago and I finally got around to drawing it up. It's a silicon Fuzz Face with bias control, sag control, and switchable feedback loop (oscillation). I laid it out like a zVex pedal (at least in control layout) and it should fit in a 1590B, either with the circuit board flat or standing vertically in the enclosure.

And here's a wiring diagram to make the offboard wiring a little clearer.

MI Audio Blues Pro

Here's a nice little overdrive circuit from MI Audio. This reflects the 2nd version of the Blues Pro, but if you want to make version 1, just jump pads 1 and 2 of each switch respectively. Should fit nicely in a 1590B.

Soil Slinger and NEWS!

It's a special Fuzz Friday! My fabricated boards came in for the Dirt Transmitter, and I finally got the chance to verify them. So I made a video of the whole build process!

Also, what's more exciting than the build video is the launch of the new Effects Layouts store! It's kind of a soft launch for now, as there aren't a whole ton of boards up yet. But more are coming! Also, aside from a few boards, stock is rather low on the boards as they're left over prototypes. But I will be ordering more soon. Don't worry, perf and etch layouts aren't stopping anytime soon. Thanks to everyone for their support over the years and for helping to create a really great international community around this great hobby.

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