This is a library of perfboard and single-sided PCB effect layouts for guitar and bass. I'm not an electrical engineer by any stretch of the imagination, just a DIY'er who likes drawing layouts. It is meant for the hobbyist (so commercial use of any of these layout is not allowed without permission) and as a way to give back to the online DIY community.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer

The Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer compressor has become a staple among the DIY community. Original units plugged straight into the guitar, with no external controls except for an on/off switch. This layout has the level control offboard, but the bias is a 10k trimpot, but could easily be wired offboard as well. And you should be able to squeeze it into a 1590A. (See what I did there? :D)

Edit:

Here are a few mods if you want to use it on bass. Some say stock is best, others say to uses these substitutions. As always, YMMV.

• Swap the output cap from 4.7µ to 1µ (between the 390k and 1.5k resistors, below the IC)
• Swap bleeder cap from 4.7µ to 10µ (cap connected to the 1N34 diode)
• Reduce the feedback resistor from 220k to 200k (between Q2 and the IC)

27 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. What is the difference between a-pots, b-pots and c-pots. Can't find that info. (or didn't look properly)

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    2. They represent the pot taper. A=logarithmic/audio, B=linear, C=reverse log.

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    3. Thanks for the quick reply. Maybe you could add this to the General Layout Notes in the pot wiring section. That's where I was looking for this info first.
      Anyway - great site with lots of interesting stuff. Looking forward to buuilding something based on your designs.

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  2. is it possible to replace 1n34a with 5458 or something else?

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    1. You can try it, but I would stick with a germanium diode there.

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  3. Out is from level pot (pin 2) ?

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    1. Thank you, now I have absolutely all the information needed for this project.

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    2. I was going to ask this :-)

      maybe you could add this info to the pic

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  5. would j201 transistors work for this layout

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  6. mine didnt work and i have no clue why =/
    if the admin let me, i can post a link to pictures of the board for some help
    its the 4th that i build and dint work =(

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    1. Feel free to post pics. Does it not pass signal at all? Have you gone through it with an audio probe? Did you match the JFETs?

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  7. Mine isn't working properly. Opamp part is ok - clean sound, but compression works strange. When I hit a big chord attack works acceptable but release pumps up and down for 3-4 times until the level gets normal. Is there a reciept? Please help.

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  9. There is a problem with the pedal's power when I turned on the unstabilized unit, The pedal began to fade strongly, but if I connect a 9 volt battery it works fine. I added a stabilizer straight to the power supply. Is there any way to change the circuit so as not to redo the power supply? thank

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    1. I'm sorry I wrote using the Internet translator, I hope I clearly explained the problem

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  10. Hello, I would like to do one of these for an acoustic guitar, what do you think would be a better idea? 1-do it as to use it with bass, or 2-have a splitter prior to the compressor and be able to mix the dry signal with the compressed one? Thank you

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  11. Hello everyone. Finished this and sounds great but when I turn the trimmer to clockwise it begins ticking. Why?

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    1. If you mean the trimmer itself, that's normal for a multi-turn trimpot when it reaches either end of its value. You can keep rotating but the value won't change because it's maxed (or min'ed) out.

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  12. I want to try this one but I don´t know if 2N5458 could work instead 2N5457 / same datasheet /

    5457 Vgs off = 2.5V

    5458 Vgs off = 3.5V

    Maybe satting the bias / B5k and B10K pots.

    Does it could work this way?

    thank you

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    1. Done... ...2N5458 / 10k TRIM / NO NEED TO SET Q2 BIAS - JUST Q1. SAME as GGG DOC:

      Q1s = 4.0 V
      Q2s = 2.6 V

      GREAT SOUND

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