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.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

AmpTweaker Tight Metal

Got a lot of requests for this one. The Tight Metal is an over the top crunch machine for metal players. It has 2 effects loops, which not everyone will want. So just jumper those pads if you don't want that feature. The Gate pot is an internal trimmer, but I thought it might be useful off the board. This effect can be run off either +9v or +18v, and you should be able to fit this in a 125B.




92 comments:

  1. Should there be a 22uF to ground between Tone 1 and 10K ? every other schematic that I have looked at for this pedal has it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The 22uF cap you're talking about was left out. Doesn't go quite where you said, but in the ball park. Thanks for catching that. The layout has been updated.

      Delete
  2. no body verified this ? is it ok ?
    this is good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No one seems to have verified it yet. But I've gone over it a couple times and it should be fine.

      Delete
  3. I built the pedal not long ago and posted the query about the 22uf above. The pedal is absolutely insane ! The volume really should be modified. I can't turn it much above 2 and it is just stoopid levels. Although I have been over my board, the schematics etc I cannot seem to get either the Thrash or the Gate to work at all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wanna build this pedal... This information is correct?

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Check out this thread on FSB:

      http://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=22393&start=60

      Delete
    2. thank you, due to the christmas madness will find some time to do this stomp box next year ;)

      Delete
    3. I just did the circuit, the result was incredible. Thanks!!

      Delete
    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  5. I wanna build this bad*ss pedal, it work? I have been looking at the freestompboxes thread but there are a lot of different opinion and options? It's this one correct? Sorry for my bad english.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been over the layout several times and it matches the schematic, so you should be good to go.

      Delete
    2. The ground loop should be cut somewhere?

      Delete
    3. I dont hace the tl072 it will work a 4558 un this one?

      Delete
  6. Any chance you could do the tightrock too? :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. i think tight rock have same layout, just different value.. Right?

    ReplyDelete
  8. are u have pdf layout about this project?

    ReplyDelete
  9. All schematics I've seen have the 100nf/330R leading to "Thrash SW2" going to ground, with "thrash Sw1" switched in parallel. This layout just connects them to each other, but not ground.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The gate section also seems to be always jumpered. Those 2 10k's should not be touching.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for catching those errors. I've fixed them in layouts above and things should be good to go now.

      Delete
    2. That's an elegant and quick fix, thank you. Right now the vero layout still needs the Thrash switch part fixed, but I just grounded it.

      The updated layout is verified and gate works wonderfully. This is THE pedal for us metalheads, thanks again for your work.

      The Tight Rock can be built on this layout since it's a few different values (mostly where the Thrash switch is now) and a gain cut section that can be placed on a toggle switch.

      Delete
    3. Oh, on the FSB thread, they correct the 1.5k on the right between the 3.3k and 22uf as being 4.7k instead. It has a small effect on the tone section.

      Delete
    4. hello efects layout, good day, I have 2 layouts would like to share, as I send the info? excuse my English
      I'm from mexico and do not speak English
      I have the layout of a 3D stereo guitar simulator and berry barcus of the 3000th (for cello metal like Apocalyptica), all are verified

      Delete
    5. You can send them to me via the Facebook page/messenger, or via email (address is in general layout notes tab)

      Delete
  11. the gate isn't a internal trimpot its a dual gang pot(gain) which increases the gate at the same time you raise the gain great concept but doesn't work the best to be honest on the original so takingdoing it like this is much better

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just finished it .. works great but noise gate is very subtle..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hai brother, tolong kirim saya skema yg sudah anda buat. Saya sangat berterima kasih sekali atas bantuannya.
      Kirim ke email saya.
      muhamad idrisbelo@gmail.com

      Delete
  13. Built a few different versions of this distortion but this one sounds the best for my ears.
    Fully verified.

    ReplyDelete
  14. TL074
    Pin 1 5.5v
    Pin 2 5.5v
    Pin 3 5.5v
    Pin 4 9.1v
    Pin 5 5.6v
    Pin 6 5.7 v
    Pin 7 5.7 v
    Pin 8 4.8v
    Pin 9 4.8v
    Pin 10 4.7v
    Pin 11 0.0v
    Pin 12 5.4v
    Pin 13 5.7V
    Pin 14 5.7v
    TL072
    Pin 1 4.7v
    Pin 2 4.8v
    Pin3 4.8v
    Pin 4 0.0v
    Pin 5 5.7v
    Pin 6 5.7v
    Pin 7 5.7v
    Pin 8 9.1v

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i nailed it first try and i think it turned out really well! ill add a few pics tomorrow of the board and finished pedal

      Delete
    2. Hi, i have the same voltage but, i can hear in my output amp any noise, even when the "Gate" it´s maxed out. When up the "Gain" the noise increase, help me!!

      Delete
  15. Gonna build this one next week! THANKS! Can you do the tight rock and the tight drive?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tight rock can be built on this pcb it's just a few caps and a resistor or two difference between the two


      check out the topic on FSB about the tight metal and towards the last few pages there is detailed explanation on the substituted values

      Delete
  16. Replies
    1. Yes. All layouts have a verified or unverified tag

      Delete
    2. And i can verify as i finished 3 days ago.

      Delete
    3. Also... please could you help me in decifering the tight rock mods please. That would amazing information to have on this page too.

      Delete
    4. thanks! but i was wondering about the 330r and the 100k that the pcb layout is different from the perf one? is the 330r connected to the 100k?

      Delete
    5. Oh you're right. That 330Ω resistor should go to ground. I've fixed the perf image.

      Delete
    6. I'm trying to make this, but have trouble. May I ask for a verified scheme? please send by email
      muhamadidrisbeli @ gmail. com
      Thank you so much for your help.

      Delete
  17. Hi there. Really keen to give this one a crack. Does an image transfer PDF exist? Im not able to find one in the transfer image library

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't mind me. Just found it in the misc folder as stated in the general layout notes.

      Delete
  18. Hi guys. Right, according to JOK3RX over at the fsb the values to change for the tight rock are the 100nf cap at the top right inbetween the 3k3 and the 330r resistors cap change to 22nf and the 330r change to 3k3 also.
    The 100nf cap difrectly below change to 47nf.
    And the 1.5k resistor below those linking to the 22uf cap is incorrect and should be changed to 4k7.
    Thats it guys. Tight rock away. This is verified by me and for a diagram the last page on the tight metal thread at fsb has all changes listed.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Do i cconnect a jumper fro send 1 to send 2 and return 1 to return 2 if i'm not going to include the fx loop in my build? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ccant seem to make the gate work 🤔🤔

    ReplyDelete
  21. What is 4733?
    Germanium or silicone diode?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Stupid question but just to confirm if you don't want the loops- you jumper snd 1 to rtn 1 then snd 2 to rtn 2 - the reply above says you jumper the sends together and then the returns together

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Built this absolutely awesome pedal smooth sweet sustaining crunch. I'm up to around 45 builds off your amazing generous site. Thank you so very very much. Do you have any other ultra high gain pedals i.e ZVEX Box of metal, amptweaker fat metal,, blackstar HT metal seymore duncan palladium, mxr fullbore metal, engle reaper)

    ReplyDelete
  25. also now going to box it permanently and want to include the send and return jacks but am unclear as to what send 1 and 2 are exactly meaning would send 1 go to the ground lug of that jack and send 2 be the hot lug of same jack ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In this circuit there are 2 fx loops, so each send and return goes to a separate jack. If you only want to include one of the loops, just jumper the other send/return pads.

      Delete
    2. Thank you for your response. i want to be sure i understand then aside from the normal in put and out put jacks (2 jacks) there are 4 other jacks totaling 6 jacks? If so then the pads on the layout send 1 return 1 send 2 and return 2 are the signal pads going to the jacks and the the jack grounds just get grounded?

      Delete
    3. Quick side note I built this with both send and returns and not using them when I 1st boxed it up getting ready to use it I got nothing. No sound , switched the cables around and still no sound. Found out that at least on my build I had to use patch cables to go to each send and return, 1 end of patch cable to send the other end to that return. Then I got sound. And I Wont get tired of saying this cause Ive built 5 other dirt boxes since building TM and still it is supreme. I absolutely love this pedal's sound. If you love screaming smooth chunky chunk build this pedal. Love Triple Wreck (1 of the one's I built after the TM) just doesn't have what the TM has for me and my taste.
      Hope you keep going with this site and putting up new posts it's been an absolute blast building these layouts. I'm a total addict to pedal building.

      Delete
  26. Sorry cause its the wiring up of the send and return jacks im a bit confused on how they go

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi folk anyone have screamingeagle a.k.a engl e530 simulator pedal effect??? Pls dude help me, i badly need it right now? Thx for advnce....

    ReplyDelete
  28. Just finished this it sounds great, but i have a humming noise when the pedal is turned on. Is it because the ground loop.?

    ReplyDelete
  29. yeah I did the ground loop fix and it definitly quieted it up.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I built the TM just a few days ago,it work and sounds unique and superior for metal other than distortion pedals that i built before. Thanks and regards from philipines.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Is there any way to connect the 4 jacks for the fx loop (send1+return1+send2+return2) and that the pedal sounds and is not cut off as when one or both fx loops are not connected?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You need some switched jacks. When there's no cable plugged in, there's a mechanical connection between the tip connector and another lug. But when a cable's plugged in, the connection is broken. You would use these for the send jacks, connecting the return pad to both the return jack and the extra lug on the switched jack. Hope that makes sense and is helpful. Here's a few pics of switched jacks:

      https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/5E3P_Build/Switched_Jack.jpg
      https://www.tube-town.net/ttstore/images/product_images/popup_images/1451_2.jpg

      Delete
    2. oooh thanks for the info, i was looking info about these jacks and I think that in this picture there is a solution:
      http://guitar-fx-layouts.42897.x6.nabble.com/file/n38429/26344d1384514316-jack-plug-socket-switch-.jpg

      Delete
  32. Looking at the scheme I think that the "gate mode" is OFF when the gate switch is closed, but I have doubts with the switch for "trash mode"...is it OFF when the trash switch is open or when it is closed?

    ReplyDelete
  33. please send the correct layout in my email? den.renal@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Is it possible not to connect the send and return?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. jumper in those pads if you don't want them.

      Delete
  35. berhasil membangunya,Pedal yang sangat bagus...terima kasih 😁😁😁

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hola, se le puede aplicar una fuente de 12V y funciona?

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hola, mi pedal no quiere sonar absolutamente nada, ni un poco de sonido, verifiqué todos los voltajes h están bien, y las pistas también están bien, pero no quiere sonar nada. No sé qué podría ser, conecté la entrada y salida correctamente pero no da sonido

    ReplyDelete
  38. Can i use lm324 instead of tl074 ??

    ReplyDelete
  39. I build this one and its great working. I can say its verified maybe with some tweaking in the future. Regards from Philippines. ! Jun.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I used lm324 and lm358 but sound is likefoxtone octave .. i checked multipletime of solder bridge cudnt find any..

    Help?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Use tl072 and tl074 chip.i believe they are fet base ic

      Delete
  41. Hey Sayami bro, the right is use TL074 n TL 072.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hello,
    I built this pedal and hooked it up to my test rig to rock it before I box it. I get a lot of noise and oscillation. Has anyone else had this issue that could comment on a possible cause or solution. Your help is appreciated.
    Thanks,
    Steve

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hola, ya lo hiciste ? De verdad mete mucho ruido? Pero ya dentro de la caja se quita el ruido por qué estará apantallada

      Delete
    2. Yo tengo el mismo problema, al mover el control del "Gain" puedo notar mucho el ruido, incluso aun cuando tengo el "Gate" al máximo, que podria ser? aunque aun no lo tengo en una caja

      Delete
  43. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hendri tMay 9, 2022 at 7:07 PM
    Seem little bit defferent your circuit with freestompboxes. i need fully document for your layout brother, can u help me? Tx brother✌️

    ReplyDelete
  45. Same as dragon armor by Jok3rx

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hello.

    In which dropbox folder did you save the file for ironing? I didn't find any folder with the words "amp", "tweaker", "tight", "metal".

    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hi,

    Is this one same as the one JOK3R posted on guitar-gear.ru?

    https://guitar-gear.ru/forum/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=25888

    ReplyDelete