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.

Friday, March 27, 2020

EQD Black Ash

Hope everyone's having a safe and healthy Fuzz Friday. Found out the Black Ash had been traced and figured I'd draw up a layout. I figured it was a pretty straight Tone Bender Mk II clone, and it is with a simple tone control tacked on just before the volume pot. Was slightly surprised that it uses all silicon transistors. The resistors in the originals are old school carbon comps for the mojo. Here's the schematic for reference. You can probably get away with 4.7k and 47k resistors instead of the 4.6k and 46k resistors listed. Also alternatives to the 2N3903 would be 2N2222a, 2N2369, etc. Shoot for 100-150 hFE.

If you want a fabricated PCB to build on, check out the Earthbender in the store.



22 comments:

  1. Today I could not stand it & made your Buttercup Fuzz...I didnt see this =)

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  2. Yay, Fuzz Friday is back!
    Stay safe my friend and thank you for your work

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  3. Thanks!!! i was missing the fuzz friday!

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  4. πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»

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  5. Nice! Where did you find the schematic?

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  6. Call this verified.
    Used 2n3904 for Q1-3
    Sounds pretty good. Thanks for the layout!!
    Stay safe and healthy!!

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  7. Nice fuzz, going on to experiments with Q1,Q2. Nice pair 2n 5551 with hfe 135, nice Q1 or Q2 whatever germanium, EVEN nice using Q1 pnp or npn with reverse emiter collector. I cant choise!
    Try to experiments, find your own sound!

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  8. Forgot to say, 10k trimpot i used 50k, i think to use it like bias pot on the box

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  9. I'm curious about something; in the layout you have a 1M resistor going to ground before C1 which isn't in the schematic. What's the function of that resistor?

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    Replies
    1. It's called a pull down resistor and it's there to minimize/eliminate popping from the footswitch.

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  10. The Earthbender board you sell has a 4.7K CLR and this one doesn't, I'm a bit of a newbie can you tell me what that is for?

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    Replies
    1. CLR stands for current limiting resistor. It's there for the on/off LED indicator

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  11. Sounds gorgeous with 2N5550s @ hFE 140. Treble pot doesn't seem to do much though; I can hear the effect it has but it's pretty subtle. Anybody getting a big range from the "top" control?

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  12. Can I use the rectangular type of trimpot here?

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  13. Any help? I built it but it sounds kinda weird.
    https://www.reddit.com/r/diypedals/comments/jhjyfn/problem_with_build_weird_noise_coming_out_of_the/

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  14. Hi, I made this circuit but I don't have any output. I checked all the pats and they are good. The only two things that made me thinking are that I used 2N3903 with hFE 350 and a 25k trim pot. Maybe my fault is due to this? Thanks in advance to everyone. Have a nice day gusy!

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  15. i built it with NOS 2n3903's i even used carbon comp resistors and the exact 100nf caps as the original. it works but it doesn't sound very close to the original demo videos. it doesn't have as much gain and the fuzz is not as smooth.

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  16. found an error in my build. going to test it later tonight.

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  17. fixed and it's frickin' awesome
    https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/black-ash-01-jpg.4594016/
    https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/black-ash-02-800-2-jpg.4594018/

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  18. built mine with 2SC1815-O's(HFE 103-117)
    sounds great!
    thank you!

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