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.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Ross Distortion

The Ross Distortion is very similar to two other famous distortion boxes of the late 70s (MXR Distortion +, DOD 250). However, it uses one side of a 4558 dual opamp instead of the single opamp (741) found in the the other two, and a few other tweaks in component values. There are two versions of this circuit: the Tan version, which uses 2 germanium diodes for clipping (originals used 1N270s, but 1N60Ps or 1N34As should also work just fine), and the Black version, which uses 3 silicon diodes for asymmetrical clipping. I've drawn up 2 layouts for each version, both will fit in a 1590A. The only difference is improved power filtering and added polarity protection in the larger layouts. The yellow 1µ caps are tantalum.





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16 comments:

  1. UnknownMay 15, 2015 at 11:21 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. dtgehringMay 17, 2015 at 3:09 PM

    Thanks for catching that. Fixed.

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  3. pete_gJanuary 15, 2017 at 2:37 AM

    Seeing the early tan version is exactly like an MXR Dist + can you use a 741 chip in it instead?

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    Replies
    1. Effects LayoutsJanuary 15, 2017 at 8:16 PM

      In theory yes, but not with this layout as the 4558 is a dual opamp and the 741 is a single. So the pinout is very different. If you want to use the 741 chip, check out the Drivestortion project.

      Delete
    2. pete_gJanuary 15, 2017 at 11:47 PM

      Would there be much noticeable difference in the sound with the 4558 and 1n914 diodes goat the MXR Dist + uses?

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    3. Effects LayoutsJanuary 17, 2017 at 9:34 AM

      Not a ton. Just a different "flavor" if you will. That's the great thing about this circuit. There's lots of tweaks you can make to it to fit what you want.

      Delete
  4. pete_gJanuary 15, 2017 at 11:49 PM

    Damn autocorrect! That.
    Not goats. Not kidding!

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  5. romdosJune 12, 2018 at 4:45 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. romdosJune 13, 2018 at 3:06 PM

    Is there a way to make Gerber files (or does anyone have one?) from those PDFs of the Ross Distortion layout? I want to have them made with an online PCB company.

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  7. MetalheadJuly 29, 2018 at 8:48 AM

    Can i use 4148 diode?

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  8. MetalheadAugust 9, 2018 at 10:21 AM

    Verified, i did the black version 1,

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  9. João LimaDecember 16, 2021 at 3:30 PM

    Hoje, no horário de almoço montei um, versão TAN... E estou me divertindo bastante! É um bocado brilhante de mais, sobretudo com singles, mas rugiu lindamente no meu "Alien Rocket". Circuito bastante simples, deve rolar umas mods pra reduzir os agudos, reforçar os graves e quem sabe um pequeno aumento de drive...

    Saudações do Brasil.

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    Replies
    1. Effects LayoutsDecember 18, 2021 at 10:38 AM

      Try increasing the value of the 10nF input cap to 22-47nF. Also you can adjust the value of the 1nF cap that comes off Volume 3 to ground as that's bleeding off treble. Try 2.2-4.7nF.

      Delete
    2. João LimaDecember 29, 2021 at 8:10 AM

      Obrigado pelas dicas. Vou fazer os ajustes pra ver como vai soar.

      Delete

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