Sprinkle Drive

Stumbled across the schematic for this recently. It's takes inspiration from the Sparkle Drive with the clean blend function but uses a different drive section. I thought it was interesting and drew up a layout with board mounted pots and it'll be an easy fit in a 1590B.

Dwarfcraft Shiva

This week's Fuzz Friday layout is the Dwarfcraft Shiva. It's a unique fuzz that can deliver wicked, buzzy fuzz tones. The toggle switches turn on and off LEDs in the 2nd and 3rd stages of the circuit, and the Starve switch bypasses the Starve pot. I've laid it out to fit in a 1590B if you don't want to include the starve footswitch, though you could probably squeeze it in that size.

Boss Blues Driver 2

I can't remember how many times I've been asked to do this one. I started laying it out ages ago, but got frustrated or interrupted and never went back to it. But here it is now, better late than never. The layout is for board mounted pots and it will fit in a 125B enclosure. Just couldn't seem to get it narrow enough for a 1590B. Schematic can be found here.

Earthquaker Devices The Depths

Kicking off the week with a fantastic vibe box from Earthquaker Devices–The Depths. It gave me a bit of a fight to get the pots board mounted and as a result there are 5 jumpers O_O. But it sounds great and you should build it.

Ahoy! Welcome to your new Depths Optical Vibe Machine! The Depths is our take on the classic optical vibe circuit. Now you can swab the decks with the same lush, pulsating, three-dimensional swirling sound you know and love, with some modern accouterments for all you land-lubbers out there.

The Depths is optimized for use with all kinds of instruments, pickups, and to play well with dirt, so nobody’s left waiting on shore. If it’s got a ¼” output, plug it in and get deep!

Hidrosis

Got a request for this one. It's based on the old Maestro MFZ-1 and was put together by Brett over on the DIYStompbox forum. Apparently it has a very similar sound to some earlier Black Keys tones. Original thread can be found here, and a sound clip can be heard here.

Ceriatone Klein-ulator

Got a request for this one. It's a effects loop buffer that's a solid-state version of the Dumbleator effects loop buffer. It's equipped with an internal charge pump that converts a +9v supply to +33v. Very useful for keeping your effects loop free from signal-loss. Since it runs at a much higher voltage than most effects, make sure your components are rated at at least 50v. Also the 10Ω resistor off the +9v pad should be 1/2 watt or higher.

Durham Sex Drive

The Durham Sex Drive is a pretty versatile Tube Screamer variation. It can go from clean boost to medium overdrive. The traditional input and output buffers have been removed and there's a toggle switch (SPDT on/off/on) to select between different clipping options–hard, off, and soft.  Pots are board mounted and it'll fit snuggly in a 1590B.

Earthquaker Devices Bellows

For Fuzz Friday here's the Bellows from Earthquaker. I picked up one of these late last year and was able to trace it. It's fairly simple but sounds really good. It's really similar to an Electra circuit, but with a JFET going between the base and collector of the transistor. Here's the schematic for reference.

In the originals the resistors are large carbon comp and all caps are film box types (with the exception of C3). I breadboarded this with mostly metal film resistors and with whatever caps were closest, along with a J201 for the JFET and it sounded very much like the original. 

Here's a few pics of the original guts, btw. A lot of the circuitry on the board is for the relay bypass (that I did not trace as it would be mostly pointless with out the code for the PIC).

 

Run of Groove Tonemender

Got a request for this one. It's a nice boost with a 3-band EQ. Pots are board mounted and it will fit in a 1590B sideways (ala Zvex pedals) with the circuit board vertical. From the Run Off Groove article:

The Tonemender is a very flexible, yet simple clean boost with a 3-knob tonestack that allows the user to re-create the classic Fender, Marshall and Vox responses.
We suggest using a TLC2272 for the dual op-amp. The TLC2272 is rated for low-noise and rail-to-rail output, which will offer the highest possible clean boost and dynamic range. The NE5532 is another good choice, but a TL072 can also be used with decent results.
The Mid Shift switch (SW1 on the schematic) selects the center frequency of the midrange dip in the response. The center frequency is moved from around 700Hz (Marshall/Vox) down to 400Hz (Fender) in the HI and LO settings, respectively.
For Fender-style curves, the Mid Shift is placed in the LO setting (closed). To replicate Marshall-style curves, switch the Mid Shift to the HI position (open). Set the Mid control between 12:00 and 5:00 for traditional Marshall settings, with lower settings providing additional flexibility. For a Vox-style response, keep the Mid Shift in the HI setting and set the Mids control fixed at 10:00 and move the Bass between 7:00 and 12:00.
A "flat" equalizer position is set with the Bass and Treble both at minimum, and the Mid control at its midpoint. When Bass and Treble are fully cut, the Mid knob acts as an additional Level control, which is a familiar characteristic of the Fender tonestack.

Hudson Electronics Broadcast

Alright, back to the normal layouts. Here's a really unique overdrive pedal from Hudson Electronics in the UK. It features an onboard charge pump to take 9 volts up to 24, so be sure to use appropriately rated capacitors (min 35v for electros). The transformer (the big yellow thing on the board) can be found on Mouser and other online vendors. Because of the transformer I suggest building this in a 125B for the extra height. Here's the schematic for reference. From the Hudson Electronics description:

The Broadcast is a transformer coupled, discrete Class-A germanium pre-amplifier based on the classic broadcast consoles of the 1960s. In the low-gain setting, the Broadcast can cover everything from sparkling clean boost through to transparent overdrive, all with a healthy dose of volume available to push your amp. The Broadcast features a specially selected Triad steel-core transformer and a NOS germanium transistor. Advancing the gain on the Broadcast starts to saturate the transformer and the pedal’s discrete circuitry, giving rise to a gentle and dynamic compression coupled with subtle thickening of the midrange. With the gain switch in the high setting and the trim control wound up, the Broadcast starts to deliver heavier distorted sounds with a warm and fuzzy edge to them. The Broadcast covers a wide range of driven and distorted tones whilst remaining dynamic, responding well to pick attack and the subtle nuances of every player.

Firestriker Fuzz

It's Fuzz Friday once again, and in keeping with the week's theme, here's a silicon Tone Bender-style fuzz with board mounted pots, jacks, and LED. This one does use true-bypass switching and I've included a daughter board for a 3PDT footswitch. More info in the build document linked below.

Firestriker Fuzz Build Doc

I've enjoyed this brief rabbit trail with Eagle a lot and hope you guys have too. We'll be getting back to the normal DIYLC-based layouts next week, but let me know how you guys like these Eagle layouts. Might do more in the future. 

Switchback Delay

Continuing with the board-mounted (almost) everything theme, here's what I call the Switchback Delay. It's my take on the Deep Blue Delay with a few modifications. More info in the build doc linked below.

Switchback Delay Build Doc

Treeline Overdrive

Happy New Year everyone! I thought I'd kick off the New Year with something different. Lately I've been doing a lot of work in Eagle CAD for some non-blog related projects and thought I'd do a few single sided layouts with it. For your perf guys, don't worry, this isn't going to be a super regular thing. I'll still be doing perf layouts–just taking a little break this week.

A while back I got an Earthquaker Devices Bellows and was impressed with how almost everything was board mounted (with the exception of the footswitch). I got the wild idea of making a few layouts in Eagle with board mounted pots and jacks and sharing them here. So without further ado, here's what I'm calling the Treeline Overdrive.

Treeline Overdrive

Click the link above for the build doc with a full description, bill of materials, etc.