Ibanez FC10 Fat Cat Distortion

Got a request for this one, it's a good addition to the collection. It's Ibanez's take on the RAT in their Power Series from the mid-late 80s. It's very similar to the LM7 LA Metal circuit, with just a few value changes and omissions (detailed below). I removed the FET switching and output buffer to simplify things. Here's the schematic for reference.

If you're interested in building the LA Metal, populate the board like this:

Basic Audio Pep Fuzz

Here's another one from Basic Audio for Fuzz Friday. This is John's take on the Wem Pep Box and adds variable output cap control with the Body control. Should be an easy fit in a 1590B. Here's the schematic for reference. Alternatives to the BC107B would be other lower gain transistors like the BC547B, 2N2222A, 2N3904, 2N4401, 2N5550...

Rockett .45 Caliber

Here's the .45 Caliber overdrive from J. Rockett Audio Designs. It's essentially a simplified Timmy without the second opamp stage, and claims to emulate the sound and feel of a 1962 JTM 45. Easy fit in a 1590B with board mounted pots.

Edit: Schematic for reference

Hughes & Kettner Red Box Mk. II

Here's a nice utility box for home recording or even live application (if you've run into a sound guy who hates guitar amps 😠). It's a direct box but also a cab sim (4x12). It won't run off phantom power, so just power it with a 9v wall wart or a battery. Also, connected to the Speaker In pad should be another jack for "speaker through" (so you don't blow up your amp). Here's the schematic and original user manual for reference.

Update Nov. 15:
I removed the extra components for ground lift application as most reported it not working and they had better success with placing an on/off switch between XLR pin 1 and ground. YMMV

Bajaman AC30 Normal Channel

Here's Baja's AC30 Normal Channel emulator. Throw a treble booster in front of this and you're pretty darn close to nailing some Brian May tones. Schematic and discussion here on FSB.

DAM Buzzotron

For Fuzz Friday, here's the D*A*M Buzzotron with a few modifications (based on H.A.'s suggestions).The Buzzotron is a tweaked Burns Buzzaround, which can also be built on this layout. What I've added is a master volume control and a ICL7660-based voltage inverter. This allows you to power the effect with a standard +9v supply and use PNP germanium transistors like the originals. Here's the Buzzotron and Buzzaround schematics for reference.

And if you're interested in building the original Buzzaround populate the board like this:

Baja AC30TB Emulator

Another one of Bajaman's many amp emulator circuits. It emulates the frequency response of the classic Vox AC30 top boost channel, including power amplifier emulation. It's designed to fit in a 125B with top mounted jacks. Schematic and discussion on FSB here.

The input buffer stage uses a 2SK117 JFET with DGS pinout, but I've throw in an extra pad to use JFETs with GSD pinout (J201, 2N5457, etc). If you're using the 2SK117 you won't need to populate the jumper by Q1, but if you're using a GSD pinout transistor, you will need that jumper.

Budda Om Overdrive

Stumbled across this one and it seems pretty cool. It's like an Escobedo Punch-in-the-Face sandwiched between two opamp gain stages, and is very similar to the Carl Martin Crush Zone. Wide range of gain and tones on tap as well. Pots are board mounted and it'll fit in a 1590B.

Catalinbread WIIO

The Catalinbread WIIO is a Hiwatt amp emulator specifically going for the sound of Pete Townsend's Hiwatts on the Live at Leeds album. (Throwing this and a Univox SuperFuzz in the same box would be a must if you're a big fan of the Who...) The topology of the circuit (cascaded MOSFETs) is similar to the zVex Box of Rock and Catalinbread's other Hiwatt emulator, the Rah. Here's the schematic for reference. Should fit in a 1590B just fine.