Suggestions for Easy Schematics

[monkey69962000]

hey i want to enhance my soldering skill. I want to know a really easy project for my guitar that involves soldering. now i want something that will actually do something and not just be one big metal glob any project ideas

[lovekraft]

You could replace your pots and switches (with really good ones)... call it an upgrade.

[monkey69962000]

like with pc boards, like a pedal or overdrive

[lovekraft]

Beginner's Page - Effectronics

or look for a simple project at GGG or Tonepad - they both offer boards for most of their projects, so you won't have to make your own.

[Biohazard]

How come the boss schematics are so much more complicated than the schematics of other great distortion effects.

[lovekraft]

Most of it is the footswitch circuit - for instance, in the SD-1, the footswitch includes two transistors, two JFETs, four diodes and a dozen or so resistors and caps. The SD-1 also has a transistor buffer on both the input and the output, which accounts for more extra circuitry. Take a look at the schematic

SD-1 Schematic (courtesy of Fuzz Central)

The actual distortion circuit in the above is between the junction of R3/C2 and the wiper (middle lug) of the 10K "level" pot - everything else, except the power supply splitter (R18, R19, C11 and C17), is not necessary, but makes the circuit perform reliably and makes it switchable without an expensive DPDT switch. If you take just this portion of the circuit and wire it to a DPDT switch for bypass, you'll have a complete distortion unit, similar to the opamp version of EH's Muff Fuzz. Add the transistor buffers back in, and you've got something very similar to the Tube Screamer:

Tube Screamer - Ibanez TS808 (courtesy of Fuzz Central)

Read RG's article on it for more info;

Technology of the Tube Screamer

For extra credit, find, compare and contrast the schematics of the MXR Distortion +, DOD Overdrive 250, Dan Armstrong Blue Clipper and the DOD YJM308 Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Distortion.

[monkey69962000]

what will i win. I can name one right now.

Their names.