Very simple and cheap Guitar/Bass distortion pedal
introVery simple and cheap Guitar/Bass distortion pedal
Here, I will teach you how to make a very simple 1 transistor low power
guitar pedal. (I designed the circuit diagram and PCB). This circuit can
be ran off old 9v batteries (In version 2, I was running it off a really
cheap mobile phone power supply, 5v SMPS) that still have a charge above
1.5v meaning you won't have to throw them out!
step 1Find the parts!
Firstly, to make the pedal you obviously need the parts! Most of the parts can be found in the base of a CFL light bulb. I already had the parts to make this and have custo…
step 2Build the product
I build this on a breadboard as i have not had time to produce the PCB yet. The parts for this pedal are really cheap (around 50p if postage doesn't have to be paid) and ca…
step 3Final product
Here's what my final product looked like! (Sorry for the blurry picture, I had to take it on my phone)
step 4What both versions sound like
Here is an sound file of how my overdrive pedal sounds. The first riff is clean and the second riff is the same as first just distorted. Thanks for reading!Revised sounds:T…
| hey, you think it would pay off to put in another circuit that has the
same layout, but different config and a DPDT switch to have 2 different
drives? I was thinking that would be pretty cool, but idk how much work
would be involved..
|
| Oct 2, 2009. 10:32 AMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Hey, well that would be fine, for example, you could have the circuit
above and a high treble circuit for two diff modes :)
|
| sweet, ill try that after i get the time to finish the first one lol
|
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(removed by author or community request)
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| Aug 26, 2009. 3:25 AMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Hey, all you need to do is connect the plus (red wire) to the 10k
resistor, the ground (black wire) connects to the emiter of the
resistor. :)
|
| Aug 4, 2009. 9:22 AMhogge
says:
could I use a resistor with lower value instead of the 100k resistor
after the input capacitor?
|
| Aug 4, 2009. 10:08 AMpyrohaz (author)
says:
That would reduce the gain significantly depending on the the value of
the resistor, what is it?
|
| Aug 4, 2009. 12:54 PMhogge
says:
i have one that is 400 something ohm
|
| Aug 4, 2009. 1:05 PMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Yeeh, 400R isnt enough, you need atleast 82K ohm
|
| Aug 4, 2009. 1:16 PMhogge
says:
doh but thanks for a simple dist
|
| Hey, do you have any good instructions on how to hook up the instrument
input and the instrument output?
|
| Jul 20, 2009. 4:02 AMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Well, I just used an old instrument cable, chopped it in half and
soldered solid core wire onto the engs and plugged them into the breadboard.
Another posibility, will just be to use standard 6.35mm Sockets and
just plug them into the breadboard.
Thanks :D
|
| Jul 7, 2009. 12:01 PMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Hey guys! Got some new pics, I recently made a new one! I will also
include a sound track. Minor changes in the circuit:
*The input capacitor is now 10uF (To let through more bass) and the
output capacitor is 22uF.
My new capacitors are now branded (Hitano) I would expect them to be
high quality. (The producer even has a website!)
The Transistor is now a BC549C (Gain of ~500)
I didn't have a 100k Resistor so I used 2x 47K and 1x 22k resistors,
this is equal to around ~120k
Same output diodes :)
|
| lol made it again didnt work, man this thing is giving me trouble. Can
i use a 3904 transistor? and does it matter what kind of diodes i use ?
i know the diodes effect the distortion but will it work with any
diodes? How exactly do i ground the circuit. sorry im such a nub
|
| Jul 8, 2009. 12:09 PMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Hey, is that a 2N3904? If so, it will work fine with it! The gain is
pretty good for that transistor. To ground the circuit, just connect all
the parts that are 0v or:
|
---
-
To the negative rail or 0v part of your power supply (Black wire)
For the diodes, aslong as there not LED's (The forward voltage is too
high, they dont conduct at a low enough voltage) Any diode should work.
If you tell me all the components your using, I may be able to give you
a hand :)
|
| Im using a 2n3904 transistor. 2 diodes i found off an old tv but i dont
know what kind they are I only know the polarity of them. 10uf cap for
input and 22uf cap for output and a 10ohm and a 100ohm resistor. and im
using a 9v battery with 5 volts of charge left. Im going to try and
breadboard it again and then ill upload a pic i still cant get it to
freaken work . Im sure im doing something wrong,
|
| Hey could you give me some feedback. I just noticed the battery isnt in
the same slot but i moved the wire and it still didnt work. All it does
is hum and i know thats partly cuz i didnt ground it yet but i cant get
the guitar to sound at all.
|
| lol im getting so frustrated i just cant friggen make it work
|
| Jul 9, 2009. 10:06 AMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Ah hi there, It looks like you have got Zener diodes to me, don't quote
me on that. I will have a go at drawing out the circuit in paint for
you, I will upload it soon :)
|
| Jul 9, 2009. 2:01 PMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Hi there, sorry its quite crude but i tried my best! Here it is:
|
| wow thx for doing so much for me. I finally made it and i works but it
has a huge hum. I dont think its properly grounded cuz when i touch the
guitar or the components the hum changes.
|
| Jul 11, 2009. 8:14 AMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Ah good! And its alright, thats what makes making an instructable so fun
lol. What kind of power supply are you using? The power supply used can
make a massive difference. I was originally using a mobile phone power
supply (them cheapo £1.98 ones you can get off ebay!) and it
produed a massive amount of hum, even when i wasn't playing! I did
manage to make this better by putting some filter capacitors on the
rails (plus and minus parts of the breadboard) As many as I could fit
on! i think it was equivelant to around 2000uF, so that was an option.
Another option would just be to try a new powersupply and make sure that
all ground points are tied together!
|
| im using a 9v battery with 2.2 v left.
|
| Jul 11, 2009. 12:24 PMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Hmm, a battery shouldn't produce any hum theoretically, try a higher
volatge battery first, if that doesnt work just try and double check
that everything is grounded correctly. There the only things i can think
of unless some of the components aren't funtioning correctly, have you
tried the output without the diodes connected?
|
| i followed the breadboard pic exact;ly. i can hear the bass but its not
distorted at all and the hum is super loud even when i switched to a
ac-dc power supply.
|
| maybe its the components because even without the diodes AND the power
supply it still hums.
|
| Jul 11, 2009. 2:23 PMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Hmm aw, im very sorry! it worked alright for me, if there is anything
else you want, I will try as hard as poss to help
|
| i found out if i cover the jacks with my hands the humming gets way
quieter. any ideas?
|
| i just cant figure out what is making the hum. The power supply seems to
make no difference in the circuit. What is it supposed to do in a
working one?
|
| Jul 11, 2009. 5:05 PMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Ah, thats good news about the hum with your hand, You could try wrapping
the whole circuit in cling film then in aluminium foil (the cling film
will stop the aluminium foil shorting out the rest of the components.
thats a cheaper way of doing the shielding, compared to using copper
tape (in guitars)
|
| ill try that but why doesnt the power supply do anything in my circuit?
|
| Jul 20, 2009. 4:07 AMpyrohaz (author)
says:
I had another look on your breadboard and it looks like the + and - of
the battery are on the same rail,this means the battery is shorting out!
All you have to do is double check the battery. This should help.
|
| thx so much man this helps
|
| Jul 8, 2009. 4:55 AMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Hey No worries:) Any questions, just ask
|
| hi i tried breadboarding this but all i got was a loud feedback. Could
someone please upload a better photo
|
| Jun 26, 2009. 6:09 PMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Hi there, When I get round to making it, I will upload some pictures, on
the other hand, anybody else who has made this circuit and is willing to
take a picture, i will happily add your picture to it :)
|
| ok so..i build the entire thing on a breadboard hooked up to a powerbox
and all i hear is a sound rilly high pitched and then it turns into a
sond of a ping pong bal droping
|
| Jun 26, 2009. 9:52 AMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Owch! Have you connected the transistor the correct way round? Are the
capacitors (If there the big capacitors with a negative stripe)
connected the correct way round? Are the resistors in the correct place?
|
| i had everything right but maybe the capacitors were backwards or sumn i
made it 4 times and it still doesnt wurj btw should the cathod or anode
end go to the posative
|
| Jun 26, 2009. 6:08 PMpyrohaz (author)
says:
The Anode goes to positive, for the diodes, aslong as you connect them
back to back (In other words, opposite to eachother) It should be ok!
Test the capacitors and see if that works ok
|
| I just finished mine sounds awesome i changed the cap for a 47uf now im
getting a heaver sound, thanks man
|
| Jun 25, 2009. 9:40 AMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Woo!! Well done! If you record some audio and youtube it, i will put it
in the instructable it you want it to be :)
|
| Jun 23, 2009. 8:08 AMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Hi there, Yes along as you get the Base, Emitter and Collector the
correct way round, that should produce a nice distortion due to the high
gain :)
|
| hi, thanks for the reply, i have another question: what is that beside
the diodes? a potentiometer? (only says 100)
Thanks
|
| Jun 24, 2009. 2:06 PMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Hi, no worries! Sorry about that, thats just a resistor. You dont have
to have that there. That resistor determines the amount of distortion
produced :)
|
| does it have to be a plessey capacitor or will any 47uf capacitor work
|
| Jun 23, 2009. 11:07 AMpyrohaz (author)
says:
Hi there, unfortunately I haven't got it anymore! If i do end up
building it again though, I will add a clearer picture for you :) And
no, it works with any capacitor from 1uF to 100uF, it just affects the
frequency response
|
| hey do u think coud maybe add a clerer picture
|
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