Simple Overdrive Effect Pedal
Intro: Simple Overdrive Effect Pedal
This is a very simple overdrive effect. There are a lot of same kind of effects on the net, but I decided to design something simple. It's a great beginner project.
This is me playing with it:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=z-1BsJz9Cpk
First I play clean, the switch on the effect.
This is me playing with it:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=z-1BsJz9Cpk
First I play clean, the switch on the effect.
STEP 1: Diode Clipping
Overdrive or distortion occurs, when signal is amplified too much. Amps have an upper limit of volume. If a sound signal is louder than then it's peaks are simply chopped off. That is called clipping (distortion).
We can simulate clipping, by placing diodes between the signal and ground.
We can simulate clipping, by placing diodes between the signal and ground.
STEP 2: The Schematic
Now it's time to build one for yourself too!
This is what you need:
6.3mm stereo female jack
6.3mm mono female jack
DPDT switch
0.1uF capacitor
LM386 op-amp
220uF electrolytic capacitor
47k resistor
100k resistor
red LED
two 1N4148 diodes
Incase you don't know, how to read schematics, there are a plenty of tutorials available. Just Google
This is what you need:
6.3mm stereo female jack
6.3mm mono female jack
DPDT switch
0.1uF capacitor
LM386 op-amp
220uF electrolytic capacitor
47k resistor
100k resistor
red LED
two 1N4148 diodes
Incase you don't know, how to read schematics, there are a plenty of tutorials available. Just Google
114 Comments
JatinK007 8 years ago
Can we use this pedal for bass guitar too? Or is it only for guitar?
marrymay 9 years ago
Excellent write-up. I absolutely appreciate this post. I did try this way to build an overdrive pedal! and it's nice, check on this overdrive pedal
ilovegm 10 years ago
tsamarakoon 11 years ago
666sebas999 11 years ago
Thanks :)
maheshsankaran 11 years ago
yrosema 11 years ago
added drive pot and 2x 1M resistor because it was too loud.
badad 11 years ago
Jahiruddin 12 years ago
Thank you for provide this circuit diagram but now I like to test sound . Is it possible . Please help me.
Jahir
Jahiruddin 12 years ago
Thank you for provide this circuit diagram but now I like to test sound . Is it possible . Please help me.
Jahir
yrosema 12 years ago
666sebas999 12 years ago
because i get a LM731 from an old recorder, can I use it too?
pfred2 12 years ago
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=mxr%20distortion%20741%20schematic&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=2229l13479l0l14617l28l28l0l18l7l0l257l1696l0.6.4l10l0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi
pfred2 12 years ago
serverfp 12 years ago
91chevywt 14 years ago
odopudj 13 years ago
PowerslaveNSHC 14 years ago
Guitar_slave 14 years ago
odopudj 13 years ago