Mid Drifter - Experimental Distortion FX

This experiment was basicly combining 2 kinds of effects, Marshall Guv'nor and Boss Metal Zone. One thing, I'd like to know what would it be if I combined 2 famous effects in 1.

Here's the first schematic :

and here's the pcb layout :

note : This not a verified PCB layout till I found some changes and mistakes

process :

PCB and box fitting 

Soldering process started

There are 4 pot knobs, (Top to bottom) Drive, Bite, Tone and Volume

Debugging process

Unfortunately, I had trouble in the last 2 stages of op amp, which use as buffer.. :( and I really can't change it.. I heard a clicking like "overload" input on the 2nd stage of the opamp. Then I ommited the use of the 2nd IC. I use NE5532N on opamp, that I believe will give the lowest noise...

Then I change the schematic like this :

Then it become like this, with lots of cables jumpering things ...

also added scoop bypass switch..

and this is the final prototype without pcb change.. really a mess..

and the result :

  1. This experiment really showed me that the emphasis stage like metal zone can be applied to other opamp to create a nice mids.. especially on around 900Hz.

  2. Using midscoop, giving a nice clean penetrating death metal tone around 3KHz to 5KHz

  3. Very nice output tone from clean boost to nasty sharp and penetrating distortion (~900Hz to ~5KHz).

  4. Nice to play blues. 80's Rock sound.. etc

  5. Clean and tight mid to mid high.

  6. I used a pair of IRF 510 mosfet + 1N34 Diodes to create classic tight mids and 2 Led diodes on hard clipping to give more crunch and bite.

  7. Output voltage of this circuit is fairly small.. I need to add mini booster at the end of the circuit before volume control

  8. Turn Bite control knob to minimum to get higher penetrating tone and put gain at 1/3 max.

  9. Turn Bite control knob to maximum to get oldies clean boost with tight mid from ~900Hz to 2.3KHz

10. Turn Tone to minimum to get fat tone or max to get full midhigh to high tone

11. Maybe there is more.. still need to find out first....

Pictures and schematics showed here are incomplete..Later I will upload the video of this experimental FX... and I already started to make the 2nd variant of this thing with bunch of ideas by this experiment..

Note : 

* All schematic above are used for experimental project. 

* The basic schematics are belong to the owners. 

* I made changes and tunings by ear.

* Fair use only

* All contents here are prohibited to post on other blog or sites without permission.

enjoy :)