Pedal project: Modified double muff

wilrecar77 · Post by **wilrecar77** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 7:21 pm

I've decided for my first pedal I'm going to build a double muff, using two single muff circuits in series. I'm gonna use the circuit/layout from this page
Muff circuit and put 2 in one box. It looks easy enough, I know enough about electronics for me to be comfortable with this. I'm thinking for mods I am gonna socket the diodes and try asymmetrical clipping, as well as a "clipping threshold control" as shown on this page clipping control.

Any thoughts or concerns? I figure this should work, and if nothing else I'll have more than enough parts to make a single muff as a boost or something.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:47 pm

For your first pedal why not get a kit?

I'm not gonna rain on your parade, but maybe breadboard this stuff first, see what you like in clipping options (ie can you even hear a difference?) then when you're happy it's working build it into a box.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 11:01 pm

timhulio wrote:For your first pedal why not get a kit?

I'm not gonna rain on your parade, but maybe breadboard this stuff first, see what you like in clipping options (ie can you even hear a difference?) then when you're happy it's working build it into a box.

Thats the mistake I made, I had all these grand ideas about modifying the fuzz face circuit, I just assumed they'd work and didn't even bother buying a breadboard let alone testing anything, of course the thing never worked and I haven't tried pedal building since - I keep hoping to but never getting around to it.

wilrecar77 · Post by **wilrecar77** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 5:50 pm

I have a breadboard, I'll definitely be prototyping stuff first. I should have mentioned that.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:13 pm

mrperson wrote:
timhulio wrote:For your first pedal why not get a kit?

I'm not gonna rain on your parade, but maybe breadboard this stuff first, see what you like in clipping options (ie can you even hear a difference?) then when you're happy it's working build it into a box.
Thats the mistake I made, I had all these grand ideas about modifying the fuzz face circuit, I just assumed they'd work and didn't even bother buying a breadboard let alone testing anything, of course the thing never worked and I haven't tried pedal building since - I keep hoping to but never getting around to it.

you can borrow my breadboard if you like

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cobascis · Post by **cobascis** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 2:15 am

thats a hella classy knife, you got there

proroby · Post by **proroby** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 3:46 am

I don't have any direct tips, but I had mine modded and I had a tone knob added as well as clipping.

Bill Oakley · Post by **Bill Oakley** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 7:59 pm

Are you going to use that stripboard layout they have in that link? It could be made a lot smaller. You could probably fit both on a board that size.

A tone control would be nice. Google Stupidly Wonderful Tone Control. It's just a few extra parts.

I also would probably do a little power filtering since you are probably going to be using a single 9v supply for both.

wilrecar77 · Post by **wilrecar77** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 5:09 am

Update: I ordered the parts tonight to make a single muff (i realized this circuit is different than the individual muffs in the double muff) with a voltage control, clipping threshold control, and volume control. I have a stepped drill bit, so I could add a tone circuit later if I think it needs one. Does anyone know how fast small bear ships?

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 5:19 am

Slow Bear?

in all seriousness, I haven't been able to actually place an order through them as paypal never works and neither does using a card. That and their component prices are almost double other places

wilrecar77 · Post by **wilrecar77** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 5:39 am

Haze wrote:Slow Bear?

in all seriousness, I haven't been able to actually place an order through them as paypal never works and neither does using a card. That and their component prices are almost double other places

For real? Bummer. If it doesn't work out through them, I could order through mouser or something. Smallbear's store was easier to navigate.

Bill Oakley · Post by **Bill Oakley** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 6:12 am

Yeah, Smallbear is a little expensive but they have a lot of hard to get stuff. Shipping is super slow also. I've had a week or two go by and then my stuff was shipped. Quite often actually. If I need something fast, I wouldn't order from them. There have been a couple of times they did ship within a day or two though. Pretty hit and miss.

I did an order from Mouser today at 3:45 p.m. and I got confirmation of shipping an hour later. That's fast!

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:17 am

Mouser has a massive inventory and pretty cheap as well but damn I cannot navigate their website worth a shit. I've done almost everything through Pedal Parts Plus. Cheap components, fast shipping, and Connie always leaves love notes on the invoices

wilrecar77 · Post by **wilrecar77** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:44 pm

As of right now, the order is shipped.

EDIT: Set to arrive Jan. 4.

wilrecar77 · Post by **wilrecar77** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:16 pm

Pedal supplies just got here, gonna try to have it at least breadboarded before the end of the day.

wilrecar77 · Post by **wilrecar77** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:02 pm

So I have it on the breadboard according to this muff layout and I'm not getting any signal out of it. With the volume knob turned down there is no noise (which makes sense because it's just shorting to ground, right?) but with it turned up all I'm getting is a loud hum when I touch the strings. I don't have a multimeter at the moment so I can't test for voltages but googling the problem hasn't led to any simple mistake I've made. As far as i know I've got it wired up correctly, sleeves to ground and tips to in/out, and I know I have the transistors oriented right.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:30 pm

Post a photo of what you've built and a pic of the schematic you're using?

wilrecar77 · Post by **wilrecar77** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 11:54 pm

timhulio wrote:Post a photo of what you've built and a pic of the schematic you're using?

MSpainted as best as I could for clarity.

Schematic should be in the muff layout link in the post above yours. It's a pdf from beavis audio.

Bill Oakley · Post by **Bill Oakley** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 12:02 am

wilrecar77 wrote:
timhulio wrote:Post a photo of what you've built and a pic of the schematic you're using?
MSpainted as best as I could for clarity.

Schematic should be in the muff layout link in the post above yours. It's a pdf from beavis audio.

Jumper on the left transistor should go from collector of Q1 to base of Q2. You've got it going from base to base. I'll keep checking for other errors if any.

Edit: I don't see any other issues. Then again. I just scanned it really quick. Move the jumper and see if you're in business. If not, I'll look again.

wilrecar77 · Post by **wilrecar77** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 12:04 am

Bill Oakley wrote:
wilrecar77 wrote:
timhulio wrote:Post a photo of what you've built and a pic of the schematic you're using?
MSpainted as best as I could for clarity.

Schematic should be in the muff layout link in the post above yours. It's a pdf from beavis audio.
Jumper on the left transistor should go from collector of Q1 to base of Q2. You've got it going from base to base. I'll keep checking for other errors if any.

I just looked at the board and it turns out that was a paint error, I painted over the uncovered wire of the jumper because it's all but invisible in the photo. It's going base-collector. Good eye though, I didn't notice.