New Gafiltefuzz Schematic

My first post on this blog was a schematic of a simple fuzz circuit I like to call the Gafiltefuzz due to it's filtery sound. Well, I tweaked it some and built it up earlier this week and it sounds great. There are some problems, which I will discuss in an upcoming video demo of it. In the meantime, here is the schematic for it so you can build it up yourself and maybe solve the problems with it:

For the meantime, ignore the 9V's with the pot going to ground. This was going to be the dying battery simulator, but obviously that is the wrong way to do it. I don't know why it's drawn that way. . .I really don't.

Modding A Boss DS-1

A week or so ago, I got a package in the mail, it was from my friend Al, from the band Cannibal Papaya. A couple months ago on facebook I asked if anyone had any guitar pedals they wanted to sell for cheap, and Al being the cool guy he is, sent me this Boss DS-1 for free.

When I got the pedal, the first thing I remembered was the gated feedback mod I saw on Casperelectronics' website, so I decided I'd install that.



This mod is extremely easy, and you only need three things: the DS-1, an SPST toggle switch, and a 2N3904 NPN transistor.

The point of this mod is to add some cool feedback to the distortion without having it squealing when you're not playing anything.

I had these laying around from a couple failed projects, that's why they're not in the prettiest of shape, but who cares? 

Here's how you should be hooking up your transistor, and remember to throw the switch on the collector.

And here's the whole thing soldered up:

Thankfully there's plenty of space inside the DS-1 to mount the switch on the back side.

To make sure the transistor doesn't short anything out, wrap that S.O.B. in electrical tape or heat shrink tubing. Then you can feel safe cramming it all into the pedal.

Like A Glove.

And there you have it. A nicely modded DS-1. The end result is a nice bassey feedback effect. It's not something that I'll be using all the time, but for some weird experimentation, it'll work just fine. If I'm feeling more ambitious, I think I'll add a 1/4" jack instead of the toggle switch, so I can add an external foot switch to turn the effect on and off.

Now that I've added this neat effect, I think I better fix that dim dull LED Boss put in this thing.

Rehoused Bazz Fuss

I needed a metal case to cut down on the hum, so I went to True Value and got a electrical device box for a couple bucks.