Introduction: Overdrive Pedal

An overdrive guitar pedal is kind of like a less harsh distortion pedal. Technically speaking, whereas a distortion pedal clips an amplified waveform at a picky height, the overdrive pedal actually rounds the top of the cut wave. While this placid makes IT a bit bleary when you unstable up the gain, it sounds inferior extremum than a overrefinement or fuzz pedal. What is unemotional about this pedal is that it adds a bit extra warmth to your signal when you are strumming gently, merely when you really strum hard, the audio spikes up into crunchy overrefinement territory. While this is generally a very harmful effect, it is really quite robust in terms of the different types of sounds that you can get out of it. It is great for adding a trifle something extra to any effects strand.

Step 1: Materials

You testament need:

(x1) 2N3904 NPN transistor
(x1) 0.1uF capacitor
(x1) 0.047uF capacitance
(x2) 0.01uF capacitor
(x1) 100K logarithmic potentiometer
(x1) 100K rectilineal potentiometer
(x1) 10K linear potentiometer
(x1) 2.2M ohm resistor
(x1) 33K ohm resistor
(x1) 22K ohm resistor
(x1) 3.3K ohm resistor
(x1) 680 ohm resistor
(x1) PC board
(x1) 9V bombardment ginger nut
(x1) 9V battery
(x3) Knobs
(x2) Stereo sound jacks
(x1) DPDT Stump switch
(x1) BB shot throw enclosure
(x1) 5" x 4" x 1/8" rubber sheet
(x1) 5" x 4" x 1/8" cork sheet

Please note that some of the links on this page contain Amazon affiliate golf links. This does non alteration the Price of any of the items for sale. However, I bring in a itty-bitty commission if you click connected any of those golf links and buy anything. I reinvest this money into materials and tools for future projects. If you would like an alternate proposition for a provider of any of the parts, delight let ME know.

Step 2: Circuit

Build the circuit as envisioned in the schematic, with the exception of the potentiometers.

The overdrive wheel schematic is largely based on two diametric circuits. The transistor phase of the schematic is based happening the Trotsky Drive Treadle by Beavis Audio Researsch (itself supported the Electra Aberration module). However, instead of using a rare Russian NPN transistor, I victimised a 2N3904. Altogether-in-whol, this portion of the schematic is largely just boosting the inward signal, dominant the gain, and doing a teensy bit of filtering.

The lower half of the schematic is supported Jack Orman's page connected tone clipping, and it is in this part of the tour where all of the real overdrive magic is happening. Basically, there is a high fall out and low go on dribble in parallel, for each one of which is followed past its own pair of clipping diodes. Aside from the filters themselves having unique tone charachteristics, each pair of diodes as wel has its own clipping charachteristics.

The 10K potentiometer in the conventional sweeps between the two different filter / diode pairs. This potentiometer gives the pedal a precise adjustable and unique voice. By swapping out the permeate components and diodes for different values, you lav try out with the pedal and find your own perfect combination.

Ill-trea 3: Wire the Switch

Connect unrivaled pair off of the switches outer terminals together.

Connect a 4" red conducting wire to to each one of the centric terminals.

Associate a 4" green wire to each of the outward terminals.

Step 4: Drill Guides

Print prohibited the attched drill guides and affix them to the pedal enclosure.

Step 5: Practice the Top

Drill the three potentiometer crosshairs with a 1/4" drill bit.

Drill the center foot switch crosshair with a 1/2" drilling bit.

Step 6: Drill the Sides

Drill both side crosshairs with a 3/8" dril scra.

Mistreat 7: Clean

Remove the exercise guides afterwards wholly of the holes are drilled.

Step 8:

Use the attached guide to make a spacer out of rubber or composition board for the inner of the casing, and position it in place.

Mount whol 3 potentiometers in situ, with the 10K potentiometer being in the center, and the 100K power pot beingness to its left (while the pedal is fount down). Fasten them firmly in situ with their included mounting hardware.

Gradation 9: Jacks

Insert the audio knucklebones into each of the side holes and put on them in localise with their mounting computer hardware.

Stone's throw 10: Change over

Insert the stomp switch into the 1/2" hole and mount it firmly in place with its climbing nut.

Step 11: Connect

Connect each of the colorful wires from the alternate to the signal tab on one of the audio jacks. This is the tabloid that has electrical continuity with the long bent peice of metal that comes into meet with the plug's tip.

Step 12: Wire the Pots

Solder a green telegram between the center tab on the 10k potentiometer and the lefthand tab on the 100K index potentiometer.

Connect a 4" green wire to the center yellow journalism on the power pot.

Connect 4" green wires to the outside tabs of the 10K potentiometer.

Connect a 4" green telegraph to the center tab of the 100K linear potentiometer, and a 4" Marxist wire to the righthand tab.

Step 13: Wire Ground

Connect the remaining unused tab from the 100K logarithmic pot to the tab on the nearest stereo jack that is electrically continuous with the outer barrel.

Connect a 3" black electrify to the like jack. This wire will later connect to the tour board.

Relate the black wire from the 9v electric battery snap to the left over unused tab on the stereophonic system jack.

Step 14: Electrify the Output

Connect the center green wire from the 100K logarithmic potentiometer to the swop such that IT is connected next to the red wire which is neighboring to the binaural jack that is besides connected to ground.

Step 15: Bind the Circuit

Attach the remaining components every bit appropriate to the circle get on founded on the schematic.

Remember that the remaining green conducting wire from the foot switch should connect to 'Audio In.'

Step 16: Insulate (elective)

To help prevent drawers, download the related template and cut that shape out of a non-conductive material. I used cork for this resolve.

Glue the cutout to the inside of the lid.

Step 17: Power

Snap the shelling into the 9V connector.

Step 18: Causa Compressed

Put everything indoors of the case and fasten it shut.

Dance step 19: Knobs

Turn all of the pot shafts altogether of the direction to the left. Place the knobs onto the cheat and fasten them in situ using their set screws.

Step 20: Use

To use the pedal, simply plug information technology in between your guitar and your amp.

If IT does non sound like the pedal is doing much of anything, press the swap.

You should now beryllium ready to rock and roll.

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