Effects Pedal DIY "Bad-Ass Distortion"

[k0ala]

Hammond 1590B, 2N3904 transistor, 100K linear potentiometer, 9v battery snaps

Battery goes to the positive bus and the ground bus. Input goes to row 1 top. Output goes to row 1 bottom. In between is where the magic happens.

It's Alive! No volume pot, gain pot, or diodes. Just raw screeching distortion.
Badass Distortion Effect Prototype

Any two diodes of opposing polarity have the ability to shape the distorted signal. So I gathered two of every type of diode I had, including LED's, and laid them out on the bottom bus, with jumpers to add them to the output.
Today when I get home, I will hold the auditions and record video.

[VeraLapsa]

Sweet

[k0ala]

Tone Stack Audition

[k0ala]

Warning: Fake Germanium Diodes

yeah, I got the fakes. You can see them in the above audition lineup, second from the left (short red jumper wires).

[HeK]

Nice oscope in the background

When you are ready to start making boards, give the laser-printer toner transfer method a try.

[k0ala]

The scope's 39 years old -- as old as me.

That sounds like a great deal. I'm going to work my way up to it; my first few builds are going to be on perfboard or veroboard.

[rumbot]

Jesus my grandfather has a scope like that plus all types of eengineering shit that I have no fucking clue about.

[k0ala]

Best is 2 silicon diodes in series pointing one way, and 1 yellow LED pointing the opposite way.
I'm going to put a switch in.

• Switch up will bring in silicon 1N914 and fake germanium "1N34A" in series, anode to ground, opposing 1 LED, cathode to ground.
  
• Switch down will bring in 1 LED anode to ground, opposing 2 silicon 1N4001 in series, cathode to ground.
  

Also, new name: Bad Ass Evil Donkey Shabby Mule Counterfeit Zebra Zonkey

[k0ala]

[k0ala]