Stripboard layout for a Marshall Bluesbreaker guitar pedal.

Marshall Bluesbreaker On Stripboard

December 4, 2024

Here’s how to build a Marshall Bluesbreaker on stripboard. Sure, this thing isn’t anywhere as popular as something like an Ibanez Tube Screamer or a Boss OD-1, but it’s a guitar pedal that’s been increasing in popularity in recent years. The Marshall Bluesbreaker is designed to sound like the old Marhsall amps Eric Clapton used […]





Stripboard layout for a Lumpy's Tone Shop Lemon Drop overdrive pedal.

Lumpy’s Tone Shop Lemon Drop On Stripboard

November 7, 2024

Here’s a fun pedal build project: Lumpy’s Tone Shop Lemon Drop. This pedal actually comes in a variety of names though. I wasn’t familiar with Lumpy’s Tone Shop, but found the stripboard layout on Tagboard Effects. In looking into this pedal, it looks like Lumpy’s Tone Shop is now going by the name Electric Majik, […]





Stripboard layout for an Ibanez Tube Screamer guitar pedal.

Ibanez Tube Screamer (TS808) On Stripboard

October 28, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBg-8j0x-a0 The Ibanez Tube Screamer is one of the most famous and sought after overdrive pedals around. The original TS808 and Boss’ OD-1 are classics that everyone wants to recreate. Well, here it is, the wiring schematic and stripboard layout for the TS808 model Ibanez Tube Screamer, or pretty close. I have an article on […]





Stripboard layout for a Lovepedal Champ guitar pedal.

Lovepedal Champ On Stripboard

August 2, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p2gMxmzsjQ It’s been awhile since I’ve built anything,so it was nice to get back into my workshop and build this awesome little pedal: the Champ by Lovepedal. There’s quite a few pedals I want to build (or build again to give to friends), but I’ve been working my way through my list of easy to […]





Wiring diagram showing diodes set up for symmetrical clipping.

What’s The Difference Between Symmetrical And Asymmetrical Clipping?

July 17, 2024

When it comes to clipping sound signals, typically in guitar pedals, you’ll often hear about symmetrical and asymmetrical clipping. Although clipping guitar signals (and any audio signal for that matter) can be done through a variety of ways, when talking about symmetrical and asymmetrical clipping, people are specifically talking about clipping diodes in guitar pedals. […]





Wiring diagram showing hard clipping using an operational amplifier and diodes.

How To Use A Distortion Or Overdrive Pedal

July 12, 2024

If you want to add a little more oomph to your sound, it’s common to use an overdrive or distortion pedal. The two affects have similarities, but there is a difference between overdrive and distortion. Overdrive and distortion are kind of the core guitar effects; if you ask what are guitar pedal does, OD and […]





Wiring diagram showing soft clipping using an operational amplifier and diodes.

What’s The Difference Between Overdrive, Distortion, And Fuzz?

July 9, 2024

Whether you’re just getting started with guitar effects pedals or already have a collection (whether you’re building them or buying them), you’ve probably heard of overdrive, distortion, and fuzz. Maye you’ve heard these terms used interchangeably or heard they’re similar, but you don’t really know the difference. Gear heads could probably go on and on […]





Electrical breadboard with the components for an Ibanez Tube Screamer wired in.

Building And Modding A Tube Screamer On A Breadboard

February 24, 2024

Note: this article is on building a Tube Screamer on a breadboard, along with a little bit of analysis. Here’s how to build an Ibanez Tube Screamer on stripboard if that’s what you’re after. The Ibanez Tube Screamer is, perhaps, the most sought after overdrive pedals out there. Although the Boss OD-1 was first created in […]