My tremolos are easily my favourite circuits, and have occupied more of my design time than anything else. This was my first effect design from scratch, which I started in high school. Development took over a decade before I was happy with it.

By shining a fading light against a photo-sensitive device, this tremolo uses all analog photo-coupling to restrict and fluctuate the output volume.

Symmetry switch: This toggles between two modes which are subtly different. The asymmetric mode (up) has a slightly uneven rhythmic pattern. This can blend sweeter with the tempo of the music. The square wave in this mode stays longer in the 'on' state, giving less gap time.

The symmetrical mode (down) has an even 360 degree spin, with a deeper scooping bottom.

This circuit operates with in a split rail power supply for increased headroom, while maintaining a very low noise level.

As with all of my tremolo models, you should expected perceived unity volume with all depth and rate settings, without having to make any manual volume adjustments. The wet level can be adjusted internally by a trimpot.

AUD$220 delivered within Australia only.

or

USD$165 delivered world-wide.
Sent by EMS express courier where possible. See returns policy.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

This is an old-recipe, classic germanium fuzz, built to end your Fuzz Face search. New-old-stock European AC128 transistors are used, housed on a turret-board circuit. The Roger Mayer Hendrix mods have been implemented.

There is no internal battery space. Power supply is internally conditioned for ideal performance. A battery may be used by means of an external adapter (sold separately).

This pedal should be placed first in the signal chain to voice correctly, connected directly to the instrument, and before any buffered pedals. It is a minimal circuit, which is expecting to 'see' a pickup impedence at its input.

This circuit uses old-tech PNP type transistors. The power supply input is the industry standard 9V type with negative centre. However, for purity of sound, the case is positively-grounded, and as such cannot share a power supply with other pedals unless the supply has isolated outputs.

The transistors used are cherry-picked for suitability from my collection, and as such are limited in availability. First in, best dressed. Germanium transistors are temperature sensitive, and will perform differently according to the ambient temperature. From these AC128s, expect low-medium leakage in winter, and medium-high leakage in summer.

AUD$299 delivered within Australia only.

or

USD$209 delivered world-wide.
Sent by EMS express courier where possible. See returns policy.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

Developed from my 'made in Japan' HM-2. This redesign extends beyond the limitations of the original circuit to give additional tonal options, without compromising the classic fundamental tone.

By using a dual-gang potentiometer, the DISTORTION knob has been redefined from the sloppy classic one. This is actually a dual-function control, which cascades gain stages together:

The first half of the range of the DISTORTION knob controls a full-bodied fuzz. The second half uses black glass diodes to add a further layer of compression and sustain.

The signal is processed through germanium diodes in the final compression stage. I found some hefty Soviet germanium pulse diodes (they look like little submarines) which are ideal for this function, and are crucial to achieving the valve-like attack response. N.B. this is unlike the common soft or hard peak clipping diode distortion configuration.

The silicon/germanium switch hot-swaps the distorting transistor of the fuzz stage. The germanium mode sounds, dare I say it, closer to "tube-like". These transistors are cherry picked from my collection. First in, best dressed. First round will be made using US Air Force military devices by RCA.

A focus switch has been added which makes subtle adjustments to the boominess of the bass.

The chips have been upgraded to high performance audio amplifiers by JRC (Japanese Radio Company). Japanese audio-grade capacitors have mostly been use throughout. Full sized 1/4W metal film resistors have been used, all condensed down to fit into a compact 1590BS Hammond enclosure.

This pedal stacks best when placed after other distortion and overdrive pedals.

AUD$269 delivered within Australia only.

or

USD$199 delivered world-wide.
Sent by EMS express courier where possible. See returns policy.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

Or build it yourself: buy the PCB only. Circuit boards are delivered by local letter post, or international letter post. No parts are included, other than the unpopulated printed circuit board.

Circuit board only - AUD$15 delivered within Australia only.

or

Circuit board only - USD$15 delivered world-wide.

Build Documents:

• Bill of materials and build notes
• PCB component placement
• 1590BS Drill layout cut-out
• 1590N1 / 125B (larger size) Drill layout cut-out

BIG FUZZ

The Big Fuzz is a muff circuit, which has been critically re-tuned to improve the tone, playability, and versatility of the pedal.

The MIDS control knob sweeps from the classic scoop, through to a more focused modern tone, with everything nice in the middle.

The BMP/STB switch toggles between a modified muff setup, to working alike a 1973 Colorsound Supa Tonebender (with the variable mid knob, of course).

This fuzz uses gain-selected transistors, and black glass silicon diodes. Due to signal processing, this effect is not particularly problematic with input or signal chain positioning.

AUD$239 delivered within Australia only.

or

USD$169 delivered world-wide.
Sent by EMS express courier where possible. See returns policy.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

A recreation of the EJ silicon fuzz.

AUD$189 delivered within Australia only.

or

USD$139 delivered world-wide.
Sent by EMS express courier where possible. See returns policy.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

RAD DISTORTION

This pedal can be used either as a classic ratty fuzz/distortion, or as a raunchy germanium overdrive. This is a sound of the '80s and '90s with some Dazatronyx tweaks.

The 'stock' silicon mode is the classic ratty sounding fuzz-distortion from the '80s and '90s. This is achieved by a two-stage distortion of first overdriving the 308 amplifier chip into fuzz, and then recovering some shape by further compressing the signal using hard-clipping silicon diodes.

In the germanium mode, the silicon chip fuzz has been removed. Germanium transistors and germanium diodes are used to achieve a rounded and organic overdrive-distortion.

The HAIR control dials the mid/high drive saturation. Turning this completely to the right achieves the classic metallic ratty distortion. Turning this left achieves a full, flattened response. This is a variable version of the reutz mod.

AUD$235 delivered within Australia only.

or

USD$179 delivered world-wide.
Sent by EMS express courier where possible. See returns policy.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

RAD Distortion XL

A larger size version of the standard model (above). This pedal can be used either as a classic ratty fuzz/distortion, or as a raunchy germanium overdrive. This is a sound of the '80s and '90s with some Dazatronyx tweaks.

The 'stock' silicon mode is the classic ratty sounding fuzz-distortion from the '80s and '90s. This is achieved by a two-stage distortion of first overdriving the 308 amplifier chip into fuzz, and then recovering some shape by further compressing the signal using hard-clipping silicon diodes.

In the germanium mode, the silicon chip fuzz has been removed. Germanium transistors and germanium diodes are used to achieve a rounded and organic overdrive-distortion.

The HAIR knob can dial the mid/high drive saturation. Turning this completely to the right achieves the classic metallic ratty distortion. Turning this left achieves a full, flattened response. This is a variable version of the reutz mod.

AUD$265. See returns policy.

Delivery location:

Australia $265.00 AUD International (all else) Australia Post +AUD$14 $279.00 AUD International (all else) EMS Express +AUD$29 $294.00 AUD

Components used may vary to those shown in the photo. Photos should be used as a general guide for construction and components quality.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

TSX OVERDRIVE

The TS10 circuit had some minor variations to the TS9 and TS808 circuits, and is sort after for its secret-sauce flavour.

The classic TS10 stock tone is achievable in STD mode, as well as two other variation modes:

• STD - Classic TS symmetrical clipping, with a focus on mids.
• ASYM - Asymmetrical clipping shape begins to ‘look’ more like valve amplifier clipping. This can better suit input signals which already have a full bottom-end, such as a neck pickup, and allows chord detail to better shine through.
• FAT - Also asymmetrical clipping, but with a full bottom-end.

The gain control has twice the amount of gain range as a classic TS. The extended range begins at the 2 o'clock position onwards.

The chip has been upgraded to a higher performance audio amplifier by JRC (Japanese Radio Company). The 'soft clipping' is achieved using three black glass silicon diodes.

AUD$220 delivered within Australia only.

or

USD$165 delivered world-wide.
Sent by EMS express courier where possible. See returns policy.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

PROFESSIONAL DRIVE XL

This is the result of my work redeveloping the classic TS overdrive circuit over many years, and critically evaluating every tone-shaping aspect of the signal path.

This XL sized version is 808-based, and using over-spec'd parts.

The three-way switch which toggles between three modes, which is helpful to suit a broader range of pickups and play styles.

• SYM - Classic TS symmetrical clipping, with a focus on mids.
  
• ASYM - Asymmetrical clipping shape begins to ‘look’ more like valve amplifier clipping. This can better suit input signals which already have a full bottom-end, such as a neck pickup, and allows chord detail to better shine through.
  
• FAT - Also asymmetrical clipping, but with a big bottom-end.

The gain control has twice the amount of gain range as a classic TS. The extended range begins at the 2 o'clock position onwards.

Resistors:

Metal Film (lower noise) Carbon composite (increased mojo)

AUD$249 delivered within Australia only.

or

Resistors:

Metal Film (lower noise) Carbon composite (increased mojo)

USD$189 delivered world-wide.
Sent by EMS express courier where possible. See returns policy.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

Please note: The second toggle switch option seen in the demo videos below is no longer included in the current production model for sale here. I found that the tone knob can make a setting which sounds the same as the "2 knob" mode, so it was removed.

Components used may vary to those shown in the photo. Photos should be used as a general guide for construction and components quality.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

CLASS A

Germanium amplifieR V2

Voicing switch:

• Mid: Effective at boosting for more drive, without the bottom end getting too flabby.
• Bright: Slightly fuller than a classic treble booster.
• Full Cream: Extra body, and fat tone.

GE / SI
Silicon mode can be used as a backup in extreme temperatures. This switch mechanically 'hot swaps' the transistor. Expect a small pop noise.

N.B. for purity of design, this pedal uses a positively grounded case. As such, it needs to be run from an isolated power supply, or battery. IE this pedal may not be suitable for a daisy-chain power supply. Batteries are not necessarily preferred.

AUD$220. Free delivery worldwide. See returns policy.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

STEREO PANNING

 OPTICAL TREMOLO

After a decade of development, I've created this completely unique circuit as my ideal tremolo. This is easily my favourite effect circuit.

By shining a fading light against a photo-sensitive device, this tremolo uses all analog photo-coupling to restrict and fluctuate the output volume. There is automatic perceived volume compensation for the full sweep of the controls.

This is a stereo variation of my smaller Optical Tremolo. It can take a stereo input, or split a mono guitar input between stereo channels. The PAN switch changes the oscillator of each channel to be out of sync - so one comes up in volume while the other drops. This creates a strange swirling effect. All original analog circuitry and true bypass mechanical switching.

As with all of my tremolo models, you should expected perceived unity volume with all depth and rate settings, without having to make any manual volume adjustments. The wet level is adjustable internally by a trimpot.

This circuit is optimised for a guitar signal level. A line level version is available on request.

Always use a high quality regulated and isolated power supply for best operation.

Please note that the GND lift switch is no longer used, which was previously seen on old demo videos.

AUD$289. Free delivery worldwide. See returns policy.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

BROWN SOUND

The BSIAB2 circuit (Brown Sound in a Box 2) was my favourite distortion during school. The cool thing was; if you wanted one, you just had to build one. Or know somebody who would. The circuit was designed by Ed Guidry, similar to works by Jack Oran and Aron Nelson.

Back in the day, it was one of the highest recommended builds on the forums. Forums were a thing. Many would suggest that this design was the original precursor to many of the "high gain amp" pedals that came out in the 2000's. It's basically a Marshall stack tone faker.

It has a tonne of gain, and can dial in a fat bottom end to fake a big amp sound. This circuit also responds excellently to rolling back the instrument volume knob. It can stack well with other drive pedal running into the input.

Distortion is achieved by overdriving 5457 N-channel field effect transistors (FETs), being the closest solid-state relative to vacuum tubes. The circuit is self-biased. There are three stacked gain stages. No diodes are involved for distortion.

Inquire.

Tweedsville

The three-position switch toggles between amp models of varying gain and bottom-end saturation. This is achieved by a bipolar silicon transistor preamp, with distortion created by discrete field effect transistors.

This circuit is where I have landed from requests to build a pedal similar to the Lovepedal Les Lius, which is fundamentally a '70s Electra Distortion.

AUD$185. Free delivery worldwide. See returns policy. Most international orders are currently being sent by Express EMS to help minimize covid-19 delivery delays. This has been available for most countries, but not all.

EMS Express international delivery is still sometimes taking a little over a week to depart Australia. Once landed, it usually is delivered very quickly as a regular express courier service.

BIG FUZZ XL

LTD POLISHED EDITION

(ALL SOLD)

The polished finish turned out not to be a sustainable technique. As such, this was a limited batch of 10x polished units in this aesthetic.

This circuit continued. See: Big Fuzz XL.

TSUCHI FUZZ v2

The Tsuchi Fuzz V2 takes a new look at the classic two-transistor fuzz circuit. The circuit’s tone has been carefully evaluated at every shaping point, to produce either classic or modern fuzz tones.

This pedal is out of production. We're taking time apart. I wouldn't say that we're broken-up, but I'm definitely seeing other pedals. Check for stock at Deluxe Guitars (Melbourne), Axe and You Shall Receive (Canada).

Mintdrop

all sold

This is a '60s germanium Fuzz Face. Made using old recipe AC128 transistors, in Dazatronyx style.

This pedal artwork was designed with a friend and it had been on the to-do pile for a LONG time. I prepared twenty of these special enclosures as a limited run project.

N.B. for purity of design, this pedal uses a positively grounded case. As such, it needs to be run from an isolated power supply, or battery. Batteries are not preferred. IE this pedal may not be suitable for a daisy-chain power supply.

GERMANIUM FUZZ 2021

all SOLD

This was a limited edition, special build. I only built two this year, to keep the project viable for me.

This is an old-recipe '60s germanium Fuzz Face. The transistors in this seconds unit are General Electric 2N43, and 2N123, where the manufacture date is the 13th week of 1956, and 4th week of 1958, respectively. These are some of the very early semiconductors which used a point-contact style junction.

Both units are now sold.