Audio Hacking

Jump In, One-Night Projects

• The Bazz Fuss is a simple fuzz circuit made with about a half-dozen parts (without getting into jacks and power). It's a great project for learning how to translate schematic into parts on a breadboard or protoboard, and offers some simple experimentation with concepts that come up in many other analog effects. Try changing the value of the input and output capacitors to adjust the tone. Use different clipping diodes, alone or in small groups (always alternating direction): an even number is "symmetric clipping", an odd number is asymmetic. Most LEDs work as clipping diodes, but they won't light up (sadly). You can use a single transistor like a 2N3904 or 2N5088, or learn how to combine two into a homemade darlington.
• There are many schematics available for simple LM386-based amplifiers, which can run on 9-18v and (depending on power and the speaker load) can eek out more than a watt of power. These can drive your 4, 8, or 16ohm speaker cabinet, or you can build them into an old bookshelf speaker to make your own battery-powered Pignose analog. Beavis Audio has some nice layouts for a version called the Noisy Cricket, including a guide to building one on a general-purpose PCB from the rat shack.

Useful Parts

• You'll always need .1uf caps.
• On that note, the online consensus prefers polyester-film capacitors (they look like chicklets or little boxes) for the signal path, but except in rare cases where a tantalum capacitor is called for (e.g. Tube Screamer circuits), you shouldn't worry too much about this.
• Panel-mount, open, solder-lugged Switchcraft jacks are considered more durable than no-brands
• 9v battery connectors and/or DC adaptor jacks.
• For effects, "3PDT" switches. These are pricey (up to $15), but let your pedal isolate itself from the signal path when not in use (aka True Bypass), while also switching on the always-important LED.
• Hammond 1590BB and 1590B enclosures are the standard boutique effects pedal sizes
• Many analog schematics available online include layouts for protoboard and stripboard; helpful if you don't want to etch or buy PCBs.