Sharing an overdrive based on the Tube Sound Fuzz CD4049UB

[brett]

Several CD4049 fuzzes evolved from the original Tube Sound Fuzz by Craig Anderton.
The Red Llama and the FortyNiner (Mark Hammer) are excellent and interesting examples.

This one is a much larger variation away from the original: a mild to moderate tube-sound overdrive.  I like the break-up and responsiveness of this circuit as much, or more than any other "semi-dirty" boost or overdrive I've used.  There will be comparisons to a Tubescreamer, but this has it's own tone.  It'll work well anywhere requiring a "hard-pushed vintage tube amp" tone.  It's difficult to explain overdrive/mild distortion.  But it definitely is tubey, and suits my classic rock and jazzy blues playing.     
 
Any PCB for a Tube Sound Fuzz or Llama is suitable for building this - with a few off-board additions, such as the clipping diodes (2x 1N4004) and their blocking capacitor (0.22uF).  I used the Hex Sound Fuzz board from Tonepad. 

[Mark Hammer]

Thanks, for the nod, and the circuit and accompanying description.  CD4049 drives can have enough output level that sticking an SWTC tone pot in there provides little painful loss and can "warm" things a little to suit the character of a guitar or specific amp.

Those who have or made their own Red Llama or TSF might wish to mod it to select or deselect (via toggle) that diode/cap feedback trio in the first stage for a wider palette of available tones.