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.

[PRR]

Does pin 8 go anywhere?

[sinthmart]

Does pin 8 go anywhere?

With Anderton's circuits, there is a complete epidemic on the Internet with errors and a lack of important information on different types of 4049 microcircuits. Whether intentional or not is not clear. But this is some kind of epidemic of negligence and irresponsible replication of errors. Many people suffer from this, but the epidemic does not end.
You need to stay away from these schemes.

[FiveseveN]

Or just, you know, learn the basics first and figure out that V_SS obviously goes to ground.

[PRR]

learn the basics first and figure out that V_SS

I know how to wire CMOS for analog, but others may not.

But when it comes to distortion effects, ANY "wrong" connection may be "the sound". Here, I doubt it. But when I ask for clarification I get dire "epidemic" doom. That's not helpful to anybody.

[aron]

I need to go back and listen to some of the 4049 circuits again. I remember some good things out of them but I never seemed to stick on it overall. 

[Mark Hammer]

Frank Clarke had some decent circuits, and there were also some on runoffgroove.  And let us not forget your Insanity Box.

[aron]

Frank Clarke's pedal was great!!! Really nice!

[aron]

I remember having bias problems when I tried to create new designs with them. But that was a long time ago.

[Mark Hammer]

Here's a bit of info on Frank Clarke's "Hot Harmonics":  http://www.fclarke.com/2020/08/hot-harmonics.html

Here's the toner transfer pattern...



and the parts layout.

[amz-fx]

I remember having bias problems when I tried to create new designs with them. But that was a long time ago.

Look at how I fixed this guy's cmos bias problems:


https://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/insanity.GIF

  

Best regards, Jack