finished my Harmonic Jerkulator!

[PB Wilson]

I got a chance to finish up some projects over the holidays and I thought I'd share my findings. I boxed up my NPN Boost and finished my second and third perf-boarded projects, Joe Gagan's "Tone Dog" (I'll share details when I've fiddled around with it a bit more.) and a Harmonic Jerkulator using the layout at Runoff Groove (Thanks Brian!).

There are a few options regarding transistors for the Jerkulator, but I decided to use a 2N3565 for the NPN and a Texas Instruments Germanium 2N404A (Thanks to Steve at Smallbear!) for the PNP. I listened to the soundclips online and got sounds quite similar to the version without the Germanium diodes. Pretty brash, bold and raucous-sounding! It really cuts through and makes a statement. It's not anything like a mid-scooped, compressed metal-toned distortion, but more of a "trashy, garage-style" tone to quote Brian Tremblay.

I played it through my strat-style guitar with humbuckers and a bit through my Fender Mustang. The amp is a (don't laugh) Crate 60 watt Vintage Club with EL-34's. I mainly liked the sound of the neck humbucker best and I did have to roll off the tone knob since it is a bit bright. All the better for cutting through the mix.

Overall, it's another flavor of fuzz/distortion that I may use from time to time. It's an easy build and you can mod it with different trannys and even adding the diodes as found on the schematics. If you like loud punk rock and are looking for a bold statement from your guitar sound check it out. :twisted:

[petemoore]

Nice report !

[PB Wilson]

Thanks Pete! I'm really enjoying the whole DIY thing, especially when I plug it in for the first time.

Anyone else build a Harmonic Jerkulator? I'd like to hear your comments.